Featured Question

“I want to do a total body cleanse but am not sure what type of digestive system cleanse/colon cleanse I should perform. I have had difficulty with constipation and want to make sure that I perform a good intestinal cleanse that works. Most of the information seems to be hype and makes it difficult to know who is telling the truth. Any suggestions? ”

Dr. Lanphier's Answer

This is a great question and one that I get quite often. Below is an article that I think will explain exactly what is needed to get not only the digestive tract, but the whole body clean. Cleansing provides a great body terrain for the beginning of a total health program.

Total Body Cleansing 101

By: Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP

The importance of cleansing the body and ridding it of toxins and impacted fecal matter cannot be overstated. Deciding to do a total body cleanse is hands down one of the best decisions any one can make regarding their health. While there are many things one can do to improve their health, if we don’t first clean house and make it possible for the body to live and function in a fruitful environment, we cannot reap the benefits from otherwise good choices. Consuming food in its purest form, drinking pure and clean water, and using supplements that support the body systems are all fine and necessary ideas. But if our digestive tract and other internal organs are all fouled up with the junk that’s been accumulating over time, we are not in a position to receive the benefits from these proactive steps. Not only does a dirty, clogged up body keep us from receiving the nutrients and healing properties that we seek, but this unsavory condition is actually making us sicker from all the toxins that are collecting in our organs. Remember the old saying: “It’s a good idea, but not a great idea?” Well, I think that applies here. Taking care of ourselves by watching what we do and don’t put into our bodies is a good idea, but in order for it to be a great idea, we must first prepare our vessels.

One only need enter the terms “body cleanse” or “colon cleanse” into an internet search engine to see that there is an enormous amount of information out there regarding this subject. I agree that sorting it all out can seem a bit overwhelming, so let’s see if we can take a look at some of the basics and come up with a good plan of action.

What is Meant by a Full Body Cleanse?

A full body cleanse is a program that addresses the detoxification of the full digestive tract, the liver, the gallbladder, and the kidneys, as well as ridding the body of parasites and heavy metals. These are the organs of the body that are responsible for absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste products. This “in with the good and out with the bad” process is the backbone of life. Our health and welfare all rides on this. It is said that 80% of the immune system is actually located in the digestive tract. If this “engine” is running well, we will prosper. If it is not, then the system breaks down and nothing we do seems to help.

There are various products and regimens available to achieve cleansing, and we will cover that later in this article. However, let me give you one word of caution: There is no “magic bullet” that can accomplish cleansing in one fell swoop. In other words, beware of anyone who tries to sell you a product that “does it all in one quick and easy step.” All of our body systems are different, and they all need different approaches when it comes to cleansing.

Where Do I Begin?

An excellent question, and as a wise man (my father) once said: “At the beginning.” And the beginning, when it comes to body cleansing, is the digestive tract. If we don’t get it right with the digestive tract, the value of anything else we do will be greatly diminished.

Our modern diets, especially the Standard American Diet (SAD), wreak havoc with our digestive tract. Instead of the whole, natural foods and pure water that we were created to consume, many of us load up low-fiber, nutrient-poor, micro waved, high fat stuff that passes for food these days. The digestive tract is simply not up to the task of properly managing a steady diet of this, and constipation becomes the norm.  It is said that our body contains enough enzymes to process one cooked meal per day, meaning that our other meals should be raw and unprocessed.  What happens is that instead of absorbing nutrients and quickly passing the waste products out of the body, as the digestive tract is designed to do, this junk food gets trapped in the digestive tract and begins to putrefy. As this happens over time, more and more toxic material accumulates and not only poisons the digestive tract, but also the surrounding organs. Our modern diets, devoid of fiber short, circuit the body’s normal response, which is 2-3 bowel movements daily. Many folks today don’t even have that many in a week!

