Auteur: Marciel Witteman

When considering a detox, most people think of the food they eat, or not eating anything at all, to help rid their body of toxic or unhealthy substances. But, what you put ‘on’ your body is just as important as what you consume. Pick up any personal care product and try to pronounce the ingredients. Many contain large amounts of chemicals–natural and synthetic–and we are just beginning to recognise the harmful effects that it can have on our bodies. 

Why it Matters

The cosmetic and beauty industry, as a whole, is unregulated and laws vary from country to country. The European Union, which now consists of 28 countries, has more strict and protective laws for cosmetics than the United States. The EU Cosmetics Directive was enacted in 2003 and most recently revised in 2013. The EU law bans more than 1,300 chemicals from beauty products that are considered harmful and are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, reproductive harm, or birth defects. In contrast, the Food and Drug Administration in the US has banned or restricted only 11 chemicals from cosmetics. Unlike the United States, EU law requires safety assessments of cosmetics before they enter the market, registration of cosmetic products, and acknowledges that certain chemicals do not belong in beauty products regardless of the concentration factor.

According to a study done by the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 personal care products a day, containing about 168 unique ingredients. Research on long-term exposure is lacking in the scientific arena, especially on the effects of chemicals when they are combined. Also, scientists have reported that under the right circumstances–factors like temperature and exposure over time–the skin can absorb certain things to the point where they affect our bodies.

How to detox your cosmetics

To start detoxing your beauty routine, begin by taking stock of all the products you use and see what you can substitute with safer, more natural choices to detox your entire body, on the outside and the inside.

Research the Ingredients Depending on where you are, there may be no legal standards for personal care products labelled as natural or organic, so look beyond what it says on the bottle and read the ingredients carefully. Thankfully there are some ways to make this less overwhelming, including some apps that will tell you which ingredients to avoid.

Simplify Your Routine Choose products with a simple ingredient list and fewer synthetic chemicals. A good rule of thumb is that if you cannot pronounce it, it’s probably best to avoid it. For example, pick up your toothpaste and try to pronounce the ingredients. Some toothpastes include toxic ingredients, such as Triclosan and Propylene Glycol, that can easily absorb into your bloodstream. Stick to products with only a few ingredients listed and avoid synthetic perfumes by skipping products with “fragrance” on the label.

Know Which Ingredients to Avoid Read what’s inside before you apply anything to your skin, lips, or hair. The David Suzuki Foundation has published a list of 12 key ingredients to steer clear of in its article “Dirty Dozen: cosmetic chemicals to avoid” — a great place discover the ugly facts about your makeup.  

What Products to Ditch First

To detox your cosmetic cabinet, prioritise by assessing what you use the most. For many women, this means replacing your current body lotion first. Skincare products are probably the one thing you use the most of and most often. Your skin, with its large surface area, has the most potential for harm. Substitute body lotion for an all-natural and organic alternative such as 100 percent cold-pressed coconut oil. Look for natural option, such as essential oils for perfume and hair care products. Ditch your deodorant and use one made from coconut oil, baking soda, and shea butter. Slowly replace your makeup over time, opting for products with environmentally safer ingredients that are natural. Look for organic beauty products that are sustainably sourced and manufactured and packaging in a biodegradable or recyclable container so they are less harmful to the environment.

Even better, replace store bought beauty products with homemade ones. It can be cheaper, and you don’t have to worry about ingredients you can’t pronounce since you will always know exactly what’s going in them.

Natural Cosmetics To Make At Home

Try some do-it-yourself beauty recipes; you’ll be surprised at what you can create on your own. Some personal care products are easy to make with ingredients from your kitchen. There are numerous books and websites that share their all-organic recipes. Stock up on natural ingredients and use them in a multitude of ways for the hair, skin, and cosmetics. For starters, coconut oil is a favourite since it has numerous uses for the hair and body. For teeth, baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide is an effective whitening toothpaste that also kills bacteria.

Useful Apps

Apps like Healthy Living and Shop Clean are useful tools for locating good clean products. The Healthy Living app from Environmental Working Group rates more than 120,000 food and personal care products and the Shop Clean app by Think Dirty is  user-friendly and ranks the safety of products on a scale of 1 to 10, and provides more eco-friendly alternatives for when you do your cosmetic cabinet detox.

In case you’ve never heard about the use of an enema, you’re in the right place. An enema is a procedure that stimulates stool evacuation and relieves constipation. It’s a liquid treatment that conveniently helps push waste out of the colon, with your body reaping many benefits in the process.

