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Detoxification is a process and lifestyle change. It is not supplementing a bad diet with vitamins and herbs; it is not doing emotional work and not implementing the new information to change old habits, and it is not eating vegetarian and then living a sedentary lifestyle. When someone is truly detoxing, they are pulling the toxins from the emotional/mental part of the body, the chemical/nutritional part of the body, and the structural/physical part of the body. Cleansing the body is one thing, detoxifing the body is another.

WAYS TO DETOXIFY

There are many ways to help the body eliminate toxins such as; cleansing programs that require herbal supplements, fasting or dietary changes; organ flushes; emotional techniques; guided imagery; feng shui; bodywork; acupuncture; the use of compresses, poultices, and packs; exercise; lymphatic stimulation; dry skin brushing; baths, saunas and hydrotherapy; and many other ways to stimulate a purge of toxins.

USING SAUNAS

The "heat stress" of a sauna is very effective in releasing fat-stored toxins from the cells and the use of a sauna is a major part of a detoxification program. When using a sauna for a detoxification program, find a dry sauna that has been constructed to be environmentally safe with air cleaners attached to the air circulation units. Sometimes commercial saunas at health clubs can be too hot, may not have adequate oxygen levels and are not environmentally well constructed.

SAUNA CLEANSING PROGRAM

Dry saunas are recommended because they increase sweating and also speed the detox process. A complete sauna cleansing program should include exercise, time in a dry sauna and a cleansing shower followed by a massage. Both the exercise and sauna time should be built up gradually so that the stress of the body is minimized.

YOUR SKIN IS 1/7 OF YOUR RESPIRATION

It is a good idea to exercise for at least 20 minutes, then go into the sauna. Maximum sauna time should be 30 minutes. A cleansing shower afterward washes off the toxins excreted in the sauna and prevents them from being reabsorbed. Remember - your skin is 1/7th of your respiration. It secretes, absorbs and breaths. Massage stimulates, relaxes, and increases blood circulation which will aid in the detox process.

REPLACE LOST FLUIDS WITH WATER

While in the sauna, be sure to replace the fluids lost with plenty of water, both while in the sauna and afterward to help flush the kidneys. Remember - you can't flush a toilet without water. Nutritional supplements also aid in sauna cleansing, particularly using antioxidants. Oils taken orally help to bind toxins as the liver and bile remove them from the body.

CAUTION:

Caution: Pregnant women should not sauna. The heat from the sauna may cause neural tube defects in the fetus during the first trimester of pregancy. Since many women do not know they are pregnant during this time, women of child-bearing age should have a pregnancy test before beginning any sauna treatment. Heart disease, kidney disease and anemia are also contraindications for sauna treatment.

NOW REST!

After completing a sauna, allow a period of rest. The body needs a quiet time to adjust and rebalance. Most importantly, take care of yourself and then you'll be able to take care of others.

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