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Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica is one of the most difficult conditions for medical practitioners, even those experienced in treating back pain and sciatica patients, to identify and treat. Sciatica often presents itself as a tingling and/or numbness, not unlike the feeling one may experience with a pulled hamstring muscle, the biceps femoris at the back of the leg. The sensation may be dull, almost an ache, with periods of tingling and/or numbness occurring during certain activities.

Many causes of sciatica exist. Instances of trauma to the sciatica nerve have been reported from accidents injuring the pelvic region, diseases such as diabetes damaging the sciatica nerve, osteoarthritis induced bone spurs narrowing the spinal canal and tumors placing pressure on the nerve. More commonly, however, the cause of sciatica can be found in a herniated lumbar disc.

When a person has to deal with sciatica for quite some time the best thing to learn about are all the different causes of sciatica. In fact, many people are rather surprised when they find out some of the different things that cause sciatica. Even though it depends on what type of professional you speak with about sciatica, there are really many different ways to get sciatica.

Treatment of sciatica is usually associated with treating a bulging disc. The first line of treatment is usually an attempt to reduce inflammation to reduce pressure on the nerve by means of oral medications. For more powerful anti-inflammatory effects, spinal injections with steroids like cortisone may be used.

This exercise program is primarily geared to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the lower back and the legs, reducing back pain and sciatica. The following are stretches that will assist in pain reduction and relief by removing much of the stress from the lower back, pelvis (hips) and lower extremities.

Natural remedies are growing in acceptance and are usually gentler and safer to use and focuses on other mean to achieve pain relief and help with a healthier back. While drugs are appropriate for immediate pain relief, reduction of inflammation and relaxation of muscles, it may be better to avoid them on an ongoing basis and to look for a holistic approach to treating the problem.

Sciatica Symptom:

In the previous two articles in this series we’ve discussed some of the reasons why we experience sciatic nerve pain or sciatica. In this article I would like to jump back just a bit and discuss the symptoms associated with sciatica, explain just why we experience this type of pain, and some of the other basic issues often faced when we experience it.

You cannot begin to consider cures for sciatica without first understanding exactly what sciatica is. That said, allow me to reiterate that cures for sciatica exist and are available, accessible, and effective as you will see in this article and on the next page.

Sciatica Treatment

Chiropractors, through the use of manually induced spinal adjustments, can often help the symptoms of sciatica. The adjustments, usually quick and painless, can align the spine and reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve. A sciatica treatment usually begins with some type of heat therapy to loosen up the muscles surrounding the affected area.

Sciatica Causes

Many different sciatica causes exist. Sciatica, a symptom of a diagnosed condition, can stem from a number of ailments. Though sciatica leg pain is the most common complaint, not all individuals will experience it. For example, in piriformis syndrome, discomfort and pain are most often felt in the buttocks and hip area.

Sciatica exercise can greatly enhance a sciatica sufferer’s quality of life, easing pain and creating a stronger, more limber body. Many health practitioners agree that the key to preventing repeat episodes of sciatica is practicing sciatica exercise on a daily basis.

Some typical symptoms which you should consider when trying to decide whether you may be suffering from piriformis syndrome are pain in the buttock, the discomfort in the back of the leg described before, and a painful muscle spasm or tenderness in the buttock evident when pressure is applied to it.

Releasing muscle tension is simple enough if you know how to stretch, what to stretch and when to stretch… the 3 essential ingredients for any stretching routine. Building muscle strength also is simple. You don’t need to spend hours in a gym, all you need to know is how to stimulate the nerve and blood supply to your muscles which gives them the strength they need to support your joints. Exercise just means you can lift more heavy objects.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. Its nerve roots run from the lumbar spinal cord located at the lower back extending through the buttocks, hips and lower limb. When this nerve becomes inflamed or irritated it produces pain that resembles like a leg cramp.

