Tag Archives: colon

Healthy Living in a Toxic World – Episode 9: What is a Colonic?

colon

In this episode of Healthy Living in a Toxic World we chat with Scott Webb, author and professional colon hygenist to get some insight into colonics, the myths behind them, and what benefits they can provide for your overall health.

We discuss:

  • What is a colonic?
  • What are some common myths about colonics
  • Is it safe to have a colonic and what to expect
  • The difference between gravity and machine based methods
  • What are ways to find a good hydrotherapist and what credentials to look for
  • His personal health journey and what led him to become a colon hygenist
  • The benefits of getting regular colonics

& More! Tune in and don’t forget to share.

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Dear Raw Girl: Colonics & Maintaining Energy?

colon

Leaky Gut Syndrome: Root Cause of Eczema, Psoriasis, & Autoimmune Disorders

autoimmune disorder

My dear contributing writer Nicola wrote up an article on some things one can do for treating eczema naturally, which I will post soon. I realized that first I must personally elaborate on this subject  and provide the proper context because I have recently come across research that reveals the root cause. My mother developed psoriasis sometime last year, following my little brother passing away unexpectedly. She’s never had anything like this in her life, and her situation is a clear example of how stress and dealing with overwhelming emotions can bring out diseases that would have remained dormant. I’ve got her taking omega-3’s via flaxseed oil daily, she’s eating a high plant-based diet with some fish, and getting moderate exercise. Thus far her condition has been steadily improving, the skin marks are fading away rapidly, and I intend to see that it disappears altogether.

While researching how to help her I came across a very brilliant book called “Healing Psoriasis” by John O. A. Pagano, D.C. which I highly recommend for anyone dealing with psoriasis or eczema. The book includes accounts of healed patients, research, and recipes/meal plans for those implementing a healing program. What I learned that literally gave me an Oprah AHA! moment, was that skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, along with AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS can all be traced to leaky gut syndrome. For years now, I’ve had friends and colleagues with autoimmune disorders  that are deemed “un-cureable” and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was behind them. I knew there had to be something. How does the body just starting attacking itself?  Come to find out it all goes back to THE COLON, which shouldn’t have been surprising considering it is the root of almost every disease we know. What is leaky gut? It is exactly what it sounds like…the intestinal walls get weak and “leak” out toxins into the bloodstream causing illness.

In Pagano’s book he mentions Dr. Zoltan P. Rona  who has conducted research on this matter: ”  ‘Leaky gut syndrome is almost always associated with autoimmune disease, and reversing autoimmune disease depends on healing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.’ He [ Dr. Rona] named diseases in this category such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, vertigo, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and diabetes among others as being directly linked to a hyperpermeable intestinal wall.”

Here are some causes the Dr. Rona and Pagano list that may cause leaky gut: antibiotics, alcohol and caffeine, foods and beverages contaminated by parasites, chemicals in processed foods, enzyme deficiencies, prescription corticosteroids, diet high in refined carbs, prescription hormones (birth control pills), chronic constipation, improper elimination, insufficient intake of water, foods high in saturated fat, nightshade foods like tomatoes (destructive to those with eczema or psoriasis), smoking, negative emotions, depression, spinal misalignment (which can be rectified with a chiropractor), and hereditary factors.

All that said, basically if you or someone you know has any of the conditions mentioned above, change in diet  and removal of unnatural foods will help relieve symptoms and lessen inflammation or pain. Colon cleansing will help get rid of stored toxins and also actively working to rebuild the walls of the colon may help address the root cause. How do you do that? There are herbs that are great for that include slippery elm bark powder and American yellow saffron tea that can be taken, and/or you can also supplement with vegetarian glucosamine.

I’m more of an herbal girl, so I would probably try to find the most potent version of the teas, but glucosamine will probably be more aggressive at addressing the issue although it may come with some side effects. Try it and just be wary of how your body feels and reacts. Glucosamines are amino sugars which are an essential component of all bodily tissues. An inability of the body to manufacture glucosamine causes the intestinal walls to thin (leaky gut) and allows toxins and undigested proteins to enter the bloodstream, which leads to the aforementioned diseases and autoimmune disorders. Most glucosamines are made from shellfish and other animal products, so take care to find the vegan/vegetarian brands. The veg friendly brands are out there, and I heard first-hand while at a local health food store from a few suffering from diseases related to leaky gut that this drastically helped reverse their condition.

