This is a series of posts about how I treated my IBS-C condition so I can eat anything. Check out the first part here.
In this part, we will go through on how I do a gentle gut cleanse.
In this article, I go through on:
- What to expect during the cleanse, which is based on my own personal experience with it
- What you will need to perform the cleanse and list some of their benefits
- How to do the cleanse and how often to do the cleanse
What to expect
Your experience with the cleanse may vary from mine, so I'd like to remind you all to check out my disclaimer at the beginning of my videos and on my blog. I'm not a professional, I'm just sharing my personal experience and what has worked for me to treat my condition.
- The number one thing to keep in mind before starting the cleanse, is that some of the things used for the cleanse might cause temporary bloating and gas when you first start using them. That's just the way they work. It might take a few days or even a few weeks for your system to get used to them, so what I personally did before the cleanse, was to take these, one at a time, at a lower dose during my regular diet. Once I got used to them, then I started the cleanse.
- Frequent trips to the bathroom with softer bowel movements but thankfully I haven't experienced severe diarrhea. You may want to try this on the weekend though when you're at home, as you may feel the urgency to go several times a day.
- You may feel drained and fatigued at the end of the day. If the first day seemed too much, you may stop and do it again in a couple of weeks.
- This cleanse may temporarily raise your blood sugar / insulin levels. If you are insulin resistant or diabetic, then I suggest to just incorporate the below with your usual diet instead of going on a full cleanse. You'll still see improvements but without the spikes.
- As always, if you have any doubts about this regimen, consult with your doctor.
- And lastly hunger, as for the duration of the cleanse, along with the rise of insulin, you will probably be on a calorie deficit.
What you will need
The items you will need can be found in health food stores, Indian or halal shops, online shops like on Amazon and some of them from your grocery store. These are:
Aloe vera juice
Aim for at least 99% of real aloe vera extract without any sweeteners, preferably organic. Do NOT get the supplements. Aloe vera capsules did nothing for me. The juice is more effective. Make sure to avoid those sugary drinks that are mostly water and sugar, with only a small percentage of aloe vera. You may also want to avoid the ones containing a lot of aloin.
Black Rock Salt
Fresh fruits
Yogurt
Optional
Benefits
Aloe vera
As I've mentioned before, you will see better and faster results if you stick to the real juice and not the supplements. Aloe vera juice works great together with the black rock salt, so I don't recommend choosing one or the other. Use them both.
- Aloe vera works as a natural mild laxative, so it's great for indigestion, bloating and constipation.
- It helps clear the gut from harmful bacteria.
- Can help reduce blood sugar in prediabetics and diabetics.
And some of the other benefits I have personally experienced but may not be as known or common, are:
- For one, it helped clear up my fibroids. It was hell (and with quite a few murder scenes in the bathroom) as they passed out of my system, but I didn't need surgery for them, and several weeks later, my ultrasounds came back clear.
- It helps reduce hormonal abdominal bloating (such as PMS or menopause-related).
- It has helped with ovarian pain that I started having after my hysterectomy (which I have done for a severe case of uterine prolapse and chronic labor pains).
- And it got rid of my chronic gum inflammation, probably because once again, it helps clear up harmful bacteria from both the mouth and the gut.
Black Rock Salt
- The first time you use black rock salt, you may experience a temporary bloat or gas for a few days. But once that goes away, you will start noticing improved digestion.
- Just like aloe vera, it's a very mild natural laxative, that does NOT cause diarrhea, but even though it contains less sodium than table salt, I recommend taking breaks from it often. Taking it for a week once a month for instance is recommended, but if your problem is severe, you may take it everyday until you have significant reduction in your symptoms.
- As it helps reduce acidity in the stomach, it can help in cases of heartburn, as well as provide relief from constipation and gas.
- And again just like aloe vera, it helps clear your gut. Using both of these will give you much faster and better results.
- Another important benefit, is that it works as a blood thinner, it helps stimulate blood circulation, therefore help decrease levels of cholesterol and the risk of blood clots.
- It's more nutrient dense than regular table salt, so you get minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, etc.
- And that also means you can use it to replenish your electrolytes, either from a hard workout, or during your fasting window. I like taking it in the early afternoon while I'm fasting, it helps hydrate me, makes the hunger go away, and can even help with workout recovery and muscle soreness.
Kefir
Just like black rock salt, kefir might temporarily cause bloating and gas, but your body eventually adapts to it and the benefits start coming in, such as:
- Improve digestion, and helping treat both constipation and diarrhea
- It's really low in lactose, but it also helps treat lactose intolerance as well
- It's got up to 61 strains of healthy bacteria and yeasts, therefore it helps restore a healthy and more diverse gut microbiota.
