Friday 14 November 2014

Dancing with cancer

In the early days of our relationship, my husband and I went to salsa classes. He would complain that I was always trying to lead, that I was too rigid! When I relaxed and trusted, it became so much more fun. 

I see cancer as a dance. One that just got a bit more energetic. For the second year in a row, my Minimal Residual Disease test shows elevated cancer cells. 

The day of the test results I shut down. I was upset. Disappointed. I had tried to sneak back into 'normal' society, pretending that I was done with cancer, that my new happy life meant I could have the occasional glass of wine, eat the kids gluten free bread, order cheese in a restaurant, snack on dark chocolate for a treat. The reality is, that although blissfully contented, cheating with food was never a long-term option. I believe wholeheartedly in epigenetics. I know that I still have circulating cancer stem cells. I understand that should I create a friendly environment for those cells, they will metastasise. 

On day two I got my head down. I read. I went back to basics. What was I doing in the early days after diagnosis that kept my results stable? What did I instinctively feel would heal me?

By day three I had a new protocol. One which focuses on healing my gut (leaky gut being at the core of all auto-immune disease, cancer being one), and on boosting my immune system. Back to vegan. Gluten, grain, potato and legume free. Zero sugar. More green everything. More raw. More sprouted seeds and nuts. The full list of supplements looks like this: medicinal mushrooms, curcumin, ubiquinol, vitamin A, probiotics, enzymes, zinc, magnesium, vitamin D3, B patches, iodine, zeolite, flaxseed oil, bee pollen (the only non-vegan aspect), Angioblock, Artemix, vitamin C, silica, DIM, epsom baths, FIR infrared saunas, liver packs, coffee enemas, wheatgrass implants.

The new protocol is pretty intense. There are pills with food, pills without food, pills with protein. However, I feel great. I feel clear. I feel hopeful and more authentic.

Just Let Go
Let go of how you thought
your life should be
and embrace the life that
is trying to work its way
into your consciousness


Tuesday 7 October 2014

Happiness Part 2

It seems that the happier I become, the less inclined I am to blog! I feel more and more removed from cancer with each passing day. In London I seemed to be surrounded by it, but here I barely meet anyone who has had it. And this, I realise is healthy, this letting go and moving forward.




Healing is a process, it's not linear. As much as I've learned over the past few years, this fact never ceases to amaze me! 

I notice that for me, with each new revelation comes a fresh bout of healing, cleansing and detoxification. This only happens when my body can cope with it, when it has reserves, and it's an ongoing process. Aiming for a point where peak health is achieved is not realistic. Every day we're inadvertently adding to our toxic load, and so our bodies will always be in a state of repair. There is a spectrum of 'wellness', and we are all on it! Rising to health challenges as and when they arise, without fear, is ultimately how the body will best heal.

I continue to listen to my body, and alter my protocol accordingly. At the moment I'm focusing on gut health because I'm noticing some histamine reactions to certain foods. I'm taking probioticssilica, and coconut milk kefir. I'm still drinking green smoothies and juices daily, along with regular coffee enemas.

I've been seeing a chiropractor to realign my spine, and .... I've started exercising. It was bound to happen one day! I finally 'get it'. It feels amazing to move from my busy, thinking head, into my doing body. I have a love affair with the South Downs, and for me there is no better place to walk, march and jog - surrounded by nature, breathing fresh air and totally grounded.

As a wise friend said to me recently, feeling well is the best indication of being well, and I feel amazing!




Tuesday 26 August 2014

The beauty of freedom

We're on the cusp of our eldest son returning to school after almost a year of home education. It's his choice, and one which we support, but it's made me reflect on everything we've gained from the past year. 

We've enjoyed nine months of following our body's innate rhythms, getting up late, eating when we feel hungry, and resting when we're tired. A freedom I haven't felt since I was a child.

We've explored the Downs, the beach, the river. We've attended courses in Spanish, Maths and African drumming. We've swum outdoors, taken impromptu holidays, and have just hung out together. We've been to forest school and learned that we are waterproof! We've learned about mutual respect and patience. We've debated and discussed big life concepts, and I feel lucky to have spent time teaching my children how to look after themselves, spiritually, emotionally and nutritionally.

Nine months of not rushing, just BEING. Long days and weeks have stretched before us, the calendar devoid of meetings, school plays or deadlines dictated to us by someone else's schedule. To have time is a luxury, and a necessity. To enjoy time is a privilege.

My children have learned about trust, independence, responsibility and communication. They've formed a family with other home educated children, from babies to teenagers. They've learned how to fit comfortably into different groups and into society. They've blossomed and grown, their confidence and self-esteem has been restored. They feel valued, they know that they have a voice, and that they have choice. 

As for me, I've SEEN my children; what makes them tick, how they learn and their incredible strengths, in ways that I didn't fully appreciate before. I am a calmer Mum for home educating because I've always loathed routines. Winging it suits me better - I'm no longer stressed by trying to make unhappy children happy, because they are happy!

Why am I writing about this on a cancer blog?  For me it's been a massive change in lifestyle which has had a huge impact on healing. Prior to home educating, my children were constantly ill. They averaged 80% attendance on any given school year. Over the past 9 months I don't think that they've been ill once. I'm talking about laying-in-bed ill, throwing-up ill, weeks-of-recuperation ill (which was the norm in London). To what do I attribute this? Getting enough sleep, sure. More time in nature, definitely. But mostly I believe it's down to NO STRESS! No deadlines, no pressure to perform, no anxiety about not feeling Good Enough. And of course, this new lifestyle has benefitted me massively. I no longer have unhappy, ill children, who complain about getting up in the morning and of not having enough 'time' (if they don't have time to pursue their interests aged 11 and 8, when will they?) I've slept more in the past 9 months than I have in years. I've had a perverse amount of time to spend nurturing myself: juicing, cooking, making kefir, and just making happy. I feel joy on a daily basis. I've learned how to BE with my children, how to live as a unit, how to listen and be listened to. We've found a rhythm in being together. And I've started to understand HOW we learn, how we follow our interests. Yes, I've learned as much, if not more, than they have. 

Prior to leaping into this great unknown I felt a sense of urgency, and a need to make some drastic changes. My dis-ease at being in 'the wrong life' was killing me. Many years ago, falling into depression, I wrote a list of things I felt I needed to change. Top of the list was to spend more time in nature and a desire to live within a community of like-minds. I also desperately wanted to home educate my children. 

