Why Should You Cleanse and Detoxify Your Body? [Infographic]

Why You Should Cleanse and Detoxify Your Body?
Infographic from Purify Your Body

Popularity of Cleanses and Detoxes

Cleansing and detoxification programs are now being talked about, recommended or offered by just about every health and wellness practitioner - at local health centers and spas as well as online.

Entire online communities now exist around detoxification.  Hundreds, even thousands, of individuals sign up for detox programs offered by famous online doctors and weight loss gurus such as Dr. Sara Gottfried and Jon Gabriel.  The internet is teeming with detoxification and cleansing protocols, and the number of books written on the subject are numerous.

Still some individuals remain skeptic. Maybe they associate detoxing or cleansing with some alternative medicine woo-woo.  Or they point out that their parents and grandparents didn't have to undertake formal or structured detox protocols or cleanses.  Or they argue that the body detoxes naturally.

Overburdened Detox Pathways

Well, yes, the body has detoxification pathways but those pathways can become overburdened.  And, yes, our ancestors may have not done formal detox programs but they lived in significantly less toxic environments. As for medical woo, scientific research and studies indicates that healthy detoxification pathways in the body are an integral component of optimal health.

Infographic

This infographic entitled "Why Should You Cleanse and Detoxify Your Body?" illustrates major sources of toxins in our current environment, why its important to cleans, which organs and biological systems filter and eliminate toxins from our bodies, and a few of the benefits of detoxifying and cleansing the body.

Infographic source and for more information, please visit Purify Your Body - Why Should You Cleanse and Detoxify Your Body?

Related:

Is Your Diet Toxic?
How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body
Whole Body Cleansing and Detoxification
15 Foods to Naturally Detox and Cleanse the Body
How to Do a Juice Cleanse the Right Way

Breathing for Health [Infographic]

Breathing for Health - Infographic from Huffington Post

Breathing is one of the body's most important detoxification systems.  It also directly and indirectly affects other aspects of our health.

Many health experts say that, unfortunately, most of us do not breathe "correctly".  That is, we routinely take short, shallow breaths and this type of breathing can cause various negative health effects in the body.

This infographic entitled "Change Your Breathing, Change Your Life" from Huffington Post illustrates and explains some of the many ways breathing impacts our health including how "correct" (controlled, long and deep breathing) can:

❤ Stimulate brain growth

❤ Improve heart rate variability

❤ Lower stress levels

❤ Alleviate anxiety and negative emotions

❤ Reduce testing anxiety

❤ Lower blood pressure

❤ Alter gene expression

Additionally, certain deep breathing techniques - like those often used in yoga and meditation - are thought to prevent premature aging, detoxify, and increase the metabolic rate.  For example, it is thought that the additional oxygen received from exercise (particularly exercise performed outdoors) boosts metabolism and helps to burn fat.

Together with reducing and managing stress (another big consideration in weight loss), deep breathing techniques may have the potential and effect of helping you to lose weight.

For additional reading and listening on this subject, we recommend:

Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing from Andrew Weil, M.D.

The Healing Power of the Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions from Richard Brown M.D., and Patricia Gerbard MD

Infographic source and more information:  Huff Post The Third Metric:  How Changing Your Breathing Can Change Your Life

Related:
Heart Healthy Foods
Is Your Diet Toxic?
How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body
Top Foods that Chelate the Body of Heavy Metals

The Detox Summit - Free Online Event

The Detox Summit Free Online Event

The Detox Summit is a free online event hosted by Deanna Minich PhD in collaboration with the Institute of Functional Medicine.  "Detox" is a term that means many different things to different people, from drug and alcohol detoxification to nutritional detox, or cleanses using food, smoothies and juices.  The Summit brings together 30 experts in the areas of medicine, nutrition and personal growth to discuss all aspects of detoxification to help participants (listeners) return to a healthy state of wellness.  During this event, participants can expect a well-rounded, credible approach to a much-debated issue and to learn to navigate their way through today's toxic terrain by recognizing toxins, what to do about them and how to change their lives for a healthier lifestyle, as well as:

