The cleanse that took my pain away…

No CAT scan, Ultrasound, MRI could figure out my pain.  I was scared.  The doctors wanted to do exploratory surgery.  It’s been three years of this persistent, pulling sensation in my groin/psoas and low back, accompanied by horrible  pain. Every morning I woke up with pain in my feet as well.   Of course I first tried alternative therapies to approach the inflammation but those did not help.  I eliminated gluten and that did not work either.  I succumbed to taking a prescription grade anti-inflammatory and mild painkiller to manage my pain and keep me functioning in my career and life.  I even had a cortisone shot in my lower lumbar.  The one thing I never did was a full fledged colon cleanse.  It’s not like it didn’t cross my mind.  My procrastination was fueled by my excuses:  My life is too busy. The pain is real and specific.  It is not near my digestive tract so it can’t be caused by food.  It will be impossible in this house of meat and potato eaters.  I can’t afford it.  I will do it next week…

2022 UPDATE: This blog post is from 6 years ago. I eventually found out that a big part of my pain was endometriosis. This cleanse reduced my inflammation significantly to where the pain resided.  The pain did come back and menopause brought 35 extra pounds which did not help.  Post menopause, the chronic pain was gone almost immediately (Common for endo). Post menopause brought with it an entirely new ailment -chronic fatigue. Last year I saw a functional medical doctor (details of which will be in a new blog post). They took blood tests, put me on supplements, told me to take sugar out of my diet.  I finally got my bounce back! I lost 35 pounds, started running and I feel amazing at 54!.

Why Cleanse? Well here is a list of results you get from cleansing.  I am weeks out of my cleanse now and I still feel all of these benefits.

• Significant increase in energy
• Vitality and greater stamina
• Reduction of food cravings (No more sugar cravings and I’m not even craving coffee!)
• Reduction of allergy symptoms
• Reduction of Inflammation and Pain
• More efficient digestion
• Radiant complexion (My complexion improved so much! But after the cleanse, the first time I ate restaurant potatoes, I broke out in zits, probably from the oils they use).

Art by Dan Berger. Click here for an excellent commentary by Mike Adams.

I discontinued the use of all medicines and supplements during this cleanse.  I am going to be honest with you.  The first few days without anti-inflammatories made pain management difficult.  However, it only took three days of cleansing for it to become manageable.  I attribute this to the process of both removal of my allergen foods from my diet and toxins from my system.  Two week later my main pain was gone.  I still have some low back general tension but no pain in the low back and groin.  I am blessed!  No more pharmaceuticals needed!  My digestion is normal again!  I am doing physical activities again! It is true, pharmaceuticals wreak havoc on digestion and effect sleeping patterns and lower energy.   Eventually,  my digestion got sluggish and my pain just kept persisting and getting worse.  My sleep patterns were disrupted through the night by my pain and the side effects of the pharmaceuticals.  If you are on any pharmaceutical and stop taking them while doing this cleanse,  be sure discuss it first with your doctor. Don’t expect her/him to be a fan of cleanses because most aren’t however, some western doctors are finally realizing the value in cleansing for pain management and I hope you have that support.

Cleansing makes you CRANKY? Tell your loved ones that if you are cranky it has absolutely nothing to do with them and don’t hesitate to apologize for being impatient, short or easily annoyed.  As you cleanse, you may notice a heightened sense of irritability.  This is normal and you will get through it.

Or does cleansing leave you feeling ELATED? If you have spells of total elation and bliss while one this cleanse, bathe in them.  Write, sing, walk in nature.  Tell the people close to you how much they mean to you.

The premise of this cleanse is to remove inflammation causing food and acidic food from your diet, detox the intestines and cleanse the liver and gall bladder while nourishing the kidneys.  I did this for two weeks.  The chronic pain that I had in my psoas/groin region and my feet are totally gone, I lost some weight, my periods are not as painful, my energy level is high and I am happy and present.  I am a massage therapist and work hard with my body all day long.  For this reason, you will notice that my cleanse is not super intense compared to some on the market.  I tailored it to suit my lifestyle and it worked.  I encourage you to do the same.  Just be sure not to skip anything.  You may add more small meals if you need to but do not eliminate any step if you can help it and stay within the food guidelines.

This cleanse is not only for folks with pain.  I did a version of this cleanse years ago as an overall health booster.  This time I did it specifically to see if it could help my pain.  And it worked! I hope it helps you too.  Let me know how it goes.

Please take a moment to:

• Like my Facebook Page (coupons and it is where I post my last minute cancellations so you know when there is a same-day appointment availability.
• Write a review on Yelp, Google or Facebook if you have come to me for bodywork or somatic counseling.

Thank you! Happy Cleansing!
Peace,
Chula Gemignani CMT
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This cleanse and products have not been approved by the FDA.  I am not a doctor.  Ask your doctor to advise you if you are planning on doing a cleanse and are currently on medications or have any health concerns.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not do this cleanse.

GUIDELINES

DRINK LOTS OF WATER! 1/2 your body weight in ounces (the normal daily H2O dose) plus a third of that more.

