NUTRITIONAL HEALING SERIES LECTURE 1 - NH NATUROPATHIC TECHNIQUES 1 Naturopathic Techniques Contents INTRODUCTION RANGE OF TECHNIQUES PURPOSE OF TECHNIQUES PACKING Castor oil Urine Ginger OTHER TECHNIQUES FOR DETOXIFICATION THROUGH THE SKIN Skin brushing Urine rubs Lymph rubs Linseed oil rubs DOUCHES Organic Cider Apple Vinegar Urine ENEMAS Water, Bach Flower remedies, Coffee, Linseed Tea, Linseed Oil, Chamomile Choline Bitartrate, Magnesium Citrate Aloe Vera HYDROTHERAPY Hot and Cold showers, Epsom Salt baths, Hot Tubs, Urine baths, Sitz baths, Foot baths, Cold wraps or packs, Throat packs, Leg packs, Cold socks or cold water paddling CONCLUSION RECOMMENDED READING 2 Naturopathic Techniques INTRODUCTION Naturopathy is a system of therapeutics using natural remedies, diet and a range of techniques which can support the body to detoxify, aiding the natural healing process. As you will find when you come to research Naturopathy, this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good range and if you know them well you will be able to treat and offer support to most conditions. Naturopathy is not an exact science, techniques which work well for one individual may not be appropriate for someone else. The best way to get to know the techniques is to experiment with them so that you get a feel for their potential – what they can do for you. Naturopathic techniques should be part of a programme, incorporated alongside changes in Nutrition and possibly also lifestyle. To get some measure of their potential, picture first the route that toxicity takes out from the cell; it moves into lymph; then into blood which is carried to the liver for cleaning, extracting toxins and excreting them into the small intestines via bile; then into large colon and out of the body via the faeces. If the routes of elimination: bowels, lungs, kidneys and skin are not open and well functioning, toxicity can back up into blood or lymph from liver and cause acute symptoms, for example, pain, headaches, spots, colds, swollen glands and irritability. Without the techniques, detoxification can be an uncomfortable process. With techniques it can become manageable, empowering, frequently inspiring and often brings some emotional enlightenment along the way! This booklet will describe the types of techniques available to support detoxification including their uses and contra- indications. Additionally, it also provides instructions as to how the individual techniques are best carried out. By the end of the booklet, you will be able to understand what the naturopathic techniques are and why, when and how to use them. THE RANGE OF TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE The types of techniques you will explore in this booklet are intended to support the various organs of elimination during detoxification and it is important to understand the intent behind using them; because our intent or ‘what we intend to create’ has a healing energy all of its’ own. Information is included on the following range of techniques: . Packing . Enemas . Douches . Hydrotherapy . Urine therapy . Skin brushing and rubs 3 Naturopathic Techniques THE PURPOSE OF TECHNIQUES The Naturopathic techniques each have specific and useful purposes, but they can be used in tandem with each other like an orchestra, for example, it can be useful to follow a castor oil pack with a water flush enema to ensure that the toxicity shifted from liver cells into bile is then moved out of colon. In essence, techniques are used for the following reasons; . To create freedom of movement throughout the body fluids, organs and systems so that nutrient absorption and detoxification can occur easily . To aid detoxification making it more comfortable, manageable and expeditious! . For emotional reassurance . To thin the lymph . To re-hydrate the body . To reach and treat the liver . To open the body’s routes of elimination, as follows: Skin – excretes sweat, our largest route of elimination, said by the Chinese to be the ‘third lung’ Bowels – excrete faeces, which should be 75% bile, light, fluffy and easy to pass! Lungs – excrete carbon dioxide and provide the blood with fresh oxygen Kidneys – excrete urine and balance the blood via homeostasis The techniques are enormously helpful in supporting these organs in the never ending and tireless duties they perform! In practice, I have found the techniques to be readily taken up by my patients because they have an understanding of how the naturopathic techniques fit into a whole integrated programme with the Nutrition and support the elimination that takes place. The enemas, for example, actually improve muscle tone because the bowel is no longer overstretched and crammed with waste and normal efficient peristalsis can start to take place – indeed, Mae West apparently took a water enema every day of her life during adulthood and attributed her youthful looks and sparkling wit to this very practice!!!. Additionally, techniques such as castor oil packing to liver and the coffee enemas improve liver function and therefore bile flow and bowel function improves still further. Where there are any contraindications to the techniques, they are clearly described alongside that particular technique. If there are none stated then as far as we are aware there are none. However, if you experience unusual symptoms following the use of a technique, do seek the guidance of a qualified practitioner. 