In a previous article, we saw the importance of draining the body by helping the work of the emunctories and its elimination routes. If plants and vegetables for food purposes play an important role in cleansing and draining, phytotherapy (herbal teas, decoctions, mother tinctures, bud extracts, etc.) is certainly the best known in this field.

However, there are many other ways to help the body detoxify or detoxify itself. Whether it is mechanical means (massages, lymphatic drainage) or external means (different types of baths for example), the practice of soft sports activities (walking or swimming) or the practice of breathing techniques or sauna, many beneficial actions can be adopted on a daily basis. These small and simple gestures are part of a healthy lifestyle, just as we do for our personal hygiene or dental hygiene.

The gestures to adopt

Since the skin is considered the body's largest emunctory, it is essential to support it in its elimination work. Thus, in addition to the use of sudorific plants, we can :

• rub it regularly with a rough cotton glove (for delicate and thin skin) or with a horsehair glove (for drier and rougher skin).
• do regular peels with coarse salt, bicarbonate or clay, or a mixture of these materials.
• take baths with coarse salt, bicarbonate or seaweed at a rate of once or twice a week for example. Seaweed baths are extremely beneficial for the skin, as they are rich in minerals and the skin is permeable to them.
• Regularly perform saunas or steam rooms.
• physical exercise that will cause sweating
• sunbathing (smart, i.e. outside the hottest hours and covering your head) or bathing in the sea, rivers, springs or ice water for the bravest.
• seaweed or clay wraps that not only drain the skin, but also nourish and revitalize it.

To support the kidneys in the evacuation of urine, in addition to diuretic and draining herbs, you can:

• drink 1 or 2 large glasses of water (lukewarm if possible) when you get up, in order to provoke what is called a kidney shower
• anything that activates the lymph and circulation will have a positive impact on the level of renal elimination. Water exercises, walking, massages or lymphatic drainage or anything that is a bubble bath or skin friction will be beneficial. Hot baths alternated with ice baths also provoke a circulatory "gymnastics" and particularly venous and lymphatic. They will therefore help the body to better carry metabolic waste to the kidneys.

The elimination function provided by the lungs can be supported by:

• practicing an endurance sport or oxygenation or breathing exercises such as cardiac coherence, yoga, or deep breathing techniques will activate pulmonary exchanges and therefore the elimination of gases through the respiratory tract. This will also eliminate stress and tension.
• the daily practice of the nasal shower (ayurvedic practice), this care resulting from yoga. It is called jala neti, and for this purpose, the lota, a vessel suitable for this purpose, is used. The nasal shower allows the drainage of the nasal cavity and sinuses. It normalizes nasal secretions and balances the water content of the nasal mucous membranes, but above all it clears the airways, which is very useful for improving pulmonary exchanges. This practice also sharpens the sense of smell, reduces the frequency of ENT ailments, and for some, it reduces snoring.
• diffusion, inhalation or olfaction of essential oils (adapted and respecting the precautions of use).
• the practice of the Jacquier air bowl
• regular practice of hammam or sauna especially if they are perfumed with essential oils with respiratory tropism.

Activating intestinal function can be done through:

• to the practice of sports.
• to the lower abdomen massage. This consists of rotating the lower abdomen from right to left while applying light pressure with the palm of the hand. This gesture, which is carried out for a few minutes and preferably in a lying position, promotes the transit and circulation of fecal matter.
• the technique of enemas or regular purges (for the most motivated) with Epsom salt or with vegetable oils such as linseed oil.

There are not a huge number of techniques to improve or support vaginal elimination. Note, however, that assistance can be provided by :

• sitz baths, which simply consist of sitting for a few minutes in very cold water.
• or even the drifting baths which have been brought up to date by France Guillain.
• Please note that frequent and repeated use of tampons is not the safest for the vaginal mucosa. The non-toxicity and the flow of menstruation will be facilitated by the use of sanitary napkins (unbleached to avoid contact with the often toxic bleaching agents) or by the use of the menstrual cup.

So all that's left to do is... get down to business!