Here I am, happy, healthy, and living a big life which I manifested through stubborn tenacity. I think it would have been impossible to heal in my old life. Now I feel it's totally achievable, and for the first time in years, I'm making plans :D

Monday 18 August 2014

Wheatgrass Implants

A title with the word 'rectal' in it is probably not going to gain many fans, but these implants are a fast, efficient way of getting nourishment into the body.

Why implant rectally? Wheatgrass can be difficult to digest, creating feelings of nausea (as well as tasting quite 'unusual'). The haemorrhoidal vein (located just inside the rectum) is able to quickly absorb nutrients, bypassing the high acid content of the gut and allowing maximum absorption.

In Europe pain relief is often given rectally, and historically, patients were given nutrients this way if they were unable to eat or digest.


Wheatgrass and snowpea shoots from Aconbury Sprouts


Wheatgrass makes an ideal implant. It's incredibly detoxifying and alkalising. It's rich in chlorophyll (fantastic for our blood) and high in vitamins C, A and E. It contains over 90 minerals (including potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium) as well as essential enzymes (protease, lipase and amylase). 

So, how to do it? The key is to start with a water or coffee enema to clear the system! Dilute 1 - 2 oz of wheatgrass juice in a little filtered water. I use an enema bag, but a bulb is better for smaller amounts. Simply lay down (I would recommend using a towel!), make yourself comfortable and insert (coconut oil makes a great lubricant). Unlike enemas, implants are designed to be held for about 20 minutes, or until the contents are assimilated. 


Implant Bulb

I've been buying fortnightly trays of fresh wheatgrass from Aconbury Sprouts, and juicing 1/6th of a tray at a time. If I'm feeling robust I also juice a little extra to drink, mixing with fresh apple and lemon, but I recommend having an apple juice chaser at the ready!!!






Tuesday 5 August 2014

The Roger Bannister effect

Imagine if we spent our whole lives hearing "It's easy." But no, we've been conditioned to believe that 'life is tough', 'you have to fight for what you want', 'if it's easy there must be a catch'. 

Unfortunately when it comes to cancer, many of us have deeply ingrained (and negative) word associations. Maybe 'death', or 'suffering', or 'pain'? We have an uncomfortable relationship with the word, and with the disease. We've either succumbed to tabloid headlines, or known someone who has had the disease. We've become so confused about what chemotherapy looks like, that sometimes we forget what cancer looks like. 

But what if it was easy to heal from cancer? What if you replaced the word 'cancer' with 'lump', or something even more benign. What if you learned that many, many people around the world have survived cancer, and continue to thrive? What if we changed our expectations, and so our thought processes?

One of my favourite practitioners, Bob Jacobs, once told me about "The Roger Bannister effect'. No-one believed that it was possible to run a sub four minute mile, until Roger Bannister did exactly that. And then guess what happened? Athletes regularly began running sub-four minute miles, repeatedly breaking his new record.

As soon as I learned that people had overcome far more advanced cancer than mine, I began to believe that survival was possible. On diagnosis, one of the best things you can do is to find someone who has lived a long and healthy life having had your particular cancer. Never underestimate Hope. 

Just prior to having my first Minimal Residual Disease test, I asked my doctor if anyone had ever reduced their circulating cell count to zero. She told me she'd never seen it. Fast forward four years, and one of her patients has done just that. Now we can all believe it is possible, and that is exactly what I'm aiming for.

Sunday 20 July 2014

Brian Clement

I recently went to hear Brian Clement speak in London. If you've never heard of him, he's worth a google - this is the man who runs the Hippocrates Health Centre in Florida. Founded by Ann Wigmore in 1961, Hippocrates premise is that disease can be reversed by eating a living (raw), vegan diet. Sprouted grains and wheatgrass (in the form of juice and implants) feature heavily. Other holistic modalities like FIR infrared saunas and psychotherapy are also employed.

The first glorious positive of this seminar was the catering. To be greeted by a raw, vegan, gluten free buffet with fresh young coconuts to drink, was frankly unusual and inspiring. Rarely are these seminars coherent in their message when it comes to food (at a Brandon Bays seminar I attended, we were given Tomato Cuppa-soup in the break....!)

I must admit to finding Brian somewhat preachy. However, his message is powerful, and I'm with him all the way. Considering how many thousands of people he has seen heal in this way, it's maybe unsurprising that he's firm in his delivery.

Hippocrates believes that to reverse disease we must consume only raw, living foods. Cooking at high heat alters the chemistry of food, making it less easily absorbed and creating carcinogenic acrylamide. I have to say, that living in a country like England, which is often damp, and rarely warm for long periods, eating 100% raw would be a real challenge, and almost every nutritionist I have ever met agrees that in the cooler seasons we should eat warming, comforting food. However, incorporating raw in the form of daily salads, sprouted foods and vegetable juice makes a lot of sense. Giving up mucous forming food like dairy, and meat is also a must when reversing diseases like cancer.

These are Hippocrates' recommendations for returning to health (in this order);


1. Affirmative thought
2. Constructive diet
3. Productive movement
4. Pristine environment
5. Emo-spirit (emotional/spiritual)

All five points need to be addressed, but it's interesting, particularly with Bruce Lipton's seminar so clearly in my mind, that affirmative thought comes in at the top of the list.

Hippocrates is vehemently anti sugar, even in the form of carrots and 'foodie' sugars like palm, agave etc. The University of San Francisco states that "Sugar contributes to more that 3.5 million deaths globally each year." All disease is metabolic, so it's easy to see that the meteoric global rise in sugar consumption has a huge effect on our health. Harvard Medical School states that the average person derives between 40% - 70% of their calorific intake from sugar. Historically only the aristocracy ate fruit, and even then only about 1kg a year. Now the poorest amongst us eat the most sugar, and most of that is processed. Children in the western world consume DOUBLE their body weight in sugar annually. A recent report in the UK states that 26,000 children had one or more rotten baby teeth surgically removed under general anaesthetic last year due to sugar consumption. If this is what sugar is doing to our teeth, imagine what it's doing to our overall health. Breast cancer cells metabolise fructose better than ALL other sugars. In short, if you have cancer, viruses, bacteria or fungus, cut out sugar. Pretty much all of us should quit the habit then!

I came away feeling that I need to reassess some aspects of my life, notably the recommendation of at least one hour per day of exercise (incorporating resistance training, aerobic activity and trampolining which is very important for moving the lymph). I no longer juice carrots, and have set up a weekly order of wheatgrass and snowpea shoots, which I drink or implant daily. As a result I am noticeably more alkaline and I feel mentally clearer.

