For rosacea it may well be worth considering a fasting program. There are many reasons to suggest this, including the fact that a buildup of toxins can be shed through the skin, which may be a causative factor in rosacea. This is definitely a threshold trigger that is unique to the individual. What we do know for sure is that over time toxins build up in the body as a result of pollutants in the air we breathe, chemicals in food and water, and more chemicals that are absorbed through our skin. As another example, if we take a ‘Western liver’, it has to deal with up to 30,000 chemicals daily, absorbed through the skin, ingested or inhaled from the air (60 years ago, this number was only 300). So by relieving the body of the work of digesting food, fasting allows the system to rid itself of toxins while facilitating healing. The net effect is a fast that can help you heal your skin faster; clean your liver, kidneys and colon; purify your blood; help you lose excess weight and water; eliminate toxins; clean the eyes and tongue; and cleans the breath. In an ideal world, you would fast at least three days a month and follow a ten-day fast at least twice a year. Let’s be clear here, it’s really the three-day fast, as this is the one that helps rid the body of toxins and cleanses the blood. The following are some precautions that should be taken into account:

• While fasting, consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of steamed distilled water per day, plus plain juices and up to 2 cups of herbal tea (at room temperature, not hot) per day.
• Do not fast on water only. This releases toxins too quickly and as a rosacea sufferer you likely have an overtaxed liver whose workload will increase causing headaches and worse.
• Follow a live juice diet. This removes toxins and promotes healing by providing the body with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
• When fasting for more than three days, do so only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. If you have diabetes, hypoglycemia, or any other chronic health problem, even short fasts should be monitored by your doctor.
• Pregnant or lactating women should never fast.

So how about a great fasting soothing rosacea recipe?

Done… here goes… I juice together 3 carrots, 3 kale leaves, 2 celery stalks, 2 beets, 1 turnip, ¼ pound spinach, ½ cabbage, ¼ bunch parsley, ¼ onion, and ½ garlic clove. Fantastic!

One last thing, before, during and after your fast, consider using a dry skin brush. A long-handled natural bristle brush helps the skin to remove toxins and dead cells. Always brush towards the heart, from the wrist to the elbow, from the elbow to the shoulder, from the ankles to the knees, from the knees to the hips, etc. However, with rosacea you should be extremely careful and never use the brush on the affected areas of the body. Avoid brushing areas of the body that are broken or recently scarred, or that have protruding varicose veins. However, we believe the benefits of greatly improving circulation and helping the skin to excrete toxins are worth investigating.