Archive for March, 2010

COLON HYDROTHERAPY: A Gentle Irrigation For Your Colon

I am writing this article to dispel any myths, fears or phobias that you may have about colonic irrigation.  Colon hydrotherapy is a safe, gentle, therapeutic lavage or bath of the large intestine.  In fact colon lavage was first recorded 1500  B.C., in the ancient Egyptian document, Ebers, Papyrus which dealt with the practice of medicine. These enemas were described as the infusion of aqueous substances into the large intestine through the anus.  Hippocrates ( 4^th and 5^th century B.C. ) recorded using enemas for fever therapy.  Galen ( 2^nd century A.D. ) also recognized and was a proponent of the use of enemas.  Today with modern technological advancements in colon irrigation instrumentation, particularly with regard to safety, along with educated and skilled hygienists, colon therapy has become a valuable adjunctive modality to allopathic and naturopathic doctors in cleansing and healing the colon of gastrointestinal disorders.

WHAT IS COLON HYDROTHERAPY

Colon irrigation is an internal bath that cleanses the large intestine of accumulated fecal matter, toxic gases, and harmful mucous.  Unlike an enema, it doesn’t involve the retention of water.  There is no discomfort, very low internal pressure, just a steady flow of filtered water in and out of the colon  (large intestine).

HOW IS A COLONIC ADMINISTERED?

A client receiving a colonic lies on a table below the temperature-controlled input machine.  A disposable speculum is gently inserted in the rectum.  Water flow, which is always under the direct control of the practitioner, flows into the colon via a small tube carrying with it impacted feces, toxic gases, and harmful mucous.  The practitioner gently massages the abdomen to help the colon release its’ contents.  It is possible to see the expelled waste matter when it passes through a special viewing window in the colon hydrotherapy machine.  The client is well covered and their modesty is given top priority during the procedure.  The process takes approximately 40 to 50 minutes.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COLONIC IRRIGATION?

Many of the chronic ailments and degenerative diseases that plague our society today is due to toxicity.  A sluggish toxic bowel can be directly or indirectly related to a myriad of chronic conditions, to include cystic acne, eczema, psoriasis, female reproductive disorder, low back pain, bad breath, allergies, asthma, infected sinuses, constipation, flatulence, IBS, diverticulitis, bloating, weight gain, chronic fatigue, body odor, depression, and finally cancer.  Colonic cleansing offers relief and in some cases significant improvement in many of the conditions listed above.  Colonic cleansing enhances and improves bowel regularity and as well as absorption of nutrients into the cells of the body.  I offer my personal testimony to attest to the benefits of colonic therapy.

I suffered from cystic acne, severe allergies, eczema, constipation, female reproductive disorders,  and suicidal depression from early childhood to adulthood.  At the age of 24 I had an awakening and my life’s journey guided me to seek natural therapies and a holistic lifestyle.  Dr. John Chissell, a medical doctor in Baltimore who practiced both allopathic and alternative medicine referred me to a colon therapist.  Dr. Chissell became my mentor and a very good friend. I became a vegan, fasted religiously, and included colonic irrigation as a part of my detoxification program.  Today 56 years later I’m acne and eczema free.  My bowel habits are regular, minimal allergies, great energy and no deep debilitating thoughts of suicide, hopelessness, or despair.

Many of my clients have similar testimonies.  Some report having more energy, less desire for junk and fast foods, feeling lighter, cleaner on the inside.  Others report weight loss, less bloating and gas,  improved bowel movements,  cleaner fresher breath,  relief from back pain, menstrual cramps, clear skin and body odors.  Removing impacted fecal matter, toxic gas, and old mucous from the colon gives the body an opportunity to regenerate, rejuvenate and heal itself from the inside out.  Repressed anger, negative emotions and traumatic cellar memories can also be released bringing the mind, body, and spirit into a joyous state of inner peace, balance and harmony.

SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

One of the most popular misconceptions is that the colonic destroys the healthy bacteria.  The healthy bacteria is produced in the small and large intestines.  Colonics removes large amounts of toxic fecal matter enabling the intestine to manufacture beneficial intestinal flora.  We encourage our clients to take additional probiotics after the session.  Another misconception is that colonics can rupture the colon.  I have administered colonics to thousands of clients over the years and have not had that experience.  I have control of the pressure and temperature of the water.  By using very low pressure I’m able to prevent any injury or harm to the colon.  The pressure gauge on the colonic machine also reveals when the colon is full and ready to release.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The following is a list of contraindications for using the procedure; severe abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, inflamed hemorrhoid, abdominal surgery, abdominal hernia, dialysis patient, fissures, severe cardiac condition, crohns disease, colitis.

