A friend and I made a trip to Louisville a couple weeks ago, two days in a row, to have a “colonic” or “colon hydrotherapy.” I had never experienced the procedure before. What an experience!

Lillian B. Holliger*, has been doing colonics for many, many years. I went there knowing that 80% of our immune function originates in the colon, but never did I really “get it” until I saw it in action for myself. I was told by others that I would feel so good following the procedure. That was absolutely the case. I was full of energy.

It is amazing what happens when the toxic “sludge” is removed from the walls of your colon. Once the toxins are gone, the nutrients can freely cross the lining of the intestine to be absorbed – as nature intended.

It is estimated that we can carry 8 – 10 meals in our colon at any one time. Imagine setting your last 8 – 10 meals on your kitchen counter top for several days. What would happen to the food? Imagine what happens in the dark, warm, moist environment of your colon? Think of the toxic sludge sitting there.

Lillian gave me an 8 page pamphlet that explains the history of colonics and how they work. Here are some excerpts that you might find interesting:

If the colon is weak or dysfunctioning – and does not properly send waste on to the rectum – the body builds up an overload of waste material. Then the other elimination organs – the liver, kidney, skin, and lungs – must work even harder to eliminate waste from the body.

There are several general causes for waste buildup:

Bad dietary habits: eating low fiber, high fat foods; eating too much or too quickly; poor food combinations; drinking large quantities of liquids at meals that dilute digestive enzymes.

Not enough water: drinking coffee, tea, alcohol, or colas that contain caffeine that dehydrate the stool.

Emotional stress which triggers adrenaline which slows or shuts down “non-essential systems” like digestion and elimination.

Bad habits as adults: ignoring the call of nature or being in jobs that don’t allow you to go to the bathroom when you feel the need. This ruins the tone of the sigmoid and rectum muscles – the parts that push out the feces.

Whatever the cause, stagnated fecal material compromises your health. If a colonic resonates with you, I highly recommend that you give Lillian a call: 4010 Dupont Circle, Suite 518, Louisville, KY, (502) 893-2006.

Per Dr. Oz: “If you are reading this and you are 50, please waste no time in getting a colonoscopy. Thirty-two thousand people will die this year because they didn’t go for a screening. I could have been one of them.

If you are younger than 50 and have risk factors such as family history of polyps or cancer, obesity or tobacco use, have a conversation with your doctor about getting screened earlier. Do it for your loved ones. Do it for yourself. Play the hand you are dealt wisely.”

Wow, did you read today’s article on www.oprah.com, “Dr. Oz’s Wake-Up Call”? Please read it in its entirety – the article may very well save your life. See http://www.oprah.com/health/Dr-Mehmet-Oz-colon-cancer-scare/1.

At age 50, Dr. Oz, in perfect health, had his first colonoscopy. His doctor informed him that he had found an adenomatous polyp, the kind that develops into colon cancer.

“He told me what I already knew as a physician—that if I had not had the colonoscopy and the polyp was not discovered and removed, there was a chance I would have developed metastatic colon cancer.”

Found early, the prognosis is excellent. Found late, the prognosis is devastating.

Please read the article and then pick up the phone today and make your appointment. Your life may depend on it.

What in the world is wheatgrass juice and where does it come from?

Last week’s articles discussed steps to begin to cleanse your colon. First comes three to seven days of “homework.” See http://rosiebrownrn.com/a-different-kind-of-homework/. Next comes body cleansing. See http://rosiebrownrn.com/next-step-body-cleansing/. Finally, the third step is the introduction of wheatgrass juice. The following information is taken from the work of Vicki Talmage, www.vickitalmage.com.

Wheatgrass is the young wheat plant that grows from a wheat sprout. Dr. Ann Wigmore first introduced wheatgrass to the world forty years ago. She was looking for a food substance that would nourish the body at the cellular level.

Wheatgrass juice is rich in chlorophyll. It also contains all the essential amino acids, enzymes, and electrolytes. It is a complete protein. Wheatgrass juice contains over ninety alkalizing minerals that are needed to maintain good metabolism.

