Fasting and detox for health
Fasting is an ancient healing technique; most living beings naturally
restrict food intake when they are ill, thus focussing the body's energies
on getting well again. Most of the world's religions endorse fasting as
a way of cleansing both spiritually and physically. Fasts may involve
taking only water, herbal teas or eating only one type of food. Herbs
are important to further support the physical cleansing of the body.
A detox is when one eats healthily, avoiding toxic foods, whilst following
a herbal regime to help elimination of waste matter. It is possible to
eat quite normal amounts whilst on a detox.
Fasting and detox are particularly pertinent to those living in modern
societies. Food additives; pollution; sugar; drugs; alcohol and large
amounts of poor quality food all take their toll on the body, mind and
emotions.
Detox and fasting are useful techniques in kick-starting your being into
a healthier way of life. Limiting food intake gives the body a rest from
dealing with the continual influx of complicated food combinations; unwholesome
foods and chemicals such as pesticides and food additives. As toxic foods
are eliminated, the liver and kidneys do less work processing ingested
food and are free to work harder at cleansing the body of unwanted substances.
This can be of great value for sufferers of many ailments including irritable
bowel syndrome, hay fever and general sluggishness.
As our choice of food becomes simpler, our taste buds grow more sensitive
to taste. After having spent time fasting, food is appreciated much more.
We become more aware of how foods affect us. We notice which foods are
beneficial for our individual systems and which foods cause us discomfort.
We also gain an insight into our emotional relationship with food. Some
people experience feeling of lightness, extra energy and clarity. Most
people feel a bit low at first as toxins are being processed. It is common
for repressed emotions to be brought to the surface by the process of
fasting, thus bringing such problems to light where they may be accepted
and addressed.
| WARNING : Please read this
carefully before undertaking a fast
Fasting and detoxification is not suitable for everyone. If you
are
- pregnant or breastfeeding,
- have a long-standing medical condition,
- are on prescription medication,
- have diabetes or low blood sugar,
- have a toxic build-up (e.g. through drugs or alcohol misuse or
prolonged exposure to hazardous chemicals).
Please consult a fully qualified naturopath who will
design an appropriate regime for you. In these instances professional
guidance and careful monitoring is required. Remember, unless
you are confident that you are fit enough to embark on a fast, do
not attempt to do it yourself. It is probable that you will do more
harm than good. |
It is important to have a sensible attitude towards fasting, as discipline
and patience are needed to gain the full benefits of a fast. If you end
the fast too abruptly you will, quite frankly, be in worse health than
had you not fasted at all. It is not a practice to take lightly. If you
are in any doubt, try a detox instead.
It is traditional to fast in the spring and in the autumn. In less affluent
times gone by there was often an enforced spring fast on spring greens
only, as the winter stores ran low. Spring and early summer fasts are
definitely a good idea for those who suffer from hay
fever. Autumn fasts strengthen the body in preparation for winter.
You may need to use more cooked foods and warming spices to keep warm
while fasting during the colder months of the year.
People who study moon phases and their relationship to behaviour on earth
have come to the conclusion that the period after the full moon, when
the moon is on the wane is the best time for fasting. One day detox regimes
or fasts are best carried out on the day of the new moon.
Most important, however, is that you choose a time right for you. Ideally
when fasting you should be able to spend time alone, in silence and contemplation.
Try to choose a period of time when you have no work, family or social
commitments.
Which kind of detox is right for me?
There are various levels of detoxification; the selection of a regime
suitable to you depends on your personality, your reasons for fasting;
your general health and constitution; you obligations and commitments
and your existing dietary habits. Think about these things carefully when
choosing a method suitable for you.
If you are unused to wholefoods, try 3-10 days on the wholesome
diet. A few days before, start taking the Ortis Detox Mix
or Detox Herbal Mixture form the Haelan Centre Dispensary,
and take until the course is finished. Other supplements are discussed
in the recommended supplements section. Thereafter
try to follow the wholesome dietary principles for one or two days a week,
soon you will find your taste buds changing and you will begin to avoid
unwholesome foods without even thinking about it.
If you eat wholefood but have never completed a fast before, choose the
beginners one-day detox to start off with. This
is an ideal choice if you are unable to take time out to focus on yourself
or if you want to do a short simple cleanse. There are two options given
for each meal depending on whether you have a hot or cold constitution.