Preparation:

3 weeks prior: Order all of the tinctures and supplies.

1 week prior: Go vegetarian for a week before you start the cleanse.

The Supply List:  This is a list of products with links to Amazon and easy to order. You can just click on each ingredient, add to your shopping cart and have the whole thing sent to your home. When you are finished with cleanse you will have extra Garden of Life Detox, Warrior, Flax meal, Tinctures, Epsom Salt, Coconut Oil, Psyllium, Liver ND.  You will want ALL of these things in your diet still.  However, if you are on a budget and want to order smaller quantities, you can.  I have done the $100 store bought cleanses and personally, I have had no noticeable effects.  I finally decided to invest in my health and do it right.  If you want the results to be significant, stick with the ingredients and guidelines that I list in this article.

• Gentian Extract (order three bottles so you can continue take it one week after cleanse)
• Curcuma (order three bottles so you can continue take it one week after cleanse)
• Coptis (order three bottles so you can continue take it one week after cleanse)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Organic Coffee
• Epsom Salt
• Coconut Oil
• Garden of Life Detox and Alkalizer (optional for green drink)
• Vitamineral Greens (optional for green drink. Great product but more pricey)
• WARRIOR
• Psyllium
• Flax Meal
• Aloe Vera Juice
• Black Cherry Juice
• Liver ND
• Enema Kit

The NO’s

Now when you read the food elimination list,  don’t worry about it.  You’ve Got This!  Also cater your cleanse for your own body.  This is my cleanse that works for my body. In three days you will see how 90% of what we eat is for entertainment and 10% need.  Maybe not in those ratios exactly but you will see how ridiculously serious we take our food habits when, in actuality, most of our eating is all just for fun.  What we really need is pretty simple.  Weigh it out for yourself… two weeks of a simple diet that will change your life? Two weeks of food fun with the same limits, pain, weight gain, etc? [hint: The decision can be prompted in a progressive direction if you imagine yourself two weeks post cleanse feeling lighter, more free in your body, energetic, less pain, happy and healthy.]  Post cleanse,  my energy is sustaining all day.  I don’t get caffeine or sugar crashes that I was getting.  I hardly eat sugar.  I don’t have the same cravings.  I know I lost weight but I don’t have a scale so not sure how much.  I feel 10 pounds lighter.  I feel fabulous! Went on a hike at the Yuba River today and hiked up the river canyon with no pain.  I have more patience for everyone around me and myself, I can sit down and type out this article with a clear head.   I feel light on my feet and in my heart and am so grateful. 48 ain’t so bad after all!

Foods to Eliminate During Cleanse

• salt
• sugar
• alcohol
• caffeine
• grains
• legumes
• nightshades
• animal
• fish
• eggs
• corn
• dairy
• Keep nuts to a minimum.  (A few Pecans is OK.  Instead of nuts, try to soak pumpkin and sunflower seeds)
• No processed foods ( this includes non dairy cheese, spreads, non dairy milk, tofu, etc.)
• Alkaline Foods Speed Up the Cleansing Process. (eliminate beans and nightshades for this cleanse) Eat Organic food only.  You are detoxing, so try to keep it organic.
• I take oils out but continue to add avacado to my salads and smoothies.

SLEEP:
Morihei Ueshiba, a martial arts master, believed that there was no other way besides through sleep that the body can restore it’s chi/ki/qi (inner power). I believe that the great sleeps that I got on this cleanse significantly added to it’s benefits.

TINCTURES:

Take all tinctures every day.  Try not to miss those.  They are a crucial part of the cleanse.

TAKING YOUR PSYLLIUM/FLAX SHAKE:

Always wait to take your Psylium/Flax Shake* 1.5 hours after your breakfast and lunch.

ENEMAS: Get an Enema Kit. Coffee Enemas help headaches and irritability tremendously! Use light roast, Organic Coffee.

Put down a towel not far from the toilet to lay upon, light a candle to honor your body, your temple. Play music on the stereo to calm/distract the mind.  Try to hold in the enema as long as possible.  Be sure water is water is comfortable to the touch.  If the water is too hot or too cold, retaining the enema will be more difficult.

BASTI:

Basti, therapeutic enemas in ayurveda, would be a wonderfully nurturing step in this cleanse that I did not do but will next time.  You can order them through a seasoned ayurvedic practitioner and friend of mine, Kim Kinjo, in Nevada City, California.

LINKS:

Links to all that you will need are provided in this read.  For those of you who are not computer savvy that means that you click on the highlighted words.

MENUS

(Recipes are found below)

Menu For WEEK ONE (modify as you need to in order to nourish and nurture):

6:30am Gentian Extract in water Followed by: Light Exercise or Yoga

Some time before green drink – 1 shot apple cider vinegar (Braggs or home made) in small glass of water.