As always, the key lies in finding what works for you as an individual, taking it gently, observing your body, and not being afraid to make changes along the way.


Thursday 17 July 2014

Epigenetics

I've mentioned Bruce Lipton before, but having seen him speak, I would absolutely recommend reading his book 'The Biology of Belief', or getting to one of his lectures. 

Last month I finally got to hear this incredible man speak. I've never seen a lecture hall full of such a diverse group of people. It wasn't the usual cancer crowd, there were people of all ages and races. There were dreadlocks and pashminas, suits and students. There was an air of anticipation and excitement, and he didn't disappoint. This man gave us six hours of his vital energy - he crammed his whole book brilliantly into one day of beautifully-explained education, from the origins of modern day physics to the way our cells work and communicate with each other. By the end I felt excited, and stronger in my belief that epigenetics plays a HUGE part in disease, and more importantly, in the reversal of disease.

Epigenetics is the study of environment on our genes. It's a relatively new idea that our fate is not controlled by our genes (flawed genes are actually responsible for less than 1% of all disease) rather that our cells respond to their environment, and our PERCEPTION of our environment. These are the factors which change our genetic activity.

Each of our 50 trillion cells is a mini version of us. They form a community which works in harmony, communicating and moving as one.

If you change the chemistry of the blood, you change the health of these cells. The brain releases chemistry (in the form of dopamine, oxytocin, cortisol etc) via the nervous system to alter the blood. So, as you change environment or perception, you change the chemistry of the blood. An example; through perception fear creates a surge of inflammatory chemistry in the body. This shuts down the growth of cells. Fear is an interpretation of an external event. It has a purpose; to fill the body with enough adrenaline to 'fight or flee'. This stress response shuts down the gastro/immune system and redirects blood and energy towards the arms and legs. Consider that we no longer use our fight or flight response properly. Even playing computer games creates stress hormones, shutting down the conscious brain and causing the hind brain to predominate. Working from this place of reflex behaviour means that absorption in the gut and the immune system is impaired for much of the time. Consider how that affects health in the long term.

Humans are an energy source. Each thing has it's own vibration. Cancer shows as a different vibration to healthy tissue. Cells move and communicate through the use of signals. In experiments it has been shown that the physical body is 100 times more efficient at using energy signals than chemical (ie drugs). Think about this in relation to energy healing, or simply positive thinking. Our thinking creates a cascade effect. We can either cause harmony and healthy growth within our bodies, or fear, inflammation and chaotic growth.

We are architects of our own experience and destiny. Our belief carries more power than our reality. What does this mean? When I was diagnosed, there was an elderly lady who had also just been told she had breast cancer. We regularly saw each other at the Tuesday breast clinic. She would tell me that she could smell her own fear, that she was living in constant anxiety. Imagine what this was doing (chemically) to her already depleted body and to the systems she needed most to return her to health. 

I left the lecture convinced that diet plays a HUGE role in the reversal of disease. After all, much of what we are spoon fed by the food industry is processed, toxic and inflammatory. Living foods are vital to heal. But I also came away trusting that thoughts, beliefs and positive energy are actually top of the list in healing fully.

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Travel

Holidays have proven to be an unexpected measure of my progress. With each passing year I notice that I'm less anxious about flying, more relaxed and more present. What still challenges me though, is how to eat well on a restricted diet in an unfamiliar place. 

Having just spent two blissful weeks in Ibiza, I found myself to be more organised than usual. Depending on where we are going, I usually send a food box ahead, containing dry goods like gluten free flour, corn and oat cakes. This time however I took advantage of British Airway's generous baggage allowance, and packed one whole suitcase full of home-made granola, protein balls, nuts, seeds, coconut oil and my most basic supplements (magnesium, krill oil, B patches, quercetin, Angioblock, Artemix, Dimpro and Kiki's greens). I also took a colloidal silver water filter which meant that we avoided the plastic issue, whilst saving a small fortune on bottled water. 

Flying can be stressful on the body, so prior to leaving I juiced everything in the fridge and took a litre of green juice with me to the airport. I left blueberries and bananas in the freezer for an emergency smoothie on my return. 

I always wear an electro-magnetic protector when I fly (or in busy train stations and built up areas) to protect against radiation, which can be extremely depleting.


On arrival we headed for the supermarket and stocked up on locally grown fruits and vegetables. Organic produce is hard to find in Ibiza, so we sought out health food shops and asked about good local markets.

We eat out a lot on holiday, and I think that attitude is key here. Enjoying a consciously chosen meal beats panicking about it's origins, or worrying which oil it may have been cooked in. Anxiety about food impedes absorption more than the simple act of enjoying a meal which is possibly less than ideal. I generally opted for salads, and in the absence of nuts and seeds allowed myself goats cheese for protein.




I stayed hydrated (drinking up to 2 and a half litres daily), meditated daily and practiced simple yoga stretches by the pool. I avoided toxic sunscreens, instead opting for coconut oil (which needs to be reapplied often as it only has a SPF of around 8).

Most importantly, I concentrated on the positives; a green juice in a local juice bar, a power salad in a beach cafe, a swim in the sea fully present, laughter with my family, a beautiful sunset. These things are just as important to health as diet, and energetically are incredibly healing. 

Saturday 5 July 2014

The cruise ship analogy.

My analogy of a cancer diagnosis is one of having lived my entire life on a cruise liner. I never had to think about steering this ship, or where I was going. I gorged on the buffet laid out before me, without consciousness. It was easy, but unsatisfying.

On diagnosis I felt that I had been cast out of the liner into a small row boat. Attached to the rest of society by a flimsy rope, life became a struggle to keep up. I felt isolated. Friends and family, still aboard the liner, waved at me eating cake, drinking wine, cheering me on. And I looked up longingly, misguidedly thinking that all I wanted was to get back onto that ship. 

Over time I started to look around me, to see the beauty of life inside my boat, the responsibility that I now embraced, and the madness of life on the liner. I began to steer my little boat, and wish that others (cancer free of course) could join me in the beauty of my adventure. 

I cut the rope.

Sometimes the storms down here are rough, but they are never less than exciting. I feel connected to the waves, vibrant and alive. I am constantly learning how to navigate this journey.

And when I look closely, I see a community of little boats, an armada. I am not alone. I never was. I was just in the wrong boat. 