If you have an autoimmune disorder or any skin condition like eczema and psoriasis, the good news is that there is hope. It’ll take some investigation as to what is aggravating you (as you are probably highly sensitive to chemicals, additives etc.), and determination to change your lifestyle and dietary habits, but it is possible to heal yourself and live symptom-free. Stay the course, and may the veggie force be with you. -XoXo Raw Girl

Get Over Your Ego & Clean Your Colon!

cleansing
Excretion. Defection. Releasing. Whatever you wanna call it. Its something that we all must do, yet it for some reason has always been a very taboo subject. Who can remember the childhood taunting that accompanied having to go #2 and being discovered by others? It is so ironic that something so completely natural and necessary to regulate our metabolism, clean our bodies, and literally “lighten our load” is such an avoided and even dreaded topic by many people.

In the United States alone 60 to 70 million people are affected by some type of digestive disease. Among the most commonly diagnosed are chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticular disease. Digestive diseases are responsible for over 13.5 million hospitalizations, and cost the United States 97.8 billion on medical care and $44 billion on indirect costs ($141.8 billion annually). Beyond digestive conditions, there are numerous other diseases begin with too much waste building up in the colon, the bodies’ sewage system.

I’ve often  heard people saying they are avoiding watery food, or cleansing meals because it will make them go to the bathroom. Many people have this irrational fear of having to defecate while in public! My response to that is;  would you rather carry it around in your body to clog up your colon, stink up your insides, and create a toxic  state (which WILL affect your mental state)? The main complaint that I hear when it comes to colon cleansing is that many can not accept the idea of an enema, colonic, or any sort of contraption of which involves the rectum and insertion.  While it may require some re-wiring of the brain and bravery in your efforts to be consistent, colon cleansing can have dramatically rewarding benefits. You’ll be surprised at some of the waste that you have been carrying around, sometimes for years. If you want to maintain optimal health,  remain disease-free, lighten your load, and feel more at peace, it’s important for you to move past  the ego and begin to harness the power of regular colon cleansing. ~XoXo Nicola, signing in for Raw Girl

Some benefits of regular colon cleansing include:
  • More efficient digestion
  • Clearer Skin
  • Slimmer waist
  • Flush out parasites
  • Boosts your  energy
  • Helps to regulate your sleep
  • Literally feel “lighter”
  • Increases your mental sharpness
  • Avoid long-term chronic disease (health begins and ends in the colon)

For 10 Methods To Keep Your Colon Clean, check out this past post: http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2011/04/07/1-health-issue-in-america-maintaining-a-healthy-colon/

#1 Health Issue in America: Maintaining a Healthy Colon

colon

If every person in this country was tested nutritionally and had their colons cleaned out, 95% of our medical profession would have to seek other means of employment.” The Healthview Newsletter

If you didn’t know, colon health is most likely the number one wellness issue in America today, period. The majority of diseases begin with the accumulation of waste in our colon or our “bodies’ sewage system.” How often do we see men and women with distended bellies nowadays? I cringe because I know that those distended bellies, are full of waste that will cause disease. Checking out someone’s waistline, can be a general indicator of their overall health. Even if your tummy isn’t protruding, your body still may be storing waste from junk foods in other ways that are unhealthy and could lead to long-term disease. Why wait until then? Beyond dis-ease if everyone wasn’t so full of #$%#, literally, the world would be a more peaceful, civil place. When your colon is backed up you can get sick of course, but also, all that waste DOES affect your emotions and can make you more a more agressive, reactive, and emotionally volatile person.

So what can you do to clean your colon? You can always take up the habit of colonics and enemas, but for those who get squeamish at the thought of those options, there are a variety of foods and herbs that can help you keep your colon clean. When I recently interviewed Bernando LaPallo, an 109 year old raw foodist on my radio show and asked him how he keeps his colon clean, his response was simple: eat the right foods–fruits and veggies–and your colon will stay clean. Below is a list of 10 ideas for cleaning house and maintaining a healthy colon longterm. -XoXo Raw Girl

