Heal:
Anxiety - High Cholesterol - The Gut - (Colon Cleanse) - The Heart - The Liver - Inflammation - The Kidneys - The Lymphatic System - The Nervous System - The Pancreas - The Pineal Gland - The Reproductive System - The Thyroid
Anxiety - High Cholesterol - The Gut - (Colon Cleanse) - The Heart - The Liver - Inflammation - The Kidneys - The Lymphatic System - The Nervous System - The Pancreas - The Pineal Gland - The Reproductive System - The Thyroid
Heal the Gut
"All Disease Begins in the Gut" - Hippocrates
“If there's one thing to know about the human body; it's this: the human body has a ringmaster. This ringmaster controls your digestion, your immunity, your brain, your weight, your health and even your happiness. This ringmaster is the gut. - Nancy Mure
The importance of keeping your intestinal tract clean and healthy cannot be overstated. Remember that this is your main canal of digestion, which is where the breakdown of your foods into fuels and building materials takes place. After your food is digested, it is then absorbed through the lining of the intestines through the villa. Absorption of the nutrients from the foods you eat is just as essential as the digestive process. The billions of cells that comprise the body depend upon the absorption from the bowels for their nutrition. As previously stated, proper nutrition can be blocked from the cells by retained waste in the colon. This leads to a toxic buildup and the accumulation of a gluey substance throughout the intestines called “mucoid plaque.” This plaque causes inflammation and the breakdown of the tissues of the intestinal walls. Mucoid plaque is mostly a by-product of refined starches, sugars and dairy products. When the walls of the intestines are coated with layers of sticky plaque, the nutrients the body needs to properly function and perform to its highest potential cannot be absorbed. In addition, the sticky mucoid plaque is a breeding ground for parasitic infestation. These destructive parasites consume any remaining nutrients left in the GI tract.
(Dr. Morse, The Detox Miracle Sourcebook)
(Dr. Morse, The Detox Miracle Sourcebook)
The Digestive System
The digestive system essentially consists of a lengthy tube or tunnel beginning at the mouth, dropping 10 inches or so down the esophagus, enlarging to form the stomach, then continuing as the intestine in a winding course through the abdomen to exit at the anus. The main digestive canal is assisted in its function by the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. The purpose of digestion is to break down food, both mechanically and chemically, so that it can be altered into a form suitable for assimilation in the stomach and small intestine, carried off by the blood and lymph and ultimately made available for cell metabolism – the conversion of matter into energy and the conversion of simple substances into more complex ones to perform specific cellular, intercellular, and systemic tasks. The human body is a wonderfully complex creation, and the digestive system is a vital and fascinating aspect of it.
When we eat, the food molecules are broken into small particles in the mouth as we chew and are mixed with saliva which partly digests starches through the enzymes. As we swallow, the food passes down the esophagus to the stomach where it is churned up further, mixed with pepsin, hydrochloric acid, and lipase, which aid in protein and fat breakdown, and liquefied until it is ready to be passed into the duodenum, the entryway into the small intestine. Small quantities of food are "pushed" into the duodenum every 20 seconds or so for from 1 to 4 hours by the process of peristalsis, which moves food along in a wave·like rhythm characteristic of the entire gastrointestinal tract.
In the duodenum, bile produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, is added along with pancreatic juices. The bile, which is the only digestive juice that contains no enzyme, breaks up and emulsifies fat particles. The bile also activates the pancreatic enzyme just as hydrochloric acid activates pepsin in the stomach. The pancreatic juice helps digest carbohydrates and proteins and converts the fats partly processed by bile into fatty acids and glycerol. The intestinal juice contains four enzymes which complete much of the digestion process before the food is absorbed through the intestinal mucosa into the blood and lymph vessels that line the intestinal walls. During this process, the digesting food is being propelled along the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the small intestine (about one inch in diameter and twenty feet long) by peristaltic motion, as the small intestine secretes hormones that signal the pancreas and liver to stop injecting digestive juice and bile into the duodenum.
In the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, the remaining unabsorbed wastes are propelled into the cecum. The colon is slightly more than double the diameter of the small intestine and about six feet long. The ileum of the small intestine contains a one-way valve that allows wastes to travel out but never back in. The waste, after passing through the cecum, is moved up the ascending colon on the right side of the body, across the transverse colon (just below the liver and stomach) to the left side of the body, down the descending colon to the sigmoid colon which joins the rectum. When the rectum becomes enlarged with wastes, the desire to defecate occurs and wastes are eliminated from the anus.(Bernard Jensen, Iridology, The Science and the Practice in the Healing Arts, Volume 2)
When we eat, the food molecules are broken into small particles in the mouth as we chew and are mixed with saliva which partly digests starches through the enzymes. As we swallow, the food passes down the esophagus to the stomach where it is churned up further, mixed with pepsin, hydrochloric acid, and lipase, which aid in protein and fat breakdown, and liquefied until it is ready to be passed into the duodenum, the entryway into the small intestine. Small quantities of food are "pushed" into the duodenum every 20 seconds or so for from 1 to 4 hours by the process of peristalsis, which moves food along in a wave·like rhythm characteristic of the entire gastrointestinal tract.
