Naturopathic Cleansing Techniques

How can the body be supported when there is an increased level of elimination?

It is important to understand that in a healthy body, the elimination pathways are able to
cope with the toxic load generated in normal body functioning.

In an imbalanced body, impaired elimination often results in a build up of wastes and

toxicity, with typical outward signs and symptoms of:
Aches and pains
Poor energy
Headaches
Fever
Runny nose, seneezing and mucous congestion in the thoat
Sweating
Rashes, acne and skin irritation
Increased urination
Constipation/loose bowel movements and so on

Natural nutrition helps to improve the movement of nutrients and waste released from the
body cells. This stimulates the release of cellular toxicity and wastes resulting in an
increased level of elimination. As functioning and energy levels improve, the body is
then able to process any stored toxicity held in body fat, muscles, joints etc. The release
and processing of stored toxicity adds to the overall elimination load within the body.

Therapeutic treatment should be done in a manner which does not create large levels of
toxin or waste release at any one time. A large offload of cell toxicity will result in a
burden for the body to cope with and possibly a worsening state of health.

The body is best supported by following dietary suggestions whilst using appropriate
naturopathic cleansing techniques. This will help the body to release, process and
eliminate manageable amounts of toxins and wastes without becoming overloaded.

The following table outlines some of the naturopathic techniques which may be used
alongside natural nutrition. These techniques help to support elimination and release
stored toxicity.Technique Part of Body it targets Benefits

Skin Brushing:
A natural bristle brush preferably with a handle is ideal for skin brushing.

Skin brush dry skin. The movement of brushing should be from feet to heart, and from
neck down to heart. This will encourage lymph flow.

Use a firm bristle brush on dry skin. Apply pressure which is comfortable & gradually
increase pressure when you are more used to it.
Starting with right foot, brush soles of both feet
Brush up from each foot to the top of legs
Brush from buttocks up as far as you can go on the back
Brush from lower abdomen up to the heart
Brush from hands up to the shoulders and then down to the heart
Brush from neck down to heart
Lymphatic system
Skin Removes outer layer of skin (contains toxins), leaving a newer layer for toxin
release
Stimulates movement in the lymphatic system
Good to use when there is limited mobility.
Helps release retained fluid
When combined with the nutritional program skin brushing helps to reduce cellulite
Do not use brush on damaged skin or over varicose veins
Lymphatic Massage:
Using vegetable oil, gently stroke in one direction only from the feet upwards towards the
heart and from the face downward to the heart Lymphatic system
Blood
Skin Stimulates movement in the lymphatic and blood system
Good to use when there is limited mobility.
Helps release retained fluid
When combined with the nutritional program, lymphatic massage helps to reduce
cellulite.
Hot and Cold Showers:
Work in temperature ranges which are comfortable to begin with.
After showering increase temperature until it is bearably hot and spray all over the body.
Turn down temperature until it is bearably cold and spray over body.
Repeat this process 3 times finishing on coldLymphatic system
Blood
Skin Stimulates movement within the circulatory system which in turn stimulates the
lymphatic system.
Heat stimulates blood vessels to expand & skin pores to open whereas cold stimulates
blood vessels to contract & skin pores to close
Beneficial to do in the morning & after skin brushing
Hot and Cold Bath:
Involves soaking a hot bath for around 20 minutes & then slowly adding cool water to the
hot water until it has cooled down. Work within temperature ranges which are
comfortable.
It is helpful to wrap the head in a cool damp towel to avoid feeling light headed.

Hot/Cold Footbath:
The hot/cold bath may be adapted in the form of a hot/cold footbath, which is a gentler
technique Lymphatic system
Blood
Skin Heat
Stimulates lymph to become more fluid, which promotes movement of toxins.
Helps to open up congested cellular membranes
Helps to open skin pores & expands blood vessels.
Cold
Stimulates blood vessels to contract & skin pores to close
Produces latent heat, from deep within the body to counteract the coldness.
Epsom Salt bath:
Dissolve 1kg of Epsom salts in a bath filled with water which is hot enough to
comfortably bear. It may be helpful to wrap the head in a cool damp towel to avoid
feeling light headed.
Lay in the bath for as long as it is comfortable to bear (up to 20 minutes).
After 20 minutes, bring down the temperature of the bath by adding cold water until the
bath temperature has cooled down.
Pat body dry and hydrate by drinking some water Lymphatic system
Blood
Skin Bathing in a high solution of Epsom salts will help to draw out toxicity/acidity
through the skin
The heat of the bath water will help to open up cellular membranes, thins lymphatic fluid
and encourages blood to come up to the surface of the skin
Helps to relieve muscle tightness
Encourages sweating
Do not use if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant or the body is already
eliminating toxicity (menstruation, fever etc)
Epsom Salt footbath:
Dissolve half a mug of Epsom salts in water which is hot enough to comfortably bear.
Soak feet for as long it is comfortable to bear (up to 20 minutes).
Bring down the temperature of the foot bath until it is cool.
Pat feet dry and hydrate by drinking some water Lymphatic system
Blood
Skin A slower and gentler technique than the full Epsom salt body bath
Good to use when there are issues with mobility
Helps to relieve muscle tightness and assists the body to release toxicity
Encourages sweating
Castor Oil Liver Pack:
Fold a piece of unbleached cotton so that it is 2-3 thickness & large enough to cover liver
area (see picture).
Add enough castor oil to the packing cloth so that it is saturated but not dripping & lay
below the chest right down to the lower right rib. Cover the pack with an old towel and
use a cotton belt to secure.
Apply gentle heat to the area being packed using a warm water bottle for at least one
hour.
Pack may be re-used (20-30x)
Liver

