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Dear Friend,
We have now reached October, and the fall season is in full
swing. There’s a noticeable chill in the air, and leaves have started to fall
from the trees. As nature prepares for winter, so too should we begin our own
form of preparation. Fall detoxification is an important part of this
transitional time of year, for me and for all of my patients—so I’d like to use
this newsletter to talk about what detox means during this period, and how you
can begin to prepare your mind and body for the upcoming winter.
In Chinese medicine, autumn relates to the metal element,
and specifically to your lungs and large intestine. It’s a time of judgment,
reflection, and a wonderful opportunity to lighten the burden that you carry
with you into winter—both physically and emotionally. This makes fall the ideal
time not only to shed excess pounds and cleanse toxins from your body, but also
to free yourself from old, outdated, and harmful thoughts and emotions.
Let’s first take a look at what this means for your body,
and more specifically, your lungs. The
process of exhalation is one of the most basic and meaningful biological
activities in our body—and it’s also one of the most important means of
detoxification we have. As we exhale, we let go of carbon dioxide, the waste
byproduct that comes about from our respiration. But in a transcendental sense,
we are also releasing old information and emotions, which are naturally tied to
our lungs and our breathing.
This kind of waste removal also takes place in the colon,
though in a much more literal way. A colon that isn’t functioning properly
creates a whole host of problems, from constipation to irritable bowel
syndrome—but it’s also a common manifestation of emotional imbalance.
Both of these biological processes are fundamental to both the
physical and emotional process of “letting go”—and as you enter into your fall
detox program, you might want to consider whether there are any emotions or
feelings in particular that you’d like to begin releasing. A focused intention
can help to move the cleansing process along—but at the same time, you want to
be sure to keep your mind, body, and heart open to whatever emotions or
feelings might rise up during this time.
We aren’t always aware of what we need to let go, and detoxification
provides a wonderful opportunity to become more in tune with this, while
acknowledging and coming to terms with the impermanent nature of all things. On
a practical level, fall detox also primes our body for the challenges of winter
and especially for the tendency toward stress and overindulgence during the
holidays. Both aspects of cleansing can have a tremendous impact on your health,
happiness, and wellbeing.
So what exactly is involved in an effective fall
cleanse? Many people have advocated
fasting as the primary method of detoxification, but I find that to be an
unnecessarily rigid (and often very unhealthful) approach to ridding the body
of harmful toxins. Instead, you should focus on the basics of healthy
eating—increasing your intake of green vegetables, for example, and boosting
your liquid consumption. This can be in the form of water, or even vegetable
soups (a particularly appealing option as the weather cools down).
I
have found that a simple lemon and olive oil drink is also an important part of
any seasonal cleanse. It’s easy to
prepare: Just take the pieces of one organic lemon (seeds removed) and mix with
about one-and-a-quarter cups of spring water, along with one tablespoon of
olive oil. Then, strain the contents—not too much, as you still want some of
the pectins to remain—and drink before bed on an empty stomach. This will help
to support the discharge of toxins from your liver, and many of my patients have
found that it improves their sleep as well.
This lemon and olive oil drink will also offer intestinal
support during your fall cleanse. Again, regular healthy bowel movements are
essential, and clearing the liver will help to support colon elimination. For
this reason, many people will also choose to include enemas or colonics in
their regimens. In my practice, I opt to use a Tibetan herbal formula to boost
sluggish digestion—this will help with common symptoms like bloating,
flatulence, and fluid retention.
Some other supplements I like to use to support colonic
discharge are probiotics and prebiotics, vitamin C, and especially medicinal
mushrooms (like Organic 10 Mushrooms), which have the unique ability to travel
to and support the more stagnant (and hence toxic) areas of the body. And of
course, no cleansing program would be complete without a strong focus on heavy
metal detoxification.
Heavy metal removal is a crucial detoxification process that
should always be accomplished in a gentle and gradual manner. In addition to
reducing or eliminating your environmental exposure to toxic metals, you’ll
also want to take steps to remove the heavy metal load you’re currently
carrying in your body. The best way to do this is with a modified citrus pectin
(MCP)/alginate supplement, such as Pectasol Chelation Complex.
Not only is this combination clinically proven to
effectively reduce heavy metal burden over the course of one to three months,
it’s also completely safe—unlike other chelation methods such as EDTA, which
will remove essential minerals from your body. This combination is also unique
in that it prevents re-absorption of heavy metals in the gut, another common
shortcoming of conventional chelation methods.
Once this initial stage of chelation is complete, you’ll want
to continue on to the second stage of effective chelation, which is general
maintenance and detoxification. For this, I use a formula (PectaSol Detox
Complete) containing a proprietary blend of Chinese herbs, along with several
other vitamins minerals, and nutrients for ongoing support. Keeping your body
free of harmful heavy metals often requires continued vigilance—but the effects
that this important step can have on your health and wellness are truly
profound.
A thoughtful detox regimen consisting of each of these
elements—from proper diet, hydration, and supplementation to an open and
willing mind—will help to ensure that you approach the upcoming holiday season
with as much health and energy as possible.
Speaking of the holidays, I’d like to devote next month’s
newsletter to talking a little more about the importance of healthy digestion—a
topic that will take on even more significance with Thanksgiving just around
the corner. In the meantime, I hope that you’ll make the most of your fall
cleanse, whether its three days or three weeks long. (In my experience, 10 to
14 days is usually ideal.)
I’d also like to remind you once again that we are hosting an open Q and A session on the second
Tuesday of every month at my clinic, Amitabha Medical Clinic and Healing Center
in Sebastopol. Feel free to attend if you have
questions about health matters. Although every month is
focused on a specific topic, any questions are addressed by our staff. —we are looking forward to being able to offer our
guidance to as many people as possible!
Just be sure to RSVP at 707-829-5900 if you plan to attend, as space
will be limited.
Until then, best of luck on your cleanse, and don’t forget
to make time to enjoy these beautiful first days of fall.
Yours in good health,
Isaac Gabriel Eliaz, M.D., L.Ac., M.S.
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