Often times, particularly in the health community, words get so loosely thrown around that they begin to lose all meaning. “Detox” is one of those words and concepts.
Although it’s more profitable than ever before to throw around the word “detox” in order to sell programs or products, we can’t actually force our bodies to detox.
We can, however, support our bodies in order to maximize their inherent detox capabilities. These are some of the things I do to support my liver, kidneys, and skin:
7 Ways To Enhance and Support Your Body’s Detox Capabilities:
1.) Detox Through Your Underarms: Our underarms play a huge role in our bodies natural detox process, but they often get clogged by pore-blocking chemicals in commercial deodorants (antiperspirants are the worst offenders) and do not allow for proper lymphatic drainage. Before switching to a natural deodorant (I recommend the Native sensitive skin line- it’s the only that didn’t give me a rash and actually worked as advertised) I did an underarm detox mask every day for two weeks- I mixed bentonite clay (I recommend Redmond clay or Indian healing clay) with raw apple cider vinegar until a thick but spreadable mixture is formed, and leave on my underarms for 30-45 minutes. Start with ten minutes, especially if you have very sensitive skin. After the initial two weeks, I usually do a mask once or twice a week, sometimes more in the summer.
Important: never use a metal bowl or metal utensils to make this mixture- it will de-activate the drawing properties. Also, drink a lot of water during and after the mask.
2.) Scrape Your Tongue- Much of the detoxing and healing our bodies are capable of is done while we are sleeping. First thing in the morning, it’s important to remove accumulated bacteria from our tongue by using a tongue scraper. Using a toothbrush will only spread around the bacteria- using a scraper actually removes it. I scrape 2-4 times with a copper scraper- I use The Dirt Copper Tongue Scraper.
3.) Oil Pulling- After I scrape my tongue, I swish coconut oil in my mouth vigorously for 15-20 minutes while I’m taking my morning shower, then spit it out into the trash can and rinse my mouth several times with warm water. I learned about oil pulling when I first started studying Ayurvedic healing remedies. The oil attracts bacteria in our mouth, and when I do it regularly, I never get sick in the winter. It’s ideal to do it every morning but I try to do it a minimum of 3 times per week.
4.) Dry Body Brushing- Ayurvedic dry skin brushing, also known as garshana, helps support our skin’s natural detox process by aiding the lymphatic system in removing cellular waste and increasing circulation. I dry skin brush for 10-15 minutes every day. Always be sure to drink a couple of glasses of water immediately afterward.
5.) Warm Lemon Water- After oil pulling, the first thing I put in my mouth each morning is a huge glass of warm lemon water with a couple of tablespoons of fresh lemon juice or raw apple cider vinegar mixed in. This helps the digestive system to function properly and supports our bodies natural detox system, giving it a head start for the day.
6.) Roasted Dandelion Root Tea- I usually drink 2-3 cups of this tea daily. My favorite brands are Traditional Medicinals and Thrive Market. One of the best ways to help our bodies detox is by supporting the liver, and this tea is great for that.
7.) Green Juice- drinking any kind of fresh, raw green juice is a great way to support your body in detox. The queen of all green juices is wheatgrass juice- be sure to drink it within two minutes of juicing. I like to have a shot of wheatgrass juice every morning after my lemon water. When drinking any kind of green juice, be sure to drink it on an empty stomach so the nutrients go straight to your bloodstream for maximum assimilation. I wait at least two hours after a minute and 20 minutes before a meal to drink my green juice. It’s also important to swish the juice in your mouth a little bit initially to help release digestive enzymes in your saliva.
These are seven things I do regularly to help support my body in eliminating toxins. These things have helped me to heal from multiple chronic illnesses and to balance my hormones. Beware of products and programs that throw around the word “detox” or imply that it is something you have to force your body to do. Your liver, kidneys, and skin are the chief organs responsible for detoxing and the best way to help your body detox is by supporting these organs, to make their job easier and more efficient.