The average person has almost 5 kgs, if not more, of waste inside their large intestine, so periodically including enemas into your routine can be advantageous to your health. They are especially helpful to those individuals who do not have at least one regular bowel movement per day. Guided support is always recommended, too, especially for your first time. Read on to learn about the benefits of this ancient technique for cleansing the colon–which you can do either at home or in the comfort of your local spa.

History: An Ancient Detoxing Technique

Dating back to 1500 B.C., the Egyptians were the first recorded people to use the procedure of colon flushing. References have also been made to enemas in ancient texts, from the Babylonians and Assyrians in 600 B.C. to the Ancient Greeks, to Africans along the Ivory Coast in 500 A.D. and among the rich in the Middle Ages. The 17th century became known as ”the age of the enemas” and Parisians would use them three to four times daily. In the 19th century, the development of rubber gave way to more advanced colon hydrotherapy equipment. And the craze ultimately reached into the fancy neighbourhoods of Beverly Hills in California in the 1950s.

Today, the procedure of cleansing stool residue from the large intestine is also called ‘colonic lavage’ and ‘colonic irrigation’. Variations of this flushing technique are used world-wide, and are growing in popularity as the idea of inner hygiene spreads.

Colon Problems and their Effect on the Body

The role of the colon is to absorb liquid and nutrients from food and to remove waste and toxins from the body. Over the years, however, and especially with the increased exposure to chemically infused food, the walls of the colon can become encrusted with residual waste. This, in effect, makes for a slower and inefficient digestive system.

What Ailments do Enemas Treat?

Usually diet changes and exercise are recommended as the first steps in treating gastrointestinal issues such as constipation. Laxatives may be recommended by a doctor as well, and enemas are often used for the first time when the “dis-ease” has become more advanced. After discovering the benefits, many people get them regularly.

It makes sense that this technique is used in treating colitis, since the way an enema enters the body is directly through the rectum. Colitis, for those unfamiliar, is an inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Colitis has variations, which include the ulcerative type, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, and more.

Surprisingly, enemas can be effective in treating a variety of ailments other than stomach issues. These include backaches, Candida yeast infections, headaches, hemorrhoids, skin problems, weight issues, fatigue, and more. Constipation is often treated with enemas, and it is important to do so, as residual accumulation in the large intestine can lead to colon cancer. Yale researchers have also discovered that constipation is linked to the herpes virus and kidney disease. This shows that, as seems logical, the body is a system that works in a unified way, and all organs influence each other. Consequently, the benefits of an enema are all-encompassing; this includes improvement in mood as the stomach and its chemical reactions have been proven to have important links to the brain.

Effects on the Body

The benefits of enemas are wide-ranging and include eliminating bacteria, toxins, and excess fatty acids from the intestines, and aiding in the restoration of the stomach’s natural flora. They can also have a positive impact on the nervous system, flushing away exhaustion and anxiety. Enemas help to balance hormones, control appetite, regulate sleep, and improve mental processing. Enemas can also clear your skin, and improve concentration and circulation.

The Right Preparation

This is how you do it. It’s important to sterilise all equipment and start with an empty stomach and bladder before proceeding. Ideally, you should have a few old towels underneath your body in case the liquid leaks. A water bag is filled with warm water and, optionally, a mixture of ingredients depending upon your preferences and goals. The tube, attached to the bag, is then slowly and carefully inserted into the rectum–it is especially helpful to keep a lubricant handy in order to facilitate the insertion. With the bag slightly elevated, gravity begins the flushing process pumping water into the colon.

Recipes for Enemas

Generally speaking, there are two types of enemas. Cleansing enemas are meant to be retained for two to three minutes, until the body’s impulse naturally expels them; and retention enemas are meant to be held for about 15 minutes.

Here are some cleansing enemas to consider:

• Apple cider vinegar enemas (2-3 tbsp diluted in water) clear mucus from the body and to eradicate viral conditions.
• Burdock root enemas aid in eliminating calcium deposits as well as purifying the blood.
• Lemon juice enemas detoxify the system and balance the pH level.

Some retention enemas include the following:

• Organic coffee enemas stimulate the liver and gallbladder to eliminate metabolic and environmental toxins (no more than 15 minutes).
• Probiotic enemas are ideal for treating Candida or yeast infections.
• Red raspberry leaf enemas are particularly helpful for women as they are high in iron, and they are also good for the eyes.

Safety

The most crucial part of using an enema is to be safe. Be careful to investigate options thoroughly, be aware of possible allergic reactions, and be careful with the insertion of the tube as it is possible to damage the walls of the rectum if it’s not properly lubricated. Also, use them in moderation as there is potential for too much of a good thing. And when in doubt, consult with a specialist.