The Master Cleanse is a perfect expression of lifestyle simplicity. You need only three basic ingredients plus water for the lemonade, salt for the intestinal flush and a laxative herbal tea. That's it. You will not eat anything else until you break the fast with some orange juice and, later, vegetable soup broth. Each ingredient forms an essential part of the Cleanse, and because this is all that will pass your lips for at least ten days, make sure you get the finest quality ingredients you can. You owe yourself nothing less.
Lemons
The lemon is a loosening and cleansing agent with many important building factors. The ability of the elements in the lemon and the maple syrup working together creates these desired results...
Stanley Burroughs in The Master Cleanser
While the exact origin of the lemon is unknown, the first lemonade drink seems to have originated in Egypt and became common around the Arabic states and around the Mediterranean. Although introduced to Europe around the third century, serious lemon cultivation only began there around the middle of the fifteenth century.
Long known for their grease cleansing abilities, Lemons are high in vitamin C and potassium, and also contain limonene, a compound shown to have anti-cancer properties in laboratory animals. Limonene also appears to raise the levels of beneficial enzymes in the liver. Vitamin C can also lower histamines in the body — histamines are naturally released compounds that initiate inflammation symptoms like red, itchy eyes and runny noses.
The Master Cleanse SuperFruit
Lemons are also astringent, which causes tissue in your body to contract, squeezing out toxins stored deep within. Cholesterol deposits in your arteries and veins also respond well to the intense cleansing power of lemon juice and cayenne pepper. The potassium content is said to nourish the brain and nerve cells. Lemons correct the excessive formation of bile and cleanse the mouth, reducing indigestion and preventing bloating.
The lemon's sourness comes from its high citric acid level, which, in addition to its wonderful flavor and aroma, can slow the oxidation in cut fruit, ward off scurvy, change milk into buttermilk, remove stains and odors from your hands and 'cook' fish without heat!
All citrus fruits are high in flavonoids (the most common antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables), thought to reduce the formation of substances that cause cancer and heart disease. They also contain terpenes, phenols, and isothiocyanates – all chemicals that are thought to help to prevent cancer.
The Lemon (Citrus x. Limon) - An illustration from "Koehler's Medicinal Plants" 1887
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 30g / 1 Fluid Ounce (Juice)
Calories 8kcal
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Potassium 37.8mg
1%
Calcium 0mg
0%
Total Carbohydrates 3g
1%
Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Folate
1%
Vitamin C
23%
Thiamin (B1)
1%
Vitamin B6
1%
* Percentage Daily Values are based on a 2,000 kcal / 8374 KJ diet. Your values may change depending on your calorie needs
Go for organic lemons whenever possible. Many gardens have a lemon tree - but beware of pesticide use.
More than just Lemonade...
A glass of warm water with honey and lemon juice every morning cleanses the body of toxins and strengthens the immune system
A lemon tea will reduce stress and refresh you
Lemon juice is used to marinate meat before cooking and fish are marinated in lemon juice to neutralise the odour
Lemon deodorises, removes grease, bleaches stains, and disinfects
Lemon juice applied to the hair can work as a natural hair lightener
Lemon is used in facial masks for refreshing the skin
Lemon juice is sprinkled on sliced foods such as apples, bananas and avocados to stop them turning brown (oxidising)
The d-limonene in lemon oil is used as a non-toxic insecticide treatment
Lemon juice can be applied often to your age spots, helping them fade
Lemon juice is often used to clean the inside of animal skins prior to taxidermy
Applying lemon juice to facial blemishes is a popular form of treating acne
Raw lemon can be used as a short term deodorant
Lemon oil aroma will enhance your mood and relax you
Float a few fresh slices of lemon in your bath and treat yourself to a heaven-scent
Lemon juice is rich with bioflavonoids which can help reduce the pain and occurence of varicose veins
Maple Syrup
The maple syrup is a balanced form of positive and negative sugar and must be used, not some substitute.
Stanley Burroughs in The Master Cleanser
Maple syrup on pancakes is a tradition about as American as Apple Pie but here in South Africa it's a little known flavour and usually found in its sweetest and lightest grade A form (if at all). Don't be fooled by the 'maple flavoured' syrup you see on our supermarket shelves - it's not maple syrup at all but just plain old 'golden syrup' with some chemical flavouring added and a label designed to fool you. Maple syrup is made from the sap of living maple trees - the lifeblood of nutrients the tree produces to fuel its seasonal growth.
