Di-gestion is the key to proper health, and without it we become ill. During our body’s natural spring cleaning cycle, we should put cleansing at the front of our minds. Keeping the bowels free flowing is a daily must. If you eat 3 meals a day but do not have a regular bowel movement, where is all of the food going? If the bowels become impacted with fecal matter, it will often liquefy the waste in an effort to rid itself of accumu-lated toxins. We see this as diarrhea. If this happens regularly, it can lead to dehydration, and electrolyte im-balances. In many cases, diarrhea is a symptom of constipation.
Auto-intoxification (self poi-soning), is another problem that can occur. This is the main cause of all illnesses. When we are clogged with excess waste, degeneration begins which can be the cause of bloating, gas, bad breathe, parasites (we all have them), poor memory, weight gain, arthritis, skin disorders, headaches, and back aches. The excess of poison in the colon then enters the blood stream, causing it to thicken. If you looked under a dark field microscope, you would see, in many cases, that red blood cells are sticking together, which is due to very sticky, undi-gested proteins. This leads to poor circulation, migraines, chronic fatigue, high cholesterol, and uric acid, which then causes arthritis and gout.
The main function of the colon is to continually break down food, turning it into chyme and ex-tracting the usable portions. A healthy colon is about 5ft long, and weighs 2 to 3 pounds. The average Ameri-can’s colon weighs 15 pounds, and it is not uncommon for an unhealthy colon to weigh 60lbs. Celebrities such as John Wayne and Elvis Presley colons weighed between 60 and 70 pounds as reported from their autopsies. A natural diet using health-giving, unpro-cessed foods is what we should strive for. Everything you consume should be organic-grown and/or prepared without the use of harmful chemicals. Cascara sagrada, aloe, cayenne, buckthorn bark, rhubarb root, plantains, wild violets, wild garlic, butternut bark, and lastly, senna, are all good herbs to use for cleansing the colon. Remember- our diets are the cause of our illnesses and excess weight gain.
Herbs are very helpful and are a natural source of organic nutri-tion. They also aid in removing plaque and hardened mucus from the intestines. Colon health depends on proper maintenance and friendly intestinal flora. Good flora keeps disease at bay. By using springtime herbs, you are following a tradition that American Indians, earlier pio-neers, and self-sufficient woodsmen followed.
The first herbs of spring provide nutrients not available during the winter months. As Allah, The Most Exalted, sent forth this life-giving foliage, we, out of gratitude, should use them. Some of the first herbs that you see in your gardens are dandelions, poke weed, and coltsfoot. They should be harvested and used before they become bitter. You should espe-cially use dandelions, which are high in vitamins C, A, B1, B2, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. Here are a few tips on maintaining a healthy colon;
1. Chew your food until it is mush.
2. Add more raw vegetable into your diet. 3. Avoid drinking with your meals it cuts down on the hydro-chloric acids within your stomach. 4. Stay hydrated between meals. 5. Do not drink carbonated drinks before or after you eat, they deter the digestion process greatly. 6. Lack of exercise contributes to constipation, so exercise regularly.