- It improves the function of the immune system. That means you get sick less often and less severe, and according to studies, it even helps reduce cancer cells and tumor growth
- It works as an antibacterial, so it can help treat and prevent infections
- According to studies, it can help treat allergies, food intolerances and asthma.
- And it promotes bone health
Ajwain tea with Neem oil
Even though I listed this one as optional, I find it very important to try and incorporate it in your diet and the cleanse, as this tea in combination with the Neem oil, has some really good cleansing effects:
- This tea acts as antibacterial and antiseptic, I've used it to treat my MRSA infection, which is resistant to antibiotics. You need both the carom seeds and the neem oil for this.
- In Pakistan and India they are known as blood purifiers and are used to clear the gut and treat many diseases.
- I've used this tea when I was having IBS attacks with bloating, gas and pain, and it provides almost instant relief, so it's good to keep it handy for emergencies. The ajwain seeds also provide relief from menstrual cramps and Braxton Hicks contractions during pregnancy, as I've experienced myself. It can therefore help with endometriosis pain as well.
- They also act as diuretic and help clear the body from toxins
- They have helped me regulate my hormones, specifically this tea has cured my PCOS with hyperandrogenism, infertility and amenorrhea. I may go into more details on a separate video about all the benefits of this tea and how to take it according to the issue you're having.
Instructions
While we are cleansing our gut through the aloe vera, black rock salt, and ajwain tea with neem oil, we will also maintain a temporary diet during this time with nothing but the fruits, kefir and the yogurt, to restore a healthy and diverse gut microbiota with their prebiotic and probiotic effects. To do all that:
- Take 1 glass of aloe vera juice early in the morning on an empty stomach. Wait for 30 minutes before eating.
- Take 1/3 of teaspoon black rock salt in a glass of water. If you want a stronger effect, take it in lemon-ginger tea (no milk nor sugar). It could be any time of the day that feels the most effective for you. Some say to take it early in the morning on an empty stomach, but for me it works better if I take it in the middle of the day or early afternoon while I'm fasting (I skip dinner).
- Take 2-3 glasses of kefir throughout the day, with one of them on an empty stomach, preferably 30 minutes after your aloe vera intake. You can take it with some fruit as well for a synbiotic effect. A good choice of fruit would be kiwis, apples, berries, anything that doesn't cause an IBS flare up or constipation (a banana for instance might not be the way to go for some people).
- Both chia seeds and ground flaxseeds can improve digestion and increase the frequency of your bowel movements.
- You can add a tablespoon of chia seeds in a glass of water. Allowing them to swell for a few minutes before drinking has a mild laxative effect.
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds can be added to a cup of yogurt with some fruit. Remember, they have to be ground flaxseeds, NOT the whole seeds. Brown or golden, either one is fine.
- Use 1 teaspoon of ajwain seeds for every 2 cups of tea. For stronger effects, let it brew overnight and drink it the next day. Add only 1-2 drops of Neem oil to the tea just before you drink it. Drink 2-4 cups throughout the day.
- Stay well hydrated.
- And remember to keep your calorie intake low during the cleanse, with nothing but kefir, fruits and yogurt. You may take some additional herbal teas if you like, such as fennel or green tea.
How often to do the cleanse
- You can do this on any given day, but I like fasting, so I do it after a 24 hour fast.
- This cleanse can be done for as little as 24 hours, or as much as 2-3 days, and then you may return to your regular, healthy diet.
- Depending on the underlying issue, it may take a few weeks to several months to see results. As such, I suggest you do this cleanse at least once a month, to promote and maintain good gut health.
What's next
In the next articles and videos, I will explain:
- How to establish a healthy routine and a diet for a healthy, diverse gut
- How to maintain the health of your gut and avoid return of your symptoms
- A list of herbal teas you can take daily to help with digestion
- And maybe a list of yoga poses I do that help with digestion as well.
Stay tuned, and thank you for your attention.
Part 3 - Meal frequency and portion size here.
Part 4 - The dangers of processed foods and restrictive diets here.
Disclaimer: This YT channel & Blog are a documentation of my health journey. The content is based on what worked for me and is for informational purposes only, not a replacement for medical advice from a professional.
I’m NOT a doctor, nutritionist, dietitian, coach, nor a personal trainer. Furthermore, we are all different and my results may not reflect your own. Any action you take upon the information provided by ZenGainz is strictly at your own risk.