Detoxification, diet and herbs

The following's an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health by R. G. Heft (Acupuncture Physician FL 1992- 2002) based on conventional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines and the questioning and counseling of 10,000+. For more info, read additional articles by the author and or buy, read the whole book (available on Amazon).
The food we eat, the air we breathe and water we drink are somewhat tainted (waste products, inorganic chemicals, red dye #1, etc.). We tend to overeat, which naturally increases toxins, waste. Everyone needs to detox but is detoxification for everyone? Detoxing cleanses, removes excess: nutrients, non-nutrients, etc. from the blood, intestines, liver, kidneys, etc. It also drains energy, and in the extreme, weakens all function, including digestion. Digestion transforms food, nutrients into blood, into structure into function, into health or disease. Weak, incomplete digestion transforms less food, nutrients into blood, creating less, thinner blood, which in turn, thins, weakens everything else. It also creates more waste product as all food, nutrients and non-nutrients, not digested, absorbed becomes waste.

Detoxification is generally a "cold" cleansing process that tends to benefit the overheated, overbuilt (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, liver congestion, tumors, cancer, psoriasis, gout, etc.) while worsening those who are cold, weak and or live in a cold climate, as detoxing naturally drains energy and heat.

Most detoxification programs, formulas involve bitter herbal medicine (golden seal, gentian root, aloe vera), digestive enzymes, spices, bulking, cleansing agents (psyllium, clay), acidophilus, etc. Bitter herbs are cold and dry in nature. Cold and bitter contract, dry and move blood down through the liver, arteries, veins, etc. They help lessen cholesterol, fatty deposits, etc. while also draining excess moisture, dampness (water. mucous, phlegm, cellulite, etc.).

Psyllium husks (absorbs water) and clay (minerals) are moistening, cooling and cleansing. They help remove excess accumulations (protein, fat, oil, sugar, flour, etc.) in the small and large intestines and are contraindicated, when there is cold, damp: weak, cold digestion (abdominal bloating, loose stools), respiration (mucous, phlegm, coughing and or shortness of breath), edema, etc. Cooked vegetables (leafy greens, cabbage, broccoli, etc.), seaweeds, black fungus, etc. also clean the intestines, remove excess debris.

Digestive aids and spices help counter the cold, damp nature of bitter herbs, psyllium and minerals. Spices are hot and drying. They help prevent and drain dampness while increasing digestion.

Women (menstruation), kids and the elderly (age) tend to have cold, weak digestion, especially if they eat a cold, damp diet (milk, yogurt, pasta, bread, salads, fruit, juices, shakes, cold drinks, etc.). Men, in general, have stronger digestion. This is due in large part to testosterone and the tendency to eat more protein, fat, cooked foods, etc.

Bitter herbs, psyllium, clay, etc, in combination with tropical fruits, salads, and cold drinks tend to worsen cold, damp and or weak conditions (chronic fatigue, easily perspires, thin, dry skin, hair and or nails, anemia, infertility, miscarriage, short-term pregnancy, impotence, loose stools, edema, cellulite, yeast infections, Candidiasis, depression, fear, hysteria, etc.).

Detoxification of the body always starts with diet, food. Impure, highly processed foods tend to contain significant amounts of toxins, poisons. Too much protein and fat (meat, eggs, cheese, oil, etc.) tends to poison and clog the blood, liver, heart, arteries, veins, intestines, etc. Too many fruits, vegetables and grains sweeten, weaken and slow down blood, body fluids, etc. allowing infection to occur. Detoxification is meaningless if you do not control your diet.

The first step to detoxing (if you are excessive) is to eliminate the excess whether it is protein, fat, oil, sugar, flour (cookies, bread, pastries, etc.) preservatives, dyes, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

The second step is correct diet (middle diet). The third step is exercise and fresh air, oxygen (highly cleansing). These are the most powerful ways to detox. Adding herbs and other therapies (sweating, meditation, etc.) increase cleansing, detoxification, for those who need it. The weak, cold, etc. in general do not need to detox. They need to build. Spring and summer are the best times to detox, fall and winter, worst. You may catch a cold if you detox in winter.

Cure disease with health. Building health prevents and cures disease. Disease cannot live, prosper unless you feed it. Like health, it has a some but flexible diet. The body'll heal itself when given the chance via correct diet, exercise, etc. It will get sick when not given the chance. Feed health instead of feeding disease. The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended.