Fall Newsletter from Red Mt. Remedies

Hunkering Down to a Healthy Winter

In this issue:

Diet changes and natural remedies can help. Last chance to Detox your system before winter!

Toxins build up in our bodies from outer pollutants and from by-products of our own metabolic activities. Occasional cleansing, especially of the liver and colon, can go a long way toward keeping us healthy. Holistic health practitioners, as well as indigenous peoples, believe in giving the system a break in the spring and fall in order to rejuvenate and guard against illness.

In the October issue of Natural Health magazine, I wrote a feature article on detoxing in which we tested 4 programs: a diet, a fast, an herbal regimen and a combined program of all of the above. We used a detoxification test which measures how efficiently one's system (specifically the liver) breaks down substances. The test also indicates the level of free radical damage, or oxidative stress, on the body, and how well our antioxidant reserves are working to defend our cells against this stress.

The findings were quite eye-opening: comparing test results before and after each of the programs revealed positive changes, the most remarkable improvement occurring with the programs which included herbal supplements.

Herbal Regimen for Liver Cleansing:

Each morning: Drink 8 oz. Water with ½ lemon squeezed into into it (lemon stimulates gastric juices and has a slightly laxative effect.) Take 1 teaspoon psyllium husk mixed with 1 cup of water (stir & drink quickly). Follow with one more cup of water (important to avoid constipation!)

At all 3 meals: Take 1 tablet turmeric (400 mg.) & 1 tablet milk thistle (210 mg.).

3 times per day between meals:
Drink 1 cup of herbal tea made from the following:

These herbs are available in bulk form in health food stores.

To make the tea:

Bring water and herbs to a simmer in a non-metal pot. Lower the heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Turn off heat, let steep until tea cools to room temperature. Strain into glass jar. Tea will keep in refrigerator for 24 hours.

More hints for detoxing:

Try a vegetarian diet for the 2 weeks that you are taking the herbs. If you need to eat protein do so before 3 p.m., as the liver does most of its work at night and protein slows down the detox process. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, fats, fried foods, glutenous grains (wheat, oatmeal, white rice) and dairy for best results. Drink purified water almost constantly and exercise mildly each day. Don't delay! It is best to complete a detox program before the weather turns cold, as your body will need warmer foods and will shift to a "building" rather than "eliminating" mode in winter. For more details on detoxing see October '99 Natural Health Magazine.

Recommended Reading on Detox:

Elson Haas, MD: The Detox Diet (Celestial Arts, 1996)

Laurel Vukovic: 14-day Herbal Cleansing (Prentice-Hall '97)

Sandra Cabot, MD: The Liver Cleansing Diet (WHAS 1996)

Supplements to increase energy:

For a quick energy boost, try Alacer's Emergen-C. This fully ascorbated (one step beyond ascorbic acid)1000 mg. Vitamin C with B vitamins and 32 minerals absorbs quickly into your system. All you need is water to make this nutritious drink come alive. Red Mt. Remedies puts Emergen-C in all 3 Red Mountain kits.

In Light,
Jill Ruttenberg,
Founder Red Mt. Remedies
Tucson, Arizona
1-888-791-8333

Copyright 04/99. Jill Ruttenberg; please contact for permission to reprint. Jill Ruttenberg is an herbalist and writer, and the founder of Red Mountain Remedies, a Tucson-based company dedicated to helping people make informed choices for their health through workshops, lectures, information and remedy kits for home and travel.