Comments on: Detox (or Die-Off Relief) Baths

By: Baden

Baden — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:26:07 +0000

Hi Suzie,

Unfortunately, you are correct to be concerned about the levels of chlorine in public swimming pools, and for the reason you state.

Avoiding heavily chlorinated public pools is a temporary loss -after sufficient healing these can be accessed again in moderation (eg. once a week). In the meantime, see if you can find natural waters to swim in or an ozonated (usually reduced-chlorine) pool, and consider movement such as NIA or yoga, which are also gentle on the joints. In the early stages of healing, though, your body may ask you not to exercise at all, in which case it will be most effective to honour that. I suggest starting with diet, allowing some healing to take place then, if the body indicates a specific craving for movement, taking on one of the ideas mentioned above.

All my best,
Baden

By: Suzie

Suzie — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:05:49 +0000

I’m gearing up to start both my son (6 yrs old) and I on the GAPS diet as soon as I’ve adequately prepared for it. I’m most of the way through NCM’s book, and next I’m going to read yours. This discussion of detox baths brings up a question I’d like to ask. Last summer, our family joined a local recreation center that has an amazing pool. My son and I went swimming most days throughout last summer. It’s my favorite form of exercise because it is gentle on my joints. However, I worry about the effects of the chlorine on our systems. If we’re working so hard to follow the GAPS diet, will we just be negating our efforts if we go swimming regularly? My sister-in-law said, “Well you could just go sit in the sauna after swimming to sweat the toxins out.” But I know that with chlorine, part of the problem is that it’s killing off good microbes. No amount of “sweating out toxins” is going to restore that (at least not in my mind). Plus, my son wouldn’t be able to do the sauna (you have to be 18). What is your recommendation on this? We both really need the exercise, and it’s difficult for me to get it any other way. But if it’s going to cause more harm than good, I’d rather not do it. Thanks!

By: Jackie

Jackie — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:16:33 +0000

Oh! I am so glad that someone had an idea how to filter the water! someone said the little filter balls but its got really bad reviews. I will look into this as I LOVE my baths.Weird that it goes through seasons. when I feel ok the baths are overwhelming and too hot and uncomfortable but when I started detoxing on GAPS I started craving them!

By: Baden

Baden — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:23:22 +0000

Hi Peter,

Thanks so much for all that!

And I 100% agree with the approach of believing only what we’ve tried and noted to make a difference. Well said!

All my best,
Baden

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:06:29 +0000

Hi Baden,
Thanks. I will share how I have purified the water.
For showering I use a backwashing filter and ozone generators.
For drinking water r/o (reverse osmosis) de-ionization and ultra violet to bring the water down to 0 total dissolved solids. This is considered aggressive water that will pull minerals off pipes and anything it comes into contact with including the body therefore I use 2 cartridges to remineralize the water. I recently checked the ph of this water and it is nice and alkaline.
After searching for answers and speaking with many experts the r/o was what most agreed as the best choice, but one must remineralize. There are many sites that now sell these remineralization cartridges as opposed to the recent past which didn’t sell those cartridges.
The other options are carbon block or granulated carbon, but they don’t pull the flouride out, which for most of us is a major concern hence the r/o which does it successfully.
There are even other options, such as spinning the water with crystals, magnets lights shining on the water and stones. I lean towards this idea that came from Viktor Schauberger on how water needs to splash and vortex.
I say go with natural, and water in its natural environment does these things.
One more option is ionized water which I have had good experience but need to drink more of it to say with certainty.
I read a lot but only believe in what I have tried and noticed a difference with.
In the end we need to make a decision.
I would take my time before making a decision. Speak to some experts from the websites and do some reading.
I devoted a lot of time into water because I feel it is most important. I don’t think a detox could be as good if the water is not pure.

By: Baden

Baden — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:11:37 +0000

Peter: Wonderful to have you with us!

Thank you so much for sharing these recommendations -I appreciate them, and I know that many readers will, too!

There is definitely agreement within the GAPS community that bath/shower/drinking water is ideally purified. A question that comes up frequently, though, is, “How??” Many people cannot afford filtration systems, having to choose between those and good food. Others rent their homes, and do not have the option of installing whole-house systems, etc.

All ideas for cleaning water -especially with budgets and renting in mind- are always welcome!

I look forward to hearing more from you, Peter.

All my best,
Baden

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:31:58 +0000

Hi Baden,
Glad to have found your site.
I have been reading about health and practicing a healthy lifestyle for over twenty years and just recently discovered the gaps diet and am super excited.I consider this diet book to be the most important book out of the hundreds that I possess.
I would like to comment on what I have learned regarding baths and hydrotherapy. First thing, I would recommend the book hydrotherapy by Chaitow. I read the book many years ago and thought it was excellent, I must reread it to refresh. I am recommending it over other books.
As for taking baths (and showers too) I think it is important to mention for those that may not know it that it is a must to remove chlorine and other chemicals. I would suggest a backwashing tank with carbon or other media installed before the hot water heater so all the water gets filtered.
I also would like to mention that it is very beneficial to alternate the temperature between hot and cold in the shower, but at first don’t go to the extremes, gently change the temperature and slowly you will be able to take the temp. changes to greater ranges. This will help with the hot baths.
Another suggestion is to take a look at Dr. O.G. Carroll and his therapeutic cold sheet treatment or constitutional hydrotherapy. I have tried this in the past and highly recommend it. It is similar to the post Justine left. After sitting in a hot bath with ginger or other herbs the person comes out and gets wrapped in a towel wrung from cold water and then covered with wool blankets and put to sleep. There is mention of the towel getting stained from toxins getting released. Sounds like it would work well with the gaps protocol.
Thanks for the great website.
Peter

By: Baden

Baden — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:32:14 +0000

Hi Jillian,

Wonderful about your results to date, even with a different program!

All my tips are presented in my book GAPS Guide, which you can learn about here: http://gapsguide.com/book/ (At close to 200 pages, there are simply too many tips for me to reiterate here.)

All my best,
Baden

By: Jillian

Jillian — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:45:41 +0000

I’ve struggled with mononucleosis for nearly 10 years. In high school, I went from dance team captain to home bound learning. In college I had my wisdom teeth, tonsils, uvula, and adenoids removed. Recently, I’ve had terrible pain in my spleen for at least half a year, as well as, rashes that would appear and disappear on my torso, terrible acne on my face and back, depression, anxiety, just an overall feeling of being I’ll. After a week of a vegetarian diet and trying techniques like dry skin brushing, I am thrilled with my increasing wellness. Tonight I will be adding detox bathing to my regimine. Are there any other readily available solutions which modern medicine has failed to inform me? Almost 10 years I’ve been told to essentially ‘sleep it off’ while being ignorant to simple lifestyle changes that are so simple it’s maddening.

By: Baden

Baden — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:35:59 +0000

Oh, Hillery! Wonderful!!! I’m so glad you’ve found us!

All my best,
Baden