So, now that we have established the importance of intestinal cleansing, how do we do it? There are several very good ways to cleanse the colon and digestive tract:

• My favorite type of digestive tract cleanser and the one that I began using myself over six years ago and thus recommend is Mag 07 which is an oxygen-based cleanser.  Other than Homozon, which was developed by Dr. Eugene Blass in 1898, Mag 07 is the first oxygen-based cleanser developed to release oxygen for over 12 hours. Oxygen-based cleansing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to perform a thorough and full digestive tract cleanse. Believe it or not, oxygen is one of the most important substances that enable the body to heal. The best oxygen-based cleansers contain a combination of powdered magnesium oxide compounds which have been ozonated and stabilized to release mono-atomic or nascent oxygen over 12 hours or more. After much time, personal experience and personal research into 200 plus years of oxygen therapy I have come to a deeper understanding that when a person is using an oxygen therapy technology, (as the leading manufacture in the field, Aerobic Life, suggests), nothing else is needed in the product except the ozonated compounds of magnesium oxide along with natural citric acid as a catalyst. These cleansers actually are able to cleanse the whole digestive tract, not just the colon. In its oxide form, very little magnesium is assimilated by the body so there is no worry of getting too much magnesium. It passes through the intestinal tract, kidneys and bladder, helping to cleanse by delivering oxygen along the way. Therefore, it is the perfect vehicle for transporting oxygen and no other immune stimulant is necessary. This also creates an inhospitable environment for anaerobic bacteria and other toxic matter. And the best oxygen-based cleansers do not affect the friendly bacteria which are needed for proper digestive and intestinal health. The vegetarian capsules should contain natural citric acid, which along with the natural HCL in the stomach, prompts the release of oxygen. Some lesser quality products contain antioxidants as an ingredient. An oxidative product should never contain ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) or any antioxidant because it neutralizes any oxygen released making the product ineffective.

• Psyllium husks are a popular choice for cleansing. They tend to swell and become gel-like when exposed to water. This makes for a bulkier and softer stool that has a faster transit time through the colon. Use of psyllium can also reduce the risks of developing pockets in the intestines that can trap undigested food and become infected. This condition is called diverticulitis. However psyllium husks can also produce a scraping action that can actually irritate and inflame the digestive tract, especially if used on a continual basis. According to Sindi Holmlund, a herbalist, researcher and writer, “When Psyllium is used internally, it has a property most people are not aware of. It goes IN as a liquid and comes OUT as a solid. Yes, when it heats up to body temperature it solidifies! It takes on a rubbery consistency and molds - much like Jell-O - into the shape of the area it has turned solid in. This accounts for the yards and yards of debris that people have been cleansing from their intestines for about 30 years. Now, I know this flies in the face of today's most popular cleansing programs, especially the ones which have people drinking gallons of Psyllium shakes each week, but please, DO NOT take my word for it. Get a couple of tablespoons of powdered Psyllium and do a little experimenting for yourself. Psyllium also has the characteristic of absorbing anything that is eaten or drank along with it. If you drink carrot juice at the same time, it will come out the other end looking like orange rubber. If you are taking herbal tablets or eating salads, it will come out the color of the tablets or have bits of salad in it. Therefore you could think that you had that salad in your intestines for years. A favorite practice of many natural healer is to put people on juice fasts and feed them cleansing drinks with Psyllium in them. If the person drinks beet and dark green vegetables his rubbery, Psyllium will come out almost black! This is from the iron in the beets, it turns the stool black. One thing you need to know about Psyllium is that if you're a person who suffer from constipation, you want to stay away from it. The reason being that even a person who has pretty good bowel movements needs to do enemas to remove it when taken in cleansing quantities. In other words, it bulks up and expands in the colon and actually plugs you up. On the other hand it is great for any one having chronic diarrhea as it will help to solidify the stool and give them great relief. However this is a short term solution, if you have chronic diarrhea, you need to find the cause and correct it. Over a prolonged period of time it can lead to death from dehydration and malnutrition.”

• Herbal Supplements are a compilation of herbs that are meant to gently and slowly cleanse the digestive tract of toxins. Beware of any herbal products that bill themselves as fast acting. These often include harsh herbs such as senna and/or cascara sagrada that act as stimulants and laxatives, which may produce diarrhea, uncomfortable bloating and gas, cause dehydration, and deplete the body of necessary minerals. Some herbs are even habit-forming, in the sense that the body becomes dependent on them to have normal bowel movements. Finding a product that is gentle and consistent may be difficult. Herbal cleanses will often contain such herbs as psyllium, milk thistle, licorice, alfalfa, kelp, wild oats, and guar gum (found in many beans). Be sure to question the manufacturer as to how the herbs are grown and gathered. Are they grown with pesticides or herbicides? Are they wild-crafted? Wildcrafted means they are gathered from their natural, wild habitat. Wildcrafted plants are regulated by The Organic Food Production Act of 1991 and no prohibited substances may be added by processors. If the product is contained in a capsule make sure that the capsule is of a vegetable source.  Also look for toxic excipients such as magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide (common sand), methylcellulose, carnauba wax or apple pectin.

