A cathartic is a purgative used to produce an evacuation of the bowel. Some are medicinal, others are natural. It is the latter type that I deal with and, when necessary, strongly advise my patients to use, The colonic or enema cleans out the large intestine or the colon; the natural cathartic cleans out the upper intestinal tract as well. Combined, these two methods are the most effective procedures to cleanse the entire alimentary canal, from stomach to bowel.
Nature’s best cathartics are raw fruits and vegetables. Stewed fruits are also quite effective and should be eaten as often as possible. The most beneficial fruits for stewing are figs, apples, raisins, apricots, pears, peaches, and prunes. They may he mixed together, if desired, and a one-half-to one-cup serving should be eaten twice a day until a complete evacuation takes place. Thereafter, making stewed fruits part of one’s daily diet will help to keep the system cleansed while supplying the body with natural sugars.
In the case of fruits with a seedy nature-figs, raisins, and so forth- the intestinal movements are mechanically stimulated by the action of the indigestible portion of the fruit residue (seeds). These seeds stimulate local reflexes in the nerves of the intestinal walls. The skins from fresh fruit and the cellulose from raw vegetables, whole wheat, and bran all serve to stimulate the intestines by increasing bulk and, consequently, the degree of stretch of the walls of the bowel.
Foods rich in vitamin B are especially advised, not only because of the nutritional value they provide, but because of the little-known fact that vitamin B aids in cleansing the bowel. Vitamin B, and other factors of the B Complex, tend to increase the tone of the intestinal musculature, and thus favor natural movements of evacuation.
According to modern nutritionists, foods rich in vitamins Band B complex include wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, whole raw barley, soybean flour, whole wheat flour, buckwheat, raw peas, egg yolks, rye bread, almonds, fish, poultry, honey, turnips, beets, dandelions, leafy green vegetables, and broccoli.
Senokot, a natural vegetable laxative derived from the senna leaf, in granular or pill form, is a natural, non-habit-forming cathartic. A teaspoon of Senokot mixed in a glass of warm prune juice is an exceptionally effective laxative. I advise some of my patients to drink this combination at least once a day until they have a complete evacuation. Prune juice is not recommended, however, for those who are diabetic. If this is the case, Senokot should be mixed in a glass of warm water.
Fletcher’s Castoria, combined with syrup made from California figs, is another excellent eliminant. One teaspoon of Castoria should be removed from a six-ounce bottle and replaced with one teaspoon of syrup of figs. (From a twelve-ounce bottle, two teaspoons should be removed and replaced with two teaspoons of the syrup.) Before being taken, the bottle is well shaken. My patients then take a half teaspoon of this mixture every half hour until they have a complete evacuation.
Alternating Castoria and syrup of figs by taking them separately is also an effective method. In other words, a patient takes a half teaspoon of Castoria, then one half to one hour later a half teaspoon of syrup of figs. This cycle should be continued until a complete evacuation occurs.
Note: Syrup of figs is prepared by soaking five or six California figs in a pot of cold water for a few hours .. The water should completely cover the figs by four or five inches. Bring this to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Allow the figs to simmer, covered, for approximately fifty minutes. If too much evaporation takes place after fifteen minutes, add more water. The figs are eaten stewed and the liquid (syrup) is placed in a jar and refrigetated after cooling.
Another effective combination is an orange juice “sandwich.” For centuries, castor oil has been a well-known, effective means of purging toxins from the body. For those who find it difficult to take by itself, the way to make it not only effective but also palatable is to combine it with orange juice. Two ounces of orange juice are poured into a six-ounce glass, then the glass is tilted and one ounce of castor oil is slowly added to the orange juice. This is then topped off by slowly adding another two ounces of orange juice. The castor oil will remain suspended between the two layers of orange juice, thus making an orange juice sandwich. Taking castor oil in this manner makes it easier to swallow. Apple juice may be substituted for orange juice, and olive oil or cod liver oil may take the place of castor oil.
Zilatone, Innerclean, and psyllium husks are additional eliminants that are recommended. These products are sometimes available in health food stores and can be purchased through Eno Salts, a fruit-based product, is another recommended natural laxative, as is milk of magnesia, both of which are alkaline in nature.