Per Vicki, “Every electrolyte, enzyme and amino acid that the body needs is found in four ounces of fresh wheatgrass juice. This makes wheatgrass a complete protein.”

Vicki recommends beginning the use of wheatgrass juice after finishing a two-week cleanse that involves three to four colonics. “This process allows the toxins, which wheatgrass juice stimulates the body to release, to be easily removed from the body and to greatly increase the possibility of reducing any uncomfortable cleansing reactions. It is wise to make sure that the eliminative channel is open so you don’t keep those toxins in your body to recycle.”

Vicki recommends you begin by drinking just one ounce of wheatgrass juice each day for a week. Increase the dosage every week by about an ounce until you can drink 4 oz/day. It is not necessary to drink more than 4 oz each day.

“It is preferable to drink wheatgrass juice an hour before you eat. The characteristic of wheatgrass juice is to dissolve mucus inn thirty seconds then release that toxic mucus out of the body in the quickest way possible.”

“Coupled with wise eating habits and a good exercise program, the addition of 4 oz of wheatgrass juice is one of the best things that we can do for our bodies every day.”

What comes next on this journey of “A Simple Solution for Optimum Health” by Vicki Talmage, www.vickitalmage.com, is body cleansing.

Yesterday’s article presented a summary of the first step in the process, completing the three to seven day “homework.” See http://rosiebrownrn.com/a-different-kind-of-homework/.

Now that your homework has been completed, the next step is the body cleanse. Per Vicki:

“Many degenerative diseases have causal effect from impaction in the colon. If we can rid the colon of excess blockages and toxins, we can replenish the electrolyte reserves and rebuild the cellular structure.

When the bowel becomes over toxic, the blood is forced to pick up these toxins and deliver them to the liver. The liver eventually loses its ability to function normally and cannot filter the toxic substances from the body. The other organs are affected, and the immune system depresses, creating a breeding ground for all types of diseases.”

Vicki has created a cleansing program that is “thorough, gentle, and effective.” The first month of cleansing is designed to remove much of the unwanted plaque that is “sapping your energy now. As your remove this plaque from your body, you will probably feel an increase of energy.”

Vicki advises that it is wise after you have completed the first month of intensive cleansing to continue a smaller cleanse every three months. “The small intestine now has a place to release its toxins and buildup, and then organs can then eliminate their toxins as well.”

Step three includes the introduction of wheatgrass juice. More about that in the next article in this series.

Here is your homework…according to Vicki Talmage, www.vickitalmage.com. (See yesterday’s article, http://rosiebrownrn.com/from-sludge-to-homework/).

The homework is “designed to prepare your body to let go and assist your biochemistry to get in a cleansing mode and to prepare you for your first colonic.”

It is important that you to work with Vicki to obtain the full details on how to approach this homework assignment properly. Below is an abbreviated summary taken from her instruction pamphlet to give you an idea of what to expect:

1. Drink one gallon of pure steamed distilled water every day. Drink two quarts before 2:00 pm and two quarts after 2 pm.

2. Eat only fresh fruit before noon. Eat a large 2” slice of watermelon every morning.

3. For lunch, eat a whole plate of raw veggies. Use spinach, chard, raw collard greens, curly or non-curly kale, romaine, or any deep leafy green as a base of your salad. Then add broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes or cucumbers…any raw veggie including a whole avocado. Use any of your favorite oil/vinegar-based dressings. One baked softball-sized beet every day is the key to successful body cleansing. Eat the salad plate and beet first and then, if you are still hungry, have a plate of steamed veggies.

4. For dinner, eat the same large salad first and then eat another beet. Eat plenty of salad greens with raw vegetables. Use delicious dressings that you love, preferably without milk, cheese, and eggs in them.

5. About two hours before bed, eat another 2” slice of watermelon. Watermelon rehydrates the body and begins to break up the mucoid plaque in the small intestine to be more easily removed from the body.