• There are many quality digestive tract cleanses that are composed of bentonite clay. Bentonite is actually volcanic ash. It has been used for centuries as both an internal and external cleanser. The Egyptians even used it to preserve their mummies. As an internal cleanser, it has the ability to remove heavy metals, drugs, and other toxins from the body. It is even said to help rid the body of radiation picked up from x-rays, computers, and other sources. There has been some discussion as to whether some of the Bentonite clays containing absorbable aluminum. There are over 200 types of bentonite clays so do your research and homework.

• Colonics (Colon Hydrotherapy) also know as colonic irrigation is a term that describes a digestive system cleansing process whereby the colon is washed with water (sometimes with herbal ingredients added) via a tube inserted in the rectum. It is sort of like an enema on steroids. This is a somewhat controversial cleanse for the colon, even in natural medicine circles. Some folks swear by it, others are cautious and skeptical of its benefits. As with most healthcare decisions, educate yourself, and make your own informed decision.   Remember that colon hydrotherapy only cleanses the colon area and cannot get as far up as the small intestine where nutrients are actually absorbed.  This is why many colon hydro-therapists choose to offer to their clients an oxygen-based cleanser such as Mag 07.

Some of the more noted benefits that most people experience from digestive tract and colon cleansing are:  increased energy, less bloating, more frequent and easier bowel movements, headache reduction, ease of lower back pain, alleviation of constipation, skin that becomes clearer and more radiant, better absorption of food and nutrients and sometimes weight loss.

Liver and Gallbladder Cleanses

The cleansing of the liver and gallbladder is the next recommended step after the colon has been taken care of. Some practitioners believe that this cleanse should be preformed before cleansing the digestive tract. It is probably safe to say that it depends on how toxicity of the body. During a digestive tract cleanse the body will release a lot of toxins. If the liver is already toxic from year of abuse, then it may have difficulty in filtering out these toxins and they may be carried to other parts of the body. In this case, it is recommended to cleanse the liver and gallbladder first so that they can handle the large amount of released toxins. If the body is not extremely toxic then the digestive tract cleanse would be recommended first.

How important is it for these organs to be cleansed? Well, the liver is the main filter of the body. It can become clogged up after years of toxins (alcohol, drugs, food preservatives, heavy metals, chemical pollutants, etc.) flow through it. Liver stones can form causing further problems. The liver and the gallbladder work closely together. The liver produces a substance called bile that is used by the body to aid digestion. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed for digestion. The gallbladder can also develop stones that decrease its efficiency and impede the flow of bile. An unhealthy, clogged up liver and gallbladder can lead to all kinds of unwanted complications because toxins will back up and overflow into other organs within the body.

The best solution that I know of to cleanse the liver and gallbladder is a remedy that includes apple juice, phosphoric acid, Epsom salts, heavy whipping cream, berries, and extra virgin olive oil (how’s that for a combination?) I won’t go into all the specifics, (the regimen is quite detailed and can be found on our website) but this concoction is a proven method for cleaning up the liver and gallbladder and ridding them of stones. Basically, the ingredients are ingested in the order listed above, and the patient is able to rid himself of stones and other debris that has accumulated in these organs. If a person is highly toxic then a liver and gallbladder cleanse should be performed one time a month for three months. After that, two times yearly.

Kidney Cleanses

The kidneys are also critical to our good health. They perform a multitude of important functions

• Regulating the balance of fluids in the body
• Helping to maintain the acid/alkaline balance in the blood
• Removing wastes from the body
• Helping to stabilize blood pressure
• Helping with the production of red blood cells

The kidneys need a lot of fluids (purified water is best) in order to function properly. If you are in the habit of drinking 8-10 glasses a day of pure, clean water, chances are you are cleansing your kidneys on a daily basis. However, if you do not drink enough water, as many of us don’t, an organic juice fast is one recommendation. Another option for cleansing the kidneys is a melon fast, usually with watermelon. Eating nothing but watermelon (about 3 or 4 good sized melons, preferably organic) for an entire day has helped many folks to dissolve and eliminate kidney stones.  Drinking cranberry juice, diluted 50/50 with distilled water, throughout the day is yet another option for effectively cleansing the kidneys. 

