By Dhara Kelly
Let us remember that ‘detoxing’ is just a current, popular word for cleansing. ‘Cleansing’ (an age-old practise), in fact, more accurately suggests that there is a natural accumulation of wastes in the body which can, with gentle stimulation, be passed out easily and unhurriedly.
Taking a hint from Nature, the turning of the seasons is always a good time to consider embarking on a detox regime. Moving into Autumn or Winter, for example, is an appropriate time to re-calibrate our whole energy system, and a new exercise regimen also fits in perfectly with a detox as part of a seasonal gear-change. With the coming of the new Season, we find new foods, new light, new patterns in our lives and a welcoming in our bodies for change.
A detox regime can be easy, fun and very rewarding. It is easiest of all if you are in a dedicated environment where there are none of the usual temptations. The result is a new and unexpected level of energy, and all the wonderful possibilities this confers. Then there is the new glow in your skin, the sparkle in your eyes, the improved memory, the desire for healthy eating that always follows a good detox. Your body wants to be well! It simply needs to be supported in this routine, daily task. Remember… elimination of waste from the body goes hand-in-hand with eating, drinking and breathing. It’s natural.
When our body knows what is happening, it is able to deal efficiently with situations as they arise. When our body is unclear, it finds it hard to make good decisions. How does this come about? Quite simply: by eating and drinking substances which confuse our internal communication systems. We all know how reality can be distorted by alcohol, recreational drugs or prescription drugs. We all know how a cup of coffee effects us energetically, or even tea. Chocolate or any high-sugar food also has this effect. Mostly, that’s why we take these things. And indeed, anything which sends adrenaline into the system will also distort it, which can lead to fear, anger and stress. Even watching the news on TV becomes distorting in a subtle way.
None of these things matter in themselves. Distortion only becomes a problem when either the timing is wrong (e.g. driving) or when we become dependant. If we lose access to our inner wisdom, we start to look outside for the information. And a lot of the information out there can lead us astray or into confusion. This is where we come to realize that detoxing is more than clearing out junk from the system. It is about getting a little closer to the truth of who we really are, accessing our own internal body wisdom.
How does detoxing do this? In order to understand this, it’s useful to view the body as an energy event. We can get a better understanding of this using the model of the body that we are given by the Chinese. They understand the body as being composed of energy meridians (pathways) and points of access. They also understand that the energy centre of the body is in the abdomen, the general area of the intestinal tract. For the Chinese, stagnation in this area results in a reduction of the vitality of the whole system. Detoxing directly addresses this, and it is the most obvious and the most important way that detoxing benefits us. Of course, our vitality will then show through the freshness of our complexion, hair, nails, the better sense of taste and touch, a new optimism and a new feeling of clarity and purpose, along with new horizons in our eyes.
Dhara Kelly has been running the Cloona Health Retreat, Westport, County Mayo, since 1985, specialising in Detox retreats. www.cloona.ie
