My Experience with Detoxification
This past month I went on the same detox program that I recommend to my patients. Here is what happened.
By Dr. Eric Lewis, ND
I’ve been recommending detoxification to many of my patients lately. I find that in many cases of less-than-ideal health, a gentle, cleansing detox can get the patient’s health on the right track. As a piece of a comprehensive naturopathic health care plan, it can be one of the most powerful healing tools available.
We learned in naturopathic medical school how important detoxification is, and we went through many different detox programs while in school, trying them out, seeing what worked and what didn’t. One thing both Dr. Kristina and I were struck by is how many detox programs out there are extreme, illogical, and not based on science or on how the body works. Many are packaged in the form of late-night infomercials, consist of harsh laxative herbs, or involve drinking nothing but water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper for a long period of time.
Detoxification is a natural process that our bodies do every single day. It is the removal of chemicals, hormones, metabolic waste products, and indigestible food products from the body. An effective detox does not have to be drastic, dramatic, or dreadful to be successful. It is a time of rest and rebuilding, not a time to add more stress to our bodies.
Dr. Eric Goes on a Detox
My wife, Dr. Kristina, and I have designed a program that is scientifically-founded, gentle, and effective. Our ten-day program assists your body in this natural process, and does not involve discomfort or suffering. We are proud to offer this comprehensive plan; many of our patients have benefited and have remarked how good they feel on it.
This past month I went on the same detox program that I recommend to my patients. My motivation for doing a detox was multi-faceted. First, I want to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. I want to live my example in all I do, and don’t want to recommend something to my patients that I wouldn’t be willing to do myself.
Secondly, I have personal health challenges that I have struggled with my whole life. As many of you may know, I have battled with allergies, asthma, and eczema since I was a small child. I remember being rushed to the emergency room at age five for a severe asthma attack. Although my symptoms have improved greatly over the years due to natural medicine, I still sometimes struggle with these long-standing ailments. I may be a doctor, but I’m still very human.
Time for Spring Cleaning
Just as our house may fall into disarray and stagnation during the winter months, so do our bodies. And just like a good spring cleaning of the house is in order, springtime is also a perfect time to clean our body.
Over the wintertime, I’ve been working hard and not taking care of myself as well as I know I should. The shorter days lead to less time outside, less exercise, and general winter doldrums. As the bad habits started to slip in (less sleep, a little more coffee) my health also started to slip. I recently noticed I had to use my asthma inhaler more frequently, and that my sleep wasn’t as good as it has been in the past.
I approached this recent detox with great motivation—I wanted to regain my normal energy, to reduce my need for asthma medication, and to establish a healthy regimen in time for spring and summer, a time of rebirth.
My Experience with Detoxification
As I mentioned above, I’ve tried other detoxes in the past. Some involved only water for days. For others I drank a disgusting mixture of bentonite clay and psyllium seed, and felt horrible for days on end.
On our detox, I made gentle, simple dietary changes, while taking a few specific supplements for support. There is an optional two to four day juice or water fast that some folks find beneficial. But even if you don’t do the fast, you can still receive a lot of benefit from the program. I chose to do the juice fast, and for four days.
After a few days, I noticed an almost immediate difference in the quality of my sleep, my energy, my skin, and my breathing. I haven’t needed any asthma medication in several weeks, and this is the time of year with flowers blooming and pollen everywhere—a typical trigger for my asthma.
Emotionally, I feel calmer. I’ve been inspired to go on a number of long walks. I found that during those walks, the answers to questions I’ve been mulling over for months have become more crisp and clear. I found a renewed motivation for my job, and a renewed commitment toward living a healthy life. I could breathe in the fresh air, enjoy my walk, and be more present without the constant barrage of brain chatter that so many of us deal with on a daily basis.
Because of this emotional and mental clarity, I was able to focus even more on the process of detoxification. Even though my diet was limited during those ten days, I didn’t feel restricted; instead I realized I didn’t miss other foods, because I felt so good. Television ads for restaurants with the close-ups of the “fried-this” and “double-beef-that” did not have any appeal.
Even on the juice fast days, I was really surprised with how little hunger I felt. And this is from a guy can really put his food down! For those of you who don’t know me, I have an amazing ability to eat large quantities of food. My classmates in medical school finally concluded that I must have a tapeworm or a hollow leg.
Feeling Supported by Supplements
I was very grateful for the few supplements that I took during this detox. For those who have done harsh detoxes in the past, you may be familiar with the flood of toxins and intense fatigue that can make you feel horrible. I felt that this time I was thoroughly detoxifying my system while maintaining grace and energy. Detoxification doesn’t have to be so difficult—you don’t have to go to dramatic lengths to receive the benefit!
The supplements help to process and clear what is being stirred up, and give me a boost of energy so I could still get through my day-to-day activities.
What now?
Now that I’m done with my detox, I’ve noticed that foods smell and taste differently. I crave real foods like fruits, veggies, and seasonings. I feel more motivated on a daily basis to make good food choices—not just because I know I should, but because those foods are actually more appealing.
See if this sounds familiar. You get on a good routine; you eat well, exercise often, and feel good. Then slowly, gradually over time, your old bad habits sneak back in. You start to feel worse, but it’s so subtle that you don’t notice it day-to-day. Eventually, you’ve forgotten how you once felt so good, and don’t remember what it feels like anymore.
This is where I was a few months ago. Now that I’ve detoxed, I remember how good I am supposed to feel and my motivation has returned. This is one reason why doing a detoxification program two to four times a year can be that constant tune-up and reminder about how good health can feel. Making a commitment to my health has never felt so good.
For more information about detoxification and about the Ten-Day Detoxification program at Lewis Family Natural Health:
www.lewisnaturalhealth.com/detoxification
