1. REDUCE THE “TOX”

Dispose of all that is toxic 
in your life. First, this means eliminating alcohol, sugar, coffee, cigarettes, refined foods and foods containing artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.


Do this gradually if your intake is high. Eliminate one toxin at a time or reduce your intake and then let it go for good. The body responds best to this gentler, more gradual approach.

There are toxins lurking in everyday products, such as antiperspirants, personal care products containing fragrance (as opposed to essential oils), products with an extra-long shelf life 
and flyspray.  Reduce your exposure to toxins 
by scrutinising the labels on foods and products before ingestion or use.

Toxic emotions and thoughts also need to be removed from your life to allow detox and health-giving practices to flow. The science of psychoneuroendocrinology is discovering how toxic thoughts deplete immune, nervous system and hormonal function, leading to toxic build-up in the body.

2 . BRUSH EVERYTHING, EXCEPT YOUR TONGUE

Dry brushing your skin before taking a warm to cool shower helps to remove surplus skin cells (often laden with detritus) and enhances circulation, assisting detoxification. Using a vegetable-bristle body brush, make gentle upward strokes, always in the direction of your heart. Avoid sensitive areas – it should always feel refreshing and enjoyable.

Brushing your hair helps to draw the protective oils from your scalp, coating the hair strands. Increase circulation by simultaneously massaging your scalp.

Don’t brush your tongue – scrape it. Many yoga practitioners advise scraping your tongue every morning to remove the ama (toxins) that builds up overnight.

3. HYDRATE YOUR BODY

While maintaining hydration is important at all times, 
it’s imperative during a detox. Imagine the body as a series of water-filled semipermeable bags inside one another. If just one of those bags was filled with dirty water it would diffuse into all the bags over time.

To facilitate gentle ongoing detoxification, drink a good amount 
of the purest water possible every day.

Drinking warm water is easier on 
the digestive system and body. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests drinking large amounts of 
warm water first thing in the morning.

According to renowned researcher and scientist Dr Masaru Emoto, water 
is deeply connected to our individual 
and collective consciousness. If you 
feel so inclined, take your cue from 
Dr Emoto’s work and imbue your water with gratitude before drinking it. Then you’ll have grateful, beautifully structured water flowing through you.

Don’t forget to get your body moving. Building up a sweat through cardiovascular exercise helps rid the 
body of toxins. Infrared saunas are 
also recommended for detox.

4. DRINK “LIQUID GOLD”

Vegetable juice is liquid gold. Make a juice every day using well-cleaned organic produce.

Vegetable juice is rich in antioxidants, and carrot, beetroot and celery are particularly supportive vegetables during detox. Wheatgrass juice may also be consumed daily.

Take time to drink your juice each day – don’t gulp it down. For optimal results drink slowly, allowing your 
saliva to mix with the juice.

Different herbs support different organs and body systems. There are many useful herbal teas available from supermarkets and health stores, including rosehip, chamomile and dandy detox.

5. HARNESS THE POWER OF CHEWING

In general, we rush our eating. Eating on the run is endemic. Refined foods require little chewing and are often swallowed after three or four chews. Even wholefoods are all too often prematurely swallowed.

Eating this way can result in digestive stagnation, which, in turn, produces toxins in the gut as well as digestive disturbances. You need to be relaxed to digest effectively.

Slow down at meal times. Aim to chew a minimum of 20 times a mouthful. Anywhere between 25 and 50 times is ideal. Properly chewing food supports the chemical and mechanical aspects of the digestive process and enhances the absorption and assimilation of nutrients. This lightens the load on the liver.

Surrendering to the fact that eating this way will take time will help your body slip into “rest and digest” mode.

Note: if you’re planning to undertake a thorough detox regimen, consult a qualified health practitioner for an individualised plan. There are many supplements that can support the internal organs and pave the way for a smooth detox.