Thursday 29 May 2014

Releasing Expectations

When I discovered that conceiving a baby with my husband was going to be neither easy, nor conventional, I learned a hard lesson....we don't always get what we want. There was deep grief, a sense of loss, and lack of acceptance. Until this point I had always believed that whatever you desire is achievable if you work hard for it. Overnight I had lost my naive sense of misplaced entitlement and it came as a shock.

Fast forward almost 12 years (and two children later); I feel well. I Am well. I'm doing everything in my realm of sustainable effort to survive cancer, but that experience dulled my belief that you can strive for, and achieve, whatever you want. For a long time I retained a little place in my heart for the possibility that I may not be able to reverse disease. Sometimes I used this as a disclaimer, and I understood how dangerous that was. I'm well aware that many people do not survive cancer, regardless of which healing modality they use. Only recently have I come to fully embrace the fact that the choices I've made have contributed to a perversely magnificent existence, and a quality of life that I have never previously experienced.

When we strip away expectation and entitlement we become fully present to what is ACTUALLY happening, and life becomes an amazing series of moments, lived fully, enjoyed wildly, appreciated entirely. The key is to be conscious that every experience can serve as a positive lesson if we're willing to observe and be open.

I don't feel sad about that little place in my heart. I see it as a space of recognition, a place where I'm aware that I no longer hold on to old ideals. Everything IS possible, and that in itself is a miracle.

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Intuition

I've recently read 'Radical Remission' by Dr Kelly Turner. This book focuses on what was once called 'spontaneous remission', a phrase which Dr Turner recognises as a misnomer. Most people who are living healthily after a cancer diagnosis have not 'spontaneously' recovered, rather they have put time and energy into healing. Dr Turner found, whilst researching over 1000 cases, that although there were more than 75 alternative healing protocols, nine key elements were employed by every survivor. This piqued my interest. What were they? As well as the expected dietary changes, intuition featured strongly. 

What is intuition? The dictionary defines it as "the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning". Animals exist intuitively - it's a survival mechanism. Humans, despite having lost touch with much of our innate instinctive behaviour, ARE aware of 'gut feelings', we just need to learn how to listen to, trust, and be guided by them.

In those early post-diagnosis days I had a strong intuition that chemotherapy was wrong for me, that in my weakened state it would kill me. As vehemently as I tried to reject this feeling, I couldn't dismiss it. Saying 'no' (to my oncologist) was alien and uncomfortable to me then, but it was a lesson I had to learn in order to honour my intuition. 

Meditation, conscious breathing and staying present help to focus attention so that we may become more open to our intuition. I've received direction and information so many times this way. Many books on spirituality ('Conversations with God' springs to mind) discuss this re-membering, this re-connecting, not only with self but with something bigger. Never underestimate how beautifully we can be guided in times of extreme need if we are open. Trusting this inner voice can bring great peace, which is fundamental to healing.

Thursday 8 May 2014

The cost of cancer

The average cost of cancer treatment in the UK (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) costs around £30,000 per person. When I first discovered this fact I was shocked. It wasn't that I put a price on my life, rather I felt undeserving that such a large sum of money be spent on a treatment plan which offered a statistically low chance of long-term survival, when MANY other lives, at risk purely for want of food and clean water could be saved for that price. And so I quickly realised that cancer is big business. In the UK we are fortunate to have the NHS, and I don't subscribe to the conspiracy theory that doctors want us ill to line their pockets. What I DO believe is that big pharma makes a killing (literally) from it's drug profits. This poses certain problems. Pharmaceutical companies spend millions of pounds developing drugs and getting them approved. They need to charge extortionate fees to cover their costs before patents expire. However, this also means that companies are reluctant to investigate natural substances which cannot be patented. If we only believe what the European Medicines Agency (EMA) sells us, then we are in big trouble.

It's expensive to go it alone in treating cancer, to pay for private doctors, to buy equipment, and even to eat well. I've been incredibly lucky to have been supported financially, emotionally and mentally by my husband, family and friends. I understand that for many this level of financial commitment is difficult if not impossible. 

However, in the face of regularly being told "I can't afford to eat well/heal naturally" I would say that there are many things we can each do that cost very little. Emotional health is at the heart of most disease. Meditation costs nothing, and prolonged practice has been proven to reverse disease. Borrowing books from the library is free. I would recommend 'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise Hay as a good place to start in releasing blocked emotions. Many towns in the UK have cancer care centres where you can have free healing. I was grateful to receive (free) Reiki, Aromatherapy and counselling at The Nightingale Centre when I lived in London. Yes2Life is a fantastic charity which offers guidance in locating support centres. They have a scheme to help cancer patients fund their treatment, and I was fortunate to receive a grant towards buying a FAR infrared sauna. Macmillan also offer one off grants of up to £289 to help cancer patients during treatment. (You can get application forms from your breast nurse). You don't need to join a gym to exercise. Walking is free and gentle on your body, whilst being in nature is grounding and energising. Organic food is expensive it's true, but when cooking from scratch and removing meat, alcohol, sweets and processed food from the trolley, you can expect to actually reduce your grocery bills. Buying in bulk from companies like Goodness Direct saves money, and growing-your-own is also an option for many. We've recently joined an organic allotment project. We devote our time to helping with the plot, and in return get fresh, organic produce for a small donation. Water filtration systems (as described in this post) can be prohibitively expensive, yet are an important aspect of healing. Until you can afford the best, make do with a colloidal silver jug filter for all cooking and drinking needs. 

My point is that you can make changes if you choose to, but you have to WANT to take responsibility for your own health. Many of us have given away our power and feel helpless and stuck (in a stressful job or an unhappy marriage), but we've made choices to get into these situations, and can make choices to change them. For many people, reducing stress, and getting happy are fundamental to healing.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Hydration

Water is so vital to our existence that we can only survive a few days without it before we die, yet many of us are chronically dehydrated. Up to 70% of an adult's body weight is water, making it the largest single substance in the human body. We need water for almost every bodily function: it carries nutrients into the cells, carries waste from the cells, speeds lymph flow, regulates body temperature, aids food digestion and helps to lubricate joints. Dehydration at a cellular level is the beginning of disease. Cells protect themselves against further devastating dehydration by coating themselves with cholesterol. This short term solution causes long term problems, as effective cell communication and regulation is vastly diminished.

There is no one thing you can do to improve your pH more quickly than hydrating, and yet we've learned to silence our thirst with liquids which sate our palette, but do not rehydrate us. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and bottled juices are often our first point of call when we feel thirsty, yet most of these drinks are actually diuretics (they irritate the bladder wall, creating more urgency to urinate, and in the process dehydrate rather than hydrate us). Even green tea, touted as a cancer healer due to it's high antioxident levels, falls into this category. Despite it's health giving benefits, it can actually be depleting if drunk in excess. 