SUCCESS STORIES

Over the years I have established relationships with allopathic and naturopathic doctors who refer their patients for colonic cleansing.  Several of those doctors as well as other health care practitioners are also clients of mine and have experienced the benefits of colonic irrigation.  On several occasions I was sent patients who were referred by their doctor for a colonic cleanse because their CT scan revealed severe fecal impaction.  The clients came in with complaints of abdominal bloating, pain, low energy, and constipation.  After the colonic session the clients stated that they felt relieved of bloating, gas and abdominal distention and pain. They stated that they felt lighter and cleaner on the inside.   Colonics have relieved many women of menstrual cramping, sugar and junk food craving, constipation, bloating, and weight gain.  I gave a colonic to two eleven year old males whose mother brought them in for constipation from eating junk and fast foods.  I was very impressed with these young boys who handled the sessions very well.  My oldest male client was 92 years  of age.  He was referred by his doctor because he had a sluggish bowel.  He was always grateful that he got some relief.

MORE ABOUT ME

My name is Argo Duenas.  I’m a certified colon hydrotherapist, foot reflexologist, and  REIKI practitioner.  As the owner and manager of Back To Nature Health and Wellness Center located in Annapolis, Maryland, I have dedicated over 25 years of my life serving and raising the health awareness in my community and the greater Washington, Baltimore Metropolitan area.  I also hosted and produced a local cable television talk show for ten years educating and raising the community’s awareness about alternative therapies, natural cures, and disease prevention.  An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. Please visit my website at www.backtonaturewellness.com

Mexi Fiesta Soup

Another fabulous recipe for you that we found on Vegan Raw Food. This is soo delicious, and it really allows you to customize your bowl with the various toppings you can add to garnish. We think you’ll really enjoy this recipe, especially if you love Mexican food.

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth or even consistency. You can put your bowls in your dehydrator (optional) for a few hours to warm up before you top with your favorite toppings. Optional toppings include: tomato, avocado, onion, corn, shredded cabbage, dash of oregano, sprouts

Banana Stuffed Nectarines

The sun is shining, the weather is getting warmer, and the local produce is in season! What a great time it is to be a raw foodie! Now is your time to glow and shine like the magnificent star you are! And we are here to support you. We stumbled upon this yummy, easy to make raw appetizer on Low Fat Raw Recipes. Perfect for a sunny day. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 nectarine, or more depending on how much you want.
• 2 medium bananas

Equipment:

• blender

Directions:
1. Cut nectarines in half and remove pit.
2. Scoop out a little of each half to make the indention where the pit was larger.
3. Blend up what you scooped out of nectarines with bananas
4. Fill nectarine halves with banana cream!

Finally! Raw Oatmeal

We’ve been on a mission to find some yummy raw breakfast options for our readers. One of the best ways to stay on track with any healthy lifestyle choice is to find ways to add a bit of variety to your meal plan. Many raw foodies couldn’t be happier than with a green smoothie of choice every morning and a piece of fruit. But let’s say you’re craving something different. How do you stay on track if all you have is the same thing? Well, to answer that question, we present you with our amazing find: Raw Oatmeal! In all its splendor!

We found this recipe on Vegan Raw Food, a blog that has a ton of raw info for you to dive into (especially recipes). Here’s the recipe straight from the site:

Every morning we make oatmeal for my husband and the children. I used to join them eating this every morning but it’s been about 2 years since I’ve had oatmeal. I’ve posted this delight a while back and just had to post it again. So while my family ate their oatmeal I was eating my yummy raw breakfast cereal!! MY FAVORITE BREAKFAST!!!!

Ingredients

• apple
• raw almond butter
• golden flax seeds (recipe calls for whole but you can do ground)
• nuts of choice or raisins (optional)

Equipment

• food processor
• coffee grinder (for whole flax seeds)

Directions:

Rawtastic Find: Two Moms in the Raw!

So, we happened to swing by Starbucks this morning for a spot of tea and a piece of fruit (random impromptu pitstop). One of the great things about Starbucks and really any coffee shop (local or national) is that there’s always so much to look at. Naturally, we stay away from the pastries and baked goods and breakfast sandwiches, and you know all the reasons why! So imagine our surprise when nestled in between some trail-mix like snacks we found a live granola bar by Two Moms in the Raw! The word “RAW” stuck out the most, which is exactly why our eyes were drawn to it and we wanted to learn more.

“Could this be a yummy raw snack?” we thought, “and in Starbucks of all places?!?!” Too good to be true? We weren’t dreaming. In fact, we purchased and sampled the live granola bar today and we were totally impressed.

Here’s the low down on Two Moms in the Raw.

