Before You Go To A Detox Spa

Spas with detox programs target four kinds of toxicity:

* the body's own metabolic waste products
* dietary toxins like alcohol, caffeine and white sugar
* psychological toxins like stress and worry
* environmental pollutants including mercury in fish and chemicals that are part of our lifestyle, from the clothes we wear to our home furnishings.

Detox spas have a number of ways to target the toxins:

* treatments that support the body's own detoxification systems. These include colon hydrotherapy and herbal enemas, which cleanse the colon, and detoxifying spa treatments like lymphatic drainage massage, and body wraps.
* dietary changes that can range from a juice fast to simpler changes like adding healthy fruits and vegetables and cutting out the foods that are hardest on your body.
* meditation and yoga that helps you change negative mental habits
* major dietary changes and oil-based treatments that are part of the Ayurvedic detox called panchakarma.

When considering a detox spa, ask yourself these questions:

* What's the detox diet: juice fast, raw food, vegetarian/vegan, or meals with a meat option?
* Is there medical supervision?
* Are you going through the detox program with other people, or is it self-directed?
* Is there colon hydrotherapy avaialable?
* Do you want the Ayurvedic detox called panchakarma, and will you commit to major dietary changes for 3-4 weeks or longer?
* Does the detox spa offer educational lectures,and what are the qualifications of the lecturers?
* Are the surroundings luxurious or rustic?
* How much does it cost?

Many detox diets rely on Juice fasting . Juice fasting can stimulate motivation, creativity, and spiritual awareness, and help during life transitions, but it's not easy, and it's not for everyone. Find our more about the benefits or juice fasting, how to prepare for a fast, side effects, who should not try a fast, and why some critics don't like fasting or even the concept of detox.

Ideally, detox should not be a short-term purge, but a lifestyle. The best detox spas give you the tools to maintain a healthier lifestyle through better food choices, stress reduction techniques like meditation, and knowledge of how to reduce your exposure to chemicals.