Ideally adults should drink up to 2 litres of water a day (but never more than 2 pints in an hour which is dangerous as it can flood the system). Unfortunately, nowadays we must be mindful of where we source our water. Modern cities recycle tap water and much of it contains drug residues, hormones (from the birth control pill), heavy metals, toxic organic compounds (pesticides and herbicides) as well as added chemicals like chlorine and fluoride. All of these substances are toxic to the body, suppress the immune system and are potent endochrine disruptors. Bottled water may seem like a safe solution, but it's best avoided as plastics can leach xeno-oestrogens. 

There seems as yet to be no one ideal filtration system. A Reverse Osmosis unit is the most effective method (the same as is used for bottled water). It removes chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, and (some) oestrogen (important for those of us with hormone sensitive cancer). However it strips necessary minerals, creating acidic water and a lot of wastage. Ionisers on the other hand, alkalise water (a great aid to detoxification) but are ineffective at removing heavy metals and hormones. Carbon based whole house filters remove chlorine and organic compounds but the water produced is inferior to drinking water, and is instead intended for bathing and washing. However when you learn that we absorb more chlorine though our skin than we do from drinking, the importance of a whole house filter becomes apparent. In the words of Dr Mercola "When you heat the water, in your shower, your bath, your dishwasher or your sink, you are releasing chlorine, DPBs, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides – all of it – into the air you breathe! And onto your skin, your body's greatest tool for absorbing chemicals. It's true. By taking a seven-minute shower you are exposed to more chlorine, DPBs, and VOCs alone than by drinking a gallon of tap water" 

I've prioritised water filtration as a necessary part of my healing regime. Having recently moved, I'm relying on a colloidal silver jug filter until I can reinstall my all-singing, all-dancing filtration system (a whole house filter so that we can bathe and shower in chlorine-free water, an RO unit for clean, oestrogen-free drinking water, and an Ioniser to counter the RO unit's acidity). This combination is not without problems; the flow is incredibly slow, and we waste a lot of water. However, I've found it works for us, and gives me peace of mind. 

One important thing to remember is that water dilutes stomach acid, so try to avoid drinking (anything) for 20 minutes before a meal, and 40 minutes after.

Finally, if anyone based in the UK has found a good water technician, or system installer PLEASE let me know!!!!

Monday 14 April 2014

New Life

Since I've moved to Lewes I really believe that I am going to survive cancer. That's not to say that in London I thought I was going to die, I never really believed that I was going to die of cancer, but believing in living is a whole different thing.

Here I feel surrounded by nature, welcomed by the generosity of new friends and comforted by like-minds. After diagnosis I had a strong desire to see the horizon, to be grounded in the vastness of nature and to feel small under a big sky. This new life fulfils those needs. To be near the sea and to sense the tides makes me feel connected again. 



It's truly beautiful here, and gratitude plays a huge part in healing. The sense of contentment and deep happiness I feel should not be underestimated. These strong, positive emotions release endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin, which lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol and increase immune function. Conversely, feeling depressed and discontented creates dis-ease. 

Every day I am grateful. I am happy, surrounded by love and contentment. This move could possibly be my most effective healing protocol yet!





Wednesday 2 April 2014

All healing begins in the gut

In my quest to redress my body's weaknesses, I discovered that I have Leaky Gut Syndrome. Simply put, the lining of the gut is more porous than it should be, allowing food proteins, bacteria and fungi to seep into the blood. The immune system responds by attacking. It flags these uninvited invaders as the enemy, leading to food allergies, asthma, eczema and other auto-immune diseases.

We have a delicate balance of over 1000 species of good and bad bacteria in our gastro-intestinal tract. In fact the bacteria that live within us create a 'super body' of over 100 trillion cells (a number ten times greater than the total number of human cells in the body) weighing over 2 lbs in the average adult. An imbalance in these microbial communities (known as microbial dysbiosis) has been implicated in various human diseases including obesity, diabetes, and colon cancer. This link has long been known - over 2000 years ago Hippocrates stated that "all disease begins in the gut."

Good bacteria help to break down food, and synthesise important vitamins like B and K. They also keep bad bacteria and candida in check, whilst being beneficial to the immune system.

It's worth noting that a leaky gut is no longer efficient. Eating a nutrient rich diet, and supplementing with high quality vitamins and minerals is pointless if absorption is poor. "You are what you absorb" would be a more accurate saying than "you are what you eat!"

Leaky gut can be caused by many things. Gluten and dairy are prime culprits, as are certain viruses and parasites. Sugar is a key offender as it feeds the bad bacteria at the expense of the good. Anti-biotics wipe out our good bacteria, and stress, salt, flouride and chlorine also negatively impact them.

When attempting to heal the gut, a good place to start is to consult Dr Natasha Campbell McBride's GAPS (Gut And Psychology Syndrome) diet. She devised this diet as a natural treatment for autism, ADHD, dyslexia, depression, and schizophrenia, highlighting how important a role the gut plays in our psychological health. She recommends cutting out ALL grains, sugar and potatoes, as well as other vegetables in the nightshade family which can exacerbate leaky gut due to their high lectin content. Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions is another bible when it comes to learning about gut health.


Here are some things that you can do to heal the delicate lining of the gut:


  • Eliminate gluten, dairy, grains and sugar.
  • Take good quality pre-biotics and probiotics twice a day (look for a multi strain of 50 billion live cells).
  • Take digestive enzymes before each meal. This will help your gut to effectively break down food into usable molecules.
  • Eat a diet rich in natural probiotics (kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha and other fermented foods) just before every meal to repopulate the gut and aid digestion. You can even rectally implant kefir grains and probiotics. 
  • Drink linseed tea. It's fantastically hydrating, and lines the gut. (It also makes an incredibly soothing enema).
  • If you're a meat eater, bone broths are an impeccable way of re-introducing healthy flora, and GI repairing collagen into the gut. (See Sally Fallon for details)
  • Organic raw milk, butter and yoghurt contain healthy micro-organisms helpful in healing the gut, but remember to eat in moderation as they contain IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor which encourages cancer cells to grow).
  • L-glutamine is an anti-inflammatory, essential amino acid necessary for the growth and repair of the intestinal lining.
  • Coconut products are high in medium chain fatty acids, and are anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. They target harmful bacteria in the gut without killing the beneficial ones. Try eating coconut oil, and coconut milk kefir.
Once the gut is healed (which can take months to years!) food intolerances and allergies will dissipate, the immune system will strengthen and the body will once again be able to absorb nutrients effectively. 