Meet Shari
Title: Owner/Founder of Two Moms in the Raw and mother of three children
Her Story: In 2004, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After exploring all options, I found a natural approach to healing worked best for me. Food in its natural state without all the additives and pesticides is what the body needs to heal and feel good. As I continue on my personal journey to wellness I feel better each day and I know my diet has a lot to do with it. While exploring the raw lifestyle, I couldn’t find a tasty, satisfying treat to have on the run. After lots of experiments in the kitchen with other moms, I came up with these delicious Granolas and fantastic Sea Crackers.  Pretty soon all of my friends and family were ordering more than I could afford to give away.  As a result, I decided to start charging….and here we are today. From these wonderful beginnings we have benefited greatly and look forward to the future and sharing our Raw and Organic treats with you…the ones that we have already available and the many more we have yet to come up with.

Shari’s take on Raw Food: We’re not running around the kitchen rolling in buckwheat, if that’s what you’re thinking. We are, however, choosing a lifestyle based on nourishing the body with what it needs to be healthy and active: the enzymes and nutrients found in raw foods.

We believe, based on significant investigation and proven research, food cooked to an internal temperature above 105 degrees loses most of its nutritional benefit. The body just doesn’t get what it needs for optimum well being and works harder to extract what it can from heavily processed or cooked foods.

Although we strive to maintain a 95% raw foods diet, this is not always realistic for all members of the household. We are moms with children who, at times, like to resist what is good for them. Raw foods don’t always have the most variety. Prepared raw foods take a lot of time and energy and aren’t always what you’re looking for. Two Moms found a way to bring extraordinary taste and texture to raw foods. Many of our customers have commented that “our foods are so tasty their families did not know how good it is for them.”

Where You Can Find Two Moms in the Raw Products: Click here to view a list of their current product offerings, which include sea crackers and granola. And although we don’t see Starbucks on the list (maybe they are the newest retailer), they do have a list available of locations that sell their products. Click here to view the list, and they also feature a way to contact them to suggest other locations for their products. If they are not physically in your area, you can always order online!

Red Cabbage Tacos

Oh my goodness! One of the reasons we love raw foods so much is the colors! So bright! So bold! So full of life and energy! So I am sure you can see from the picture above why we were so excited about this recipe. It’s so beautiful! And amazingly delicious too so we think you should give it a try.

This recipe comes from a blog called The Kitchen Dispensary. Here’s what the author had to say:

Red cabbage is one of my favourite leaves to use as a wrap. It looks amazing, it’s crunchy and you can fit a lot into one leaf. It’s really one of the things we raw foodies use as a bread substitute. The ingredients below are pretty much what I had in the fridge today. You could just as easily use things like cucumbers, tomatoes, sprouts or leftover salad. Whatever takes your fancy.

Red Cabbage Tacos

Makes 5

Ingredients

5 smallish red cabbage leaves

2 medium sized carrots

1/4 avocado

1-2 tsp lemon juice

about 8 stalks of fresh chives

Greens of your choice  (I used a mix of spinach, chard and lettuces)

Dulse flakes (Karengo Seaweed) for saltiness

Preparation

Finely grate the carrot. If you have a fine grater like one usually used for parmesean you will get more juicy flavour from the carrot.

Mash in the avocado, lemon juice and finely chopped chives. Add a little himalayan or sea salt if you wish.

Take a red cabbage leaf and fill with a few green leaves of your choice and top with some of the carrot avocado mixture.

Top with some dulse (karengo) and a few chopped chives.

Breakfast Recipe: Raw Muesli

If you think that fresh fruit for breakfast might be a bit too light for you, or if you feel especially hungry one day, this raw food recipe is guaranteed to fill you up and it tastes delicious.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, sliced into rings
• 1 apple, cubed
• ½ handful brazil nuts, sliced into small pieces
• 1 handful almonds or other type of nuts, whole or sliced
• 1 handful dates, fresh or dried, chopped into small pieces
• 1 handful of raisins (presoaked)
• 1 handful of prunes
• 1 handful of goji berries
• 1 handful of coconut chips
• Almond milk (How to make almond milk?)

Equipment:

All you need is a bowl and spoon for mixing!

Preparation:

1. Prepare all ingredients as above
2. Mix all ingredients well
3. Pour on milk
4. Top with prunes/strawberries/blueberries and coconut chips

Enjoy!

This recipe was provided by Marat, who resides in Leeds, UK. Marat is the raw enthusiast behind the website RawPublic, where he features daily raw food recipes and tips for a healthier lifestyle. Marat’s favorite thing about about raw foods is eating 100% raw; he says he is full of energy and passion for life!