A thorough colon cleanse program can be broken into two stages – increasing fiber intake to get things moving, and using an enema to clear a persistent blockage.

I know what you are thinking … the very word enema used to make me cringe. However, given the importance of colon cleansing, I decided to try it. By following a set of simple directions, I found using an enema to be painless and well worth the result ? a cleaner and healthier colon. Remember, an enema is an essential part of a thorough colon cleanse.

Why is the colon so important?

Think of the colon – also called the bowel or large intestine ? as the sewer system for your digestive system. The primary function of your colon is to collect and eliminate waste from your body. It also absorbs water and certain nutrients into the bloodstream. Colon cleansing can help you better absorb nutrients and water from the food you eat.

Your colon starts on the lower right side of your abdomen, moves up toward the ribcage, crosses the body and comes back down the left side, where it goes down to the pelvic area. Movement of waste along this winding path is caused by contractions of the intestinal muscles. Eating food that contains fiber helps keep that waste moving along in the colon. Using an enema for colon cleansing and administering additional supplements, like hydrogen peroxide therapy through the enema solution, can help the colon recover.

In addition to eliminating waste, the colon also reabsorbs water and absorbs nutrients from its contents. If water is not sufficiently reabsorbed, the waste is too liquidy and the result is diarrhea. Liquidy waste moves through the colon too quickly and therefore nutrients are not absorbed properly. This can lead to hunger pangs, frequent eating and dehydration. Do you have problems with dry skin? Well, colon cleansing can actually help relieve these problems.

Too much absorption of water also causes problems. Waste moves too slowly in the colon and has a tendency to plug up the intestinal canal. The effect is constipation, which can cause a bloated feeling and can finally cause the colon to sag.

The constant switching between diarrhea and constipation is called a spastic colon, or irritable bowel syndrome. Adding fiber to your diet can help regulate the liquid absorption in your colon and also cleanse your colon at the same time. Think of fiber as nature?s scrub brush in your colon cleansing efforts.

While these are not pleasant topics of discussion and certainly not fit for party or dinner table conversation ? I certainly don?t talk about colon cleansing and enemas over dinner – the fact is that colon cleansing is an important part of being healthy, and using an enema is a crucial part of a thorough colon cleanse. A clean, healthy colon can not only spare you from colon diseases and conditions such as Crohn?s disease, colitis and colon cancer, but also improve the effectiveness of your overall immune system.

Signs of an Unhealthy Colon

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is likely that you do not have good colon health and need colon cleansing.
Infrequent bowel movements or insufficient volume
Need to strain during your bowel movements
Require a substantial amount of time for your bowel movements Effortless and quick bowel movements – at least one per meal – are the key signs of a healthy colon. For those of you who catch up on their reading in the bathroom, the only drawback of good colon health is that you will get a lot less reading done!

Colon Cleansing Guide

In order to thoroughly cleanse your colon and maintain good colon health, you will need to follow a multi-pronged approach consisting of supplement-based colon cleansing, an enema and certain exercises. There are two basic forms of supplement-based colon cleanse. The do-it-yourself method requires that you find and purchase all of the ingredients. This task can be time consuming and not necessarily inexpensive, despite the label “do-it-yourself”. However, if you decide to use the do-it-yourself approach, to help you, I have found a single online store that has most of the necessary ingredients – so you can save on shipping charges. I am a fan of this store because they offer good customer service and wholesale pricing. Each item is linked to the specific item in their shopping cart, to make it easier for you to shop. Just go back and forth between this page and their shopping cart, until you have everything you need. Then simply checkout on their page.

Using the kit method, you can purchase a kit, consisting of a mixture of various fiber supplements and herbal laxatives. While this may seem like it costs more, take it from someone that has done a lot of cleanses, by the time you purchase all of the ingredients in their minimum quanities, you really do not save that much money using the do-it-yourself method. If you wish to, you can skip ahead to the kit method.

Do-it-Youself Supplement-Based Colon Cleanse

You can use the following simple home remedy for colon cleansing, called the Ivy Briggs Colon Cleansing Formula.

Each evening, drink the colon cleansing formula – drink immediately after mixing, as the psyllium will have a tendency to harden up. Also, you will likely have psyllium residue on the glass after drinking it. Refill the glass with water to wash down the residue and drink it. Drink the Ivy Briggs Colon Cleansing Formula every day for about 30-60 days.

My Concern About The Do-It-Yourself Method

I have successfully used the do-it-yourself method of colon cleanse described on this page many times and have alleviated allergy symptoms and acne. However, I have growing concerns about the variability and efficacy of the necessary ingredients, based on different manufacturers’ standards and the shelf life of supplements.