Sunday 30 March 2014

Not yet healed

I am not yet healed.

Just as a chronic illness like cancer takes time to manifest and grow (some estimate between 7 - 10 years prior to diagnosis) so does healing. There are many ways in which I've abused my body, and this will take time to reverse. That's OK, because I have time. I've never considered this new lifestyle to be a quick fix.

Illness is the body's innate way of communicating that something is wrong and needs addressing. Taking medication suppresses and masks symptoms, pushing illness further into the body, and creating greater problems in the future. I used to medicate severe eczema with steroid cream. I was treating the symptom, but not the cause, which was most likely a food intolerance borne of leaky gut. ALL pharmaceuticals place a huge strain on the liver. And here's a scary fact; prescription drugs are the fourth leading cause of death in America. 

Colds are often the body's natural way of detoxing, sick bugs can be the same. Sore throats may tell us that our lymph is stagnant. By listening and supporting the body, we can help ourselves to become healthy, to eliminate effectively. And so I'm trying to change the way I react to illness. I want to embrace it rather than panic, observe rather than resist, and provide support with rest and nourishment rather than suppress with medication. 

Since diagnosis I've used many different protocols, from vitamin C infusions to parasite cleanses. There have been long periods where I've focussed almost entirely on my spiritual growth, or emotional wellbeing. Healing does not happen in a straight line. Currently I'm trying to heal my gut - I expect that this will take a while. I'm learning to take it slowly and not put too much pressure on my body. Patience is new to me, and I like it. Even after 4 years of cleansing, I have a lifetime of toxins to shift from my cells. There's work to do, and I'm not shy of it. I anticipate using many more healing modalities over the coming years.

I am not yet healed, but I am healthy.

Friday 21 March 2014

Why do people die of cancer?

Aged 17, in a beaten up old Morris Traveller I took my first driving lesson. My instructor told me to put my foot on the clutch, and my natural reaction was to ask "Why?" Irritated, he responded that if I constantly questioned him, he wouldn't be able to teach me. I've always needed to know why, and how.


I believe that this mindset has helped me to heal. With regards to my decision about cancer treatment, a simple question changed the course of my protocol. On leaving my breast surgeon's office, I asked myself, "Why do people die of cancer?"

I understood that breast cancer doesn't cause death unless it has metastasised (spread) to a vital organ, and so I learned about micro-metastases. These are the microscopic cells which have shed from the primary tumour and are able to travel through the body via the blood or lymph, and less commonly, peri-neurally (via the space surrounding the nerve).

If the internal terrain remains as it was when the body originally manifested cancer (ie inflamed and acidic, with a weakened immune system) these cells are able to seed elsewhere. Yet even if cells have successfully separated from the primary tumour, survived travelling through the blood or lymph and reached distant organs without having been detected by the immune system, they still need to go through another complex process before they can grow into tumours. To survive they must create a blood supply (angiogenesis).

The most common sites for breast cancer to metastasise are the lungs, liver, bones and brain (one theory being because these organs all originate from the same embryonic germ tissue). When tumours grow big enough to disrupt the normal function of these organs, the body begins to fail. Tumours may also impede detoxification routes, or diminish the immune system to a point where the body cannot fend off a simple virus. But the main cause of death from cancer is simply tumour burden. As metastases grow, they use more energy than regular cells, and eventually starve the body of energy and nutrients, resulting in wasting, or cachexia. 

From those early post-diagnosis days I understood that I had to make my body an inhospitable place for cancer to survive. I knew that I needed to boost my immune system (to try to eradicate any micro-metastases before they could grow) and so I chose not to have chemotherapy, which had a slim chance of destroying circulating stem cells, but a strong chance of wiping out my immune system. I took natural supplements to encourage cancer cell suicide (apoptosis) and to block angiogenesis. I worked hard to reduce systemic inflammation and create an alkaline internal environment hostile to cancer, whilst eliminating cancer feeding substances like sugar.  

Finally, and maybe most importantly, I learned to follow my instincts, ask questions, and listen to my body. 









Thursday 20 March 2014

No make-up selfie

Have you heard of Pink Washing? It relates to the sometimes unscrupulous stamp of the pink-ribbon, associated with raising awareness and money for breast cancer. Often these campaigns are sponsored by the very companies compliant in manufacturing toxic food and cosmetics which are so harmful to our health. And much of the money raised goes straight back into pharmaceutical companies who are searching for 'the cure' in drugs. 

I understand that people who support pink ribbon campaigns, Race For Life and the endless fundraisers do so with love and good intentions. I also understand that social media campaigns such as 'no make-up selfie' and 'where do you keep your handbag' DO raise awareness, and allow people to feel less impotent around cancer. However, I think that they're missing the point! 

As a cancer survivor, I would wish for no more support from friends, family (and the wider community), than that they educate themselves about the many natural ways in which they can improve their health and stave off cancer. That would make me far happier than a Pink Ribbon cake sale (a SUGAR sale, for cancer??????)




So, instead of shaving our heads in sympathy for a friend enduring chemotherapy or taking a selfie without makeup, maybe we should start a 'campaign' to drink a green juice or smoothie every day. This would show support for those with cancer, educate those without cancer, and demonstrate that there are choices within the world of healing.






Friday 14 March 2014

Fats and Oils


Recently I went to a lecture given by Barbara Wren where fats and oils were discussed at length. The shocking conclusion was that none of us should be eating 'processed' oils (no, not even olive, coconut or flax) particularly not breast cancer patients for whom it clogs the lymph and is challenging to assimilate. Instead we should be eating only natural oils (ie those found in whole foods like avocado, whole olives, and oily fish). The further surprising statement was that we should also avoid nuts and seeds as a natural oil source, as they're too high in protein and are actually, next year's seed store. Historically, what decadent farmer would eat next year's crop? Gerson famously banned nuts from his healing regime as they're too high in protein, squandering valuable enzyme energy which could be better used to break down tumours. (As an aside, nuts and seeds contain high levels of phytic acid, a substance which reduces mineral bioavailability. To aid digestion nuts should ideally be soaked prior to consuming).


I came away feeling overwhelmed with this information, and slightly sceptical. Science has proven that fats (lipids) play a vital role in the functioning of the body. Lipids are necessary to form and maintain cell membranes and are needed for brain and nerve functions. Fats are also crucial for absorption and transport of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and our energy resources are based on lipid metabolism. I believe that there are some health giving oils which we can safely eat, should we choose to, but the key is in moderation.