The Detox Summit - The Institute for Functional Medicine

• Learn about environmental toxins in food, air and water
• Understand internally generated toxins, like thoughts, emotions and behaviors
• Recognize toxins and eliminate them
• Focus on breakthrough solutions to gain more energy and vitality

The conference will be broadcast from August 4 - 11, 2014 and will feature the following experts who will discuss and address the following issues:
(For more information and to register go to The Detox Summit)

Jeffrey Bland, PhD - Father of Functional Medicine, Author

The Biochemistry and History of Detoxification

• History of detoxification
• Detailed description of how the body eliminates toxins, especially through the liver
• How nutrients improve detoxification

Mark Hyman, MD - Bestselling Author, Functional Medicine Expert

Metabolic Disturbances and Detox

• Relationship between chronic disease and toxicity "Diabesity"
• Health effects of toxins like sugar and food chemicals
• Power of a detox to promote health and healing

David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM - Bestselling Author, Renowned Neurologist Brain Health Expert

Toxicity and Brain Function

• Relationship between diet and brain health
• Why carbohydrates, especially sugars, and toxic to the brain
• Why the type of fat you eat is so important for health and detox

Alejandro Junger, MD - Bestselling Author and Founder of the Clean Program

The Many Approaches to Detox and Coming Clean

• The necessity of detox for health
• Why detox needs to be personalized to the individual
• Juicing vs. food vs. supplements for detox

Martha Herbert, MD, PhD - Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston

Autism and Detox

• Toxic exposures of all types and their effect on the brain
• The emerging connection between autism and toxicity in pregnancy
• Overcoming chemical burden in the unborn and children

Elson Haas, MD - Practicing Physician of Integrated Family Medicine, "Father of Clinical Detoxification", Author

Staying Healthy with Nutrition and Detox

• Incorporating traditional medicine approaches into a nutritional, biochemical detoxification
• The importance of following the cycles of nature, seasons and the body's rhythm in detox and healing
• How to personalize a detoxification by becoming aware of the body's needs

Soram Khalsa, MD - Board Certified in Internal Medicine

The Environment is Toxic and It's Making Us Toxic:  Epigenetic Influences

• Sources of toxicity in our daily environment: focus on the home and food
• Importance of detox before conception and pregnancy
• Keeping our children free of toxins by taking everyday precautions in our environment

Kelly Brogan, MD - Boarded in Psychiatry/Psychosomatic Medicine/Reproductive Psychiatry and Integrative Holistic Medicine

Toxicity and Impact in Women and Children's Health

• How women can take precautions to become less toxic
• Dangers of inflammation to mother, fetus and child
• Top recommendations for cleaning up the womb

Kara Kitzgerald, ND - Faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine; Private Practice in Sandy Hook, Connecticut

Labs to Assess Toxin Load

• Best labs to assess your exposure to heavy metals and other environmental toxins
• Tests you can ask your doctor to run to see if you are toxic
• Compelling clinical pearls on how to address heavy metal and environmental toxicity

Aristo Vojdani, PhD, MSC, CLS - Professor of Neuroimmunology at the Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies; Chief Scientific Advisor for Cyrex Labs, LLC

Cutting-Edge Diagnostics for Toxicity

• Environmental triggers and the effect on the immune system
• Understanding how the immune system responds to toxins
• Labs to detect the presence of autoimmune reaction

Michael Stone, MD, MS - Family Physician, Faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine

Methylation and Toxicity

• Importance of methylation in detoxification
• How to assess with lab tests whether you are methylating properly
• Physical signs that your body is toxic

Sayer Ji - Author; Educator; Founder of GreenMedInfo.com

Transcending the Detox/Retox Cycle through Radical Nourishment

• Simple yet potent diet and lifestyle detox tweaks to get you clean
• Health myths that lead to toxic overload
• Why we're in a post-organic era, and what to do about it

David Wolfe - Masters in Nutrition, Health, Eco, Nutrition; Natural Beauty Expert