Kit Method of Colon Cleanse

Instead of assembling all of the ingredients yourself, you may choose from one of numerous supplement-based colon cleansing kits available at your health food store or online. A complete supplement-based colon cleansing kit should have some form of laxative, herbal treatment to support colon health and fiber. You should also make sure that the whatever supplement based product you purchase is fresh (not past its shelf life) and comes from a reputable supplier. There are a large number of suppliers of herbal supplements that produce their supplements without the sufficient quality controls and standards to guarantee purity, quality and efficacy.

The easiest kits to use are ones that come with all of the ingredients pre-mixed, to save you the time and hassle of looking up dosages. I have found that while the kit method may appear to be more expensive initially, after using the do-it-yourself method on numerous occassions, it is actually not more expensive to use the kit method.

After having investigated a number of kits available on the market in terms of ingredients, ease of use and supplier credibility and quality, here is my recommendation for a colon cleanse kit.

The Importance of Water

Remember to drink plenty of water each day to flush the excreted toxins out of your system! Without sufficient water, your colon cannot expel waste effectively. Information on the benefit of drinking water will provide you with guidelines on the minimum amount of water you should be drinking. The more water you drink, the more toxins your body will be able to expel as part of this colon cleanse, and the better you will feel through the cleansing process.

Colon Cleanse Using an Enema

If you were experiencing any one of the signs of an unhealthy colon prior to starting the supplement-based colon cleanse, you may need to use an enema to loosen hardened waste matter that has accumulated in your colon. In many cases, more than one enema treatment is necessary for thorough colon cleansing. Generally, enemas must be repeated over a period of time. Although some books discuss doing an enema every day, the number of enemas you do is a matter of judgment, based on the regularity and ease of your bowel movements.

Exercises

If you are still having difficulty attaining 2 or move bowel movements per day, adding certain exercises to your usual routine can help. Trampoline exercise, also known as rebounding exercise, improves the peristaltic action of the intestines. If you do not have access to a trampoline, do not despair. Certain twisting exercises, which strengthen your core muscles, will also help improve muscle tone within your colon and thereby, aid in colon cleansing.

Fiber Keeps Your Colon Healthy

During your colon cleansing regime, increasing your fiber intake will help speed up the cleansing process. After your colon cleanse is completed, you should consume sufficient fiber to keep your colon cleansed and healthy. It is recommended that you consume 25 ? 30 grams of fiber each day. Most people in the U.S. get half this amount in their normal diet. Information on fiber will help you better understand the types of fiber, fiber’s benefits in colon cleanse, and the fiber content of certain popular foods.

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Fasting is the most effective method known to draw out poisons and toxins from your cells throughout your entire body. People have recovered from a remarkable number of maladies by using this method of detoxification.

Why does your body cleanse itself better when fasting?

Without nourishment, shouldn?t your body get weaker, not stronger? Your body expends a tremendous amount of energy digesting and processing food. The food must be broken down to extract its vital nutrients and then be disposed of. When food is not provided to the body over some period of time, your body gets on with its job of housekeeping ? cleansing and detoxification of its vital organs. Well, then why the juice fast? Stay tuned?.

When your body is infected with a virus, if focuses its energy toward removing the invader. If your body cannot stop its growth, the organism would quickly multiply and overpower your body and kill you. This is why immune deficiency diseases are so serious. When we get sick, our bodies instinctively tell us not to eat and we lose our appetite. When you are sick, your stomach may grumble because it is empty, but you do not actually feel hungry. Your body is effectively telling you that fasting is what it wants.

When you eat a meal, the blood circulation to the digestive organs increases. The body does this to fight off harmful substances in the food, to absorb nutrients and to fuel the muscles along your entire gastrointestinal tract to keep the food and waste moving along in your body. When the body is not burdened by the tasks associated with digesting and eliminating food, it focuses all the energy it would normally have given to these tasks, to pulling out and flushing toxins from the body. Therefore, fasting helps to flush out toxins.

Outside the US ? particularly in non-western cultures, fasting is part of what people do on a regular basis to stay healthy. In India, people routinely fast once a week to purify both the body and mind for religious reasons. A friend was visiting me from his home in Brazil. He was telling me that he fasts for a few days at least once per year, to allow his digestive system some rest. Such practices have found their way into the culture in other countries because over decades or even centuries, healers realized that people become and remain healthier if they fast on a regular basis.

When should you fast?