Read About Pregnancy Week and also read about Inverted Nipples and Breast Milk Production

What causes sciatica? www.sciaticaselfcare.com presents an explanation of the most common causes of sciatica.

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Category: Uncategorized

Sciatica symptoms – Part 2

In general, the term sciatica refers to the pain caused when the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg, is either pinched or irritated. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It controls the muscles in the back of your knee and lower leg and provides feeling to your thighs, legs and feet.

Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Depending on where the sciatic nerve has been irritated, the pain can extend from the lower back all the way down to the feet and toes. The pain itself also varies from a mild ache or discomfort to a sharp, excruciating burning sensation. Though sciatica has many causes, the condition can be aggravated by simply coughing, sneezing, or turning over, as well as prolonged sitting or walking. Some of the common symptoms include:

-Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting

-Burning or tingling down the leg

-Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot

-A constant pain on one side of the rear

-A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up

Symptoms that require immediate medical attention include progressive weakness in the leg or the loss of bladder and bowel control. In addition, people who have other complicating factors, such as a diagnosis of cancer, the use of steroid medication, and a significant weight loss, are urged to contact their doctor immediately.

Usually, sciatica occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 50. For most of these people, the pain will get better with time, which could be anywhere from a few days to a few months, and many can find pain relief and therapy through non-surgical means, such as physical therapy and message.

Sources:

www.mayoclinic.com/health/scia tica

www.spine-health.com

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sc iatic.html

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Pain Relief | Do You Know the Causes of Sciatica Nerve Pain?

5001817687 935f86d202 m Pain Relief | Do You Know the Causes of Sciatica Nerve Pain?

Are you one of the millions of people who experience nerve pain from sciatica? If so, you know how painful this condition can be.

Sciatica pain actually refers to the pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve. This pain is typically felt in the buttocks, down the legs, and in upper thighs.

The interesting thing about SNP is that it is not a diagnosis, but a symptom of another problem, usually a compressed nerve. So, if that is the case, what exactly causes SNP?

Causes

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It runs from your pelvis all the way down to the back of your legs. This nerve provides feelings to your legs, feet and thighs. So, when this nerve is compressed, the pain is likened to an electrical shock. Some of the causes of nerve pain include the following:

* Herniated Disk. A herniated disk, otherwise known as a bulging disk, is the most common cause of sciatica nerve pain. When a lower lumbar intervertebral disk bulges, it oftentimes compresses one of the nerves roots before it joins the sciatic nerve. This tends to cause radiating pain into the buttocks and back of the thighs or calves. Numbness and burning are also symptoms, as well as pain.

* Degenerative Disc Disease. Degenerative Disc Disease may also be a cause of sciatica pain. This condition irritates the nerve root.

* Piriformis Syndrome. Although not as common as a herniated disk, Piriformis syndrome can also be a cause of sciatica nerve pain. Runners, cyclists, or people who stand with their toes outward tend to develop this syndrome.

* Spinal Stenosis. Sciatica nerve pain can also be cause by the narrowing of the spinal canal due to spinal stenosis. This condition can be caused by aging, trauma, or heredity.

How to Treat Sciatica Nerve Pain

When you doctor knows what the cause of your sciatica pain is, he or she can better treat it. Most cases of SNP are treated with conservative or non-surgical methods, like over-the-counter medications, rest, or cold and heat therapy.

For those who experience severe nerve pain and/or incontinence, surgery may be the only option.

Almost 80 percent of people suffer from lower back pain, with or without sciatica, so talk to your doctor to learn more about the causes of sciatica, or hop online and check out The Sciatica Clinical website.

Sciatica pain can be eliminated from your life there are numerous treatments for it, you will need to experiment to find out the best treatment or treatments for you particular condition.

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Exercise Triggers for Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is not actually a single nerve, but a bundle of many nerves that leave the spine from the lower back and sacral regions. From here, the bundle moves towards the glutes then splits to various destinations on the legs. One nerve supplies the front of the thigh, one the back and another the lower shin. Irritation of any of these nerves may cause tingling, pain or numbness we call sciatica.

