Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing the toxins and other metabolites stemming from bio-chemical and metabolic functions within you, and removing them through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph nodes, and skin.  Fasting, in the strict dietary sense is the complete abstinence from all substances except pure water, in an environment of total rest. In modern-day the definition has become more complicated as we often include modified fasting in the definition.  Modified fasting allows the addition of other items to the diet beside water, like juice or raw food. So the terms fasting, detoxing and cleansing are used interchangeably.

Over time toxins build up in the body as a result of the pollution in the air, the chemicals in our food and water supply, metabolic wastes/hormones from normal physiological functions, and other means. This build up often shows itself after putting stress and strain on bodily systems causing them to under-function and thus producing many of the symptoms you may be here to help remedy i.e. heartburn/indigestion, allergies, constipation/diarrhoea, headaches, low immunity, bloating, skin problems, bad breath, zero energy, inflammatory disorders, memory problems, fogginess, memory problems, sugar cravings, depression, weight gain, among others.

When fasting the body re-prioritizes its functioning as it no longer has to utilize the majority of its resources and energy on digestion and immunity, instead shifting this focus to amplify the repairing, restoring, rejuvenating and removal of toxins from the body, in much a similar way that when we are sick we lose the appetite for food to allow the body to pool its resources to combat the disease. So by speeding up the rate of normal toxin excretion or release and reducing the influx of new toxins into our bodies, it not only results in a overall reduction of total bodily toxicity, but also decreases healing time, cleanses the liver, kidneys and intestines, aids to purify your blood, aids to reduce excess weight & water, clears the brain & oxygenate the tissues, refreshes the breath and clears the eyes.

We detoxify to limit the amount of “toxins” that are entering our body or internal environment, and as we are mostly all aware and already feeling the effects of what happens when we have a build up or expose ourselves to too many toxins, those same toxins may cause similar effects while expelled from your body during a detox. So feelings of weakness, fatigue, flu and headache like symptoms are all common during the first 2–3 days of any detoxification program. Such symptoms do not generally last long and once they have passed, you will begin to feel a new sense of energy and vitality.

Fasting is for healthy adults. Atsumi advises prospective guests suffering with any health problems or chronic conditions to consult their GP before signing up to do any one of our Detox programs.

Our Full “Fast” Cleanse and Juice Cleanse are contraindicated to those suffering with any of the health problems or chronic conditions  listed  under contraindications  on our programs page.

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Please also note that we also do not recommend our Full “Fast” Cleanse  over 10 days for females under 40 even if healthy. We would also not recommend it if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue burnout syndrome, hypothyroidism, menstrual problems or blood sugar imbalances... If you have any health or hormonal issues or are in a poor physical state try our alternatives:  RAW FOOD CLEANSE  or  ACTIVE CLEANSE.

Colonics are not suitable for everyone.  You cannot do a colonic if you have been diagnosed with any of the conditions listed here, though  its still  possible to follow one of our detox programs. Colonics can be substituted with one of our  alternative therapy such as an oxygen or infra red dome session which are an effective way to break up toxins and reduce inflammation in the digestive tract. 

Alternatively  you can  follow  our ACTIVE CLEANSE program which is s similar to our RAW CLEANSE but does NOT include “colonics” or cleansing drinks.

Type 1 Diabetes is a contraindication for our FULL FAST and JUICE CLEANSE  Programs.  The  Full “Fast” and Juice Cleanse are not recommended as they can be potentially very dangerous for insulin dependent diabetes. We do, however, offer a RAW CLEANSE program here at Atsumi which is not actually a fast but involves eating healthy raw foods and green smoothies, combined with bowel cleansing products (pysillium husk combined with bentonite clay), daily activities, massage and colonics. If you chose to go ahead with this program then I would strongly recommend getting clearance from your GP and closely monitoring your blood sugar levels throughout your stay.  

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We would also recommend following our RAW CLEANSE program if you have Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be 100% cured through a good diet (like the RAW  CLEANSE that we offer at Atsumi), moderate exercise, sleep and supplements like coconut oil, cinnamon and magnesium.

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For more information regarding our RAW CLEANSE program please visit  OUR PROGRAMS.

We have many guests who come to our centre with high cholesterol and hypertension. In fact, many of them come to fast/detoxify specifically to help with these issues. An important body activity during a fast is greatly increased diuresis. Diuresis is the excretion by the kidneys of salt and water. Medical doctors give diuretic drugs to high blood pressure patients in order to decrease the amount of salt and water in the body, which will then result in lower blood pressure. Diuretic drugs, however, damage body tissues. While fasting, the body spontaneously and automatically eliminates salt and water without damaging body tissues. This diuresis is of tremendous health benefit.  Although fasting can drastically reduce high blood pressure for those suffering from hypertension, we never recommend that anybody stop taking their medication for this condition. 

Fasting can also indirectly help with issues regarding high cholesterol as the whole process helps to clean the blood and liver, thereby improving the body's ability to digest and break down fats and lipids. However, this is of course dependent on the commitment of the individual to make the necessary changes to their diet and lifestyle. 

You should not stop taking any prescribed medication during a detox program. There are, however, special times to take the medication so it won't be absorbed by the cleansing drinks that we give to you as part of the detox program.

We strongly recommend that you follow our RAW CLEANSE program if you are taking anti-depressants. We would never recommend that you stop taking any medication during a detox program, especially anti-depressants. There are however special times to take the medication so it will not be absorbed by the cleansing drinks that we give to you. The detox process can be emotionally as well as physically demanding and it is  good not to suppress those emotions but to use the additional therapists on offer to deal with  any underlying issues. Please do be aware that although we do have our Detox Specialists around during the day, the program does not include 24hr supervision or patient counselling.  

No, we do not have doctor on site. Atsumi is a holistic healing centre, which means we use alternative treatments to the medical industry. At the beginning of your Detox Program  you will meet with one of our Detox Specialists who will advise you and support you during your detox program. We schedule regular check-ins with our Detox Specialists during your program to make sure everything is running smoothy, to offer advice, recommendations and support if needed. Of course, if you need to see a doctor this can be easily arranged.