My favourite of these is raw, organic coconut oil. It's antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial. It's also rich in lauric acid (an effective immune system booster) and high in omega 3, a potent anti-inflammatory. (The omega 6:3 BALANCE is vital for good health. Ideally the ratio should be 2:1 but in most Western diets it's closer to 25:1!). Coconut oil has a high smoke point, so is safe to cook with. I use it every day - from roasting potatoes to baking with the kids. I'm often asked if it mars the flavour of dishes, but I find the flavour to be delicate and I really like it. (Off topic, coconut oil makes a fantastic natural make-up remover and moisturiser)



My other go-to fat is butter. Raw un-pasteurised is the king of butters because it's full of beneficial good bacteria and fat soluble vitamins. It can be hard to find, so second best is organic butter, ideally sourced from grass fed cows. In the UK Rachels Organic and Yeo Valley are probably the best shop-bought options as their herds are at pasture for 60% of the year. Ghee is butter's clarified sister, and has a high smoke point so is another great oil to cook with. Remember that any product derived from animal milk will contain oestrogen and Insulin Growth Factor (IGF). IGF makes those baby animals grow but also encourages cancer growth, so is best eaten in limited amounts.

Flax oil has a place within a cancer diet. It's rich in Alpha-linolenic acid (a plant based omega 3 oil). Use it in salad dressings mixed with apple cider vinegar, or to dress cooked vegetables, but never heat it. Johanna Budwig recommended flaxseed oil in conjunction with cottage cheese, the premise being that protein and fat should always be combined in order to facilitate absorption. (Lipids are only water-soluble, and therefore utilizable, when bound to protein).

Cold pressed oils (olive, avocado, walnut etc) should NEVER be used in cooking as they're unstable when heated. They lose their vitamin and mineral content when heat damaged, and become toxic and carcinogenic within the body. Instead, enjoy them cold and in moderation. I occasionally use organic olive oil drizzled over cooked vegetables or in salad dressings. 

The oils to totally avoid are trans-fats and hydrogenated oils. These processed fats are highly unstable, and oxidise in the body causing cell mutation and inflammation (the pre-curser to all disease). In arterial cells this inflammation can clog arteries, whereas in reproductive tissue it can create problems like polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. Also avoid canola (rapeseed), sunflower and other chemically extracted, heat treated oils, which are often produced from GM crops, full of pesticides, toxins and deodorisers which are harmful to the body. These oils are prevalent in modern convenience foods. Read labels to avoid them in processed cakes, cookies, pastry, bread and condiments. 

We need good quality fats. We've long been sold the myth (no doubt through clever marketing by margarine companies) that natural fats like butter are cholesterol inducing, and can cause heart disease. The reality is that our bodies need a certain amount of good quality, unprocessed fats to operate optimally. 


Tuesday 25 February 2014

My Day

Inspired by Tea Novo's recent post, and as suggested by my husband, here's a look at what my average day is like. We've recently moved and are home-educating, so there is a little less structure than usual, but here it goes....

On waking I drink a glass of room temperature water. This is to flush my system which has been detoxing all night. On an empty stomach I take a spoonful of diatomaceous earth (in water) to help to purge parasites and bacteria. As I'm trying to heal my gut I also drink a glass of kefir, or my current favourite, ginger bug, which is rich in probiotics. Starting the day with protein regulates blood sugar, so breakfast is usually gluten-free porridge oats made with almond milk and chia seeds, or gluten free pancakes made with locally sourced eggs, and covered in fruit (stewed berries in winter, cold raw fruit in summer). I try to listen to my body - in winter I really don't feel like eating raw food at all, instead I want nourishing, warming food.


Greens for juicing and smoothies


At this point I usually feed my many fermenting kefir grains, make coconut or nut milk (having soaked nuts overnight), put the coffee and linseed tea on to boil, and make a green smoothie. My current favourite recipe is; coconut milk kefir, baby spinach, baby kale leaves, banana, maca (important for balancing hormones) and a scoop of Sun Warrior vegan rice protein powder (my diet is often low in protein, and this gives me much needed energy to get through the morning. Using nut milk gives an extra protein hit).


Fermented coconut milk, water kefir and ginger bug

Next is my favourite part of the day - the coffee enema. This is the perfect opportunity to relax and meditate. It's also the time when I say affirmations, or write in my journal. I've recently started following up with a kefir grain implant (again to try to heal my gut). This simply involves blending some kefir grains with cooled herb tea (I'm using linseed) and leaving it inside the colon to be absorbed. It's a bit of an experiment, but so far I feel great. You can read more about kefir implants here.

Green tea features a little too strongly throughout my day, and I'm trying to cut back as it can be very depleting for the kidneys and adrenals (it contains caffeine, which is apparent if you try to cut it out!) I usually drink 4 - 5 cups a day, interspersed with filtered water. My new trick is to drink an 8 oz glass of water BEFORE the tea, and see if I still feel that I need or want it.

It's been a long, cold, wet winter, and lunches have mostly consisted of warming soups, or short grain brown rice dishes. Occasionally I 'cheat' and have an egg, particularly if that's what I'm craving. I try to make sure there are green veggies with every meal. As the weather warms I'll start eating more raw food (courgette noodles, pad thai, fresh vegan pestos and salads). 


Raw noodles gently stir fried

Early afternoon I have a vegetable juice. In the summer I aim for 6 a day, but lately I'm finding myself wanting something more substantial, and the density of smoothies has appealed over juices. However, if I have only one green juice a day, my alkalinity levels drop dramatically. To encourage myself to drink more juice I've recently started making it in bulk every morning. Some nutrients are lost this way (although the twin gear juicers are very good at making juice which retains nutrients beautifully when kept in the fridge) but the preparation and cleaning times are far reduced! 

I take supplements throughout the day. It's dangerous to list them, as we all have specific needs, and everyone's regime is different. However, the basics which never change are magnesium, multi-B, vitamin D3, iodine, Broccomax (or Indole 3 Carbinole/Dimpro for breast care and hormone balancing) probiotics, zinc, krill and Co-Q-10. I also take some cancer specific supplements as pinpointed by a 'chemosensitivity' test, which are basically natural angiogenesis inhibitors and apoptosis 'encouragers' (Quercetin, Angioblock and Artemix). I've also recently been taking high dose liposomal vitamin C with alpha-lioic-acid to try to bring my circulating stem cell count down. 