6. Do this beginning cleanse homework for three to seven days.

When I read these instructions, the first question I asked Vicki was, “Three to seven days? What about protein? I don’t see any protein included. Isn’t that a long time to go without protein?”

Vicki very quickly reminded me that the vegetables do in fact contain protein. It is a myth that we have been sold on that we must have other protein sources such as animal in order to maintain health.

Stay tuned to hear what comes next on this journey of “A Simple Solution for Optimum Health.”

Yesterday I wrote about the neat lady I met at last week’s Book Camp, Vicki Talmage. See http://rosiebrownrn.com/attract-adventure-to-you/. Vicki was all set to go to Med School when she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Her diagnosis led her on a search for health and living. Thirty-two years later, she is still passionately teaching people around the world about the significance of food and colon health.

Vicki reminds us that food is fuel. Your body adapts to what you give it. Fueling the body with poor food choices leads to a weakened immune system, trauma to the colon, and a buildup of material in the small intestine.

Per Dr. Mercola, 80% of our immune function resides in the colon. With a toxic colon and a lining of sludge in the intestines preventing absorption of nutrients from our food, it is little wonder that a myriad of degenerative diseases is the end result.

Vicki inspires hope that you can turn things around, no matter your age. A few of the empowering tools she provides to increase the level of optimum health in your body and in your mind includes:

1. Learning and applying a few principles of quarterly body cleansing.
2. Eating simply and being satisfied with what you eat.
3. Addressing and resolving discontent immediately instead of procrastinating.

Vicki has demonstrated in her work that within the first month of beginning her cleansing program, many people have experienced positive results in weight loss as well as increased energy, clarity of mind, and satisfaction in their lives.

Vicki states, “Just a few simple steps to cleanse the bowel, using wheatgrass juice to rebuild the cells, and using proper food combining techniques can bring amazing benefits to your way of life, and to your attitude.”

Vicki suggests that you do a week of “homework” and have a good colonic before starting consumption of wheatgrass juice.

In the next article I will share what Vicki considers “homework.” I don’t know about you, but for me it looks like I will be going back to school…

Have you ever looked at life as an adventure? You know, you get up in the morning and with the magical wonder of a kid, you create a chest popping excitement about where the day might take you?

Could it be that merely holding this thought attracts adventure to you?

As I walked down the stairs at my local airport, headed for Book Camp in Salt Lake City last Thursday, I had the thought, “What if I look upon this trip is an adventure? I wonder who I will meet along the way? I wonder what great things might come into my life as a result?”

I wasn’t disappointed.

The display set up right next to my book table belonged to an incredible person I was destined to meet. She introduced herself and commented that she didn’t know about the event till the evening before, so her being there was a miracle in itself.

The display belonged to Vicki Talmage, www.vickitalmage.com. Almost immediately she was asking me about my book, Stop the Needless Suffering, and I was asking her about her “Simple Solution for Optimum Health” display.

We hit it off immediately. She told me her story of how her life took a turn, launching her unexpectedly into a passion that became her lifetime career.

She was all set to go to Med School when she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Her diagnosis led her on a search for health and living. Thirty-two years later, she is still passionately teaching people around the world about the significance of food and colon health.

“Our bodies are gauges to determine the level of our health. They will manifest on the outside what is either working or not working on the inside. If we understand that healthy functioning bodies and emotions are essential for optimum weight, we resist the temptation of fad diets or starvation programs.

It may be time to take a look at how we are living our lives and make the necessary adjustments to take care of ourselves.

In the hectic pace that we have chosen to live in, we have to learn again how to take care of and respect ourselves. Scheduling time into each day to eat our meals and making a conscious choice to eat high quality foods will improve our quality of life and clarity of mind.”

I purchased her book, From Bin to Banquet, and read it on the flight home. I devoured her pamphlet on colon health. Now the buck stops here.

To hold myself accountable, and to share my new learnings with you, I will devote a series of upcoming articles on the information that Vicki taught me.

“I wonder what great things might come into our lives as a result?”