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| I've been doing some reading on doing a colon cleanse. The more I learn the more urgent and important it feels to me to do this. I'd like to make my own formulas and I'm looking for suggestions. There are so many 'kits' available and I just don't know who to trust. I'd like to follow the colon cleanse with a parasite, liver and kidney cleanse.
Have you done a colon cleanse?
How did you do it?
Any recomended books/websites?
Recomended recipes?
Recomended kits?
What were your results?
Thanks so much,
Beck
Edited by Beck 2006-03-27 12:46 PM
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| hey beckington...
i'm starting a master cleanse today, and hoping to do a colon cleanse and parasite cleanse in addition.
for my colon cleanse i am going to use psyllium/bentonite shakes.
i'll let you know how it goes.
www.curezone.com is a great website for all your fasting/cleansing questions.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
 
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Dhanurasana,
Your doing this again?? The Psyllium is something you really should be careful about. I hope your not going to drink it every day are you?? If you do, better have a bathroom really handy, for spontaneous moments,  |
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| again!
can you believe it? i'm much better prepared this time. i'm not going to go for as long anyways. it more of a preparation for digestive tract cleansing, you know?
i'm probably going to hold off on the psyllium/bentonite until i'm finished...
but you know, we'll see.
OW!
shes a wild child
and nobody can get at her
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | If things really go awry, you should keep Triphala on hand to balance everything back out. Do you know what that is?? |
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| Hey dhanurasana I'm right with you! I started my PB Shakes yesterday. I really expected the Bentonite to be terrible but much to my suprise it wasn't too bad. The Psyllium Husks on the other hand YUCK!! I've been barely able to gag them down.
I was going to start the parasite cleanse in about a week but I'm not too sure what to take. Any suggestions? I'd like to finish off with a kidney and liver cleanse but I don't expect that to transpire for another 6 weeks or better.
Cyndi~ What's Triphala? Should it be something I have?
Thanks!!!
Beck
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Triphala is an Ayurvedic Herbal Preparation that I think every household should have on hand. Especially if your going to be doing long term fasting that you're not too familiar with or do not have assistance with. Trifala is a useful and safe remedy rather than the internal damage that something like Pepto Bismol or other over the counters could cause. Trifala is an ancient herbal combo that is revered for its many therapeutic effects. It is a rasayana, or formula which constantly rejuvenates and balances the body. It helps relieve: anemia, bowel toxicity and irregularity, carbohydrate intolerance (this is also good of people who cannot digest dal and beans too) chronic lung diseases, constipation, diabetes, eye diseases, high cholestrol, hypertension, indigestion, skin disorders, yeast infections...the list goes on. It is a wonderful preventative that can be taken daily. It is a wonderful intenstinal cleanser which gently promotes regularity without irritating the bowels. It first helps digest the food, then aids in elimination. As a dry powder, 1-2 teaspoons should be taken 1-3 times a day. As an extract, same thing 1-3 x's a day. Trifal doesn't have any harmful side effects.
I really do not believe in these Master Cleanses and I feel that caution should be used while doing it. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective it is not recommended like this. Although, I do follow some of the Ayurvedic methods, I lean mostly towards TCM. There are so many factors that people forget or don't do when it comes to fasting, therefore, it really defeats the purpose. You have to maintain your body before and afterwards.
Fasting can be done without food or water, on water alone, on liquids such as soup or juice alone, on a single food, such as rice and mung bean soup - Khichadi, or on a number of different foods selected for their utility in treating the condition in question.
True fasting permits the body to digest ama, reawakens the digestive fire, clears the channels and eliminates the excess moisture from the tissues. Though a wonderful medicine, fasting in excess, particularly for weeks at a time as some "natural" therapists recommend, can cause degeneration of the tissues and disturb mind-body cohesion, encouraging the production of new and more powerful diseases. Like all other medicines, fasting must be used in the 'dose' appropriate to the individual patient. Absolute fasting from food or even water is usual in Ayurveda for a maximum of two days - 2 DAYS when a person is thoroughly clogged with ama and has lost all appetite. As soon as some desire for food returns, rice or barley gruel is commonly given, followed by mung-bean soup (Khichadi) mung beans cooked with rice, and a return to other foods as the system's fire flames up and demands more nourishment.