Grade B (Canadian No.3/Dark) is the only syrup recommended for the Master Cleanse as the Grade A syrups are just pure refined sugars without any other nutrients and certainly not healthy for you to live on during your Cleanse! The comparison of Grade A to B is similar to Golden Syrup versus Molasses - one is a refined sugar and the other unrefined and nutrient dense. You can buy genuine Grade B syrup from us here and at some of the better health food stores. While some syrups sold here often claim to be "Grade B", you can easily tell by looking at its colour: Grade A syrups range from a dark to light amber color while genuine Grade B can be readily identified by its almost black colour and a robust maple flavour - authentic, complex and nutricious!
Making Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is made by concentrating the slightly sweet sap of the sugar maple tree through a process of heating and evaporation.
In spring the milder daytime temperatures bring melting snows, while the nights are below freezing. This is the weather that makes the sap flow and this is when the trees are tapped. This sugaring season lasts around 4 to 6 weeks. A mature tree will be more than 30cm in diameter and have one or two taps, each yielding about 40 liters of sap, almost enough to make only one single liter of maple syrup. Typically, the sap is a clear, slightly sweet liquid containing about 1-4% sugar.
The sap is then boiled in 'sugar shacks' to evaporate most of the water. As the liquid concentrates it becomes much sweeter, turning the familiar golden brown colour. What started as 98% water and 2% sugar is now 33% water and 67% sugar.
Our maple syrup comes from trees grown on the Coombs Family Farms and other small, independent maple farms in New Hampshire, USA. It is USDA Organic Grade B Maple Syrup, and the QAI organic certification ensures that no additives like artificial flavours, preservatives, thickeners or paraformaldehyde are used in the product. The syrup is also kosher.
Storing your Maple Syrup
Store unopened bottles of syrup in a cool, dry place that is ideally slightly below room temperature and out of any direct sunlight. Our maple syrup jugs have a shelf life of over two years, but once opened, they should be refrigerated.
The darker Grade A syrups are sometimes labelled as 'Grade B' - but don't be fooled, Grade B is almost black in colour and easily distinguished from the translucent ambers of Grade A
A deliciously sweet aroma drifts up from traditional "sugar shacks" all over the continental American North-East during the maple sugar season
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 15ml / 1 Tablespoon (20g)
Calories 52kcal
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 1.8mg
0%
Potassium 40.8mg
1%
Calcium 13.4mg
1%
Magnesium 2.8mg
1%
Manganese 0.7mg
33%
Zinc 0.8mg
6%
Phosphorus 0.4mg
0%
Total Carbohydrates 13g
4%
Sugars 11.9g
Sucrose 11256mg
Glucose 474mg
Fructose 176mg
Protein 0g
Vitamin A
1%
Vitamin C
0%
Selenium 0.1µg
0%
Iron 0.2mg
1%
* Percentage Daily Values are based on a 2,000 kcal / 8374 KJ diet. Your values may change depending on your calorie needs
We have Certified Organic Grade B Maple Syrup (the real nutritious dark stuff!) for sale in 16oz/473ml, 32oz/946ml and 64oz/1890ml BPA-free plastic jugs.
Maple syrup samples, L-R: Grade A Light, Grade A Medium, Grade A Dark, Grade B
Good Grades
Contrary to what you might expect, maple syrup grades do not indicate which syrup is better, but are simply an indication of color and strength of maple flavour. As the season progresses the syrup becomes darker and richer in minerals, amino acids and taste.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses a four grade system: Grade A Light Amber (sometimes called 'Vermont Fancy'), Grade A Medium Amber, Grade A Dark Amber and the much darker Grade B syrup. Each grade has an upper and lower limit for color and flavor and, as a rule, the darker the maple colour, the stronger the flavour. In Canada they use a different grading system and below is a table showing their equivalents to the USDA's grades.
Maple Syrup Grades
% Light Transmission
United States USDA
Canada & Quebec Federal
Not less than 75%
Grade A Light Amber (Fancy)
No.1 Extra Light / AA
50% - 74.9%
Grade A Medium Amber
No.1 Light / A
27% - 44.9%
Grade A Dark Amber
No.2 Amber / C
Less than 26.9%
Grade B
No.3 Dark / D
Cayenne Pepper
If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper; it is more powerful than any other. There's no other herb that increases your blood flow faster, works faster or works better than cayenne. There is no other herb stronger or more effective than cayenne to make immediate physiological and metabolic changes in the body.
Cayenne has been prized for thousands of years as one of the most useful and valuable herb in the world, not only for the entire digestion system, but also for the heart and circulatory system! As a medicinal and nutritional herb cayenne is a rich source of Vitamins A and C, has the complete B complexes and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium, one of the reasons it is so very good for your heart.