Again, the Ortis or Detox Mix are ideal
accompaniments. Start to take the mix a few days before the detox and
continue until the course is finished. To deepen the detox, you may choose
additional supplements from the recommended supplements
section.
Fruit and freshly pressed juice fasts are commonly recommended in magazines
and popular health books, and although for the right person they can be
beneficial, they are certainly not the right choice for everyone. Those
with yeast imbalance or candida
overgrowth; irritable bowel syndrome; weak digestion or a cold constitution
(feel the cold, pale, thin) should avoid fruit or juice fasts. If you
do not suffer these problems, a juice fast is an
ideal choice if you have heat signs, or a tendency towards them (red face,
overweight, robust nature). Those with a fairly balanced constitution
might like to try the juice fast on a hot summer day. It is a fast for
the impatient - raw fruit and vegetables have the most rapid cleansing
action. Remember though, it is very important to take care to introduce
the more acidic foods (grains, proteins) slowly in order to benefit from
such a fast.
The Ayurvedic cleansing fast is an ideal choice for
people who are used to eating wholefoods on a regular basis. It is a well
designed fast, offered as an alternative for those people who are unable
to undergo Panchakarma, a more complex Ayurvedic cleansing practice supervised
by an Ayurvedic physician.
This fast requires patience and discipline, ideally one should have time
and space to meditate, particularly on the days of the actual fast. As
well as being physically cleansing, it can have a remarkable healing effect
for individuals suffering from stress due to fast paced modern living.
The Ayurvedic fast is an ideal choice for those with constitutions not
suited to the juice fast.
Different Ways of Detoxing
All you need to detox in a box. The eminent herbalist Alfred Vogal designed
this programme, which has recently been updated to cater for the modern
individual's needs. The box contains teas, tinctures and dietary instructions.
The wholesome diet is ideally followed for life. Yet it is an ideal diet
to follow if you wish to detox, but carry on eating normally. To deepen
the detoxifying effect of the diet use the supplements discussed in the
section Recommended herbal and nutritional supplements
for Detox and Juice Fast.
Eliminate the following:
- Refined food (white rice, white pasta, white bread)
- Pre-packaged food (tinned foods, packet foods and ready meals)
- Sugar (brown and white) and chocolate
- Tea and coffee (if you drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee every
day, cut back to just one in the morning)
- Alcohol
- Hydrogenated fats (e.g. margarines, biscuits, pastries etc.)
- Fried foods should be kept to a minimum, totally eliminate deep fat
fried foods
- Red meats, non-organic meat and farmed fish
Base your diet on whole grains, vegetables and smaller amounts of pulses,
nuts, seeds and dairy products. Wherever possible, use organic ingredients,
your body is then spared the extra work of processing artificial pesticides.
Use fruits and vegetables that are in season, they will have travelled
a shorter distance and there will be less loss in nutrients. See our recipe
section for a selection of wholesome diet food ideas.
For snacks use fresh and dried fruit, nuts, oatcakes and rice cakes.
Allow 3-4 hours between meals.
For ideas on changing to a wholefood diet, see also Eating
for health.
Example menu for a day using detoxifying herbs
On rising: large glass of water, with a squeeze of lemon if liked.
Breakfast: porridge,
toasted sourdough-rye, gluten free or yeast-free wheat
bread spread with honey, fruit spread or tahini
paste, dandelion coffee or herbal tea
Mid-morning: dandelion coffee or herbal tea
Lunch: Have a large glass of water while preparing food. Steamed
vegetables with tahini and brown rice
Mid afternoon: dandelion coffee or herbal tea
Dinner: Take a large glass of water while preparing food. Then
have a baked potato and hummus with a large salad including
watercress, alfalfa, and carrots. If you have a weak
digestive system, have steamed vegeatbles instead of salad. Follow, if
liked, by a baked apple stuffed with mixed dried fruit and
nuts with cinnamon served with unflavoured, organic, acidophilus
yoghurt. Take fennel or chamomile tea.
See Recommended herbal and nutritional supplements for
Detox and Juice Fast.
If it is a warm day or your constitution is hot (red face, overweight
aversion to heat) follow the HOT recommendations.
If it is a cool day or your constitution is cool (pale, thin, aversion
to cold) follow the COOL recommendations.