You can fast at anytime of the year. Chinese medicine suggests that fasts should be done ten days before and after the vernal equinox ? March 11 to April 1. This makes sense because it would be the most likely time that animals (or early man for that matter) would have been low on food reserves after the winter, but before spring starts to provide renewed sources of food. At that time, early man would have had to eat what little was available ? thus creating a natural fast.

I am actually more practical. Fasting decreases your body temperature. Therefore, it is most comfortable when you are in a warm place. If your house is normally cold in winter and warm in summer, then wait until summer for your fast.

Should you drink water while fasting?

Absolutely, yes! The body can go for many days without food, but in comparison, a much shorter time without water. Also, drinking plenty of water will fill your stomach, thus making fasting more comfortable. Lastly, the toxins that are extracted from your body will be flushed out, rather than re-circulated, if you are drinking plenty of water. For a gauge on how much water to drink, see the information under the section on the benefit of drinking water.

What type of fast should you use?

There are three types of fasts: pure, monofood and the juice fasts. Remember to always continue drinking water, regardless of which type you choose to undertake. The pure fast is the simplest form, where you refraining from eating anything. If you are planning an extended pure fast (more than two days), then drink a fasting mixture instead of plain water. This will give you minimal sustenance to keep your body functioning properly, and is sometimes referred to as a Master Cleanse.

Fasting mixture:
8 ounces of pure water
a pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup
2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice

I am a wimp when it comes to fasting. I am borderline hypoglycemic and become cranky and develop severe headaches when my blood sugar drops. Therefore, I am a big fan of the monofood fast and the juice fast. Mentally, it is easier to adjust to the idea of eating only one food or drinking juice for a few days, rather than absolutely no food. In a monofood fast, you consume only one type of fruit or vegetable, in any form (dried, whole or juiced) for the duration of the fast. Fruits, such as grapes, apples, or watermelon, are generally preferred because of the cleansing and healing properties that they contain.

From the vegetable family, carrots are preferred. By limiting yourself to one food, your total intake is greatly reduced, so your body can still redirect energy to pulling out toxins. A juice fast is a monofood fast taken to the next level. Since your intake is limited to liquid form, your body expends even less energy to digest and process the juice. Always, always, consume only natural and organic foods when on either the monofood or juice fasts.

During your fast, medications should be discontinued. Also, do not plan on much strenuous activity during your fast. Remember, your body will be conserving its energy during your fast – so you will feel like you have less energy to expend on physical activity. Additionally, your body temperature will drop and you may feel cold. I found that the first half-day of the fast is the hardest. Once my body realizes that I am not getting food, it settles down. The second day is much easier than the first ? especially on a monofood fast or a juice fast.

When you first start eating, I suggest you eat fruits and vegetables for the first couple of meals ? no meats and no fried foods. I found that I felt a burst of energy and my face felt flushed when I first consumed food after a fast. By easing into eating, it will allow your internal system to get used to solid food again before giving it hard to digest substances. If you do not, you will likely be in for a rude awakening during your first bowel movement after the fast. In order to help in the transition, you can also take a teaspoon of psyllium husk with water at the end of your fast.

How long should you fast?

The books say that fasts can last from one to 30 days. Although people have fasted longer, I personally would not recommend fasting for more than a 5 days. Also, do not be afraid to work your way up ? first start with a one-day fast. After this, you will be much more comfortable with fasting and your second fast can be 3-4 days. As your body cleanses itself, you will find that you will be able to hold a fast longer.

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  This page contains information and advice on helping you make your parasite cleansing, colon cleansing and kidney cleansing experience simpler, less expensive and more effective. If you haven’t done so already, I suggest you get the background information on parasite cleansing, colon cleansing, or kidney cleansing. I recall that when I first wanted to cleanse my colon, cleanse my kidneys and rid my body of parasites, I went to local stores looking for the ingredients that I needed.

From finding organic, unfiltered apple juice to the variety of herbal and nutritional supplements, I actually had to go to a few stores in my area to find what I needed at reasonable prices. After all was said and done, I actually ended up spending far more money that I thought I would on the various supplements. Counting the value of my time, this was an expensive process. However, since it was to promote my good health, I had no problem justifying it – and the results were well worth it.

I found the most effective use of my time was purchasing the majority of ingredients at a reputable health food store or online. However, you should verify that whatever you are buying is fresh and from reputable suppliers.

Have you ever noticed that hot dogs come 8 to a package and buns come 12 to a package (or is it the other way around ? it has been so long since I have bought hot dogs, I have forgotten). It takes 3 packs of hot dogs and 2 packs of buns to match up the hot dogs to buns. Are you wondering why a site dedicated to natural healing is talking about hot dogs? Well, my point is that no matter what, you end up with extra ingredients you did not actually need or want.