In any detoxification plan the liver should be castor oil packed first as it is the
primary detoxification organ.
Stimulates lymphatic and blood flow in the liver, which in turn assists the movement of
nutrients and wastes in the liver.
At an energetic level, it is believed that castor oil contains the full spectrum of sunlight
which can be absorbed through the skin pack
Packing the liver can also help to relieve menstrual pain, headaches, anger
This treatment may be followed by an alkaline skin compress
Other Castor Oil Packs:
Apply castor oil to the packing cloth until it is saturated but not dripping. Lay this cloth
over the area to be packed & cover with an old towel or a bandage
If packing the abdominal area use a cotton belt to secure pack otherwise if a wrist or knee
joint is being packed, secure pack with a bandage. May be used to target key organs
like:
kidneys, adrenals,
lungs, thyroid
pancreas
Small/large intestines Other areas of the body may be packed using castor oil
Stimulates blood flow in area being packed, which in turn assists the movement of
nutrients and wastes etc in the area being packed.
Supplies sunlight energy held within castor oil to area being packed
Helps to relieve aches & pains.
This treatment may be followed by an alkaline skin compress
Alkaline Skin Compress:
It is beneficial to use an alkaline skin compress on an area which has been previously
packed by castor oil. Castor oil packing stimulates circulation and movement helping the
cells to release toxicity. An alkaline pack will help to draw this toxicity out.
A suitable alkaline fluid like bicarbonate of soda solution is used to soak a cotton skin
pack & is placed over a specific part of the body. The alkaline solution helps to draw
toxicity and acidity out through the skin.
Skin, circulation, lymph and targeted body organs Draws out Toxicity from the skin
Useful to do after castor oil packing which stimulates movement.

Suitable alkaline skin packing solutions made with 1-3 tablespoons to 1 cup of water:
Bicarbonate of soda
Sea Weed teas such as kelp tea
Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt
Epsom salt
Dead sea salt
Alkaline Skin Rub:
A suitable alkaline fluid is applied to the skin and rubbed in until skin is dry. The rubbing
action helps to draw acidic toxicity from the area rubbed out through the skin.
Skin rubbing may be used after packing an area of the body by castor oil. Castor oil
packing stimulates circulation and movement helping the cells to release toxicity. An
alkaline skin rub will help to draw this toxicity out.
Skin,
circulation, lymph Draws out Toxicity from the skin
Useful to do after skin brushing which clears outer layer of skin & stimulates
circulation/lymph flow & before shower
Do not rub damaged or infected areas of skin.

Suitable skin rubbing solutions made with 1-3 tablespoon to 1 cup of water include:
Bicarbonate of soda
Sea Weed tea such as kelp tea
Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt
Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt

Enemas:
Requires an enema kit, suitable lubrication such as a pure vegetable oil like coconut oil
and 1-2 litres of a chosen fluid at body temperature.
Always clean enema kit before/after each use
Fill the enema bag and hang so that it is above your head by 3-4 feet. Let any air out by
opening the tap to release any air bubbles. Close tap
Get in to a comfortable position: on your side, back or crouching
Lubricate anus with a suitable vegetable oil & insert the enema nozzle.
Open tap & allow the fluid to enter
Hold onto the fluid for up to 15 minutes before releasing. Otherwise release earlier if you
are feeling a strong urge.

Suitable enema fluids include

Body temperature filtered water
Organic filtered coffee – stimulates liver cleansing
Linseed tea – soothing & hydrating
Colon and colonic reflex points

Enema Kit Components:

A=Enema bag
B=Tap
C=Nozzle (vaginal)
D=Nozzle (anal)
E= Tubing Enemas create movement within the colon helping to clear congestion
Enemas help to tone the muscles of the colon and stimulate reflex points, which in turn
affect other parts of the body.
The effect of the enema depends on how long the enema fluid is retained and the
therapeutic effect of the enema fluid.
Body temperature filtered water enema – cleansing, hydrating, helps to clear stagnant
faeces & mucous. Should always be done to clear the bowels before using other enema
fluids.
Linseed tea enema – hydrating, soothing & helps to reduce inflammation
Organic filtered coffee enema – stimulates the liver to release toxic bile instead of re-
absorbing it. This is a good technique when the liver is becoming overloaded with
toxicity.

Rehydrate by drinking afterwards. Certain enemas like the coffee enema can be
dehydrating if overdone.
Do not use enemas if there is a prolapsed organ in the pelvic area, if there are
haemorrhoids or when blood sugar is low.
Oil Pulling:
Take a dessert spoon of cold pressed sunflower oil, sesame oil or coconut oil into the
mouth. Do not swallow the oil but swish it around and gradually mix it with your saliva.
Continue this process for around 15 minutes and then spit this mixture out and rinse your
mouth. If done correctly the mixture should be white when it has been spit out.
It is good to do this technique in the morning after brushing teeth but before eating
breakfast Lymph and the reflex points in the mouth The oil helps to draws out
toxicity through the saliva
Stimulates reflex points within the mouth which connect to the rest of the body
Helps to remove stains from the teeth
Strengthens gums/teeth
Helps to reduce bad breath

Avoid using oils which you have a known allergy to.

Safety

Techniques are simple yet powerful and are most useful when incorporated into the
treatment plan. Naturopathic cleansing techniques can help to release toxicity especially
when it becomes stagnant within the body. It is therefore important to tune into the body
and support this process.
Avoid detoxification by these techniques if you have a fever or feel unwell. A fever
naturally stimulates elimination and detoxification and releasing further toxicity by
detoxification techniques may be too much for the body to cope with.
If you are pregnant it is important to be extremely gentle or avoid using these techniques
all together if unsure.
Consult a qualified practitioner if unsure or need further advice