4 Naturopathic Techniques PACKING If you research Packing techniques you may come across a whole range from the use of potatoes to cabbage. I am covering some of the key ones that I feel are most useful. The basic concept of packing involves the soaking – usually of a wool or cotton flannel cloth in a substance which will either draw toxicity out through skin or be taken up through skin and encourage elimination to take place internally. As a very general rule, when deciding which to use, think of castor oil for a chronic condition and urine for an acute. Castor oil packing This is a technique recommended during the channelling of Edgar Cayce, a psychic medium who, if given the name of a person and their location, was able to say what disorder they were suffering from and then channel recommendations for their healing. Castor oil packing and other remedies suggested by Cayce have been well documented in two books (see suggested reading) written by an American Doctor called William A McGarey who holds the packing in especially great esteem. Castor oil is made from the castor bean plant and its’ Latin name is the Palma Christi which translates to ‘the palm of the Christ’. On a philosophical note, castor oil is considered to be ‘white light’ which contains all the colours of the spectrum. This fits in very well with healing on a vibrational level which offers light and colour to the body resonating with chakra energy. Castor oil is just less than 5% Essential fatty acids (4.2% Linoleic acid and 0.3% Linolenic acid) which will also encourage electron/photon movement to start to take place. Cayce stated once that castor oil affected tissues in a manner to bring the spirit into closer communication with the material body. Castor oil packing is cleansing to the whole intestinal tract and by nature of the closeness of the intestinal lumen to the blood and lymphatic network – it also cleanses these vital body fluids. Castor oil’s fatty acid content is nearly ninety percent Ricinoleic acid which produces catharsis or ‘a purging’ of the small intestines. It also enhances the elimination of toxic substances from the cells local to where the castor oil is applied, most often the cells of the liver. Edgar Cayce named at least thirty different physiological functions that were improved by the topical application of the castor oil mostly by the use of the packs – some examples of these can be found overleaf; 5 Naturopathic Techniques Castor oil packing;- . Increases and balances eliminations . Stimulates the liver & gall bladder and reduces nausea . Dissolves and removes adhesions and lesions . Relieves pain . Releases colon impaction . Increases lymphatic circulation, thereby enhancing the immune system . Improves intestinal assimilation . Reduces inflammation and flatulence . Increases relaxation . Coordinates liver-kidney function . Stimulates organs and glands Liver Packs - To use a castor oil pack, you will need a wool or cotton flannel cloth of about ten inches (25cm) width and twelve to fourteen inches (30 – 35cm) length after it is folded. Launder the cloth and rinse thoroughly to remove detergent traces. When dry, fold in two (or four if big enough) and drizzle castor oil over the cloth. It needs to be wet but not dripping with oil. Place the castor oil pack over the liver – this is located on the right side, under the right breast and underneath the right side of the ribcage. If you wish you can place clear plastic over this to prevent leakage. Place a big old towel over this and then a hot water bottle on top of that to warm the oil and assist it to be taken up by the skin. Leave the pack on for a period of one to one and a half hours while relaxing. Castor oil packing is very reassuring and soothing. Psychologically, when castor oil packs are used to pack the liver, from where we manifest our anger, we are also supporting that emotion, and helping to release it from the body. Often the pack can be secured around the body and can be slept in overnight if desired. Ideally, a castor oil pack would be followed by a water enema to ensure that what has been released by the process is exited from the body. In situations of low energy, for example, M.E. it may be appropriate to reduce the length of time spent packing at first as it may create too much elimination.