Once the stage of disease has passed, the patient is given a pacifying regimen to follow in which diet plays a central role. Medicine is adminisered at various times during the day according to whatever condition is being treated.
So, having all that said, most people that are doing these types of fasts are doing them improperly and therefore causing more harm to themselves than good. My suggestion is that if you are doing these kinds of fasts, that you need to really educuate yourself and/or find a practictioner who has experience in handling all the situations that will arise. It's not that simple if you don't know what you are doing, it will set you back. My suggestion is to find an Ayurvedic doctor who specializes in Panchakarma and follow their regimine to the fullest, it's much more effective than just going on a fast that you may not understand or for no rhyme or reason. |
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| ahhh the east/west rift...
a never ending source of amusement for yoga.com
what is ama? it doesn't sound like good stuff...
i dunno, cyndi, it just feels like there is stuff inside me that needs to come out.
and master cleanse is what i know to do. my cup of tea...
and i have pretty solid knowledge that it is safe and effective when done properly.
jane went 17 days, people that i don't know regularly go 40.
i dunno. you're certainly gonna believe whatever you want to believe and thats just the way i like you
i just think i have a responsibility to present a differeing opinion.
if you ever get the inkling, i would come out to north carolina and master cleanse with you 
oh and beck, how are the p&b shakes treating you?
don't be a stranger
Edited by dhanurasana 2006-03-30 10:58 AM
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Dhanurasana,
Didn't I just recently receive a PM from you telling me you were getting sick?? I'd say that your symptoms might be from the last Master Cleanse, (when?? a month ago??) that you didn't do it properly. Remember what I said, some of these Master cleanses encourages the production of new and more powerful diseases.
What I responded to you with was not my opinion, that was based on Ayurvedic principals.
Sure come to NC, don't expect any fasting or cleanses at my house. I'll make you some Khichadi and nurse you back to some decent health, then I will take you down to Asheville to visit the nice Panchakarma specialists close by. Good luck to ya and Best wishes for a safe recovery. |
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| you did in fact receive that message.
and i'm feeling much better, thank you
i think master cleanse helped knock out the last vestiges of congestion...
it looks like my last master cleanse was about two months ago...
since then i've made some pretty drastic life transitions, stupid decisions, and poor dietary choices.
some things need to come out, and this is how i do it, you know?
i'd love to learn about TCM and ayurveda, and i'm quite sure that those things will come to me with time.
until then i'm just cruisin.
light and love
--dhan
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| Cyndi ~ Thanks so much for the info! In just a few months I'll be moving to a community that has lots of great resources (which I can't wait to start to utilize), in the mean time I'm on my own.
I'm not doing any fasting with my cleanse. I'm starting with 2 PB shakes a day, 1 dose of Acidophilus, about 4 quarts of water and lots and lots of green veggies. I've thought of doing a short 1 or 2 day fast I just haven't done much research on it yet.
dhan~ The shakes are tough to get down. I've figured out that I can't take my time and wait for it to expand then drink it. It's got to be a quick mix and then down the hatch. I've been adding a bit of juice to help the flavor.
So far everything seem's like business as usual. Although I do feel like the Psyllium has expanded my intestines to a whole new level. I do hope that this feeling goes away in the next week or two. I looked in the mirror yesterday afternoon and I looked about 4 months pregnant!
What are your thoughts on eating Flax while drinking the PB Shakes? I've got a little recipe that I just love for breakfast or a snack but I'm afraid of fiber over load.
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Expert Yogi
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| Cleansing sounds safer than fasting to me, but I am a low blood sugar wimp  But I did see the word "recipe" mentioned - gotta share! Please?  |
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| tourist - 2006-03-30 1:29 PM But I did see the word "recipe" mentioned - gotta share! Please?
This is my very favorite for breakfast or an afternoon snack. The measurements are my best guess but they really don't need to be exact.
2 tbs coconut oil
2 tbs almond butter
2 tbs flax seed or 1/2 cup flax cereal
1 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkle with sugar or sweetener (I use splenda)
Lay wax paper in a shallow bowl, add ingredients on top of the wax paper, micro wave for about 20 sec to melt coconut butter, form into a cookie shape and refrigerate until it's formed. I make them the night before when I make my coffee.