Individuals with mild to moderate sciatica are usually prescibed stretching and strengthening movements. Both are done to tolerance according to that days pain level. It is best to have a sciatica program designed by a Physical Therapist as few Personal Trainers have the knowledge to work with a special population like sciatica. The contraindictated movement for all strengthening and stretching is forward flexion as this could furthur irritate the condition.

Two more classic moves to avoid are toe touches and full sit ups. Toe touches involve full forward flexion and put all your body weight on your lower back. Full sit ups also stress the lower back. Instead of coming all the way up just do crunches with only your head and shoulders raising slightly off the ground.

Finally, many people will assume since they have a back problem they need to strengthen it. Not the case with sciatica. With sciatica you want to stretch your lower back and strengthen your abdominals. Performing back extensions which are a low back strengthener can worsen sciatica.

In summary, either have a Physical Therapist or a Chiropractor design your exercise program. The stretching and strengthening exercises will provide pain relief as well as a better level of overall fitness. Pay attention to the trigger exercises listed in this article to avoid injury, pain or relapse.

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Seniors With Herniated Discs: How To Take Control Of Your Life Again & Eliminate Your Back Pain

Boomers, who account for a quarter of the U.S. population, tend to have more active lifestyles than previous generations. They are as active now as they were when they were younger. But now Boomers are living with chronic low back pain, herniated discs or osteoarthritis. Back pain is a common complaint among middle-aged Americans as they deal with hectic daily schedules, increasingly demanding jobs, and caring for children, grandchildren and aging parents.

Low back pain will affect four out of five adults during their lifetime. Heres How:

The most common symptom of a herniated disc is sciatica. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:

- Weakness in one leg or both legs

- Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)

- A burning pain centered in the low back

- Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)

- Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain. (If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)

Why did my discs herniate?

The normal changes associated with aging are not helpful to the back. As we grow older, (after the age of 30), the back and abdominal muscles weaken and become less stretchable. Also degenerative changes begin to take place in the structure of the discs. They become softer and thinner, which decreases their shockabsorbing quality.

While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniated disc or bulge is uneven compression and torsion thats placed on your lower back.

This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position. Your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create unbearable pain.

Your Doctors Traditional Treatment Options May Not be the Best Treatment for Your Herniated Discs & Low Back Pain

When it comes to treating herniated discs, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary.

The major problem with these traditional treatments is that they only address the symptoms of a herniated disc. They do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have invasive surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the root cause that caused the disc to become herniated in the first place is still there.

Why?

Because, our bodies adapt and change to our environment. This adaptation over time will cause muscle Imbalances. Those imbalances will cause postural dysfunctions. If the dysfunctions are not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs. Sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

To reduce low back pain and herniated discs, you must identify the underlying cause of your problem. Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists dont spend time or focus on identifying the hidden causes or physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition. So most Boomers jump from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer with continuous herniated disc flare-ups for months or years unnecessarily.

Here are My Top 3 Treatment Options to Help You Reduce Back Pain Virtually Overnight:

1. Know your Habits, Patterns, Postures and Positions: Understanding the many different causes of muscle imbalances is the first step to a pain free back. It begins with not what we are doing today but what we have done in the past 40 years. What did you do for work? Did you sit? Stand in one place? Were you lifting, bending or otherwise putting your body through hell every day?

2. Review Your Photo History: Simply knowing what you have done to develop your imbalances is only step one. Now you have to prove it to your self that those changes did take place over time. Open your family photo albums and find photos that have you in it from the front and from the side. Then take some of your own right now from the front, from the back and from the side and compare. Now it is natural to see changes but to see the changes and not take action to correct or control the physical changes will not help you.

3. Get the RIGHT Help: Find a qualified Manual Physical Therapist, that is trained to assess postural dysfunction and demand that they create both a short term and a long term plan of recovery for you.