There are many other safe, non-habit-forming eliminants on the market today. For the best results, it is advisable to alternate them by using a vegetable-based eliminant on one day and a fruit-based eliminant on another day.
Olive Oil
Olive oil, taken by itself, is a very practical and effective cathartic. I advise my patients to take a half-teaspoon of olive oil approximately three or four times a day until it produces a good bowel movement. If you have a gallbladder condition, smaller doses ate suggested.
Olive oil, taken internally, has recently been recognized by the scientific community as being effective in preventing cholesterol buildup on the arterial walls. This oil has also been credited with supplying nutrients to the digestive tract, aiding in elimination, and acting as an intestinal food.
As a gentle enema, olive oil is also recommended for a thorough cleansing of the colon. To relax the colon, applying a home enema using a half-pint of pure olive oil with no ocher additives is often effective .. After a complete evacuation occurs, a follow-up enema using warm water is suggested. As a final rinse, one tablespoon of GlycoThymoline (an alkaline cleansing mouthwash) should be added to a quart and a half of body-temperature water. This final cleansing measure will prevent a generalized “weakening” State. I recommend this procedure be carried out by my patients once or twice a week, especially in cases of chronic constipation or stubborn psoriasis.
The Irl-Salts
This mixture has been advised in the Cayce readings as another effective cleansing agent for psoriasis sufferers. It is made up of equal parts sulfur, cream of tartar, and Rochelle salts. This product is sold as Sulflax and is available from the Heritage Store and from Baar Products. People who decide to use it are advised to take one teaspoon every morning as directed on the label. Although Sulflax is a nonprescription item, it should be administered under the direction of an osteopath or a medical doctor.
Get a free trial of Dermasis psoriasis cream. and Read the Quick Action Plan to cure psoriasisHigh-Fiber Foods
The importance of high-fiber foods in today’s diet cannot be overemphasized. These foods are highly advisable, for they help to stimulate peristaltic action throughout the intestinal tract and cleanse the colon by virtue of their coarse action on the walls.
Recent years have brought about increased awareness of the value of high-fiber foods in the prevention of colon cancer. A report states that high-fiber foods possibly prevent colon cancer, as well as heart disease, by lowering blood levels of cholesterol. The researchers believe that one reason for this is that high-fiber diets speed up the movement of food through the small intestine, thereby preventing certain disease processes from taking hold.
Although these scientists claim that their findings are inconclusive, the fact remains that fiber-rich foods have a cleansing effect throughout the colon because of their inability to be digested. Fibrous-type foods (roughage) speed up the process of waste elimination, and the destructive, possibly even cancerous, elements do not have time to gain a foothold in the large intestine before they are scraped off the walls of the colon and passed out of the body.
The most common high-fiber foods are whole- Or cracked-wheat breads, whole-grain breakfast cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, and almonds. The almond is of particular benefit because it is high in fiber and alkaline in nature. Almonds may be eaten raw (preferably two to four each day for at least three days a week), in baked goods, or in other food preparations.
It is most important that fiber-rich foods be included, whenever possible, in the daily diet. These food items help reduce the transit time of fecal material in the bowel, helping the toxic elements (waste) to be excreted in the normal twenty-four to thirty-six hours. If the transit time of impurities is allowed to go beyond thirty-six hours before exiting the body, backup pressure occurs, which can lead to irritability of the intestinal tract, which, in turn, may lead to anything from an annoyance to a life-threatening illness.
Examples of fiber-rich breakfast foods include Miller’s Bran, AllBran, oat bran, Wheat Chex, Wheaties, Grape-Nuts, and unsweetened shredded wheat. Some fiber-rich vegetables are green beans, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce, sweet potatoes, celery, and cabbage (green and red). Other foods that help gastrointestinal function and detoxification are pectin (in apples), agar, psyllium, guat, malt extract, and olive oil. Of these, psyllium husk fiber is considered to be the most beneficial, (Note: Fiber-rich foods bind water; therefore, adequate liquid intake is essential.)
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