Dandelion coffee or herbal teas may be taken either hot or cold throughout
the day.
On rising: psyllium husk drink of choice,
followed by a large glass of room temperature water with a squeeze of
lemon or lime if liked.
Breakfast:
HOT: 3 different types of fresh fruit (not including melon)
COLD: apples, pears and raisins simmered until soft
with cinnamon and cardamom
Lunch: while preparing take a large glass of water
HOT: raw salad with 5 different types of salad ingredients including sprouts
COLD: steamed mixed sprouts and vegetables
Be sure to chew thoroughly
Dinner: take psyllium husk drink of choice and a large glass of
water
HOT: as for lunch, or have the COLD type selection
COLD: broth made from a selection of vegetables with added garlic and
fresh or dried herbs (basil, chives, tarragon, bay leaf, parsley, thyme).
Make with homemade vegetable stock or make up stock with Vecon paste.
If you like, have a couple of NOW oatcakes or rice cakes.
For the next three days, have similar menus, slowly introducing small
amounts of these foods: porridge, brown rice, millet,
nuts and seeds, yoghurt and cheese, pulses
and tofu. Follow the wholesome diet principles.
Continue to take herbal drinks and herbal and nutritional supplements.
Continuing the psyllium drink for the same length of time would also be
beneficial.
First read: Is a fruit or juice fast right for me?
Also check you have read the warning about fasting.
See Recommended herbal and nutritional supplements for
Detox and Juice Fast
Spend at least three days on the wholesome diet.
Try to only eat as much food as you can hold in your two cupped hands,
at each sitting. On the day before your fast choose especially light foods,
particularly for the evening meal.
For the actual fast take three or four drinks of freshly pressed carrot
juice instead of meals. If you do not have a juicer the Biotta vegetable
juices are ideal alternatives. The recommended amount is 300ml of
juice diluted with an equal amount of filtered or bottled water. You can
try mixtures of beetroot and carrot (use one part beetroot
to three parts carrot juice) or carrot and apple juice (mix
half and half). If you feel slightly cold add some juiced fresh ginger
root. If you wish, you may add half a teaspoon of spirulina
or wheatgrass powder to the juices, which will add to their cleansing
effect and supply you with more nutrients and energy. Spirulina
helps alleviate symptoms of mild low blood sugar levels.
End the fast by following a one-day beginners detox
diet for a day, gradually introducing new foods over a four-day period
until you are following the wholesome diet again.
This fast removes toxins from the body, mind and emotions and improves
the overall functioning of the body. It gives an experience of strength,
tranquillity, energy and vitality to the individual. It also increases
immunity and develops the inner healer.
Please check you have read the Warning about fasting
before you embark on a fast.
Herbal support during the fast
For the Ayurvedic fast, it is very important to follow a herbal programme
consisting of herbal supplements, herbal teas and the fasting drink. If
possible consult a herbal practitioner to prescribe herbal remedies specific
to your needs. If you do not wish to do this you can follow the guidelines
below.
Herbal Supplements
- If you have no history of bowel problems then Pukka Herbs Triphala
Plus Capsules may be taken as directed over the ten day period.
If you do have a sensitive gut, take Lepicol twice a day in the
morning and afternoon.
- Pukka's Guduchi and Neem Capsules contain herbs that stimulate
the the liver and cleanse the colon, take as directed.
- Also strongly recommended is vervain tea which is calming and
grounding. It is particularly useful if stressful emotions arise during
fasting. Vervain tea also induces a meditative state of mind and strengthens
the liver.
Fasting drink
It is very important that a fasting drink is taken during the preparation,
the actual fast and for five days afterwards. It should be taken at intervals
throughout the day. This drink helps to keep the body strong and balanced
through the fast. 1 - 2 teaspoons of ghee
(clarified butter) can also be taken with hot water in the moring on an
empty stomach to induce the elimination of aam (toxins).
Ingredients
4 cups of water
2 teaspoons on cumin powder
2 teaspoons of coriander powder
20 rose petals or 2 teaspoons of rosewater (optional)
4 cardamom pods
2 teaspoons of fennel seeds lightly bruised with the back of a
spoon
1 pinch of asafoetida powder
4 fresh basil leaves
1 pinch of black pepper
A quarter of a teaspoon of ginger powder (if you have a tendency
to coldness then add 3 slices of fresh root ginger)
Preparation
Mix everything together in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer gently
for about 5 minutes, remove from the heat and keep it covered for a further
20 minutes. Filter and keep warm in a flask to drink regularly throughout
the day. If the mouth goes dry then add half a teaspoon of liquorice root
to the flask.