This cookie packs it all. Coconut oil (MCT), Flax Seed (Omega-3), Fiber from Almonds. Eat one of these and you will be humming along all day.
This has nothing to do with my cleanse by the way, it's just something I love to eay! Let me know if you try it and like it! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Your instinct to 'keep it clean' is right on, however, it is best to do so via gentle means such as eating the right foods the right way - every day!!! i.e. cooked with the appropriate spices - at the right time, avoiding toxins from chemical additives, processed, leftover, microwaved, frozen foods, fast food, not over-eating - which is really the main culprit here and improper food combining, etc.
Yoghurt and Probiotic supplements do not necessarily serve to keep friendly bacteria in balance, they may or may not be effective to any degree. I dont know which 'cleansing' product you are using but i do know that many of these products are quite harsh and too cleansing. Cleansing and attempting to replenish in this manner can destroy the intelligence of the intestines and result eventually in further complications, new and more powerful diseases. It's best not to 'torture' the system by manipulating it, maintain balance naturally. That is why TCM and Ayurvedic Medicine has been around for thousands of years and why it is so effective. These "new" and supposedly "natural" methods of treatments are like experimenting with Guinea Pigs and we all know what happens to them in the long run don't we???
Edited by Cyndi 2006-03-31 8:22 AM
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| I agree 100% with Cyndi that you, D, are overdoing it. A parasitic cleanse? What, were you schleping around in the Amazon barefoot? What makes you think you have parasites? Your raw diet?
From reading your posts on various topics, I am convinced you are going through a phase where you're obsessed with health and your body. I went through that in my 20's. I thought most food was unclean, toxic, cancer-causing, you name it. I basically starved myself for 3 years while doing intense physical workouts.
You're going to f' up the already natural balance in your intestines if you keep adding bentonite to your system. I did the Master Cleanse, too, years ago. According to Chinese medicine theory (yin-yang) it's too cold. Freezing, in fact. Your raw diet is already dampening your digestive fire.
Enough lecturing for today. Stop being too hard on yourself.
fifi
P.S. Look at cultures or peoples that tend to live a long time - Okinawans, Sardinians, Chinese (but that's changing due to pollution and car accidents) and, believe it or not, Seventh Day Adventists in Loma Linda, CA. October 2005 National Geographic feature article is on centurians and which country has the most of them. A happy social network is apparently just as important as eating nutritious food. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Yep, even in South America they use Bitter Melon, garlic, shrimp and other foods to naturally cleanse the body of parasites. They don't starve themselves into fasting, they just simply eat these foods on a regular basis and it naturally allows the body to expel the whatevers that need to come out. I guarantee you that every day you are eating worm eggs and you don't even know it. A healthy body will naturally rid these things, an unhealthy body will have problems. Eating protective foods and spices such as garlic, ginger, bitter melon, and green leafy vegetables (NO, I'm not talking about raw lettuce and salads) I'm talking about the kinds such as Malanga, Sherleion, Bok Choy, Ash Gourd's (Winter Melon), etc. etc. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Looking at cultures around the world (from friends who are serious world travellers and have lived in multiple countries) they do indeed practice cleansing in extreme forms. But most of them call it rainy season diarrhea and a lot of them die from it. Researchers are actually finding that this does in fact have some sort of protective effect in that countries where this occurs, they don't seem to have colo-rectal cancers. Of course, it could be that those with less than perfect colon health are the ones who die so they don't get studied, or it could be because those countries don't (yet) have our delightful diet choices and more people DO have healthy digestive tracts... 
Wow - I AM cranky this morning - and this is after my coffee and calling in sick for the day! Maybe nap time... |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Actually tourist, what you are describing is Dysentery. In my husband's culture, this happens to the people because...well here is one example of very many but not limited to...The British came along and gave these people the technology of putting water and sewer lines in their cities. Afterwards and years down the road, the governments don't have or because of corruption within the governments, the money to maintain these same said water and sewer lines, therefore, bacteria, worms, parasites and all kinds of things get into the water lines. Everybody knows not to drink water from these sources. Instead they know where to find the streams and water from the mountains that is safe. Its also more than that, its about poverty, cleanliness and over-population too. In fact, there are so many other factors. I can assure you that what you refer to as a "practice of cleansing" is not so. The reason so many don't die is because of their traditional foods and habits...the others are simply the weak and unfortunate and most likely the ones who have deviated from their traditional methods (i.e. westernized) and/or don't have the means to because of simply being poor.
