Nature's Sunshine Herbal Products is a company I have grown to know and trust. It is important to find companies that make sense to you and that you wish to support. ( For Bulk Herbs, I love Mountain Rose Herbs ). After my first cleanse, I came across a small herb shop in Charlottesville, Virginia run by Terry Saunders. She offers free classes on cleansing and after attending one of her classes I purchased Clean Start for my next cleanse. It is a combination of herbal capsules and an herbal detox drink. It is an all in one 2 week cleanse which I have used since that fateful day in 2002.
The detox drink consists mostly of Psyllium Hulls ( Plantago ovata). Psyllium hulls actually come from the native herb Plantain which most of us have growing in our grass and gardens, if we do not use chemicals. So Plantain is plentiful and has many uses included being a great source of vegetable fiber. The psyllium hulls act like little scrub brushes that work their way down the intestinal tract giving all of the little nooks and crannies a little exfoliating action. The adult small intestine is about 23 feet long, give or take and if it is not cleaned out regularly, bits of decaying food build up there causing obstructions and infections. It is not a pretty site. I have actually seen pictures of the decaying matter and that image alone is enough to keep you cleansing for the rest of your life. The other key ingredient of the detox drink is bentonite clay which draws the toxins out of the intestines and encourages them along their way.
The Clean Start capsules include all sorts of beneficial herbs to help detoxify the liver. Burdock Root ( Arctium Lapa ) and Dandelion Root ( Taraxacum officinale )are two other herbs that you can find in your backyard that are specific to detoxify and cleanse the Liver. Burdock Root also helps with fluid retention as it is a diuretic. The whole idea with the cleansing process is to flush the system. Dandelion Root is a cholagogue which promotes the movement of bile into the digestive tract. Bile helps fat digestion and acts as a natural laxative to help move and flush toxins out of the system.
Coffee is known to be detrimental to the liver, even when it is organically grown. Today is my first day in a while without coffee. I can already feel a headache and a bit of nausea. Best to nip this in the bud right away. More on the detrimental effects of coffee in later posts. Time to enjoy this beautiful day!