Other Herbal Teas
It is recommended to drink detoxifying herbal teas as well as the fasting
drink. Ideal teas to take are the Birt and Tang Detox Tea, Yogi
Detox Tea. The Yogi tea is naturally sweet in flavour and thus help
with cravings. Dandelion coffee or tea can also be taken, it helps
nourish the liver and kidneys (you can add cardamom, liquorice and cinnamon
sticks whole simmering the coffee). You may to choose to drink warm water
instead of these teas.
Attitude to eating during the fast
It is very important throught this entire ten-day programme to
- only eat when you are hungry
- never to fill your stomach to its full capacity
- not eat the next meal until the previous one has been fully digested
(3-4 hours). If you take a few sips of plain hot water you will belch
- if this smells of food then your stomach is still full
- try to eat in a calm and quiet atmosphere
- focus on the food, chew well
As previously expressed this Ayurvedic way of fasting requires patience
and a certain degree of discipline, yet the benefits received will fully
reward your efforts.
Preparation for fasting
In order to prepare the body and enable it to release toxins more effectvely
druing the actual fast, it is extremely important to prepare the body
prior to fasting. This is done by eating only mung
soup or mand (rice soup)
for three to four days; the soups may be taken with or without ghee. For
instructions on how to make the soups and ghee see Ayurvedic
Recipes.
Actual fast
These days of preparation are followed by one and a half days of total
fasting on just a fasting drink, room temperature water and herbal teas
as required. Continue to take the herbal remedies recommended or prescribed.
As much as possible remain in silence and meditate. Apply ghee onto the
temples and the soles of the feet before bed to calm the mind and promote
sound sleep. Siddha paste, applied once a day around the naval, is an
effective way of speeding up the removal of intestinal blocks and toxic
accumulations.
How to make Siddha paste:
Ingredients
1 small onion
Half a teaspoon of dry ginger powder
Quarter of a teaspoon of black pepper
2-4 cloves of garlic
2 pinches of asafoetida
4 pinches of rock salt
Method
Chop the onion and put it into a blender with the garlic and all the spices.
Push everything through a sieve in order to make a fine paste. Apply on
the stomach all around the navel area and leave for at least 15 minutes.
This paste is also an excellent remedy to apply on any area that is painful
such as the lower back or on strained or aching joints muscles and tendons.
Breaking the Fast
On the evening of the second day only a small meal of mand
(without ghee) should be taken. It is important to break the fast in this
way. If any other food is taken at this time it will not be processed
correctly and more toxins will be put into the system and you will undo
all the good work you have done. Five days is the absolute minimum time
to wait before reintroducing a wider variety of foods.
The recipes for the following are described in the recipe section under
Ayurvedic recipes.
First day: Mand with spices but no ghee. Eat and chew the soup;
don't drink it.
Second day: Mand or mung soup with 1 teaspoon of ghee
Third day: Peya with spices and ghee
Fourth day: Mung soup and rice or vilepi with ghee. In the evening
take vegetable soup made with pumpkin courgette or carrots.
Fifth day: Vilepi, mung soup or vegetable soup and rice with ghee.
Additional practices to support the cleansing process
Herbs have an important role to play in supporting the eliminatory pathways.
Taking appropriate herbs, ensures that toxins and waste matter are released
from the bowels, the urinary system and the lymphatic system. Herbs and
spices can also help to keep the body warm during fasting and can help
to calm the mind and emotions.
Anti-oxidant nutrients help to fight free radicals which speed up degenerative
processes in the body. Free radicals are produced in response to the toxic
substances in food, air and water.
Psyllium husk drink: take 2 heaped teaspoons
twice a day for two weeks. Choose either:
- Psyllium husk alone
- Lepicol where there is irritable bowel or candida overgrowth
- Psyllium husk, psyllium seeds and linseed equal parts where
there is constipation
The first two drinks may be taken on a long-term basis. It is very important
that you drink at least one and a half litres of water per day when taking
psyllium.