Nature's Solution to Toxicity is Food

• Epigenetics of eating and connection to health
• Super foods for detox
• Impact your immune system through medicinal mushrooms

Jeffrey Smith - Author, Filmmaker, Executive Director

GMOs as Food Toxins

• Why GMOs are toxic to the body
• How to avoid GMOs in your food choices
• How to eat a low-GMO diet

Tom O'Bryan, DC

Gluten as a Toxin

• Why gluten is a toxin in the current food supply
• What is leaky gut and how does it relate to toxicity and gluten
• Eating intolerant foods and inflammation

JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS - Author, Fitness Expert

The Virgin Diet: Lose Weight and Feel Better Fast When You Drop Toxic Foods

• How food intolerance is the real cause of weight gain and poor health
• Toxic foods and which ones are holding your health hostage
• Connect the dots between what you eat and how you feel

Marci Shimoff - Best-selling Author

Detoxing and Happiness:  How to Raise Your Current Happiness Level

• A powerful process to open your heart and dissolve pain, heartache and emptiness
• Take a fresh approach to deal with negativity in your mind, relationships and environment
• Take away tips on essential happiness habits to live a life of freedom, joy and ease

Thomas Moore, PhD - Bestselling Author

Detoxing the Soul

• Is there a role of toxins for the health of our body and soul?
• A call to look at toxins as a messenger of greater personal growth
• The toxicity of beliefs we choose

Char Sundust - Teacher, Healer and Speaker in the Native American Tradition, Founder, Sundust Oracle Institute

Living in Harmony with Nature as the Ultimate Detox

• Mentoring your mind by uniting with nature's rhythms
• Importance of recognizing the whole within the sum of its parts and within each other
• Ways to come into union with the spectrum of nature for greater happiness and soul satisfaction

Rainbeau Mars - Actor; Author; Health, Fitness and Beauty Expert

The Full-Spectrum of a SuperStar Cleanse

• How to do yoga without stretching: The importance of "being on the mat"
• Physical and mental ingestion is the key to living properly: beauty and food tips
• Tips to unleashing the SuperStar within to break through toxic habits

Mary Ellen Chalmers, DMD - Functional Medicine Dentist; Faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine

Functional Dentistry: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Oral Inflammation and Toxicity

• Your mouth is a telltale of your toxic burden and health
• Dental materials, disease and root canals can contribute to patient inflammation and toxic load
• Controversies around mercury amalgam and safe removal/replacement

Joseph Pizzorno, ND - Founding President of Bastyr University, the Leading Naturopathic University; Author of 10 Books

A Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Approach to Detoxification

• Detoxification is a foundational principle of natural and functional medicine
• Sources of toxic mercury in the environment
• A complete protocol for removing mercury

Garry Gordon, MD, DO, MD(H) - Co-Founder of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM); President of Gordon Research Institute (GRI), Father of Oral Chelation

Survive and Thrive in a Toxic World

• Toxins are the single, most common, underlying factors contributing to ALL diseases
• The impact of the depletion of the earth's electromagnetic field
• Energy medicine therapies, daily oral chelation and detoxification protocols

Joel Kahn, MD - Clinical Professor of Cardiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine; Founding Member of the International Society of Functional and Metabolic Cardiovascular Medicine

Get Heart Smart Before Your Ticker Gets Sicker

• Heavy metal is for music not your heart: role of toxins in hypertension and cardiovascular disease
• How toxins make your heart unhealthy
• Tips to protecting your heart from the buildup of toxins

Kristi Hughes, ND - Associate Director of Education at the Institute for Functional Medicine

Sequencing a Detox

• How to do a detox safely
• Doing Detox in a functional medicine way: what does that mean and how to do it
• Using dietary supplements during a detox:  which ones and how to take them

Aviva Romm, MD - Board Certified Family Physician, Certified Midwife, Herbalist, Author

Toxic Shock:  How to Minimize the Risks of Living in a Chemical Stew

• Getting over your fear of herbs and how to use them safely in a detox
• Learn about key herbs that positively influence detoxification
• Minimize risks and repair the damage from environmental exposures with herbs

