Woodford Files: A Liver Detox Can Improve Your Mood

After a decadent winter vacation laced with margaritas and greasy tacos, I was recently feeling the pain of an angry liver myself. Headaches, irritability, skin rashes … all these plus a rapidly expanding girth were pushing me to get off the couch and do something. So out came my bag of detox tricks, and now I’m gradually easing them into my daily routine: an hour in the sauna a couple times a week to flush out heavy metals stored in my fat; a dollop of green powder and 500mg vitamin C in my morning juice to tickle those toxins out of my cells; and more fresh vegetables on the dinner menu to lighten the load on digestion. Later in spring when it gets warm, I’ll bring on fresh squeezed juices in the morning, along with plenty of bitter spring herbs.

As the outdoor temperature rises, one of the easier ways to lighten our toxic load is to shift from cooked foods to raw. This is true for people as well as animals. This month Helke Ferrie shares her own experience with helping a sick animal get well again using raw organic foods and high octane nutrients. On the one hand it’s sad to realize there’s an epidemic of cancer, diabetes, and thyroid malfunctions among today’s cats and dogs. On the other hand, it’s exciting to learn that pets can overcome their health problems with the same nutrients, herbs, and homeopathics as humans.

My own dog suffered from my stupidity in these matters for the first half of his life, even though I thought I was dishing out a diet fit for a prince (cooked organic meat, no less). He ended up with allergies, terrible rashes, and bloodshot eyes – all symptoms of liver inflammation. Then I discovered the world of nutritional medicine for pets and everything changed. Now he dines on raw food, vitamins, essential fatty acids, herbs, and homeopathics when needed. The rashes are gone, the eyes are clear, and there’s no sign of the chronic disease typical of an animal of his advanced years. So I know that Helke’s ABCs of Animal Wellness work very well, not only for pets but people too.

Readers who find themselves plagued by insomnia will enjoy Susannah Kent’s focus this month on the best strategies for ensuring a good night’s rest. In this fast paced world it’s not always easy to downshift into slumber when the clock strikes midnight. But these techniques, supplements, and strategies will have you slipping into la la land with more ease than ever before.

With the critical shortage of doctors reported in the news daily, it is our pleasure to continually bring you effective ways to take charge of your own health, rather than relying on a health care system that may not address your needs.

Julia Woodford, Editor ~ Vitality Magazine