Blood is composed of four components: plasma, the watery, colorless liquid in which the other components float; red blood cells; white blood cells; and platelets. Through these components, the blood performs several life-sustaining functions. The red blood cells transport oxygen to the cells. The platelets are needed for the blood-clotting process. The white blood cells destroy bacteria and other disease-producing organisms. In addition, blood transports nutrients to the cells and carries away wastes; transports hormones from the endocrine glands to other parts of the body; helps regulate the amounts of acids, bases, salts, and water in the cells; and helps regulate body temperature. If any of these functions is impaired, the consequences can have a direct bearing on your health.
There are several ways in which the functions carried out by the blood may be hampered. First, hundreds of chemicals-ranging from gases such as carbon monoxide to toxic metals such as lead to natural substances such as fat-can find their way into the blood and impair its function. These foreign substances enter the body through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the surfaces with which we come in contact through our skin. Because these substances act on the blood in different ways, the adverse effects they produce may vary widely.
Second, the performance of the blood may be hampered by a lack of specific nutrients. A classic example is an iron deficiency that results in anemia. However, there are many nutrients that the blood requires on a daily basis if it is to perform normally.
Finally, genetics can play a role in creating blood disorders. Sickle cell anemia and hemophilia are two common examples of such disorders.
Blood purification techniques can act in two ways. Some help draw foreign substances out of the body, while others provide important nutrients to help restore the blood’s normal structure and maximize its performance.
Procedure
Blood purification is achieved through the use of a special fast. Once you have decided to follow a blood purification program, it is vital to choose an appropriate time for the fast. Consider that fasting requires the conservation of energy. Therefore, avoid fasting on a week when, for instance, you are moving your office or participating in a sports event. Also keep in mind that the cold-weather months are not an ideal time for a fast, as some of the heat you need to withstand the cold is created during the digestive process. Most important is the need to be mentally prepared. If you are “psyched up” for the fast, it is the right time to fast.
Once you have chosen the time for the fast and have prepared yourself mentally, you can begin to prepare yourself physically. For one week prior to the fast, follow a raw vegetable diet, including lots of “green drinks.” Chlorophyll, obtained from tablets or fresh juice, “pre-cleanses” the body, making the fast less of a shock to your system.
While on the fast, consume only steam-distilled water; juices; and dandelion, milk thistle, licorice root, yellow dock root, burdock root, or red clover tea or extract. Drink at least 8 to 10 cups of distilled water daily to aid in cleansing and to help carry toxins out of the body. The best juices for blood purification are lemon juice, beet juice and its tops, carrot juice, and the juices of all leafy greens. Leafy green juices are particularly important because they supply chlorophyll, an essential part of any blood purification therapy. Chlorophyll not only cleanses the blood of impurities, but also builds up the blood with important nutrients, promotes regularity, and inhibits cellular damage from radiation. This makes chlorophyll helpful in the treatment of many disorders. Wheatgrass, barley, and alfalfa juices are all rich in chlorophyll.
Stay on the fast for three days, or as directed by your health-care provider. Once you have completed the fast, avoid white flour and all sugars-substances that are highly refined and hard to digest. The stress placed on your body by such foods can “undo” all of the good accomplished by the fast. Ideally, these foods should be avoided all of the time. At the very least, eliminate them-as well as heated fats and oils-for at least one month after your fast.
Herbs
- Barberry, black radish, eyebright, lobelia, milk thistle, Oregon grape, pau d’arco, wild yam, and yellow dock cleanse and detoxify the liver and the endocrine system. You can use these herbs independently or in any combination.
Caution: Do not take lobelia internally on an ongoing basis. Do not use Oregon grape during pregnancy. - Green tea is a powerful antioxidant. Drink two or three cups daily.
- Burdock, dandelion, hawthorn, licorice, pau d’ arco, red clover, rhubarb, sage, shiitake mushroom, and Siberian and other ginsengs detoxify and cleanse the blood. These herbs can be used independently.or in any combination.
Caution: Do not use licorice on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row, and avoid it completely if you have high blood pressure. Do not use sage if you have any kind of seizure disorder. Do not use Siberian ginseng if you have hypoglycemia or a heart disorder. Do not use any type of ginseng if you have high blood pressure.
Useful References