Lise Alschuler, ND - Board Certification in Naturopathic Oncology

Cancer Processes and Detoxification:  Focus on Glutatione

• The start of cancer and disease can come from oxidative stress
• Toxins and cancer: the connection
• How to increase better energy by boosting glutathione, the master antioxidant, in the body

Frank Lipman, MD - Founder, Eleven Eleven Wellness Center; Author

Building a Better Microbiome:  Gut Bacteria and Detox

• Optimizing your microbiome to prevent obesity and chronic diseases
• How to make the gut inhospitable to intruders
• Using a detox protocol to strengthen your digestion and boost your microbiome

 Amy Myers, MD - Practicing Functional Medicine Physician and Founder of The Myers Way

Thyroid Dysfunction, Autoimmunity, and Toxins

• The thyroid and its sensitivity to toxins
• Signs that the thyroid is sick and what you can do to help thyroid health
• How toxin load can lead to autoimmune conditions

Terry Wahls, MD - Board Certified in Internal Medicine; Physician and Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Iowa

Dietary Approaches for Autoimmune Toxicity

• Toxins can turn on or silence genes related to autoimmune diseases
• Food that can help lessen toxin burden in autoimmunity
• The Wahls Diet™ improves the detoxification enzyme efficiency and effectiveness

How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body [Infographic]

How to Cleanse the Body Naturally
[Infographic] by Lauren Coutts

Our bodies become toxic for many reasons.  Conventionally grown produce (pesticides), packaged and processed foods (preservatives), cosmetics, personal hygiene and household cleaning products (industrial chemicals) are good examples of our daily exposure to a whole host of toxins.  We eat, drink, breathe in and absorb toxins through our skin all the time - in our modern society, it is virtually impossible to avoid environmental toxins.

Exposure to environmental toxins has been linked to an overproduction of unchecked free radicals which, in turn, is implicated in premature ageing, weight gain and obesity, and various degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease.

Research indicates that one of the best defenses against free radical damage are antioxidants.  Antioxidants are nutrients that are found in various plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  Certain foods (such as cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage) are rich in phytochemicals that are thought to be especially beneficial to fighting free radicals.

In recent years, the idea of "cleansing" or "detoxing" has been been popularized by commercially created formulas, diets or programs - mostly in connection with weight loss.  Many people have the idea that they need to periodically cleanse or detox and resort to extreme measures that can be dangerous.

Although an "intensive" periodic detox, like Panchakarma which is done under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic practioner, can be very beneficial, it is important to realize that exposure to toxins and consequent overproduction of free radicals is an ongoing, daily event.  Therefore, an effort to detox or cleanse should be a continual effort.

There are many natural ways in which to natural cleanse your body on a daily basis, as this infographic illustrates and explains:

• Refrain from smoking, drinking excessive alcohol and decaffeinated beverages and eating too much sugar.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Drink plenty of clean water throughout the day and warm lemon water first thing in the morning.  To determine how much water you need to drink, see this water chart.
• Manage stress levels through meditation, journaling or discussing your problems with a friend, family member or within a trusted support group.
• Eat foods rich in dietary fiber like kale, broccoli, almonds, beans and legumes, berries, apples, chia and flaxseed.
• Avoid acid-forming foods like dairy, beef, pork, shellfish, peanuts, sodas and white or wine vinegar.
• Take extra care of your liver by regularly consuming certain herbs, spices and foods like milk thistle, ginger, garlic, lemon, chorella, turmeric and dandelion root.

Related:

Is Your Diet Toxic?
Why Dehydration Makes You Fat and Sick

Colon Cleansing Foods

15 Foods that Cleanse the Liver

Infographic design:  Lauren Coutts

Is Your Diet Toxic? [Infographic]

Is Your Diet Toxic? [Infographic]
from TimetoCleanse.com

Toxins and Body Weight

The top functional medicine physicians and holistic health experts agree:  toxicity is a major contributing factor in weight gain, as well as the inability to lose weight.   The general advise is to detox on a regular basis by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and fiber - all of which are thought to block the absorption of and/or help remove various harmful environmental toxins from the body.

