Why do we seem to feel a need to change ourselves, to purge the toxins from our bodies? Our bodies, after all, are already equipped with two magnificent toxin-removing organs, the liver and the kidneys. The need to detox comes from our 21st century belief that the food and drink we consume and the environment that we live in is slowly and steadily poisoning us by filling our bodies with a lethal cocktail of chemicals.

In ages past people detoxed their bodies without even realising they were doing so. Food was less plentiful and the components of their diet were much more closely linked to the seasons. At certain times of year particular foods were in abundance, so that’s what was eaten, during other times those same foods were not available – effectively ‘ out of season’. What grew and was harvested or stored was what was eaten. Root vegetables, members of the legume family and salads were the mainstay of the food cycle. This led to a natural twice yearly detox by diet. Add to this the various fasts and avoidance of some foods imposed by religious observance and you had a cyclical cleansing of the body.

Now let’s compare the Western diet of the majority to our ancestors. More food, more meals based on meat, foods very often fried and much fewer items of fruit and vegetables on the plate. No wonder then that lethargy and inertia seems to have increased, so yes we do seem to need to detox.
The solution to the twenty-first century diet is not to switch to fruit and vegetables only. Health comes from a balanced diet – by drastically limiting the variety of foods all you are doing is forcing the body’s organs to work harder on limited resources. Anyone who has tried to survive on a starvation diet in the hope of losing a lot of weight quickly knows that the body has a mind of its own and reacts in ways we don’t expect.

Within your personal dietary preferences then it is necessary to control portion size, range of foods and liquid intake. Two to three litres of water a day, more if the weather is exceptionally hot, is the target for the average adult. Drink less and you will end up nauseous and dizzy, not healthier.

Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently used detox therapies. One of the most popular is colonic irrigation or colon hydrotherapy. Poor diet can result in the slow movement of waste products through the colon. Abuse of laxatives can be dangerous. Irrigation provides a short term solution, enabling the user to make a fresh start. If there is no change to the diet however, the benefits will be limited.

Shall we try something less extreme and certainly more comfortable? How about a cup of tea? With over 165 million cups of tea drunk in Britain alone each day there must be something about the cup that cheers that really attracts us. Even a basic cup of tea offers a reduction in common colds, strengthened bones and joints, and protection of the skin. Take a look at green tea – the catechins in the tea help reduce the risk of cancer and the sterilising effect leads to lower incidence of food poisoning. Earl Grey tea – taking its name from the tea-loving nineteenth century prime minister – has a disinfecting and antidepressant effect, making you calmer and relaxed. Oolong tea can help prevent liver spots and dark pigmentation. Don’t just drink tea. Try some camomile soaked pads on your eyes for a cooling restful refreshing treatment.

How about a massage? Now we are not talking about a massage by a clumsy over-sexed male whose thoughts are on things other than relaxing you! A proper massage, delivered by a qualified masseuse, in a suitable calm and quiet room is a delight. Knotted stressed muscles relax and unwind, and the mind wanders and forgets the ‘to do’ lists. The benefits will be felt long after you have left the room.

If you are feeling a little more energetic then you might like to try my personal favourite – T’ai Chi. Based on ancient Chinese Taoism philosophy, T’ai Chi is a system of beliefs that encourage us to live and grow with the environment around us. In modern parlance T’ai Chi is all about a healthy mind in a healthy body. The gently flowing and rotating static postures may have originated from Chinese hermits living high in the mountains and are designed to improve mobility, flexibility and breathing. Taoism is also known as ‘The Way of the Water’ teaching that we should not resist life but like water, flow around obstacles. T’ai Chi classes are available widely, provided by volunteers whose only charge is made to cover the cost of accommodation hire. Whether you join a T’ai Chi group or yoga or Pilates or similar, the benefit comes from being in control of your life and your time.

Have you tried a detox wrap? You relax while wrapped in a special clay which may have herbs mixed in. The clay draws toxins out through your pores helping to reduce and re-shape your legs or stomach. You don’t lose water, rather your soft skin is compressed and compacted, holding the underlying cells in place more firmly. A myriad of television celebrities claim to be regular users of this treatment.

The above is just a taster of all the varied treatments you can experience both at home and at specialist spa and health facilities. The variety ranges in to the hundreds as do the prices, depending on whether you are using your bathroom at home or an exotic and glorious building surrounded by beautiful manicured gardens.

Periodically there is an eruption of debate about detox treatments. The medical profession and scientists will say that the best detox is a healthy diet, regular exercise and plenty of water and sleep. They will also tell you that you will live longer if you have a faithful, loving and attentive partner.

Real life however demands that we rush from one task to another at breakneck speed, rarely stopping for any sort of food, let alone pause and worry about healthy options. A coffee shot is essential to give us the boost to keep going and to meet yet another deadline.

So, if you have to indulge in locking yourself away wrapped, coated, steamed, chilled or massaged in order to achieve a little quality ‘me’ time then all I can say is you deserve every minute of it and it’s worth every penny or pound that it costs. I challenge any doctor or scientist to experience any detox treatment where everyone involved is lavishing time and attention on them as the one individual and come out of it at the end and say – ‘No, I didn’t enjoy that’.

As we unwind, enjoying our detox treatment, are we not all secretly thinking to ourselves and dreaming about when we can enjoy and experience the next one?