Cleansing the body is one more critical step in natural healing. For the human body to remain healthy, it must burn fuel like a clean burning wood stove to create heat (energy). The wood stove must also release waste material in the form of smoke and ash. But whenever a wood stove is supplied with poor quality fuel, the fire that burns within gives off less heat, produces more smoke and leaves behind more soot and ash.

In like manner, the body that is fed junk food gives off less heat and lacks energy, and an excess of waste material accumulates. As the body attempts to clear the obstructions that are clogging the system, it manifests symptoms of disease. Most disease symptoms are the body's effort to remove this excess waste through one or more of its "chimneys" of elimination: the bowels, the kidneys, the skin, the liver, the female reproductive system and the respiratory tract.

When this process reaches major proportions, it is known as a healing crisis.

• If the body removes toxins through the bowel, the result will be nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
  
  
• When the body eliminates waste through the skin, rashes, pimples, hives, acne, dandruff, itching and body odor result.
  
  
• When the body removes waste products through the respiratory tract, foul breath, a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, post-nasal drip, earache, sore throat and congestion occur.
  
  
• When waste is eliminated through the kidneys, frequent burning urination can take place, kidney stones may form and the reproductive system can be irritated.

These are the four major channels of elimination. However, there are a couple of others.

In women, elimination of toxins through the monthly cycle produces the symptoms of PMS: cramps, bloating, irritability, vaginitis, etc.

Internally, the liver attempts to neutralize toxins. When it is overloaded, headaches, stiffness, irritability and other symptoms arise.

The eyes and ears are sometimes used as channel of elimination, too.

Most people seek to "cure" disease by suppressing or arresting these eliminative functions. However, if any of these channels is blocked, waste must be removed by burdening one of the other channels. Thus, suppressive medications cover up the symptoms, but do not help the body remove the real cause of the problem. Rather than trying to suppress disease symptoms, we need to aid the cleansing process by helping the body eliminate obstructions.

Methods of assisting the body in cleansing itself include:

1) Opening the bowels through herbs, enemas and dietary changes.
2) Using herbs to stimulate the expulsion of mucus from the respiratory tract.
3) Improving elimination through the skin through bathing, sweat baths, exercise and herbs.
4) Drinking plenty of healthy water and strengthening the kidneys.
5) Using herbs and foods, which stimulate liver function and aid in detoxifying the blood.

Doing these things gets rid of the waste material which is causing the symptoms.

Taking medications, which suppress these symptoms, drives the waste deeper into the body and leads to more serious chronic and degenerative disease.

These steps destroy disease by removing its roots.

L.C.E. "SEASON" CLEANSING
Labor Day, Christmas and Easter cleanses help overcome many health related complications!

I am a strong believer in allowing the body to "cleanse" at least 3 times a year as we have a tendency to over burden it with too much of the wrong food during the main holidays.

After a good night's sleep, we often need to stretch and "get the blood going." In the same way, while entering a new season we often need to "rev the engine" a little bit in order to "clear the gunk out of the system." It is a great time to clear out the toxins that may have accumulated in the body. When we do this, we not only feel better immediately, we also set the stage for a healthier, more energetic and productive season.

The liver and the gallbladder are two of the primary organs involved in detoxifying the body. In particular, the liver functions to build and clean the blood. So, herbs that support the liver are often called blood purifiers.

Many of the young greens that start sprouting in the springtime like dandelion, nettles, burdock, etc. are blood purifiers. At one time, people took herbs like these as "tonics" to cleanse the blood from the effects of the last season. With all the chemicals we are exposed to on a regular basis, using herbs to clean out the blood is a good practice in modern times. Herbal formulas that can do this include: I-X, BP-X, Enviro- Detox and Milk Thistle Combination (check which one is most appropriate for you).

The colon is obviously another major organ of detoxification. If waste is not completely cleared from the colon, it can be reabsorbed and can sensitize various tissues in the body to a wide variety of "trigger" compounds that can cause allergies and hay fever later in the year. If you suffer from these problems during seasonal changes, cleansing the colon and liver will reduce your environmental sensitivities.

The Tiao He Cleanse program is an ideal "cleaning" program for both the liver and the colon. The Tiao He Cleanse also contains burdock, a traditional western liver herb and blood purifier;
All Cell Detox is another ingredient in the cleanse. All Cell Detox is a general cleansing formula that helps the tissues detoxify while supporting organs of elimination like the kidneys, liver, colon and lymphatics.
The laxative formula LBS II and the antiparasitic herb, black walnut, are also part of this cleansing program.
The Tiao He Cleanse is a conveniently packaged 10 day cleansing program. Taking some fiber like Psyllium Hulls Combo first thing in the morning with some healthy water while on the Tiao He Cleanse will make it even more effective.

If we want to "rev the motor," another logical "step to take" is to get some exercise. The skin is another major eliminative organ and inducing perspiration is a great way to cleanse it-that is one of the reasons why exercise is so beneficial. There is no need to set one's sights on harsh or unrealistic exercise goals here, all that is really necessary is to do something gentle and moderate-a 15-minute walk several times a week during your lunch break will help you a lot more than an ambitious gym routine that you drop after a week. Just get outside and do something. In other words, find an activity that you enjoy and reward yourself for sticking with it.

Now is a great time to establish habits that will support our health over the coming years. Take the process one step at a time and, above all, enjoy the results of the efforts that you make. It's a time to renew yourself. Happy LCE cleaning!

Additional information on cleansing can also be found in The Comprehensive Guide to Nature's Sunshine Products, Dr.Mom-Dr. Dad and The ABC+D Approach by Tree of Light Publishing.
Distributed by: Four Winds Nutrition Club

Excerpt from Steve Horne's most excellent book "The body's approach to Natural Healing"