Understanding back pain and taking action are two totally different animals. No one thinks that it will happen to him or her. And because it takes so long for our bodies to reach the point of pain, almost no one takes action to prevent back pain. So if back pain is an issue for you then educate your self and take action everyday. It is never to late to start a program of recovery on your own or with help from an expert.

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Back Pain And Sciatica

When you stop and realize that the human spine runs all the way from base of the skull into the pelvic area, it is not surprising that many of us will experience back pain at point in our life. Studying the structure of the spine will help us better understand sciatica pain and how that pain can be managed.

Sciatica

Sciatica is pain that begins in the lower area of the back and continues all the way down into the leg. The condition is usually the result of compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Most patients can achieve relief from the pain by opting for non surgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, curtailing some forms of physical activity, and resting.

Chronic Pain

Pain is considered chronic if it persists for longer than six months and you have failed to relieve that pain by medical or surgical care. Chronic pain often results from a previous injury, from neuropathy, or sciatica.

The method of treatment for chronic pain will vary for each individual. A medical professional must first determine the cause of the pain. There may also be consideration given to benefits allowable by his or her health care provider. Many patients find pain relief in alternative forms of medicine. Medical marijuana, acupuncture, and hypnotherapy have all been proven to successfully treat chronic back pain.

Spinal Stenosis

Stenosis is a disease in which the sufferer experiences narrowing of the spinal canal. People who suffer from stenosis may suffer from low back pain or pain in the buttocks area, or feel pain in the leg and thigh area when they stand or walk. Patients suffering from severe stenosis may suffer from numbness and weakness in their legs. The pain is usually relieved temporarily when the patient sits or rests or changes position relieving the pressure on the spinal cord.

Stenosis is usually confirmed through analysis of a CT scan. This condition must be treated by surgery to widen the spinal canal.

Stiffness And Tightness Of The Back

Stiffness or tightness in the muscles of the neck, back, arms, and legs, is one of the most common types of back pain reported. These sensations are usually caused by some degree of damage to the muscles running through those areas.

Most painful back muscles can be attributed to poor posture. Although this is often simply a bad habit, it can also be a sign of weakness of the muscles surrounding the spine. Often a well designed exercise routine that works the back and abdominal muscles will effectively treat the pain by strengthening the muscles that support the body. It takes strong muscles to support the back and the soft tissues of the stomach, breasts, and torso. After these muscles are strengthened, the patient’s posture should improve naturally and the symptoms of tight, stiff muscles should diminish.

Many people suffer some degree of back pain during their lifetime. The causes vary from sciatica to muscle injury to poor posture. By determining the cause of that pain you will determine the preferred method of treatment.

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Calf Soreness Can Result From Sciatica

3859048595 c1762b3e23 m Calf Soreness Can Result From Sciatica

Sciatica pain may be experienced anywhere from the lower back to the calves, creating constant, nagging pain. The sciatic nerve, the longest in the body, originates in the lower back and runs downward in the back of each leg continuing to the toes of each foot. If this nerve has become aggravated due to injury or illness, the pain can radiate into wider areas of the body. Sufferers of this condition may not always realize that calf soreness and sciatica pain are a common issue.

Many Types of Sciatica Pain

Due to the fact that the sciatic nerve ranges over a large portion of the body, and will be found in such a variety of body masses, it is not surprising that the pain of sciatica irritation may be described quite differently from person to person. Many people suffering the condition complain of a sharp pain that originates in the lower back and travels downward into the leg, often through to the toes. Numbness and tingling of the feet is commonly reported in the cases.

There are many occurrences where calf soreness is experienced but is not immediately attributed to sciatica. This sometimes delays correct treatment that targets the true source of the pain. Sometimes people associate calf soreness to unusual physical activity or improper footwear, but sciatica should be considered a possible cause of any extended period of discomfort.