In the duodenum, bile produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, is added along with pancreatic juices. The bile, which is the only digestive juice that contains no enzyme, breaks up and emulsifies fat particles. The bile also activates the pancreatic enzyme just as hydrochloric acid activates pepsin in the stomach. The pancreatic juice helps digest carbohydrates and proteins and converts the fats partly processed by bile into fatty acids and glycerol. The intestinal juice contains four enzymes which complete much of the digestion process before the food is absorbed through the intestinal mucosa into the blood and lymph vessels that line the intestinal walls. During this process, the digesting food is being propelled along the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the small intestine (about one inch in diameter and twenty feet long) by peristaltic motion, as the small intestine secretes hormones that signal the pancreas and liver to stop injecting digestive juice and bile into the duodenum.
In the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, the remaining unabsorbed wastes are propelled into the cecum. The colon is slightly more than double the diameter of the small intestine and about six feet long. The ileum of the small intestine contains a one-way valve that allows wastes to travel out but never back in. The waste, after passing through the cecum, is moved up the ascending colon on the right side of the body, across the transverse colon (just below the liver and stomach) to the left side of the body, down the descending colon to the sigmoid colon which joins the rectum. When the rectum becomes enlarged with wastes, the desire to defecate occurs and wastes are eliminated from the anus.(Bernard Jensen, Iridology, The Science and the Practice in the Healing Arts, Volume 2)
Signs of Imbalance in the Digestive System
The gut reflects the body’s internal terrain with astonishing clarity. When the digestive system begins to shift out of balance—whether from dietary habits, stress, microbial disruption, or stagnation—its symptoms speak in phases. Drawing on the clinical observations of Dr. Bernard Jensen and Dr. Morse, as well as modern digestive research, we can begin to map these signs across three key stages: acute, chronic, and degenerative.
Each phase tells a story of the body's attempt to correct, adapt, or survive under strain.
Acute Phase:
The body is still responsive. Inflammation, irritation, and elimination are often heightened—signs of the system trying to cleanse and restore order.
Chronic Phase:
If the root causes are not addressed, acute inflammation gives way to sluggishness and congestion. The gut begins to adapt to imbalance—but the cost is lowered function.
Degenerative Phase:
Tissue integrity begins to break down. Long-term toxicity, inflammation, and stagnation can lead to structural damage, deeper immune issues, and systemic decline.
Each phase tells a story of the body's attempt to correct, adapt, or survive under strain.
Acute Phase:
The body is still responsive. Inflammation, irritation, and elimination are often heightened—signs of the system trying to cleanse and restore order.
- Gas and bloating after meals
- Mild to moderate abdominal cramping
- Acid reflux or occasional heartburn
- Loose stools or temporary constipation
- Nausea, especially after rich or processed foods
- Bad breath, coated tongue
- Food sensitivities beginning to surface
- Skin breakouts or rashes connected to digestion
- Increased mucus production (stools, throat)
- Discomfort that comes and goes—fluctuating symptoms
Chronic Phase:
If the root causes are not addressed, acute inflammation gives way to sluggishness and congestion. The gut begins to adapt to imbalance—but the cost is lowered function.
- Persistent constipation or sluggish elimination
- Chronic bloating or heaviness after eating
- Ongoing indigestion or discomfort in the gut
- Constant fatigue or brain fog
- MalabsorptionMalabsorption signs: especially in the iris, brittle nails, thinning hair, dry skin
- Foul-smelling stools or flatulence
- Hemorrhoids or varicose veins
- Food addictions or cravings (esp. sugar, starch, dairy)
- Emotional stagnation, apathy, or low mood
- Feeling full quickly or loss of appetite
Degenerative Phase:
Tissue integrity begins to break down. Long-term toxicity, inflammation, and stagnation can lead to structural damage, deeper immune issues, and systemic decline.