Nature's Own Antioxidant Formula OR Nature's Own Smoker's Formula
(similar formula but slightly stronger) x 1 per day: take for 30 days,
one tablet per day in the morning.
Ortis ten-day detox or the less potent (and less laxative) Ephytem
ten-day detox - take either one for the full ten days. Follow instructions
on packaging.
If you have a large appetite, suffer from cravings or mild blood sugar
imbalance: take spirulina, blue green algae or wheatgrass
tablets or powder starting on the same day as the Ortis mixture, continue
for ten days. For dosages and to select the right green food for you,
see the Green Superfoods page.
For extra liver support you might like to take a Milk Thistle capsule
or tincture twice a day before meals. Milk thistle has a synergy with
dandelion, so try to drink dandelion coffee during the day or take Cotswold's
Milk Thistle and Dandelion capsules.
Herbal teas: Yogi Detox Tea; Yogi Calming Tea; Yogi Stomach
Ease Tea; Ayurvedic Higher Release Tea; dandelion coffee;
vervain tea; chamomile tea. Drink instead of tea or coffee
freely.
Dry skin brushing induces elimination through the skin and encourages
the flow of lymph. Using a sisal brush, brush towards the heart
in long sweeping strokes. 20-50 brushes for each leg from toes to buttocks;
10-25 strokes for each arm from fingertip to upper chest. Ideally skin
brush before taking a salt bath.
Sea salt, particularly Dead Sea Salt encourages elimination through
the skin. Add 3 or 4 handfuls of salt to a warm bath and relax for at
least 20 minutes. Add appropriate essential oils if you wish. Then thoroughly
but gently scrub the body with a loofah or sisal pad in
circular motion working towards the heart. After you bath wrap up warm,
dry your hair and go straight to bed. A seaweed bath may be taken
if you have dry skin.
Sitting in a sauna or steam room induces sweating and elimination of uric
acid thus aiding detox. If you feel light headed or have blood pressure
problems, do not use the sauna or steam room. After a sauna, aromatherapy
oils are very well absorbed.
If you plan to have a professional aromatherapy massage, then tell the
practitioner that you are detoxing and they will design an appropriate
blend for you. Massages are relaxing and using the more diuretic essential
oils will aid the detox process.
Use Fleur's Cellulite Bath Oil and Cellulite Massage oil
or make up the following blends:
| For 10ml of base oil add either |
or |
| 2 drops of geranium |
2 drops of sandalwood |
| 2 drops of roman chamomile |
2 drops of frankincense |
| 1 drop of fennel |
1 drop of juniper |
Always use good quality essential oils, we recommend the Absolute Aroma
range. Massage towards the heart and never massage varicose veins.
Be sure to take a gentle stroll and try as much as possible to practice
deep breathing as toxins are expelled through the breath. Additionally,
being in natural surroundings is beneficial for both body and soul. If
it is warm enough, wear loose minimal clothes to give your body an air
bath.
Following is a selection of the Bach flower remedies that may be suitable
for balancing the emotions during fasting. It should be noted that many
and varied emotions can rise up when the ingestion of food is limited,
so any of thirty eight remedies may be appropriate.
| Remedy |
Indications |
| Crab Apple |
Crab apple is a specific remedy for aiding the detox
process, it helps to cleanse the blood. It also helps with feelings
of impurity and uncleanliness. |
| Gentian |
Helps to strengthen the will. Ideal for people who tend
to embark on projects and are then discouraged and give up prematurely.
Gentian is used for relapses in the healing process and helps the
individuals to see things through. |
| Rock Water |
A remedy for people who are too hard or strict with
themselves. It is an ideal remedy for those inclined to fanatical
fasting. |
| Star of Bethlehem |
An ideal remedy for those who feel spaced out or disconnected.
Fasting can have profound effects on the psyche, sometimes causing
unprocessed traumatic events to re-surface. This remedy has a comforting
and calming effect. |
| Vervain |
A good remedy for those who have a tendency towards
fanaticism and a need to share their enthusiasm for particular ideas
with excessive zeal. Also treats stress, nervousness and tension.
|
| Walnut |
Aids the shedding of bad habits, particularly if such
habits are shared with another person who has a strong influence.
A good support for going through the process of change towards a healthier
lifestyle. |
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