How's that for being *cranky* this morning??
Edited by Cyndi 2006-03-31 11:32 AM
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Yeah - I was being sarcastic. Tibet, some South American countries and other higher elevations do better than those in lower lying regions because of the fast flowing water and the ability to usually get upstream of the waste. The British have a lot to answer for but I don't think rainy season dysentery is completely their fault. Climate, water, poverty (which was around long before the Brits started taking over the world) and crowded conditions (ditto) contribute largely to the situation. My point was that these people do not need any cleansing procedures because nature does it for them and while those who survive ultimately do get that "light" and ethereal feeling people in the west who cleanse are searching for, I am sure it is not sought after. And while people in those sorts of living situations are perhaps more in touch with the life and death cycle, I cannot imagine the pain of knowing that after the rains, you will surely lose one old person, one baby (or more) every year. |
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| here's a question...
what are some spices i can add to my uncooked food to help with dampness/coldness?
or perhaps some cooked/fermented food that i can eat occasionally that will help to stoke my digestive fire...
i dunno.
give me guidance, fair yoga mavens!
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Hey D,
I cannot stress to you enough to go out and get the book, "Healing with Whole Foods, Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition", by Paul Pitchford. You really should learn about food and how it affects and nurtures your body. Before you can decide on how to stoke your digestive fire, you must learn what that entails. I cannot diagnose you on the computer, I would not dare. I have no idea what your consititution is and I sincerely think your're not quite sure about that either. Another words, I'm not really sure about the question and what you are trying to accomplish.
What I've gathered from your post is.....it sounds like you want to continue to eat raw uncooked foods, but are possibly wanting to add some warming spices to them to help with dampness & coldness?
This is so loaded. First of all, if you are cold and damp, you should not be eating raw and uncooked foods all the time. You should lightly cook your vegetables...then you can add spices and such. There are several varieties to choose from and there are several combinations that compliment each other and that also go with certain vegetables and meats.
Having that said, in Nepali, Indian and Asian cuisine, spices and herbs such as cumin, coriander, anise, cloves, cardomon, black pepper, garlic, onion, ginger and others are used with most entree's, for every day cooking. Not all at once, although some, lots of them are combined. These particular herbs and spices are not just warming and/or cooling, but help balance out the dish. All spices and foods have a certain energy about them and they have properties that are important when deciding what goes with the selective items you choose to prepare. This is very common in all Asian cooking and also with Meditteranean dishes as well. Most dishes that are prepared are selected according to the season. Cold foods in warmer climates, warm foods in colder climates. BUT, also with your body's condition and what you may need at the time is also considered. It's kinda intuitive, but in order to be successful with intuitiveness, you must learn the basic principals. Paul's book can offer you that, also, it takes years of practice and working with a doctor (s) that also understands these same kinds of principals.
If you read Paul's book, it explains in very detail the energy of most foods. I think you could benefit greatly from that resource. Good luck,
Cyndi
Edited by Cyndi 2006-04-03 4:47 PM
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| aww cyndi...
you're just 31 flavors of wonderful.
i do intend to make a serious inquiry into principles of ayurvedic and TCM nutrition, thanks for pointing the way.
i'm just so young and brash, you know, i want to grab everything that sounds good and run with it.
then i come back to reality and realize i've gone bananas.
mmm bananas...
i satisfied this craving for basil i had tonight.
unfortunately its still a little chilly for my mom's to start growing, but it was better than nothing.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Hey D,
Good luck in your endeavors with learning how to use food, spices and herbs. Meanwhile, do yourself a favor, eat lite soups in the evening and try not to eat large amounts of heavy processed food all other times. This is really a good practice, because lite soups in the evening are satisfying, nourishing and by eating this way, you don't put your body in maximum overload. Here's a good recipe for you to try. If you're a vegetarian, omit the chicken and use Miso instead.