- Diverticulosis or diverticulitis
- Chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., 'colitis', 'Crohn’s)
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Intestinal strictures or bowel prolapse
- Constant pain or distention in the gut
- Autoimmune gut manifestations ('Celiac', 'IBS', 'IBD')
- Putrefaction and systemic toxemia
- Cachexia (wasting), nutrient depletion
- Deep emotional detachment or grief held in the belly
- Recurring infections, weakened immunity
The Digestive System - Seen through the Lens of Iridology
Stomach and Bowel Toxicity
The science of Iridology helps to prove the relation of the colon to reflex dis-ease, toxins and symptoms. As seen in the eye, the colon is a hub: each segment of the bowel with its intricate connections of circulation, lymph and nerves connect to specific reflex areas throughout the entire body. If one area of the colon is toxic, spastic or inflamed, the symptoms are not only found in the bowel itself, but also in the reflex area. Toxic conditions that exist in the bowel pollute the body through the blood stream. The colon is designed to serve as a reservoir from which the blood absorbs nutrients to circulate throughout the entire system. But when the colon is toxic, or impacted with fecal matter, poisons are distributed instead. (Jensen)
Signs in the Iris - the bowel area surrounds the stomach which is the circular area closest to the pupil. Darkening in that area, heavy congestion in the bowel wall, Sulphur accumulation indicated by orange discoloration and congestion, radii solaris, or a spastic or prolapsed colon all indicate toxic accumulation within the bowels. Seen also in the pupillary margin zone as the malabsorption ring – when nutrients are not absorbed and circulated one is not satisfied by food, feels hungry with incessant cravings and eats much more than necessary.
Signs in the Iris - the bowel area surrounds the stomach which is the circular area closest to the pupil. Darkening in that area, heavy congestion in the bowel wall, Sulphur accumulation indicated by orange discoloration and congestion, radii solaris, or a spastic or prolapsed colon all indicate toxic accumulation within the bowels. Seen also in the pupillary margin zone as the malabsorption ring – when nutrients are not absorbed and circulated one is not satisfied by food, feels hungry with incessant cravings and eats much more than necessary.
The Digestive System as Seen in the Iris
What Harms the Gut
The gut is a sensitive, living terrain—fluid, electric, and deeply responsive to what we feed it, how we feel, and what we suppress. It's not just about food. The gut is shaped by rhythm, emotion, and flow.
Here’s what tends to harm it most:
Acid-Forming Foods
The modern diet is heavy with cooked proteins, dairy, fried foods, and refined grains. These substances leave behind a dense, acidic residue that inflames the intestinal lining, feeds unwanted microbial overgrowth, and disrupts the natural bacterial balance. Over time, they harden and dry the colon, making it difficult for waste to move and be released.
Lack of Fiber and Hydrating Foods
A diet low in raw fruit and greens means the gut has nothing to sweep and soften with. Dry, dense foods (crackers, bread, protein bars, cereals) with no counterbalance create stagnation. Without hydration from living food, the intestines become sluggish. Peristalsis weakens.
Your colon cannot clean itself on meat and white bread.
Medications and Suppression
Laxatives, antacids, painkillers, antibiotics—all interfere with the gut’s rhythm. Some block sensation, others kill the microbiome, and some shut down peristalsis altogether. While sometimes necessary short-term, their long-term impact is one of energetic suppression—cutting off the body’s messages, dulling the fire of the solar plexus.
Emotional Constriction
Worry, anxiety, and chronic tension tend to nest in the gut. Many people carry years of stored grief, shock, or unspoken emotion in the small intestines and colon. The gut tightens, slows, holds on. Even with a clean diet, this stagnation can remain unless emotional and energetic flow are addressed.
“The colon is the garbage pail of the human system—but also its emotional basement.”
Cooked, Enzyme-Less Meals
The more cooked and complex the meal, the more burdened the gut becomes. Digestive fire weakens when it’s constantly asked to process dense, enzyme-less food. When meals are heavy and frequent, without space to rest and renew, the gut starts to ferment, not flow.
Overeating and Chaotic Food Combining
Even healthy food can harm when it’s mixed chaotically or eaten in excess. Fruit on top of cooked food, starches with proteins, constant grazing—all of these confuse digestion and lead to fermentation, gas, and stagnation. The gut loves simplicity. It thrives on pauses.
Dehydration
Drinking water isn’t the same as being hydrated. True hydration reaches beyond the bloodstream—it must penetrate the interstitial spaces, the fluid-filled channels between the cells where most waste accumulates and detoxification truly begins.
As Dr. Morse teaches, regardless of the amount of water one consumes, or even a high quantity of fruit, if your lymphatic system is stagnant and your kidneys aren’t filtering, that water won’t reach the places it’s needed most. It simply circulates, then leaves—never touching the tissues in distress.
When the colon is dry, waste hardens. Transit slows. The entire elimination pathway begins to back up. Bloating, stagnation, and inflammation take root.
Here’s what tends to harm it most:
Acid-Forming Foods
The modern diet is heavy with cooked proteins, dairy, fried foods, and refined grains. These substances leave behind a dense, acidic residue that inflames the intestinal lining, feeds unwanted microbial overgrowth, and disrupts the natural bacterial balance. Over time, they harden and dry the colon, making it difficult for waste to move and be released.
