Carolyn McClendon

There's a lot of buzz today about "cleansing" the body. Exactly what does this mean? Ultimately, cleansing means reducing the stress load on the body's major filters; the liver, kidneys, lymph, colon and blood, and helping it to rid itself of accumulated wastes and garbage.

Just like any machine, the body needs maintenance. Cleansing is one type of maintenance that can have long-term benefits. Two important
benefits are weight loss and relieving the stress on your immune system.

There are two basic styles of cleansing. One style focuses on one organ of the body. The other focuses on the body as a whole. Let's
discuss both types so you can decide which type suits your cleansing style.

There are two types of colon cleanses. One often uses fiber or clay along with lots of water to create bulk. That gives the muscles of the colon more to push and thus more wastes are moved out of the body.

The other type of colon cleanse is called therapeutic hydrotherapy. This includes enemas, colonics, colon therapy and colon irrigation. A soothing flow of filtered, temperature-controlled water gently circulates through the colon, coaxing your body to eliminate stored toxins from different areas.

Skin brushing is another type of cleanse on the largest organ of the body. It's also the largest organ of elimination. Brushing the skin facilitates cleansing by stimulating the lymphatic system to get rid of toxins through the skin. It also improves circulation and removes dead skin cells and debris that clog pores.

The liver is easily the most overworked organ of the body. Because it has to filter wastes as well as produce many chemicals for the body, cleansing can reduce some of its burden. There are various recipes on the internet for a do it yourself flush The lymphatic system is supposed to be the mover so cellular wastes to the blood and then to the colon and kidneys for removal, but it needs exercise to do its job because it has no pump, like our cardio-vascular system.

One way to stimulate the lymph and help it do its job is to jump on a rebounder or mini trampoline. Jumping rope or simply rocking back and forth in a rocker will also give some of that muscle movement necessary for the lymph to be pumped throughout the body. There is also a massage just for the lymph. I recommend that you seek a trained professional if you want a lymphatic massage.

The macrobiotic diet popularized by Michio Kushi uses food as a way to cleanse and balance the whole body over time. This is a very old
type of diet and I mention it here because I've been on this diet and have seen some remarkable results from it. It needs to be supervised and followed very strictly to achieve the best results. It is a wonderful way to uplift the whole body.

There are various products on the market that focus on cleansing right down to the cellular level. It's worth taking your time to find the right product that supports the organs of detoxification and the body a whole as it goes through the process of releasing wastes held within the cells.

Depending on the product this type of cleanse can go from days to months and can involve fasting and purges. Some products will
deplete the body as you cleanse with the hope of replenishing it after the cleanse is completed, but that's very harsh on the body.

It's far better to do a cleanse that both cleanses and supports at the same time and is gentle on the system.

Fortunately, the human body is a self-healing machine! That's right, if you care for it, it will give you a quality life. I can't think of a better way to help your wellness goals than to cleanse.

Statements made within this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes only not to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Consult a trusted medical professional for the treatment of any disease.

Carolyn McClendon is an avid health enthusiast.
She writes about Colon Cleansing and Full Body Cleansing
concentrating on wellness tips, advice and product reviews for men
and women of all ages.