10 Ways to Clean House & Keep Your Colon Healthy

  1. Pysillium Husk . This fiber acts like a brush and helps to scrub waste out of the colon and absorb toxins in the bowels. It is actually the husk of the see of the Plantain! ( I thought  that was groovy) When taken, one must take care to drink a lot of water, as it can cause digestive problems or dehydration if liquids are neglected. The husk swells when it comes in contact with water or liquids and forms a gelatin-like mass in the colon. Psyllium has been used to treat constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. You can incorporate this weekly  by adding it to juice, water, etc.
  2. Flaxseed is similar to psyllium husk as it absorbs water and expands as it moves through the colon, removing waste and toxins. You can sprinkle ground flaxseed on smoothies, yogurt, fruit and other meals to get that daily dose of fiber.
  3. Bentonite Clay. When used internally (make sure you buy the kind that can be taken internally) bentonite will clean out your colon and kill parasites (parasites cannot reproduce in the presence of clay).
  4. Fiber rich foods such as: kale and other leafy greens, blackberries, prunes or prune juice can be regularly incorporated in your diet to keep you regular. Also making sure to eat a large variety of fruits and veggies will also give you the fiber you need.
  5. Salt Water Flushes. I never had the stomach for this–for some reason salt water flushes make me hurl, but some people love doing salt water flushes and they do work really well.
  6. Herbs. Senna Leaf (which is a very common ingredient in laxatives) can be taken in many forms including pills and tea. I learned from a friend who performs colonoscopies that intake of Senna is okay in moderation, but overuse actually will stain your colon.
  7. Enemas or Colonics. Yes many people dread the thought, but there really isn’t anything to be scared of. You’ve got nothing to lose but a whole lot of waste! Whenever considering a colonic, always make sure it is not machine based. The procedure should be gravity method (meaning the water flows naturally and not pushed into the colon by a machine), and if you think you may have any colon issues, check with a doctor to ensure that you have no polyps or growths on the colon before you undergo a colonic. The difference between colonics and enemas? Colonics are a gallon or more of water, enemas can be self-administered at home with smaller amounts of water.
  8. Fasting. Taking a break from food altogether allows your digestive system time to rest and leaves room for your body to get rid of old waste. Whether you fast on green juices or water, eventually, your body will rid itself of unwanted toxins.
  9. Parasite Cleanse. Of  course you know I had to mention this! Parasites actually aggravate waste problems in your colon because they can make you crave certain foods in excess. In essence, parasites thrive in a murky intestinal environment, so if you get rid of the waste, you’ll be one step closer to getting rid of the buggers.
  10. Probiotics & Fermented Foods.  Once you clean your colon, it’s important to keep the good bacteria in your gut and take a probiotic supplement (acidophilus) and/or regularly incorporate fermented foods such as: miso, yogurt (if you’re a vegetarian or meat-eater), sauerkraut etc.

Battle of the Internal Parasites: Knock Them Out Before They Take You Down

cleanse

Today is Day 1 of another battle with parasites, and I am REALLY not happy about it. To commemorate, I wrote an in depth article on parasites, which you can access via the link below.

“What are parasites?” you mumble. They are annoying, disgusting, creepy worm like organisms, some visible to the human eye and some not, that can set up shop in the human body and pimp you out like a common prostitute. That would make, according to statistics, the majority of people in the world hookers. That’s right, you may think that your constant cravings for dessert and bread is completely normal, but you might be marching to the drum of the parasites inside you that thrive on sweets and carbs. Not to mention the fact that they prevent your body from absorbing nutrients from the foods you eat.  “Oh that’s crazy,” your thinking. “There’s no way there’s any kind of worms inside of me.” If you had that thought it may just be the parasites talking!

A few years ago, I was introduced to the idea of parasites from a fellow yogi. He had just completed a parasite cleanse and said that it changed his life. I was telling him I was going raw, but having a problem with craving sweets and cutting out bread.  He told me to do a parasite cleanse, but I forgot all about it until the veggie really hit the fan. I started breaking out, acne, rashes, felt tired all the time, and had the chills. Ran into another vegan friend who told me she battled with parasites for a year, and used to have the same exact symptoms I had. I know now that it was a combination of nutritional deficiency (mostly B12) and parasites.

My first battle with them began, and I got real gangsta. I consumed only things they didn’t like. Tons of greens, garlic, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, anything that I heard would kill them. Long story short without any stomach churning details, they exist. You won’t believe it, until you see what may come out of you. Anyway, this first bout, I arose, three months later, the victor. I was strutting like Ali leaving the ring.  Got my groove back, my energy, and clear skin.

So how did this relapse happen again? Well there are a variety of ways to contract parasites including: drinking contaminated water, sexual contact (including kissing), hygiene, pets etc.  On my end, I haven’t been as gangsta about protecting myself on the dating front as I could be, and although I am crazy about clean water, I remember an incident recently where the source was questionable. It could have been either or none of these things. But I will say this, the next time I go out and have a fabulous time, and the night is winding down and mood is just right, when Mr. Right leans in for a kiss, I will have to stop him like a true diva and ask “Have you done a parasite cleanse?” If he shakes his head no, I will have to whisper, “Well, then call me in two weeks,” and catwalk away.  I wish I was kidding, but at least I know my health is worth the wait.

Read my Suite 101 Article on Parasites here:

http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/internal-parasites