The Master Cleanse

Jo Anne’s Place does not necessarily endorse the Master Cleanse but offers the basic program for information purposes.  Many staff and customers perform this modified fast every year and feel it’s an effective reset.

The Master Cleanse was developed by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940's.  He was very clear in stating that it was not a “cure” for anything.  It simply minimizes the amount of energy required for digestion, assimilation, and elimination, allowing the life-force within the body to do what it was designed to do - maintain, repair, and heal.

It is recommended that for 3 days prior to starting the Master Cleanse, you consume only fresh fruits and fresh, or lightly cooked, vegetables.

Recipe:

• 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice (approx. ½ lemon)
  
  
• 2 Tablespoons real maple syrup (dark is highest in nutrients)
  
  
• 1/10 Teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
  
  
• 1 Cup cold to medium hot pure water 
  
  
• Grate a small amount of lemon zest into the drink to increase cleansing effect (omit this step if not using organic lemons)
  
  
• Consume 8 – 12 drinks per day, and lots of plain water in between.
  
  
• Mint tea or chlorophyll water is an acceptable drink for a change.

Elimination:

It is important the bowels move efficiently every day.  Stanley B. recommends the use of natural laxative herbal supplements or a laxative tea morning and night.

As everybody responds differently to laxative herbs, it's a good idea to “experiment” with the product of your choice on your days off before you begin your cleanse so you can anticipate your need for washroom accessibility!

Another tool for cleansing the bowel is an internal salt-water bath.  Upon rising add 2 teaspoons of unrefined sea salt to one liter of warm water.  Drink the entire liter and do not consume anything else for 20-30 minutes.  Because whole sea salt has the same specific gravity as blood, it will not be absorbed into the body but will begin to wash through the colon usually within an hour.  You may have several movements over the course of the morning.

According to Stanley, an individual in reasonably good health can safely continue on this cleanse for up to 10 days or longer. 

During the cleanse it is normal for the tongue to get heavily coated.  This is an indicator of material being stirred up in the colon.  When the tongue is pink it indicates that the intestinal tract is clean.

A tongue scraper is helpful to remove the buildup and the scraping action has a stimulating reflex action on the digestive tract.  You can use an inverted spoon in lieu of a scraper.  It’s normal to gag a little.