Conventionally Grown Produce and GMOs

Unfortunately, many nutrition experts believe that conventionally grown produce is part of the problem, not the solution.

Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are generally grown in soil that is depleted in naturally occurring minerals and are laden with a toxic cocktail of chemicals - herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and industrial fertilizers.

Consequently, conventionally grown produce is not only significantly less nutritious but often contains relatively large amounts of chemicals and toxins, many of which have been shown to be allergenic, carcinogenic and otherwise harmful to human health.  Long term exposure (even in very low doses) to some of these toxins has been linked to nerve damage, cancer and birth defects.

Additionally, it is suspected that genetically modified crops (GMOs) are not safe for human consumption and yet it is estimated that up to 75% of foods sold in typical U.S. grocery markets contain GMO ingredients.

In view of these facts, it is easy to see how eating lots of conventionally grown produce can be harmful to one's health.

In a detox protocol calling for consumption of mostly fruits and vegetables, such as a juice cleanse, ingesting lots of conventionally grown produce can mean ingesting lots nutritionally bankrupt food and plenty of pesticides  - this, of course, defeats the entire purpose of a cleanse which is to rid the body of toxins, regain health and lose some weight and excess fat!

Infographic

As this very excellent infographic entitled "Is Your Diet Toxic?" points out, there are a number of things you can do to obtain the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, to safeguard your detox or cleanse efforts and to otherwise protect yourself.

Tips for Detoxing and Cleansing

The first step is to become an informed consumer.   Be aware of how food is grown and processed both here at home and in other countries that import food to the U.S.

Understand the difference between conventionally grown and organically grown.  Choose locally grown, organic produce that is currently in season whenever possible - especially when it comes to the so-called "dirty dozen" (peaches, celery, strawberries, sweet bell pepper, spinach, nectarines, cherries, lettuce, apples, pears, imported grapes and potatoes).

Learn to read labels and avoid packaged (including packaged salad), processed, canned and frozen foods, many of which often contain hidden GMOs.  Be aware that the term "all natural" is virtually meaningless.

Look for the specific country of origin of the food (i.e., where it was grown or processed) and be weary of labels that say "packed by", "distributed by", "manufactured for" - labels like these give no indication of where the food really came from.

Related:

How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax
Clean Food Labels

Infographic Source and more information at Time to Cleanse - Is Your Diet Toxic?

5 Herbs Your Liver Will Love [Infographic]

Infographic:  Herbs for Liver Health

With our daily contact with and exposure to chemicals and toxins in the environment, in our food and drinking water and in the personal hygiene and household products we use, it is especially important to regularly detoxify the liver.

A healthy liver is vital to good health because it is responsible for so many important metabolic processes in the body, including regulation of blood cholesterol levels and fat metabolism.

Poor liver function is linked to a variety of degenerative diseases and chronic conditions, including obesity and weight gain and weight loss difficulties.

Regular detoxification of the liver, kidneys and gall bladder are essential to weight loss and healthy weight management as well as to optimal health.  Studies have shown that certain herbs, spices and vegetables are very beneficial to proper liver function and can be powerful detoxifying agents.

This infographic entitled Five Herbs Your Liver will Love - Detox, Boost Function and More illustrates five herbs that are widely known and accepted as excellent natural remedies to detoxify, heal and promote healthy liver function:

✿ Artichokes

• stimulates bile production
• aids in regeneration
• protects liver cells

✿ Burdock Root

• strengthens the liver
• protects against abnormal growths
• blocks cellular damage

✿ Dandelion

• aids in clearing liver congestion
• stimulates liver function
• excellent blood cleanser

✿ Milk Thistle

• prevents absorption of toxins
• protects liver cells
• enhances regeneration

✿ Turmeric

• reduces inflammation in the body, including the liver
• blocks absorption of chemicals and toxins
• is thought to kill liver cancer cells

Related:
Your Amazing Liver
15 Foods that Cleanse the Liver
Top Foods that Chelate the Body of Heavy Metals

Infographic Source:  Natural News 

Aloe Vera Benefits [Infographic]

Aloe Vera Health Benefits

During my Panchakarma, an intense ancient Indian detox treatment, the Ayurvedic practitioner instructed me to take several ounces of whole leaf Aloe Vera gel every morning.

