The early Hawaiians believed in a number of herbal warriors, 4 of which are garlic, ginger, olena/turmeric, and neoi/hot chili pepper. They believed that if you need to fight off disease in the body you don’t send in the weaklings, you send in the strong, powerful, bitter (the bitter truth) warriors! The big guns, for big things, if you are choosing the natural way to fight things, like cancer, or just want to take preventative measures to ensure your health and well being. I could write pages on the outstanding, documented healing properties of each of these warriors, (perhaps another blog) but for now just a short synopsis of each ones most dynamic qualities.
Garlic’s health benefits are derived from the more than 100 sulphur compounds it contains. It is an anti-fungal, anti-virus, anti-biotic agent. It is very useful in the relief of bronchial coughs, asthma, and head colds. It also strengthens the immune system and lowers cholesterol levels.
Neio/hot pepper/capsicum contain thousands of bioflavonoids and carotenoids which heal heart cells and protect your heart. There is no other herb that can increase your blood flow faster than cayenne. It is also capable of stopping bleeding, both internal and external and is effective in lowering high blood pressure.
Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant and provides substantial pain relief without the side effects of over-the-counter medicines, like ibuprofen. It is also the number one cure for digestive disorders including nausea, indigestion, heartburn, and vomiting. It also is most effective for cureing the symptoms of the common cold.
Olena/turmeric contains curcumin, which prevents degeneration of tissue, possibly extending the life span of our bodies. It is also a powerful anti-tumor, anti-spasmodic, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenetic. It helps the body in many ways to heal and protect itself naturally. It may also assist in balancing hormone levels.
Each spring I like to do a juice fast which includes these fabulous warriors. It gives the digestive system a rest as it cleanses the body with fresh squeezed fruit and vegetable juices and flushes the body of toxins. It also helps to drop a few [sometimes more than a few] pounds of winter fat that likes to collect around the waist and hips. The fast includes a bowel cleanse, a liver/gallbladder cleanse, and a kidney/bladder cleanse.
Fasting always sounds so drastic. One congers up pictures of skin and bones and the feeling of starvation. Well, it really is not that like that at all. In fact it is quite easy, and even enjoyable, knowing you are doing something for your body, and from my experience I know that the pot of gold at the end of increased health and well being is always worth the journey.
First of all, you don’t get hungry because you are drinking lots of fresh squeezed organic fruit and vegetable juices which are full of vitamins, mineral and natural sugars to stave off hunger. You also put psyllium in your ‘shakes’ which adds bulk and keeps you feeling full while it gently cleans out your intestines.
That’s the morning routine and then in the afternoon you get to make a big pot of organic vegetable broth which is delicious and nutritious. You simple add all your favorite veggies (plus garlic, ginger, olena[turmeric] and hot pepper, 4 of the Hawaiian healing worriers) to a big pot of purified water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for an hour until the veggies are soft and have given all their nutrients to the broth. Then you drink the broth only. Yummm!
This is so delicious, and the color is magnificent, especially if you have added red cabbage or beets to the mix. And, if you get really hungry, you may also eat some of the cooked veggies, but after a few days you won’t even crave those. Another trick we use sometimes, if we get too hungry, is to put some of the soup in the blender or vita mix and puree it. The idea is to give your body a rest from chewing and heavy digesting so it can get on with the cleansing.
Of course, all throughout the cleanse you must drink massive amounts of water to flush out the toxins.
Now, I’ll give you a short description of each cleanse which you may do for as little as 3 days each, or as much as 5 days each, depending on your body and your specific needs.
If you have never done a bowel cleanse before, I highly recommend doing the bowel cleanse for at least 3 days, so that you really feel cleaned out and high on the process. It consists mainly of drinking 4 or 5 psyllium shakes during the day. These can be made with 8 oz fresh fruit (apple is my favorite) or vegetable (carrot is my favorite) juice, 1Tablespoon psyllium, 1Tablespoon benenite clay, and 8 oz purified water. You may also add banana, mango, papaya, or any other yummy fruit. Put all ingredients in the blender and mix until liquid.
Along with this you take a quality herbal laxative supplement to keep things moving through.
You need to drink it down fast because the psyllium will ‘go off’ and get thick if you wait then you have applesauce. Be sure to drink another glass of water with your shake.
All day you will be drinking your fresh squeezed juices and in the late afternoon or evening you will be drinking your broth for more liquid and always more water.
Now that wasn’t so bad was it?
For the liver/gall bladder cleanse. First thing in the morning you do your liver flush, which consist of 8 oz fresh citrus (orange or grapefruit) juice, to which you add, 1inch of ginger, 1 clove garlic, and 1/2 inch Olena, along with 1 Tablespoon of organic olive oil. Mix it all up in the blender and drink it down quick!
Along with this you need to do one intestinal ‘shake’ sometime during the day just to keep things moving because the liver will dump toxins into the intestines to be removed.
Continue with fresh fruit and veggie juices and broth in the later part of the day.
It also helps to drink herbal teas that are bitter, like dandelion, because bitter stimulates bile production in the liver, which is good.
Now the fun part! Each day of the liver/gallbladder cleanse, you add one more helping of garlic, ginger, olena/turmeric and olive oil. In other words on the second day you add 2 cloves of garlic, 2 inches of ginger, 1 inch of olena/turmeric, and 2 T of olive oil. On the third day 3 cloves garlic, etc., you get the picture. It really is not so bad when you consider what these warriors are doing for you.
Last, but not least, is the kidney/bladder cleanse. This is the same basic process. The only difference is in the morning instead of liver flush drink you make up what many people know as the Master Cleanser:
8oz purified water, juice of one lemon, 1Tbls. maple syrup, dash of hot pepper/neoi.
You drink this all day long along with 1 intestinal shake a day, to keep things moving, and broth in the evening.
There you have it! Take as long or short as you like, just give it a try. Even if you only did one day a week you are giving your body the rest it needs and the signal that you want a healthy body.
And like I said; the pot of gold, is lost weight, eliminated toxins, looking younger, feeling brighter, lighter, more euphoric, filled with energy and enthusiasm. Believe me, it is worth it, and, it is what keeps me coming back to these cleanses at least once a year if not more.
If you want to know more or have any questions feel free to email me at theplantspirits@gmail.com .
Since it is spring and time to plant your seeds and seedlings, I’m offering 20 minute free garden consultation.
Happy new beginnings,
Marissa, the magic gardener.
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