The Healthy Choices Wellblog

Natural Constipation Remedy…..When Nothing Else Works

Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved

Fasting and Detoxing Questions - Candida and IBS concerns when detoxing your body, taking fiber and juice fasting

Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved

Related articles: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Detoxing Your Body But Didn’t Know Who To Ask

Health complications that linger from food borne illness, long after you stop feeling sick

Contracting E. Coli is terrible enough but I just learned that there may be related health challenges that result from food borne illness, even years after the initial symptoms are gone.

I just read a report from Native Remedies, a company I respect, that talked about this very subject. The list of dangerous health conditions that food bourne illness can contribute to the development of is a long one and includes kidney damage, high blood pressure, arthritis, liver failure and pancreatitis.

Shockingly, some of these conditions that have been linked to food bourne illness such as E. Coli can occur 10 to 20 years after the initial infection.

Native Remedies has some suggestions:

Boosting the immune system supports the natural ability of the immune system and maintain energy levels and fight fatigue. Learn more about boosting the immune system

Additionally, they recommend their formula called >Fatigue Fighter™, which can be used to reduce feelings of common listlessness associated with routine tiredness and to assist in the prevention of burnout.

Finally, Native Remedies suggests looking into detoxing. I’m a big proponent of detoxing the body myself so I believe there is merit in specific cleanses to help the body remove toxins that may be residual after infection.

Here’s what they say about the subject, in relation to food bourne illness complications:

The following information, copyright, Native Remedies:

There are a number of detoxification treatments available today. Some are homeopathic or herbal, and feature ingredients that have been used for centuries to promote the detoxification of bodily organs. Milk thistle and dandelion promote detoxification and optimal functioning of the liver.

Note from Neva: I’ve used milk thistle as a liver cleanse before and found it quite effective but it’s important to get standardized milk thistle and I try to find wildcrafted if possible.

When liver function is compromised it cannot perform the important tasks of cleansing and detoxing the blood. Other essential liver functions include aiding the body in breaking down fat, maintaining proper levels of glucose in the blood, and storing essential vitamins and minerals. Try Liver Dr.™ to promote natural liver health.

Home Detox Remedies:
Lemon juice and warm water

A tea made with fresh ginger, turmeric powder and lemon juice is also good for promoting natural detoxification.

Wheat bran which is also known as “nature’s sweeper” and ground flaxseeds are both high in fiber. They create bulk in the intestines that sweeps impurities along with it as it completes its passage through the digestive system.

Since the largest elimination organ in our body is the skin, sweating during exercise is also a great way to help flush out toxins. Native Remedies’ Detox Drops™ promotes elimination of toxins and naturally flushes out the system as well as assists in the body’s natural elimination of toxins.

Further recommended reading on Implications of foodborn illness

In this report by the CDC, one paragraph stood out for me:

“The most common human action that adversely affects food safety is the avoidable lack of or failure to use effective prevention and control measures. That failure is why 85% of all outbreaks are traceable, about equally, to mishandling in homes or in food service establishments.”

To me, this says we know what to do to avoid this, but we just don’t do it….I’m guilty. I’ve been preparing meat before and just didn’t wash my hands very well before eating it…..made me think.

How do you know if you have heavy metal poisoning? Some of the more common symptoms of toxic metals build up in the body

Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved

You would have to be living under a rock to have missed hearing about mercury in amalgam fillings being a toxic metal problem. In fact, they stopped even using mercury in tooth fillings around 1988, I think, because of the controversy around this practice in dentistry.

However, that still left a lot of people with amalgam fillings containing mercury and no easy way to get those fillings out or to chelate out the mercury that had most certainly leached out over time and was now deposited in tissues throughout the body.

Lead is another heavy metal that we can easily become overloaded with, to a toxic level. Lead from old water pipes, fumes and of course, even children’s toys containing lead-based paints - you will have heard of all the recalls of toys from China because of this problem.

But how do you know if heavy metal poisoning is causing your health challenges? Getting tested is one way but here are some of the more common symptoms. Of course, many of these symptoms could also be symptoms of other conditions but if you have enough of them, or some of the less common ones, it wouldn’t hurt to rule out toxicity from lead, mercury, cadmium or other harmful heavy metals.