It is thought that the gel contained in the leaves of the plant helps to absorb toxins as it moves through the digestive system.  The gel is known to have strong laxative compounds which aids in bowel movement and elimination, another important component of detoxification.  When ingested, the gel is also believed to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract, aiding in digestion.

Detoxification, cleansing and improved digestive function are all associated with weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.

Aloe Vera is a succulent that has been grown as a medicinal plant and used in both internal and topical herbal health remedies for thousands of years, some of which are described in this infographic entitled "12 Health Benefits of Aloe Vera".

As usual, certain research support some of the health claims relating to the use of Aloe Vera - particularly its use as a topical skin treatment for certain conditions.  Other studies suggest that internal use (ingestion) of Aloe Vera may have some side effects and risks.  Before taking Aloe Vera orally, it is recommended that an individual learns about the possible risks, side effects and cautions and/or consults with a qualified health care provider.

Related:

Healing Herbs and Spices: Aloe Vera Juice and Gel
Herb Body Map
Healing Herbs and Spices
Herbs and Spices Rich in Antioxidants
10 Herbs that Heal
The Best Herbs for Curing Inflammation


Further reading:

Aloe Vera: Science and Safety (NIH)
Vitamins and Supplements Lifestyle Guide: Aloe Vera
Medical Science Embraces the Healing Power of Aloe Vera

Infographic Source:  JuiceUpYourLife

Infographic: 15 Foods That Cleanse Liver

The liver performs many vital functions, including purifying the blood and cleansing the body of harmful chemicals and environmental toxins.  ► Your Amazing Liver

A properly functioning liver is not only essential to good health, but also plays a key role in weight loss and ideal weight maintenance.  In turn, maintaining a healthy weight, especially around the stomach (i.e., keeping belly fat at bay) is the first line of defense in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, arthritis, coronary heart disease, strokes, certain cancers and a variety of other chronic medical conditions.

There are many liver detoxification and cleansing products on the market.  However, it is thought that detoxifying the liver should be done on a regular, daily basis.  This can be accomplished by eating foods.

This infographic entitled "15 Foods that Cleanse Liver" lists some of the best foods that detoxify the liver (and in many cases, the kidneys and other organs as well).

Whenever possible, organic versions of these foods should be consumed, since conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, grains and spices are usually contaminated with harmful insecticides, herbicides and pesticides and are nutritionally inferior.  ►  Know Your Food Labels - What Are You Eating?

More health information about these foods:
Apples
Arugula
Avocado
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Garlic
Grapefruit
Green Tea
Lemons
Spinach
Turmeric
Walnuts

Related:
Top Foods that Chelate the Body of Heavy Metals
5 Herbs that Your Liver Will Love

Infogaphic Source:  Health, Fitness and Me

Panchakarma Journal: Dry Skin Brushing

Skin Brushing 101 - Infographic from
GreenSmoothieGirl

Panchakarma

Panchakarma (or Pancha Karma) is an Ayurvedic program of intense detoxification, purification and rejuvenation.


Dry Skin Brushing

One of the most valuable things that I learned during Panchakarma was the importance of dry brushing your skin on a regular (preferably daily) basis.  This simple and easy action, which only takes a few minutes, is thought to have many amazing health (and beauty) benefits.