Stanley Burroughs reasons that the inclusion of cayenne pepper in the recipe is to break up and cleanse mucus, increase warmth and provide vitamins. Cayenne also acts as a catalyst, increasing the effectiveness of other herbs. It dilates blood vessels and accelerates circulation, it helps to rebuild stomach tissue, aids digestion and assimilation and stimulates peristalsis in the intestine, improving elimination.
Cayenne has been used effectively for post-surgery pain relief, control of headaches, nausea, dyspepsia, killing prostate (and maybe lung) cancer cells. A tincture of cayenne has been effective in arresting heart attacks! Topical application of capsaicin (the active ingredient of cayenne that causes the burning sensation) creams and ointments have proved effective against muscle aches, arthritis and joint pain, sprains, stings, bites, itches and psoriasis.
Folklore from around the world recounts amazing results using cayenne pepper in simple healing and in baffling health problems. But cayenne pepper is not just a healer from ancient history. Recent clinical studies have been conducted on many of the old-time health applications for this miracle herb. Again and again, the therapeutic value of cayenne pepper has been medically validated.
Do not skimp on the cayenne pepper! It is essential (like everything else in the recipe) and you will certainly not get the energy increase benefits of the diet, among other benefits, without it. If you have not yet acquired the taste for pepper this is a great time to start. Begin with a smaller amount if you really have to, but make sure you increase it to at least 1/6th teaspoon per 280ml glass of the lemonade.
Stir well, you must!
Cayenne will get stronger in the lemonade as it sits, so, if you are making a batch for the whole day, it may be better to take the cayenne pepper along separately and add it to each glass before you drink it. The powder will always settle so keep stirring or shaking to avoid the nasty "clump at the bottom" which concentrates the impact (and the discomfit for you non chilli-heads).
Capsicum Annum, more commonly known as the Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne peppers are generally rated as "hot" or about 6 on a scale of 10
Fresh powdered Cayenne Pepper
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 5ml / 1 Teaspoon (5g)
Calories 16.7kcal
Calories from Fat 7.6
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.9g
1%
Saturated Fat 0.2g
1%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 34.6mg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids 405mg
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 1.6mg
0%
Potassium 40.8mg
1%
Calcium 7.8mg
1%
Iron 0.4mg
2%
Magnesium 8.0mg
2%
Manganese 0.1mg
5%
Zinc 0.1mg
1%
Phosphorus 15.4mg
2%
Total Carbohydrates 3g
1%
Dietary Fibre 1g
6%
Sugars 1g
1%
Protein 1g
Vitamin A
44%
Vitamin C
7%
Vitamin E
8%
Vitamin K
5%
Vitamin B6
8%
Riboflavin (B2)
3%
Thiamin (B1)
1%
Niacin (B3)
2%
* Percentage Daily Values are based on a 2,000 kcal / 8374 KJ diet. Your values may change depending on your calorie needs
Do not use Cayenne Pepper capsules or pills as they will not have the necessary effect. Cayenne pepper in liquid form contains either alcohol or oil - neither of which are suitable for the Master Cleanse.
Cayenne Pepper in Capsules or Liquid?
Never take your cayenne in capsules, you will simply be wasting your time (and money). Capsules are made out of gelatin (boiled animal hooves and tendons) which will require digestion and thus defeat the fasting aspect of your Cleanse. Secondly, cayenne's healing action is triggered via the nerve endings in the mouth (which react by sending blood throughout the body) and by irritating the mucous membranes (your inner skin) throughout your entire digestive tract. If you bypass your mouth you bypass the entire therapeutic effect!
Taking Cayenne in a pill (i.e. all at one go) also minimises the benefit compared to it being included in the lemonade, where it's (short-term) effects will be felt every time you have a sip, ensuring repeated dosage, stimulation and efficacy.
Liquid Cayenne Pepper is also a very definite no-no, but for a different reason. Neither the cayenne powder (made from crushing dried cayenne peppers) nor the active ingredient, capsaicin, is soluble in water. To derive a liquid version either oil or alcohol is used to create the solution and you don't want to be swallowing either of those on your Cleanse.
Herbal Laxative Tea
Active ingredients: Senna Leaves and
Licorice Root.
Most herbal laxative teas contain the dried leaves of one or more varieties of the Senna plant and sometimes Licorice Root. Senna is the key ingredient you should look for on the list of ingredients.
When drawing your evening cup of tea on the Cleanse leave the tea bag (or loose leaves) in the hot water for at least 5-10 minutes to ensure a strong brew. It's always best to drink it last thing before you go to bed at night and you will feel its effects the next morning.