Common Symptoms of Heavy Metals Poisoning:

Natural Approaches to Infection in the Blood
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Question on Healing:
My brother has been having over the years but more of late a type of risen like bumpers mostly under his arms - he has gone to the doc and they gave him several rounds of antibiotics but they keep coming back - and since he has no insurance he is leary to go back - said the doc said it was in his blood and they would have to run some expensive tests… can you think of something natural that would help him?

Healing Facilitation Response:
Proper diagnosis is important but if he simply can’t afford the tests, and the doctor said it’s in his blood, I can give you some information to explore.

For infection in the bloodstream, I’d suggest reading about therapeutic doses of the digestive enzyme protease. If taken on an empty stomach, at least 3 hours after food is taken, then it has remarkable blood cleansing and purification properties. The digestive enzymes I recommend and use are formulated by an enzyme specialist. They have one called purezyme that is a concentrated protease formula. You might consider reading more about that.

In addition, if I were personally battling infection, I would take pure oregano oil capsules. Not at the same time as the purezyme though. I’d take those with meals.

The least expensive option would be burdock tea or tincture. Burdock root is one of the best natural blood purifiers God ever made.

If he could afford it, i’d also suggest massage from a certified lymph drainage therapist. The lymph system has no way to really clear itself, unlike the liver, kidneys, etc. so we have to move the toxins out through body movement. A lymph drainage therapist specializes in encouraging the lymph system to cleanse itself and release toxins.

Another way to easily stimulate lymph drainage is to use a rebounder, which is like a small trampoline. Gyms may have them or they can be purchased on ebay for $50 or so. However, caution your brother not to jump for very long at once, no more than 3 minutes, because regardless of how simple it seems, rebounding can dump a lot of lymph toxins quickly and cause a healing crisis.

I am not a doctor and cannot diagnose or prescribe. Your brother would need to check with his doctor before adding anything new to his health regimen.

Systemic Cleansing for Candida Albicans
Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved

Quick Ask on Intestinal Candida:
I read with interest on your web site about a woman who does her own colon cleansing at home. I would appreciate any information you can send me on this as I am trying to recover from intestinal Candida. I have had two colonics and would like to continue with progress made, but the expense is prohibitive for me. The toxins given off by the dying Candida and a toxic bowel have left my liver very toxic also. My thinking at this point is try to continue the colonics and take bentonite clay to absorb some of the toxic by products from Candida lightening the load on my liver. I will also try the dry brushing beginning tonight to see if that helps. Thank-you in advance for any light you can shed my way.

Healing Facilitation Response:
My sympathies as you battle candida. It can be very stubborn but it will go
if you persist.

I understand about the expense of colonics. Most colonics therapists recommend at least 10 colonics to clear candida and, at an average cost of $60 per colonic, that’s a good piece of change. Others can suggest as many as 30 colonics for stubborn cases of candida albicans.

For me, even though money was definitely an issue, it was more the inconvenience and lack of control over the process. I bought my ergocleanse so that I could completely control my experience.

The lady who created the ergocleanse and sells them is named Jeni Humming
and her email is Hummingbird at quantumpurpose . com

Please tell her I said hello.

Are you also using a candida cleanse? And staying off refined sugars completely?

That would be two steps I’d take along with colonics. I’d be careful with bentonite clay by itself because it can be constipating. Be sure you drink adequate fluids and monitor your bowel movements.

Dry brushing should help too.

In addition, I’d be seeing a spiritual healer to help get in touch with emotional issues that may be surfacing for healing. In my reality, the body is compromised and gets sick when we are under stress, suppressing anger or other feelings, or are in some way living out of balance with our spiritual purpose.

Let me know if you want more info on candida detoxing. This is a quick answer. If you wish more detailed help with detoxing from candida, let me know that too.

How do you know if you have tapeworms?
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Recommended for gentle, safe detoxing of the body

Question on healing:
For several months, I have been seeing something that looks like cream colored sesame seeds in my stools. They seem to be increasing in quantity. I cannot tie this to any food I have eaten. What could this be?

Healing Facilitation Response:
I can only guess as to what this could be but just from the description, you may have a tapeworm. Little pieces of the worm break off all the time and some have said they looked a bit like sesame seeds. It could be another type of worm as well but I’d say you probably do have a parasite of some kind.

Assuming you have normal colon health other than that, you might consider a colon cleanse that includes parasite cleansing. If you have a cat or dog in the house or one that lives outside but sometimes comes in, you will need to worm them as well.