Health and Beauty Benefits

❤  It removes dead skin cells and cosmetics, unclogging pores and allowing the skin (our largest organ) to breathe and function properly  

❤  It improves the skin's critical role in effectively detoxing the body and cleansing the lymphatic system, thereby boosting immunity and aiding in digestion

❤  It prepares the skin to better absorb nutrients, such as the healing herbal oils used in Abhyanga (Ayurvedic massage)

❤  It aids in eliminating toxins during perspiration, dry heat or steam sauna, including Svedhana (Ayurvedic steam bath)

❤  It tones and tightens the skin by increasing blood flow and stimulating blood vessels and nerve endings, improving the general appearance of skin

❤  It increases circulation to the skin and stimulates cell renewal, growth, repair and healing in underlying, tissues, veins and capillaries - hence, gently dry skin brushing is recommended for cellulite and varicose or spider veins

❤  It is thought to help reduce fat deposits, thereby aiding in weight loss

❤  Its significant impact on removing metabolic wastes and allowing various organs such as the liver and kidneys to function more optimally is also thought to aid in weight loss

How To Dry Brush

There are many good instructions and infographics (like the one I have included, source below) online that explain how to dry brush.

This is how my Ayurvedic Therapist did it during my Panchakarma:

❤  Lightly brush dry skin daily before your bath or shower, beginning with the soles of your feet and work your way up. 

❤  Use gentle, circular motions in areas of cellulite or varicose and spider veins.  Otherwise, use long strokes toward your heart, avoiding breasts and the face.

                       13" Sisal Dry Body Brush                      

❤  Use a natural bristle brush intended specifically for dry skin brushing.  Select a brush with a long enough (optional: removable) handle so you can get to the hard-to-reach places, like your back.  Replace your brush every 6 or so months.  I like and use the 13" medium texture sisal body brush - pictured and available from Amazon.

❤  Ayurvedic Tip!   After dry skin brushing and before your bath or shower, take a few moments to give yourself a gentle massage using organic sesame or coconut oil.  These oils will nourish the freshly exfoliated skin.  The shower or bath afterwards will help to eliminate toxins.

Infographic Source

Infographic source and to learn more about dry skin brushing, please visit Skin Brushing 101 - GreenSmoothieGirl.


Related

Panchakarma Journal - Tongue Scraping
The Benefits of a Sauna Detox
Ayurvedic Oil Pulling
Tip of the Day: Dry Brushing Teeth









  

Spas and Centers Offering Panchakarma Retreats, Programs, Services

Everyone should experience the amazing health benefits of a Panchakarma detoxification, cleanse and rejuvenation retreat!  The diet, meditation, yoga and Ayurvedic treatments performed during Panchakarma benefit the whole person: mind, body and spirit.

Ideally, a retreat should be at least one week long, with longer times recommended to address more serious health concerns.  Shorter retreat times are also beneficial for rest, relaxation and a reset.

The following is a list of spas, wellness and holistic centers, schools and institutes in the United States and Canada that offer Panchakarma retreats or programs, Ayurvedic treatments and related services.  This list is being updated regularly, so check back often!

Arizona

• Authentic Ayurveda Sedona (Sedona, Arizona)
• MichiMagic (Cottonwood, Arizona)
• Tucson Ayurveda and Wellness Center (Tucson, Arizona)

California

• Amrita Veda (San Diego, California)
• Ayurveda by Kailas (Los Angeles, California)
• Blue Sage Sanctuary (Nevada City, California)
• California Ayurveda (Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California)
• California College of Ayurveda Mind-Body Health Center (Nevada City, California)
• Chopra Center - 10 Day Perfect Health Program (Carlsbad, California)
• Dhyana Center of Health Sciences (Sebastopol, California)
• Dr. Jay's Ayurveda and Panchakarma Center (Mountainview, California)
• Marin Ayurveda (Larkspur, California)
• Shakti Healing (El Cerrito, California
• The Healing Gardens (Ojai, California)
• Yogic Medicine Institute (Los Gatos, California)

Colorado

• John Doillard's LifeSpa (Boulder, Colorado)

Florida

• Ayurveda Health Retreat (Alachua, Florida)
• Ocean Drive Spa (Miami Beach, Florida)
• Rasayana Cove (Ona, Florida)