Heavy Metal Cleanses

Heavy metals are absorbed into our bodies through the air, the water, and the food we eat. Our bodies need some heavy metals in trace concentrations such as cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc, but often these accumulate in concentrations that are abnormally high and can become toxic. Some heavy metals migrate into our bodies that have no useful purpose at all, such as: mercury (often from dental amalgams), cadmium, aluminum and lead. Some of the above mentioned cleanses for the colon and liver/gallbladder will help to eliminate some heavy metals, but there are products available that specifically seek these out and target them:

Chlorella is an amazing natural product that is very effective for cleansing the body of heavy metals. Chlorella is a blue-green algae that is considered a “super food.” It is a wonderful supplement that has many other benefits besides heavy metal cleansing, such as: regulating blood sugar, rebuilding nerve tissue, and increasing brain function and mental capacity. Chlorella must be used in therapeutic dosages for proper cleansing and is a very effective, less costly way to perform heavy metal detoxification.

Oral and IV Chelation is the administration of supplements that bind themselves to heavy metals in the body, and make it easier for them to be expelled. Chelation has been around for many years. It first was used after the World War I to rid soldiers of exposure to toxic chemicals used as weapons. In more recent times, it has become popular in alternative medicine circles as an antidote to heavy metal poisoning from such sources as mercury in dental fillings, and ethyl-mercury in some vaccines. A substance called EDTA is often used as the chelation agent. It can be used as an oral supplement, or injected intravenously. Chelation has also shown some promise of benefiting cardiac patients. Recently EDTA suppositories have been developed as an alternate form of IV EDTA that also acts as a chelation agent to remove toxic heavy metals in the body. Medicardium has proven to be an easy and very effective way to cleanse from heavy metals while experiencing the benefits of chelation therapy in the privacy of your own home.

NOTE: There is much discussion about whether or not people who have mercury amalgams in their mouth should perform heavy metal cleanses. Some natural health practitioners say that the process will allow more mercury to enter the system and therefore should not be performed unless the mouth is free of mercury. Others say that a heavy metal cleanse poses no more of a threat than the mercury that is already in the mouth and may actually help the body to reduce the heavy metal overload by removing other metals. If you have mercury amalgams, talk to your healthcare practitioner before performing a heavy metal cleanse.

Parasite Cleansing

One final area of cleansing that should be discussed is that of parasites. We humans carry many different types of parasites in our bodies, and they can contribute greatly to problems with our overall health. They feed on food and other substances in our bodies, and excrete their waste products inside us too. It is estimated that there may be as many as 3000 different types of parasites that can invade our bodies. Many are very small, even single-celled. But there have been cases of tapeworms found in people that were over 30 feet long! Raw or undercooked meat (especially pork) are common sources of parasites. However, we can pick up parasites from door knobs and vegetables that have not been washed properly. Some parasites will make us sick. Others are silent lurkers that may be robbing us of energy and nutrients, but manifest no obvious symptoms. Either way, we do not want them trespassing in our bodies.

There are herbal products that specifically target these parasites, and either kill them or stimulate them to leave the body, usually through the bowels. I recommend, as part of a complete body-cleansing regimen, that you use a parasite cleanse such as Clarkia Parasite Cleanse. Find a high quality one that uses organic herbs and ingredients. It is always good to be using a digestive tract cleanser (as maintenance) such as Mag 07 while performing a parasite cleanse in order to help wash out the parasites.

Conclusion

Many practitioners do not take the time to educate clients about the importance of cleansing the body. Therefore this is a reason as to why many people do not see the results that were hope for when attempting to heal or get healthy using natural medicine. The body must be prepared so that everything good that is taken in will be effectively absorbed, utilized and assimilated. Without proper cleansing, absorption rates will be affected and thus results may not be optimum.

I hope this has helped you to understand the crucial importance of cleansing the body, as well as some of the options available. Optimum health begins with a clean digestive tract. That lays the foundation for continued health and well-being.