I felt the same way after going through my do-it-yourself cleansing process. After going through all of my cleansing, I found that I had leftovers of each type of supplement ? but not enough to do another cleanse. Therefore, as with hot dogs and buns, I concluded that I had paid for quantities I did not need, although in many cases, I purchased the smallest quantities available.

Unfortunately, the only solution I have come up with for this is to use kit-based cleansing products ? products that package all of the necessary ingredients (preferrably already premixed) into an easy to use kit. Buy one kit and do one cleanse – simple isn’t it? You can find these kits at your local health food store or online. Once again, make sure you buy from a reputable supplier and make sure the products are fresh.

The colon cleansing, kidney cleansing, and parasite cleansing methods described on this site are safe and effective, regardless of the health of your colon or kidneys ? if (and this is a big if) the foods and supplements you use for the cleansing are of sufficient quality and do not contain other harmful additives. It is when you cannot guarantee the quality of the supplements that you have to start to question the process.

For example, a friend was recently doing her first parasite cleanse. She was seeing no signs of parasite infection through the process – apparently good news. When she was done with the cleanse, she ended up with too much of one ingredient leftover (see “Hot Dogs and Buns” above). She decided to continue taking that ingredient, but in a higher dosage, to finish it off. After a few doses, she started to see signs of parasites being expelled from her body. We can only conclude that the strength of the ingredient was less than it should have been, either due to poor quality controls or extended shelf time after it was produced. It was only the higher dosage that caused the intended reaction.

After some additional reading and investigation, I was dismayed about the fact that essential aspects related to the cleansing ? namely quality and product purity ? were not adequately addressed.

According to the National Institute of Health?s Office of Dietary Supplements , ??it is difficult to determine the quality of a dietary supplement product from its label. The degree of quality control depends on the manufacturer, the supplier, and others in the production process. FDA is authorized to issue Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations describing conditions under which dietary supplements must be prepared, packed, and stored.

FDA published a proposed rule that is intended to ensure that manufacturing practices will result in an unadulterated dietary supplement and that dietary supplements are accurately labeled. Until this proposed rule is finalized, dietary supplements ? are primarily concerned with safety and sanitation rather than dietary supplement quality. Some manufacturers voluntarily follow drug GMPs, which are more rigorous…? . Not good ? our government is acknowledging that there is a problem with quality of supplements we are consuming.

Paul Zane Pilzer, an advisor to two U.S. presidential administrations and a leading author, claims that “?between one-quarter and one-third of the dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, and herbals) sold in the United States today? do not contain what they say they do on the label … No wonder about a third of the people who have tried dietary supplements have found them to be ineffective??. Here is another credible source saying that there is a problem with not thoroughly researching the supplements we take.

For example, black walnut hulls that are used in parasite cleansing must actually be harvested green, before they turn black. These green hulls are stripped from the nuts and cleaned. Then they are broken down into smaller parts and soaked in a solution of alcohol and water, which breaks down the hulls and forms a tincture.

You can well imagine that if the hulls are harvested too late or if they are broken down in an inappropriate amount of solution, the strength and efficacy of the resulting treatment can change dramatically. Spending money on a product with diminished efficacy and taking the time to use it for parasite cleansing would be a waste of time and money. In general, strict quality controls and standards are required to be able to predict efficacy.

Make sure that whatever product you purchase is fresh (not past its shelf life), and also is from a reputable manufacturer that stands behind their products.

I truly believe in and have used the techniques on this site to promote good health. However, many people consider alternative healing techniques in general, and body cleansing in particular, voodoo science. This is primarily because insufficient money has been spent adequately testing these alternative healing techniques using scientifically conducted trial methodology (e.g. double blind testing with large enough samples). Whatever testing that has been done, has not been publicized widely enough. Many of these techniques are based on trial and error medicine, or rely on ancient traditions. T

his by no means makes them less effective. In fact, I believe that something that has withstood the test of time draws validity from that test. However, for some, it would be more comforting to know that these techniques were proven through modern scientific principles and methodologies. Wouldn?t everyone want to use simple techniques to achieve good health, if those techniques were proven to work? I will continue to try and find evidence based on scientific methodology, to help you feel better about the alternative healing therapies on this site.

Based on my investigations and ?field experience? (having undertaken numerous cleanses and having advised people on cleansing regimes), I have found that doing a parasite cleanse, colon cleanse and kidney cleanse are simpler, easier and more cost effective (especially when you consider the value of time) by purchasing kits, rather than the do-it-yourself method. Considering all of the factors above (especially thos related to efficacy of products), here is my recommendation. Get ready to take The Natural Path to good health.

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