Emunctory This

This time of year is good as any to think about supportive detoxification to the body's emunctories, or routes of elimination. The more efficient the elimination, the less congested and toxic are our organs. We need to keep these routes "open" and cleansed for proper function and prevention of dis-ease.

The main emunctories of the body and how to support them:

LUNG

• Eat lots of garlic, ginger, onions, watercress & radish


• Take 100 deep belly breaths every day. If that seems too daunting, do 4 sets of 25. You will feel rejuvenated and connected to your body. Just remind yourself.


• Aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week


• Steam inhalations over a pot of water on stove (with a few drops of pine or eucalyptus essential oil) and towel over head


• DRINK HALF YOUR WEIGHT IN OUNCES OF WATER (160 lb person needs 80 ounces of water, so 10 glasses every day)
  

LIVER

• Eat dandelions on salads, beets, beet greens, lemons, artichokes


• Castor oil packs 3 times a week or more


• Hydrotherapy- Foot baths with epson salts, End showers in cold water


• DRINK HALF YOUR WEIGHT IN WATER
  

SKIN

• Eat burdock root, ground flax, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cayenne, cold water fish/oils (norweigan fish oil supplements best)


• Dry Skin Brushing before every shower- helps move LYMPH which helps move detoxification army dudes around the body and transports the bad guys to places for elimination


• SWEAT!!! work out, saunas, etc


• Epson salt baths (throw a cup of salts in your bath, stir it up and soak


• DRINK HALF YOUR WEIGHT IN WATER

KIDNEYS

• Eat/drink cranberries (watch out for added sugars to juice!!), cilantro, parsley, celery, asparagus and watermelon


• Hydrotherapy


• Castor oil packs over kidneys


• DRINK HALF YOUR WEIGHT IN WATER
  

COLON

• Eat rhubarb, psyllium seed supplement, ground flax, oats, root and leaf vegetables, figs, prunes and apples (FIBER GOOD).


• Home enemas (but not often, and be cautious)


• Abdominal massage- always rub your belly in a clockwise fashion to support the route of digestion along the colon


• Foot reflexology: your big toe is related to your head and neck (homunculus), so massaging the arch of your foot correlates with your digestive system- See video here


• ALWAYS DRINK HALF YOUR WEIGHT IN WATER- important to drink more water when consuming more fiber. Think of it as a long pipe from your mouth to rectum- gotta move that bulk along..don't want any clogs!!

By doing these few things, and by DRINKING HALF YOUR WEIGHT IN WATER EVERY DAY, you will surely be doing your emunctories a favor. Every little bit helps, and Prevention is key.

BALANCE = MODERATION = HAPPINESS = HEALTHINESS