Methods to Relieve Calf Soreness

When it has been determined that the soreness in your calves is caused by sciatica aggravation, there are several treatments that will provide relief. For immediate pain relief, common pain relief medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin can help. Long term treatment may require that persons suffering calf soreness and sciatica pain seek a more permanent solution.

Yoga exercises have been shown to strengthen muscles in the affected regions and may the key to long term relief from sciatica pain. The success of yoga has been directly proportionate to the severity of the sciatica condition. It has also be suggested that Yoga must be practiced regularly for an extended period of time to be of significant benefit.

However with regular practice, yoga can reduce both the pain and the number of flare-ups. For calf soreness, a qualified yoga instructor can suggest specific postures and movements that will relieve sciatica pain and promote long term relief.

Typically this will be accomplished by addressing three key issues. Initially the cause for aggravation to the nerve must be addressed to eliminate the immediate cause and reduce the pain. This would typically be followed by proper muscle alignment and muscle conditioning exercises. Often a primary component of the long term treatment involves aligning the pelvis and spine which could require from six months up to a year.

That should be followed up by routine exercises to maintain proper tone and muscle conditioning.

Many persons find that practising yoga to ease sciatica pain and the soreness of calf muscles results in more than merely treating the pain. Additional benefits include improved overall mental and physical health that will benefit the entire body.

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How To Deal With The Pain Of Sciatica

If youve been around anyone with sciatica, you know its a painful form of back pain.

Sciatica is a pain in the leg arising from compression of the sciatic nerve which runs from the spine down the legs to the feet and is often caused by a herniated disc. If youve ever gone to the doctor with a sore back, the first thing they will ask you is if you have and pain or numbness in your leg.

Fortunately, between 80 to 90 percent of people with sciatica get better without having to have surgery.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica has been described as having a burning or tingling feeling or like having a small electrical shock. The pain can run from your buttock, down the back of your thighs. Everyday activities like sitting or even coughing can be very painful.

Pay close attention to the numbness in your legs. If it persists or if you lose control of your bowels, then go and see a doctor. This could be a sign of a rare condition called cauda equine which needs immediate surgery.

The good news is that sciatica is mainly an inflammation that eventually dies down. Recovery can be in as little as two week but it could also take a few months. Paralysis is not a factor with sciatica.

The causes of sciatica

Sciatica is usually not the result of any accident or fall. Instead, its normally just caused by wear and tear on our back. Thats why 30-50 year olds are the ones for whom it is most common.

As we get older, the intervertebral discs of our spine experience degeneration and from that a herniated disc can occur. With a herniated disc, the disk protrudes pushing against the nerve in the lower back. There is a misperception that sciatica is a deadened nerve but it is simply the compression of the nerve.

How can sciatica be treated?

The first priority is to alleviate the pain. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen to help calm the inflammation, but full pain relief could take a few days and may involve bed rest.

Treatment for sciatica can be surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical treatment involves stretching and exercising. Be sure to keep as active as possible since this helps the recovery but be careful about what exercises you do. Walking and jogging have been cited as sports that may cause sciatica.

Sciatica surgery is common and the objective is to remove the source of the nerve irritation. Over 90% of sciatica operations are successful.

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What is Sciatica?

5001818173 cee826ec33 m What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is severe and debilitating pain caused by the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the legs. The problem often develops with activities that place undue strain on the lumbar portion of the spine, where the nerve has its roots. For many sufferers, Sciatica can worsen during coughing, sneezing, and flexion of the neck. The condition is most often relieved by positions that minimize traction on the sciatic nerve. This is why many victims of the ailment will walk with the affected leg bent at the knee and externally rotated at the hip.

What are the symptoms of Sciatica?

In sciatica, the pain manifests down into the leg, travels below the knee, and may involve the foot. Sciatica can also cause numbness and there may be weakness of the lower leg muscles. Sciatica symptoms may emerge on its own, but is often combined with lower back pain. Sometimes the back pain comes before the sciatica, and sometimes will follow.