7:00am 1 Quart Green Drink * (Make extra pint for snack)

8:30am Psyllium/Flax Shake**

11:00am Snack 1 Pint Green Drink*

12:00pm Lunch: Salad and steamed veggies (no  nightshades, no legumes, no potatoes ( some sweet potato is ok) Make enough steamed veggies to reserve some for dinner.1:30pm Psyllium/Flax Shake**

5:00pm Dinner  Salad and Soup***

6:00pm liver/kidney balm****  Sip on this slowly for 1-2 hours (this is a nice time to bathe or read)

8:00pm  On empty stomach: Coptis and Curcuma 1 teaspoon each in 8oz water.  Just down that and get it over with quick! Of the entire clease this is the only gross part. Read what these herbs do for your body, plug your nose and down it (for just two weeks).  You’ve got this thing!

8:15pm  Take and Epsom Salt and Coconut Oil bath. Light a candle to honor your body, your temple.

9pm  Be in bed by 9pm to get a wonderful sleep.

Menu For WEEK TWO

(modify as you need to in order to nourish and nurture)

6:30am Gentian Extract  in water followed by Light Exercise or Yoga

Some time before green drink – 1 shot apple cider vinegar (Braggs or home made) in small glass of water.

7:00am 1 Quart Green Drink * (Make extra pint for snack)

8:30 Psyllium/Flax Shake**

12:00 Green Drink*

1:30 Psyllium/Flax Shake**

5pm Dinner  Salad and Soup***

6:00pm liver/kidney balm**** Sip on this slowly for 1-2 hours (this is a nice time to bathe or read)

8:00pm  On empty stomach: Coptis and Curcuma 1 teaspoon each in 8oz water.  Just down that and get it over with quick!

8:15  Take and Epsom Salt and Coconut Oil bath. Light a candle to honor your body, your temple.

9pm  Be in bed by 9pm to get a wonderful sleep.

If you want to go the next level take a week off, get ready to be a bit irritable

Menu For WEEK THREE

(I did two weeks but many folks like to do three and this is the menu for week three, modify as you need to in order to nourish and nurture)

6:30am Gentian Extract  in water followed by: Light Exercise or Yoga

Some time before green drink – 1 shot apple cider vinegar (Braggs or home made) in small glass of water.

7:00am 1 Quart Green Drink * (Make extra pint for snack)

8:30 Psyllium/Flax Shake**

12:00 Green Drink*

1:30 Psyllium/Flax Shake**

5pm Dinner:  Green Drink

6:00pm liver/kidney balm****  Sip on this slowly for 1-2 hours (this is a nice time to bathe or read)

8:00pm  On empty stomach: Coptis and Curcuma 1 teaspoon each in 8oz water.  Just down that and get it over with quick!

8:15  Take and Epsom Salt and Coconut Oil bath.  Light a candle to honor your body, your temple.

9pm  Be in bed by 9pm to get a wonderful sleep.

Green Drink *

In a blender: 1 Quart plus 1 pint of Water.  Add 1 Scoop of Garden of Life Detox and Alkalizer  Add 1 teaspoon of WARRIOR Add banana, apple or persimmon or alkaline fruit of choice.  If your energy crashes/drops that is a sign to use less sugary fruit, perhaps apple only. ( I added soaked sunflower and pumkin seeds and made an extra pint for a snack for later).

Psylium/Flax Shake**Mix  2 rounded teaspoons of psyllium and 2 rounded teaspoons of flax meal into 8 oz of Water.  Drink and then follow with 8 oz of Plain water. Alternatively you can take flax seeds and grind in a blender and add them to the psyllium powder in a 1:1 ratio make a jar of this to use throughout your cleanse. For my cleanse I added a heaping tablespoon of that psyllium/flax mixture into 8oz of water.  Just be sure to drink a full glass of water after. You can also buy flax meal but I would rather buy the seeds and grind it.  The link I gave you is for 2 16 oz organic bags.  When you get them put one in your fridge and grind the other and add to 16 oz of psyllium and you have your psyllium shake mix for the cleanse.

Soup***

Take the veggies you steamed blend them in a blender with a little brown rice miso and water for a yummy dinner soup.  Heat in a pot to warm.  This is not about eating cold raw food only.  My cleanse is all about nourishing and nurturing.

Liver/Kidney Balm****I glass filled half way with Aloe Vera Juice, the other half with Black Cherry Juice, 1 teaspoon Liver ND,

You can read about the various ingredients and their importance in the links provided.  Be sure to take your time sipping the balm and let it soothe you.  1-2hrs ( I did this while bathing or reading).

Ending Your Cleanse

When you want to return to real food my advice is take it slow.  Start with apples, vegetarian meals. Basmati Rice is always easy on my system.  Try one allergen type food at a time for two weeks before adding a new one.  So eggs, corn, wheat, dairy all should be incorporated slowly.  That way you can eliminate the appropriate allergens from your diet.  I had to say goodbye to eggs and corn. Oh well, the pay off outweighs the loss by miles of smiles.

Enjoy your cleanse!

Please remember cleansing is not for every body and not a replacement for medical care.  Be sure to seek advice of your physician.