(NaturalNews) During a fast you are likely to experience mild to perhaps severe discomfort. Causes include caffeine withdrawal, nicotine withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal, and the sheer volume of toxins exiting the body at once. If these substances make you feel ill in large quantities, they will still have subtle undesirable effects in small quantities. For that reason the following natural products are recommended. These will assist the fasting process and reduce the symptoms such as headaches and nausea that often result as so many poisons are trying to exit the body at the same time.
Top Five Products to Assist Detoxification
1) Burdock Root - Arctium lappa (Compositae)
One of the most powerful blood purifiers, Burdock root helps remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body. Burdock contains up to 45% Inulin along with Arctiopicrin, Arctiin, Tannins and Volatile oil. Powerful enough to draw mercury through the blood brain barrier, burdock root is one of the most important herbs to consume on a regular basis. Burdock is used to treat acne and other skin conditions as it purifies the liver. For this reason it is one of the most important substances used in the natural treatment of cancer. Burdock has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-tumor effects.
2) Dandelion , Taraxacum officinale (Compositae)
Dandelion is a bitter herb with diuretic and detoxifying properties. Dandelion contains Sequiterpene lacotones, Coumarins, Taraxacoside and minerals such as Potassium and Calcium. Dandelion can help alleviate the symptoms of fasting such as headaches, which are caused from both caffeine withdrawal and the high level of toxins in the blood found during fasting. Note that dandelion should not be taken long term or it may cause organ damage. Dandelion is used to treat blood pressure, coughing, constipation, hangovers and gallbladder problems.
3) Licorice Root , Glycyrrhiza glabra (Leguminosae)
Licorice root is another herb commonly used during fasting to help reduce discomfort. Licorice contains Glycyrrhizic acid which is 50 times sweeter than sugar, yet licorice is not thought of as sweet. A powerful anti-inflammatory, licorice is used to treat arthritis and is also used as an expectorant, demulcent and adrenal agent.
4) Blue Green Algae - Anabaena sphaerica (Cyanophata)
Blue Green Algae is a type of bacteria that offers powerful cleansing properties. Blue green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, contains chlorophyll, a deep green antioxidant that is an important addition to your fasting products. “Bad” bacteria such as fecal coliforms simply cannot coexist in the presence of chlorophyll. It is this algae that naturally keeps fresh water ponds clean and clear. It also provides enormous amounts of nutrition. Algae reduces nitrogen and carbon while increasing oxygen.
5) Grapefruit (Juice) - Citrus paradisi (Rutaceae)
Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is one of the only foods (besides Melons) that does not require stomach acid for digestion. The stomach acid normally kills most of the enzymes, but with grapefruit juice the enzymes are delivered deep into the intestines. A hybrid of pomelo (Citrus maxima) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), Grapefruit is perhaps the healthiest food to consume for breakfast (or for breaking your fast). Grapefruit juice is highly alkalizing (only when fresh, not bottled) and is a natural cleaning agent that has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Give Your Organs a Break
The organs in the human body are designed to survive for 150-200 years, but they are usually vastly overworked during our lives, mainly due to over consumption. It has been estimated that if humans went just one day per week without eating, they would live twice as long! This is because our bodies achieve balance by removing the toxins before they accumulate to high levels, and also because fasting gives our organs a well deserved rest. Fasting in the spring time is said to be the most effective, while fasting in the winter (when we tend to store more foods for hibernation) is the least effective. For optimal health we should fast at least one day per season.
After your fast you will likely experience an amazing feeling of calm, and whatever symptoms you experienced during the fast (such as headaches) will occur less often than they did before the fast.
References:
Please see my companion article The Miracle of Fasting - Part 1 (Your First 36-Hour Fast) for an introduction to fasting, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants by Doris Kindersley, A practical reference guide to over 550 Key Herbs and their Medicinal Uses.
About the author
Neil McLaughlin is a computer scientist and inventor specializing in 3d graphics and simulation. He currently lives in the Orlando, FL area. He can be reached at naturalnews461 (at) yahoo (dot) com.
