Take a Detox Bath

a woman in a bath with soda, salt, and citrus

Scary news about people being exposed to toxins is nothing news. In Flint, Michigan, a group of children were tested for lead due to contaminated water, and nearly 5 percent of them had elevated levels. Lead is a potent neurotoxin and can dramatically lower IQ.

Wrap your mind around the fact that in 2014 in New York, cities outside of New York City showed almost 7 percent with elevated lead, in Pennsylvania it was 8.5 percent – and in a section of Detroit it was 20 percent!!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 535,000 American children between the ages of 1 and 5 are infected with lead poisoning. The theory on why is that lead-contaminated soil is tracked into homes on shoes – right where kids of this age play – as well as exposure to chipped lead paint in older homes.

And lead poisoning isn’t by any stretch of the imagination where it ends. Sneaky chemicals seem to be infiltrating our bodies everywhere. Even brand new sofas are soaked in flame-retardant chemicals – a major hormonal disrupter of the immune system.

Since these toxic substances buildup in your body slowly and silently, they don’t get nearly the public attention they so desperately need.

I don’t think there’s any question that our bodies are becoming toxic waste dumps and as the CDC has confirmed – we are all contaminated – 100%.

So, what do we do about it?

Cleansing Your Body Toxin-Free

While we become more aware of ways to prevent these toxins from being able to get into our systems through organic and non-GMO foods as well as supplements, exercise, and deep breathing, there are some simple and gentle ways to start to undo the toxic overload.

A great strategy is regular detox baths.

These are therapeutic baths that were recommended by my mentor, the grand dame of alternative medicine, Dr. Hazel Parcells, who lived to the ripe old age of 106.

This particular bath has been used for over 25 years by my students, followers and readers. Don’t take more than one bath a day, and don’t mix the formulas. Twice a week would be great – and after it rains or snows!

The salt and soda bath is quite relaxing and very simple to implement.

It is specific for radiation from X-rays, CT scans, fallout, and nuclear plants (think Fukushima). I take this one regularly after an airplane trip as well.

  1. Run a tub to the hottest temperature you can manage. Dissolve 1 pound of salt (like Kosher salt) and 1 pound of baking soda in the water, and begin to soak.
  2. Sip a glass of warm water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda for internal pH balance to counter the radiation’s acidity.
  3. Get out of the bath when the water is cool. Don’t shower for at least four hours.

Sweat to Detox

Another fantastic cleansing approach that complements detox baths is the infrared sauna. Sweating is a marvelous way to especially rid the body of virus and heavy metals. It also targets those nasty fat-storage toxins.

The skin is your largest external organ and spending time in a sauna works wonders to relieve the toxic overload on the liver and kidneys.

It’s also good for your heart and your body. Blood flow is improved, while your heart gets a very gentle workout. Besides cardiovascular benefits, sauna therapy can help musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, chronic fatigue, and depression.

Here’s how to best use a sauna:
Start with 5-10 minutes at 135°F. Gradually work your way up to 45 minutes. After a month or so, increase to 145°F. Do not overdo – once or twice per week only.
For more information, check out www.sunlighten.com.

The Colonic Connection

Last, but not least, is colon hydrotherapy. Home enemas and colonic irrigation can play an important role in cleansing the colon of parasites and pathogenic bacteria that upset a healthy microbiome.

Colonic irrigation (sometimes called a high enema) is a procedure whereby a lukewarm water solution is irrigated into the entire length of the large intestine. The procedure, which dislodges and removes toxins over the entire length of the intestine, takes about 45 minutes and is usually performed in a professional office. Please visit I-ACT to find qualified colon hydrotherapists in your area.

For those of you who prefer the do-it-yourself method, home enemas can be effective. Remember, however, that enemas only reach the lower 12 ½ inches of the 5 ½ foot colon, whereas colonic irrigation cleanses the entire length of the colon, up to the ileocecal valve.

A word of caution when performing an enema on yourself in your home: Use only properly filtered or purchase distilled water and further sterilize it by heating to a rolling boil for at least ten minutes. Sterilize the tubing and enema bag by soaking them in a bath of a comprehensive antiseptic. I like equal parts vinegar and hot water for fifteen minutes.

Rinse thoroughly with sterilized water. This procedure prevents the further introduction of water-borne parasites into your body.

Contributor

Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, is a New York Times award-winning author of 30 books on detox, health, and healing, including the international bestselling Fat Flush Plan and Zapped! Visit her blog and join her online Fat Flush Community.