Hawaii

• Akash Ayurveda of Hawaii (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
• The Ayurveda Center of Hawaii (Kauai, Hawaii)

Iowa

• The Raj Ayurveda Health Spa (Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa)

New Jersey

• MayaShakti Ayurveda (Annandale, New Jersey)
• Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Center (Edison, Denville, Brunswick New Jersey)

New Mexico

• Ayurveda for Radiant Health (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
• The Ayurvedic Institute (Alburquerque, New Mexico)

New York

• Ayurveda Center (New York, New York)
• New York Ayurveda (New York, New York)
• Pratima Ayurvedic Skincare Spa Clinic (New York, New York)
• Rudra Ayurveda (New York, New York)
• Santhigram Wellness (White Plains, New York)
• The National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine (Brewster, New York)
• Yoga Revolution and Ayurveda Care NYC (Astoria, New York)

North Carolina

• Blue Lotus Ayurveda (Asheville, North Carolina)

Oregon

• Ashland Ayurveda (Medford, Oregon)

Pennsylvania

• Ayurveda Wellness Center and Holistic Spa (Oakdale, Pennsylvania)

Texas

• Houston Ayurveda Wellness Center (Houston, Texas)
• Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Center (Stafford, Texas)

Virginia

• River View Spa (Buckingham, Virgnia)

Washington

• Life In Balance Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Center (Seattle and Vashon Island, Washington)

Wisconsin

• Kanyakumari Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness Center (Glendale, Wisconsin)

Canada

• Elemental Embrace (Ontario, Canada)
• Ojus Ayurveda and Yoga (Surrey, BC, Canada)

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What is Ayurveda?
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Panchakarma Journal: Daily Routine

Buddha Reflecting by Morgan Ellis

I have always been interested in Ayurveda and, before undertaking Panchakarma, I did a lot of research and reading on the subject matter.  Because Panchakarma is quite orderly and straight-forward, I was relatively confident that I knew what to generally expect.  As it turned out, I was not  as prepared for the experience as I had thought. 

The following is a detailed account of my daily routine during my Panchakarma treatment:


Morning Routine

• Wake up 30 minutes before sunrise
• Examine and scrape tongue
• Oil pulling (15 to 20 minutes)
• Wash face, brush teeth
• Drink ghee
• Dress and go outside:  grounding exercise and solar gazing, 15 minute walk
• Return to the hotel (home):  prepare morning meal (spiced stewed fruit) and set it to cook
• Prepare Ayurvedic herbal tea
• Drink hot/warm water infused with ginger root
• Yoga (30 minutes)
• Meditation (20 minutes)
• Eat morning meal of stewed fruits
• Rest 10-15 minutes
• Go back out and take 15-20 minute walk
• Return to hotel (home) and take Ayurvedic herbs
• Warm Bath
• Drink Aloe Vera gel
• Walk to treatment

Mid-Day:  Ayurvedic/Panchakarma Treatments

• Consultation with Ayurvedic practitioner
• Dry skin brushing
• Abhyanga
• Nasya
• Shirodhara
• Chakra Therapy
• Vibrational and Sound Therapies
• Steam
• Return to hotel (home)

Related:  Panchakarma:  Daily Ayurvedic Spa Treatments

Afternoon Routine

• Eat lunch (kitchari)
• Rest 10-15 minutes
• Take a 15-20 minute walk
• Journal
• Nap (1 to 3 hours)

Related:  Panchakarma:  Daily Diet During Retreat and Detox

Evening Routine

• Warm up kitchari and eat
• Take Ayurvedic herbs
• Rest 10-15 minutes
• Take 30-40 minute walk
• Wash and soak Mung Dal beans
• Set almonds in water (to soak overnight for morning meal)
• Wash dishes and clean up living space
• Read, listen to music and/or journal
• Herbal/oil enema
• Hot aromatherapy bath
• Meditate (20 minutes)
• Drink Aloe Vera gel
• Rub Brahmi Oil into soles of feet
• Journal, listen to music and/or read
• Sleep

Related:  Ayurveda:  Books and Recommended Reading