In the afternoons I go swimming, or for a march with the kids - something to get the heart and lymph pumping. I'm excited that we're finally getting a trampoline for the garden so that I can add ten minutes of rebounding into the exercise equation (assuming I get a turn!)

Dinner is early as I eat with the kids. I eat a LOT, and I'm constantly hungry. Stews with potatoes are great in winter, or more rice. Vegetable pies have featured quite strongly lately. I'm happy though that the weather is changing and that I'm getting my appetite back for salads. I always add as many different veggies as I can; raw broccoli, carrots, dark green leaves, avocado, tomatoes, green beans, beetroot, as well as nuts, chia and seeds for protein. I might make some cashew aioli to have on socca (chickpea bread) or add a baked potato with hummus. I cook very simply, with minimal additional flavouring. There is always chicken stock in the freezer for the kids, and plenty of greens in the fridge for me. I'm finding lately that every meal can be transformed into something nourishing and delicious with the addition of a great gravy (for hot meals) or homemade dips (to accompany salads and cold plates).


Socca pizza with cashew aioli, rocket and tomato salsa


I try not to snack, but inevitably this happens (and I'm always trying to put weight on). My current favourites are almond butter on apple or celery, a handful of nuts and raisins, or a piece of dark chocolate (a habit which has got out of hand lately I must confess!).

Depending on how I feel I sometimes use the evening as time to have a FIR infrared sauna, an epsom bath or a liver pack, all of which can be done whilst reading (I'm still reading and researching all the time!) I really loathe routine, so I tend to go through phases of treatment plans - at the moment the sauna is packed away under the bed!

Sleep is so integral to healing, and what's more I LOVE it! I try to get 9 hours a night.

I'd love to hear what your healing day looks like :)




Friday 7 February 2014

Cleansing

There are many ways to help the body to cleanse, and I'm a firm believer in making this a way of life rather than getting into a regular cycle of over-indulgence followed by a guilt-induced detox. It's important to understand the process of detoxification. We are essentially trying to liberate toxins from the cells, into the lymphatic system, and out of the body via the lungs, skin, kidneys, liver, and finally colon, whilst supporting the whole system. 

Detoxification is a delicate balance of pushing and pulling, and must be done at a sympathetic rate to avoid a healing crisis or herxheimer reaction (traditionally experienced as headaches, nausea or skin complaints). Obviously it goes without saying that processed foods must be cut out and replaced with fresh, organic produce, but here are some other ways to aid a detox.

1. Flush your system by drinking up to 2 litres a day of filtered water daily. Ideally use a Reverse Osmosis filter, which removes not only chlorine and fluoride (both of which are toxic to the body) but also oestrogen, which is a massive endocrine disruptor and is prevalent in nearly every part of modern life (not only from plastic bottles, and BPA in tin cans, but more worryingly in our recycled water supply as a residue of the contraceptive pill). It's beneficial to meter your water intake throughout the day. Gulping pints at a time can actually flood the kidneys and brain, causing hyperhydration. We're currently on a water drive in my house. I've noticed that my children have forgotten how to be thirsty and are drinking very little. We've set an alarm to go off hourly to remind us all to have a drink, and as a result our thirst is increasing! Remember that even green tea is a diuretic because it contains caffeine, which will irritate the bladder and cause dehydration as the body tries to flush it out. 

2. Bathe in Epsom Salts. When I was younger, my best friend's Mum had arthritis. She always had a huge bag of epsom salts in her bathroom. I used to think this a little odd, but now I swear by the power of epsom salts, aka Magnesium Sulphate. Magnesium is necessary for nerve and muscle function in the body, and is great for reducing inflammation. Sulphates are necessary for healthy joints, skin and nervous tissue. The skin is our largest organ of detoxification. During a bath Magnesium and Sulphate are easily absorbed into the blood stream via the skin, replenishing supplies and enabling the body to flush toxins out by sweating. Adults can tolerate 1kg per bath. I buy mine in 25 kilo bags on ebay. You can add fresh grated ginger to your bath to increase the sweat factor, and if you don't have a whole-house water filter add some bicarbonate of soda (make sure it's aluminium free) to negate chlorine and increase alkalinity. For a brilliant body scrub mix epsom salts with coconut oil!

3. During a detox, you're asking your liver to work extra hard. It's always a good idea to support this organ by doing a liver pack. The work of Edgar Cayce proves that castor oil is a miraculous substance. It promotes healing, reduces inflammation and improves immune function by increasing lymphocytes and cell cleansing fluid in the lymph. Castor oil molecules are small enough to be able to permeate the skin, and positioning the pack over the liver is gently stimulating. Coat some unbleached flannel with organic cold-pressed castor oil and cover the area over the liver (from under the breast to the bottom of the ribs on your right hand side front to back). Wrap the area with cling film (castor oil is heavy and will stain clothing and furniture). Finally, warm gently with a hot water bottle, and rest for between 20 minutes to an hour. Ideally repeat this process for 3 consecutive days every week, but avoid during a period. 

4. Use a FAR infrared sauna. I was lucky enough be given a grant from Yes 2 Life to buy a FAR infrared sauna. FAR infrared rays are like those emitted by the sun. These rays easily penetrate several centimetres through the skin, warming subcutaneous tissue and liberating toxins stored in body fat. It's important to shower after a sauna to wash off toxins which will otherwise be reabsorbed. Saunas are safe to do every day, but be patient - take your time to work up to longer sessions and greater heat.  

5. In addition to water, drink herbal tea and green juices. It's not just what you're pulling out, but what you're putting in! If you flood the body with goodness it will become more alkaline and more able to detoxify. Green juices deliver a quickly absorbable, dense hit of powerful live enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Because the fibre has been removed, the body can assimilate this goodness without being taxed. Herbal teas can be a good addition in winter when the body craves warmth. Fennel is particularly helpful in supporting the kidneys, whereas Pau D'arco is great for eliminating candida, strengthening the immune system and supporting the liver (as well as having powerful anti-cancer properties).

6. Improve lymphatic function by dry skin brushing (always towards the heart), rebounding (otherwise known as jumping on a trampoline!) and exercising.

7. Take Coffee enemas. All of the above will tax the liver and liberate large amounts of toxins. Coffee enemas will encourage bile production and aid the liver in processing and eliminating toxins. 

Using some of these techniques will help to avoid or relieve the discomfort sometimes associated with a detox, instead bringing clarity, increased energy, and focus!