If you decide to drink some laxative tea in the morning instead of the Salt Water Flush remember that its effects can last throughout the day, so be prepared and don't stray too far from the nearest loo!
Laxative Tea vs Salt Water Flush
While both the tea and the Salt Water Flush appear to produce the same liquid end result, they are very different in their effect on your body. The laxative herbs in the tea loosen the stool and induce peristalsis in your colon, a muscular contraction which helps move waste down the pipe. When you are eating normally this channel is usually quite full, but on the Cleanse it isn't. Much of the smaller 'debris' that is extracted by the detox process does not have enough substance to be moved on by the contractions, reducing the effectiveness of the laxative as you continue on the Cleanse.
The Salt Water Flush works exactly as its name implies - it quickly washes everything through, taking whatever loose matter there may be in your digestive tract, no matter how small, with it, ensuring a thorough clean out. So while the tea certainly helps to get those bowels moving, its a lot less effective on the Cleanse and you still need to do the Salt Water Flush regularly or you risk having the freed toxins reabsorbed into your body — a process known as auto-toxification.
Senna Alexandrina - An illustration from "Koehler's Medicinal Plants" 1887
Licorice Root preparations
Salt
Salt is the most popular food seasoning and a dietary mineral essential for animal life. It enhances the flavour of foods, and is one of our basic tastes. It is an important factor in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of our bodies. It preserves acid-base balance in the body, aids potassium absorption, supplies the essence of digestive stomach acid, and enhances the ability of the blood to carry carbon dioxide from respiring tissues to the lungs. But, while chloride is also essential to good health, too much refined salt can increase the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure.
Choosing Your Salt
The table salt we are all most familiar with is almost totally Sodium Chloride with some added Iodine, added to combat a supposed Iodine deficiency in our diets, and various anti-caking agents such as sodium silicoaluminate (a form of aluminium) or magnesium carbonate. It is produced in an industrial refining environment and has no other nutritional value whatsoever and should be avoided. In contrast, raw, unrefined sea salts and salt from sea deposits can contain over 80 individual nutrients and minerals! Many of these are only trace elements, and are therefore required by our bodies in only very small amounts, yet a deficiency of them can cause great harm to our bodies. Fish from the ocean will die quickly if placed in a solution of refined salt and water. The sodium chloride, in the form that it comes from the refinery, is actually poisonous to them.
The SWF: Keeping it Down
Probably the most daunting prospect of the Cleanse for many people is the notorious Salt Water Flush (SWF). Unpleasant for most, but necessary, it's something you get more and more used to as the days go by. If you tremble at the thought of the SWF, make sure you get hold a copy of The Master Cleanse: A Survivor's Guide which has some proven hints and tips to get it down and keep it down.
Local are Lekker
Our Master Cleanse kits include Khoisan Pure Atlantic Sea Salt, harvested on the South African West Coast. The salt is harvested by hand by workers using long handled rakes and stainless steel mesh skimmers, from shallow pools of salt-dense seawater, drawing the crystals to the sides of the pans.
Khoisan pure Atlantic Sea Salt
Himalayan Rock Salt
Nutrition Facts
Unrefined Pure Sea Salt
Serving Size 5ml / 1 Teaspoon (6g)
Calories 0kcal
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 1 290mg
56%
Potassium 4mg
1%
Calcium 1.4mg
0%
Magnesium 12mg
4%
Chloride 2 080mg
60%
Vitamin A
0%
Vitamin C
0%
* Percentage Daily Values are based on a 2,000 kcal / 8374 KJ diet. Your values may change depending on your calorie needs
Water
You may be able to go without eating for well over 60 days but you won't last without water for more than three. Water is the ultimate solvent and critical to the body's ability to absorb and distribute nutrients. It is a universal solvent which washes toxins out and mobilises them for cleansing throughout your body.To function properly and avoid dehydration, your body requires between one and seven litres of water per day; the precise amount depends on your level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight water. It is not clear exactly how much water intake is needed by healthy people, though most advocates agree that 6–7 glasses of water (around 2 litres) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration.
Avoid Dehydration
We often mistake thirst for hunger so make sure that you drink almost as much pure water as lemonade on the Cleanse. Sufficient liquid for your body to work its detoxing magic is essential for success, and, of course, you'll want to find the cleanest and purest water you possibly can - the less mineral salts, flouride, chlorine and living inhabitants like bacteria, the better.
When we fail to take in enough water many metabolic functions are inhibited. Nutrients are not absorbed completely and waste removal is slowed and made more difficult. Dehydration also stresses the kidneys, causing headaches, and can even affect blood pressure.