What causes Sciatica?

There are six leading causes of sciatic, chief among them are Lumbar spinal stenosis, Spondylolisthesis, Piriformis syndrome, spinal tumors, sciatic nerve tumor or localized, traumatic injury. With lumbar stenosis, one or more of the areas in the spinal canal narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord or on the nerve roots, which can bring about severe pain. Spondylolisthesis is of degenerative disk disease where one vertebra slips slightly forward over another vertebra, pinching the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome involves the piriformis muscle that runs directly above the sciatic nerve. If the muscle becomes tight or goes into spasms, it will place pressure on the sciatic nerve causing pain to radiate down the back of your thigh, but not below the knee. Prolonged sitting can contribute to piriformis syndrome. Spinal tumors and injury caused by car accidents and falls can also damage the area, contributing to the discomfort, soreness and shooting pains that are often associated with sciatica.

If you think you may be suffering from sciatica, contact a spine specialist in your community. Most cases of Sciatica, including those in which the nerve is displaced by protruding disk substance, can be treated effectively.

Will Painwave X4000 Help with Sciatica?

Without a doubt! The amazing technology behind Painwave X4000 delivers instant pain relief for sufferers of sciatica. Best of all, the device is non-invasive and drug-free unlike TENS or other similar pain relief methods! How does the Painwave X4000 do it? By working in concert with the bodys own bioelectromagnetic ecosystem. Painwave X4000 also has no side effects, and is used when the unit is simply moved gently over the surface of the skin in a small circular motion. After prolonged use, the Painwave X4000 can stimulate blood circulation, cell activity and lymphatic movements, all of which are beneficial in the relief of pain and other discomforts. In many cases, this stimulation will greatly reduce or eliminate pain for good.

Note: The contents provided in this article are not meant to diagnose or cure any disease. If you feel you have sciatic, please contact a local physician for a full medical examination.

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Finding pain relief for arthritis – Part 1

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Some months ago, I had a bout with an unexplained illness, that caused the numbness of my entire right side and loss of vision. It took approximately a month and a half before I got the feeling back on my right side and my sight came back. They guessed that either I had a minor TIA or a virus got stuck in my spine and caused all the problems. However in the wake of this illness it cause extreme pain and left me in extreme pain every single day that I woke up. I would literally take about a half and hour before I was able to move right, they explored everything from MS to RA and still do not know what caused the problem in the first place. It was a hard rode ahead with the pain because it was debilitating to me, sometimes I could not even move. I went on a search to find out how I could get rid of some of the pain. I found a combination that worked for me and the pain started to go away, eventually a lot of the pain went away all together. I am going to share this with you. Natural things are my preference rather than taking in something chemical in order to get rid of the pain, although I have to admit a prescription drug would have helped a lot.

If you are experiencing chronic pain or arthritis then follow these steps closely, please be mindful that it will not work right away. Also, because everyone’s chemical makeup is different this may not work for you at all, however it will not hurt you.

First, you need to start your body out fresh and new, my suggestion is to take a 3 day cleanse. Most cleanses can be like fasting, but this will not be the case with you. For 3 days eat only fresh vegetables and fruits. Have a salad, or eat raw vegetables or steamed, cut out coffee, tea (caffeine) but you can have herbal tea no caffeine, and plenty of water at least 8-16 glasses a day. I say eat whatever vegetables and fruits that you want, but in the fruit section it is good to add grapes, prunes, cherries, the type of fruit that will clean your bowels out. While you are on the cleanse you can have a hard boiled egg for the sake of protein in the morning. This will last for a total of 3 days, starting with the 1st day make sure that you take a garlic pill 3x’s a day(unless you are allergic to garlic) as well as, a acidophilus a day to replace all good bacteria into your stomach. The garlic is considered to be a natural antibiotic and will build up your immune system to fight any infections or bacteria attacking the body. Start your 3 day cleanse

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