Lite Soup for Dhanurasana
Peel and chop some fresh ginger, about 1/2" piece. Place in a pot of water and boil with Chicken (use chicken with bones, not boneless - the bones have important nutritional elements that you need) and sliced onions. If you aren't using chicken, boil ginger and onion for several minutes, approx. 15 -20 mins. If using chicken, don't add ginger, boil for 5 mins with sea salt, discard water, then start fresh by adding ginger, sliced onion and sea salt. (This process removes the blood and makes the soup taste better). Boil, then simmer for 45 mins - 1 hour. Remove chicken and save the broth for cooking the vegetables. If your're not using chicken and only ginger and onion, at this point, either way using chicken or not using chicken, you then add 2 cups of fresh Mung Bean Sprouts and Celery. if using Miso, add at this time. Cook for 10 mins, then remove from fire. (If using Chicken, you may add the de-boned chicken back to the soup at this time or use it the chicken the next day lunch for chicken salad sandwiches or give the meat to your dog) and add a handful of each of fresh basil and cilantro..do not cook, but let the herbs disolve into the soup, cover with a lid and let stand for at least 5 mins. Enjoy!!
For anyone who is interested in not eating meat, but want the benefits of meat. You can make this soup, the broth from the bones has so much nutrition in it without having to eat the meat. This is my favorite soup recipe. You can alter it with other vegetables by replacing the sprouts and celery, you can choose something like bok choy and tomatoes, or mung bean sprouts with red bell peppers, or mung bean sprouts alone, or mung bean sprouts and winter melon, or carrots and celery. Always use the Basil and Cilantro no matter which vegetables you use. Mung Bean Sprouts are a wonderful vegetable. They rid the body of toxins and are extremely beneficial to the liver and gall bladder. Mung bean and their sprouts are used as a cure for food poisoning and removing damp-heat in the body. This is why they are used in Khichadi or aka Khechari - same thing, an Ayurvedic soup mentioned earlier.
Edited by Cyndi 2006-04-04 11:04 AM
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| bone broths are incredibly healthy.
but as a vegetarian, i don't consume animals in any way, so it's not an option. but, i could try the ginger/onion/mungbeansprout/celery broth. i make mine typicly in the european style: onion, celery, carrot, herb ball, and sometimes potato (if i want it 'creamy'). |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | zoebird - 2006-04-04 12:19 PM
bone broths are incredibly healthy.
but as a vegetarian, i don't consume animals in any way, so it's not an option. but, i could try the ginger/onion/mungbeansprout/celery broth. i make mine typicly in the european style: onion, celery, carrot, herb ball, and sometimes potato (if i want it 'creamy').
That is why I recommended the Miso. Miso contains an amino acid pattern similar to meat along with a trace of B12, plus a live food containing lactobacillus (the same as in yogurt) that aids in digestion and assimilation, creating an akaline condition in the body that promotes resistance against disease. According to traditions...miso promotes long life and good health; treats and prevents radiation sickness. It has also been used to treat certain types of heart disease and cancer. It neutralizes some of the effects of smoking and air pollution. Miso also has approximately 13% - 20% protein content. You should store it in a glass container in your frig, not plastic. It will last a very long time...years. The amount to use with most recipes such as soups varies, but 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon will usually suffice for a pot of soup.
The only caution about Miso is when you are making a transition from a meat based diet to vegetarian foods, Miso is much stronger than meat. Overuse of it can bring on similar problems of excess salt use. Also, where Candida Albicans yeast overgrowth and similar fungal conditions are present, miso should be used sparingly, since its ferment can promote the growth of yeasts. Same principal should be applied when using soy sauces as well. Even if you choose a brand such as San-J, Tamari, which is wheat free, however, it is still fermented. I like to use the reduced sodium organic one. As with anything, MODERATION even with healthy foods and such is the key. You should never eat the same thing over and over again..you should have a variety and you should make sure you are using QUALITY ingredients, NOT quant-ity. Also, try to avoid left overs after the second day. Overnite is fine for meats and most vegetables if you use them within a 24-hour period. After that, it pretty much goes down hill. |
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Colon Cleanse