There is just no substitute for pure, clear spring water!
Some of the Benefits of Drinking Sufficient Water
Prevents headaches
Three quarters of your brain is water so if you need a top-up, this is one of the first places that will feel it. If your headache is caused by alcohol, then drinking lots of water - particularly before bed - will help get rid of it by flushing out toxins and re-hydrating the brain.
Reduces infections
The lymphatic system is your waste disposal system, breaking down toxins, like caffeine, before passing them into the blood stream. Dehydration weakens the flow of lymph in the system and makes the body less resistant to infection. With water, lymph flows properly again, fighting infection and lowering feverish temperatures.
Maintains your concentration
Your body needs water to help flush out poisons from things like junk food and additives. When you are dehydrated, these toxins hang around in the liver, making you tired and unable to concentrate.
Removes baggy eyes
Sunken eyes and under-eye bags are sure signs that you need water. Eyes sink because there isn't enough water to keep them suspended in the eye socket. Under-eye bags are usually due to thin skin being bruised as fluid drains away.
Prevents cramps
Blood transports oxygen to the muscles for activities such as exercise. If there isn't enough oxygen in the blood, the muscles create lactic acid which can cause painful cramps. Drinking more water will help to keep the blood pumped with oxygen.
Reduces Cystitis (Bladder Inflammation)
A healthy, well hydrated body eliminates waste with light yellow, virtually odourless urine. If you are not drinking enough, your urine will be darker and more highly concentrated. Waste products will linger in the bladder, leaving you prone to cystitis and kidney infections.
Keeps bowels healthy
Without water the contents of the colon (lower intestine) can dry out and get stuck, eventually causing diverticulitis. Constipation can also be a problem, because water is needed to bulk out faeces. Drinking water, along with taking in water from fruit and vegetables, helps to rehydrate and move this waste.
Prevents fluid retention
When you are feeling 'puffy', as women often do before their menstrual cycle, drinking water isn't your immediate thought. But it's the best treatment for reducing fluid retention.
If your body doesn't get enough water, it senses there is a shortage and begins to retain every drop it needs for vital daily processes.
Keeps your breath neutral
Bad breath is often a sign that you need to boost your water intake. Saliva helps cleanse the teeth of bacteria and keeps the tongue hydrated. Lack of water dries the mouth, leads to a furry tongue and prevents bacteria from being washed away, all of which can cause halitosis.
Improves your skin
Skin needs water for elasticity and too little water will leave it looking dry, wrinkled and feeling slightly crisp.
Beware the BPA
If you're drinking water from a reusable plastic bottle, you might want to think again. Concerns have been raised over the leaching of Bisphenol A (BPA) into drinking water and food. BPA is thought to be a hormone disruptor, mimicking and playing havoc with the body's own natural hormones. The long-term effects and toxicity of BPA are not yet known, though it does appear to have carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects and has been linked to reproductive damage, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease even at the lowest levels.
BPA is found in items made of hard and/or clear plastic called polycarbonate. Polycarbonate releases BPA when it is heated or cooled, however studies suggest that BPA may also be released into a container's contents at room temperature.
BPA is present in a lot of common household items, like plastic water bottles, baby bottles, sports equipment, CDs, DVDs, and electronic devices made out of polycarbonate. When present in drinking containers, it has been shown to leach BPA into the liquid they contain, including water, fruit juices, and milk.
Options
There is a growing variety of BPA-free options, choose plastics specifically labelled "BPA Free" or use cloudy, opaque and soft plastic containers that don't contain BPA (look for the recycle number on the item: 2,4 and 5 are OK, the others should be avoided). Other alternatives include stainless steel bottles (make sure they don't have an inner plastic lining) and glass. Transfer any water you buy into glass bottles as soon as possible and especially before refrigerating.
Use wooden spoons and chopping boards instead of plastic, let food cool properly before storing in plastic containers and never, never microwave or otherwise heat food inside a plastic container which contains BPA.
But Wait there's more...!
Because plastics containg BPA are commonly used as "protective" liners on the inside of food cans, eating canned food is not recommended either! Eat fresh or frozen foods in place of canned as often as possible.
Almost every single plastic container used commercially for bottled water contains Bisphenol A: a chemical compound linked to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and reproductive damage.
Use the recycle logo as a guide to choosing the right type of plastics you will store liquids or foods in.
Important: This web site does not provide medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking help because of something you have read on this or any other website. Reliance on any information provided herein, or by any contributors to the public forums, is solely at your own risk.