Typically, a person who has tapeworms gets them from undercooked meat or from pets who live inside or go in and out of the house.

A person can have tapeworms with no symptoms but some potential symptoms of having tapeworms include abdominal distress or pain, weight loss, fatique and either constipation or diarrhea.

visit the detox articles section for more information on internal cleansing

How do you know what type of cleanse you need?
Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved
Recommended for gentle, safe detoxing of the body

Question on healing:
I am experiencing shortness of breath, eczema, fungal infections in the mouth, itching on the anus, intolerance to certain foods, and constant throat clearing. Should I do a parasite cleanse, liver cleanse, or colon cleanse first?

Healing Facilitation Response:
Please note that I am not a doctor and cannot diagnose or prescribe. The symptoms you have could be indicative of a medical condition requiring treatment so be sure to check with your chosen healthcare provider. My hope is always that a person has chosen wisely and their doctor is open to adjunctive holistic health therapies.

You have symptoms that could point to such a wide range of health challenges that it’s impossible to know which ones might be a factor. You need to see a naturopath or holistic health practitioner, if you want to pursue healing through the use of natural remedies and alternative medicines. I can share educational information with you regarding your symptoms but without doing a full consultation, would not know which might apply.

Some health conditions to rule out:
The eczema, fungal infections, and itching around the anus could all be symptoms of parasites but they could additionally signal a systemic yeast infection, called candida albicans. Both parasitic infestation and systemic yeast should be ruled out.

If I were cleansing and felt parasites be a factor, I’d definitely do a parasite cleanse first or get a cleanse which included a parasite cleanse within it.

I have addressed systemic yeast in my own life both thru cleansing and thru getting completely off refined sugar products for at least a month. there are specific cleanses for candida albicans.

In addition, colonics are very good for helping the body rid itself of parasites and excess yeast, when combined with a good cleanse.

The constant clearing of the throat could be part of the symptoms generated from either parasitic infestation or systemic yeast but could also be the result of food allergies.

Intolerance to certain foods could have several origins too, depending on what foods you find intolerant. If wheat or dairy, could be allergies. If fats, could be a gallbladder issue. If carbs or protiens, insufficient water intake or enzyme deficiency could be factors.

Tips for better cleansing:
Make sure you drink more pure water during a cleanse, and start your cleanse at a time when you have at least a couple of days to rest. In other words, start it on a Friday morning, rather than a Monday morning and take it easy for the first few days.

more on detoxing the body including detox symptoms, safe detoxification tips, how to know what type of cleanse you need, how to detox heavy metals and more.

Should you stop taking prescription drugs when fasting or cleansing?
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Recommended for gentle, safe detoxing of the body

Question on healing:
I am taking 100mg Zoloft and I am planning a colon cleanse. Can I stll take the medication during the 5-day fast? Also, I know solid food is off limits but what about green tea, one cup of coffee in the a.m., and unsweetened soy drinks? I just want to know if these liquids would interfere with the cleanse. Additionally, how will I feel on the last three days-will I be able to work and drive without feeling out of it?

Healing Facilitation Response:
I am not a doctor so I can’t at all address interactions with medications. I’m sorry. You would have to ask your physician or pharmacist about the Zoloft question. Unless there is a threat to life, I generally feel it is not a good idea to abruptly stop any medication. Since Zoloft is given to treat emotional imbalances, it would be particularly important for you to check with your doctor before discontinuing Zoloft, even temporarily.

As for internal cleansing, I always tell everyone that they are the only ones with their own body 24/7 and self-treatment involves self-responsibility. I can’t say, without knowing your medical history in great detail, whether any of the things you propose might or might not be good for your individual cleanse.

Green tea and coffee are both stimulants and coffee is not particularly healthy (even though I still drink it myself, I know this) so I’m not sure I’d drink much of either during a cleanse personally, but I can’t say what the effect would be for you.

As for how you will feel during an internal cleanse, that is also extremely variable, person to person. Some people go thru a cleanse with very little fatigue while others feel very tired and can have flu-like symptoms for a few days or even have rashes if the toxins are being released too rapidly for the kidneys, skin, colon, lungs and blood to handle. A lot depends on how much cleansing your body needs, how radical your fast and how well you care for yourself during the cleanse.

I’d suggest visiting the detox articles section on my site for more comprehensive information on fasting and cleansing.