Detoxing Gingerly! By Healing Sanctuary Staff
There is no way to avoid chemicals and toxins completely. It’s just a part of living in this world. They are in our food, the air we breathe, the water we drink, our cleaning products, our beauty products, building supplies, mattresses, medications we take, and the list could go on and on.
Often the invader in our system is a virus, bacteria, or parasite—even the common flu. Invaders such as these along with chemicals in our environment suppress our immune systems and prohibit normal body function. The best answer is to first acknowledge the issue and then do some routine evaluation of our homes, diet, and products we use.
You’ve probably heard of detox drinks, supplements and programs which can all be beneficial to a regular system flush to keep things running and operating smoothly. Getting rid of unwanted invaders in our bodies will allow our “protective” unit (the immune system) to do its job better and decrease our chances of serious infection or disease.
Considering all this, we may still get run down, stressed, general aches and pains, headaches, etc. Some of this is because of our everyday lifestyles; but sometimes this may come from a cleanse or medical treatment. The treatments have affected the chemistry in your system, and your body has begun to slough off the junk. When that junk gets into your bloodstream, you don’t feel very good. It may be a headache, nausea or even flu-like symptoms. For some, detoxing may even come in the form of a rash or visible reaction on the skin.
Let’s be honest; your body can be like a “clogged toilet.” Our job is to make sure that we can “flush” out whatever is in there making you feel…well…crappy. This can come from the common flu, environmental toxins, biofilm, Lyme disease, and so much more. Any time you are feeling fatigued, run down, or ill, ginger baths can help you through the healing crisis.
Helping in the Detox Process
There are five major detox pathways: the liver, kidneys, lungs, colon, and skin. The first thing to remember when expecting detox reactions is to drink plenty of water and monitor elimination. An important part of the process is healthy bowel function to eliminate toxic build-up. However, the biggest organ on your body for detox is the skin.
The skin is sometimes called “the third kidney.” A lot of toxins come out through perspiration and in dead skin cells that flake off. Alternatively, a lot of toxins also go in through the skin though toiletries and cosmetics. A simple rule of thumb: don’t put anything on your skin you wouldn’t eat!
Detoxing at Home
The best thing you can do at home to flush those lymphatics and sweat out toxins through the skin is to take a ginger bath. With the addition of some good supplements or homeopathics to help open up the detox pathways—a ginger bath will get you through that long night of flu-like symptoms or just help you feel better after a long day at work.
Ginger Detox Bath Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients for the ginger detox bath: 1/8 cup of fresh grated or powdered ginger (from your local supermarket or health food store), a body brush for rubbing your skin and 1 cup of Epsom salts (optional). Your bathtub should be clean and free of any soap residue. Try to use natural cleaning products to clean the tub if needed.
Preparing & Taking the Ginger Detox Bath
Fill the tub with as much hot water as you can stand. Add the ginger to the water. If desired, add Epsom salts (this will help reduce the cold-like symptoms you may experience the next day). You may also add Essential Oils to your liking; we love ten drops of Lavender for relaxation and healing. After the tub is full, get in: after about 15 minutes, you will start sweating. Start rubbing all areas of your body with a body brush 20 times using a clockwise circular motion. Start with each arm, then move on to your chest and proceed down over other parts of your body. You will feel hot and sweaty. Relax in the tub for the rest of the 30 minutes. Do not exceed 30 minutes in the ginger detox bath.