by Cathy Windland

Toxins are all around and hard to avoid. They are in the air (fumes, chemical cleaners), food (pesticides) and some personal care products (chemical fragrances, preservatives). They enter the body through the skin, lungs and mouth, and if they do not exit the body, toxic overload could lead to headaches, constipation, fatigue, skin issues and an overall general malaise.

Detoxification is a natural and essential way to help promote health and prevent disease. In simple terms, detoxification involves awakening and releasing toxins from the body. It takes time and effort to truly rid the body of a toxic overload.

An effective first step to waking up accumulated toxins is to flood the body with good, clean nutrition: plant-based, organic, whole foods and plenty of pure water. Some herbs with detoxifying properties, such as dandelion root, may also be helpful. This is only the tip of the iceberg—using the power of nutrition can have profound effects on cleansing the body.

Once toxins have been awakened, they must exit the body. Detoxification is not complete until elimination occurs, either through the colon or the skin. Without elimination, the toxins will settle back into the body.

Additional practices, such as dry skin brushing, lymphatic massage or colon hydrotherapy may supplement and support the body’s natural cleansing functions.

Body cleansing is a uniquely individual endeavor. Education, practice, professional support and listening to the body are crucial to finding an appropriate detoxification method.

Cathy Windland is a National Board Certified Colon Hydrotherapist and owner of Inner Spa, an organic wellness spa specializing in holistic cleansing service, located in Newtown. It is currently offering 7-, 14- and 21-day cleanse packages. For more information, call 215-968-9000 or visit InnerSpa.org.

March 2017