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Suddenly trendy thanks to praise from celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey, the practice of detoxifying is on the rise. The term “detox” is used in reference to a variety of regimens, but in wellness terms it generally means restricting solid food intake and eliminating alcohol, caffeine, and sugar consumption for several days to a few weeks while drinking nutritional beverages, sweating through heat therapies, and taking supplements that help flush excess waste from the digestive system.
In addition to their associated health benefits, such routines have been a part of spiritual pursuits across many cultures. “The ancient yogic tradition encourages regular fasting, and the ancient Greeks had similar practices,” notes Yvonne Nienstadt, nutrition director at Rancho La Puerta in Mexico. Nienstadt also points out that some Christian denominations fast for Lent, Muslims abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, not eating for a 25-hour period on Yom Kippur is a Jewish tradition, and sweat therapies are part of many Native American spiritual rituals.
Most of today’s spa detox offerings (ranging from no-food fasts to liquid cleanses to diets rich in fruits and vegetables), however, have shed their religious connotations but can be just as life-enriching. Such regimens are designed to alter your entire approach to eating, exercising, and managing stress while providing a support system that complements the process. “Spa programs invite you to take yourself out of your life and habits and allow you to reset your brain and body systems,” says Lisa Hedley, founder and creative director of the Mayflower Inn & Spa, where gentle three-to-five-day cleanses are popular.
But a spa or home detox isn’t the be-all and end-all. It’s a way to kick-start changes that can lead to lifelong improvements provided you go on to incorporate healthy practices like exercise, nutritious eating, and mindfulness into your life after the detox. Fortunately, the benefits of cleansing your body are worth the effort. “If you don’t detoxify, the buildup of toxins will ultimately affect your brain and mood,” says Mark Hyman, M.D., author of The UltraMind Solution (in which detox is a core component). “After detoxifying, you may experience improved concentration, an increase in energy, and internal balance,” he adds.
Detox Options at the Spa:
These invigorating therapies help get internal systems working.
Wraps - Body masques of seaweed, coffee, or mud draw out impurities.
High-Tech - Infrared sauna (helps heat penetrate deep into the body), Ionithermie (delivers minute electrical stimulus to muscles and tissue) and Endermologie (lifts and rolls the skin) assist in expelling toxins and reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Massage - Lymphatic drainage activates the lymph system to cleanse bacteria and germs from cells. Deep tissue encourages muscles to purge toxic metabolic by-products.
Hydrotherapy - Immersion in hot then cold water increases circulation, moving blood through the kidneys and liver to promote natural cleansing. The high-pressure application of water with a spray hose can aid in breaking up fat deposits.
Colon hydrotherapy - Water is gently pumped into the large intestine through the rectum while the therapist massages the abdomen to help stimulate the colon. As the water flows out, it brings along accumulated waste.