Lack of Fiber and Hydrating Foods
A diet low in raw fruit and greens means the gut has nothing to sweep and soften with. Dry, dense foods (crackers, bread, protein bars, cereals) with no counterbalance create stagnation. Without hydration from living food, the intestines become sluggish. Peristalsis weakens.
Your colon cannot clean itself on meat and white bread.
Medications and Suppression
Laxatives, antacids, painkillers, antibiotics—all interfere with the gut’s rhythm. Some block sensation, others kill the microbiome, and some shut down peristalsis altogether. While sometimes necessary short-term, their long-term impact is one of energetic suppression—cutting off the body’s messages, dulling the fire of the solar plexus.
Emotional Constriction
Worry, anxiety, and chronic tension tend to nest in the gut. Many people carry years of stored grief, shock, or unspoken emotion in the small intestines and colon. The gut tightens, slows, holds on. Even with a clean diet, this stagnation can remain unless emotional and energetic flow are addressed.
“The colon is the garbage pail of the human system—but also its emotional basement.”
Cooked, Enzyme-Less Meals
The more cooked and complex the meal, the more burdened the gut becomes. Digestive fire weakens when it’s constantly asked to process dense, enzyme-less food. When meals are heavy and frequent, without space to rest and renew, the gut starts to ferment, not flow.
Overeating and Chaotic Food Combining
Even healthy food can harm when it’s mixed chaotically or eaten in excess. Fruit on top of cooked food, starches with proteins, constant grazing—all of these confuse digestion and lead to fermentation, gas, and stagnation. The gut loves simplicity. It thrives on pauses.
Dehydration
Drinking water isn’t the same as being hydrated. True hydration reaches beyond the bloodstream—it must penetrate the interstitial spaces, the fluid-filled channels between the cells where most waste accumulates and detoxification truly begins.
As Dr. Morse teaches, regardless of the amount of water one consumes, or even a high quantity of fruit, if your lymphatic system is stagnant and your kidneys aren’t filtering, that water won’t reach the places it’s needed most. It simply circulates, then leaves—never touching the tissues in distress.
When the colon is dry, waste hardens. Transit slows. The entire elimination pathway begins to back up. Bloating, stagnation, and inflammation take root.
What Heals the Gut
To heal the gut is to restore rhythm, remember the body's innate intelligence, and nourish the fire of transformation. The gut is where earth becomes energy, where substance becomes spirit. It is the alchemical center of the body, and to heal it is to return to alignment.
Here is what helps it thrive:
Living Foods with Enzymatic Life
Fruits and greens are the foundation. These are the original foods—rich in hydration, fiber, enzymes, and electricity. Fresh fruits, tender greens, bitter herbs, and raw vegetables are the original medicine of the gut. Their water, fiber, and living enzymes sweep, soften, and enliven the digestive tract. They feed beneficial bacteria and restore hydration at a cellular level.
“Disease equals toxemia. Health equals cleanliness.” — Arnold Ehret
Fruits, especially, are the most cleansing—melons, citrus, grapes, berries—they hydrate, dissolve, and regenerate. Greens add minerals and structure. Bitter herbs (like dandelion, burdock, and gentian) stimulate digestive secretions and bile flow.
Cleanse the Colon
The gut cannot heal while it's holding on to old waste.
This is a process of unwinding layers of stagnation, softening hardened buildup, and restoring flow. When waste sits, fermentation and inflammation follow. Enemas, herbal laxatives, psyllium and charcoal, or simply a high-fruit diet with space between meals—all support the colon in releasing what it no longer needs. Castor oil packs placed over the abdomen can draw out deep-held waste and move lymph through the gut wall.
As Bernard Jensen wrote, “Poor bowel management lies at the root of most people’s health problems.”
Strengthen Digestive Fire
Digestion is a flame—known by Agni in Ayurveda—and it must be tended like any sacred fire. Too much food extinguishes it. Cold, dry, lifeless food weakens it. During transitional stages, especially when the body is cold, depleted, or holding long-term waste, cooked food may serve as a bridge. Lightly steamed roots, warming broths, and herbal stews can soften resistance and offer stability. Systems like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine honor this phase, using warm nourishment to kindle digestive fire—but always with the aim of restoring clarity and movement. Cooked food is not the goal—it’s the transition.
Herbs that Soothe, Cleanse, and Rebuild
Herbs are allies in this process. Slippery elm and marshmallow root soothe and rebuild the intestinal lining. Aloe vera cools inflammation and supports tissue repair. Triphala gently tones the bowels. Licorice root nourishes and strengthens. Calendula and chamomile offer calm to both the gut and the nervous system. Bitter herbs like dandelion root, gentian, and yellow dock support bile flow, breaking stagnation and awakening digestion. These plants are codes. They remind the body how to heal—guides that invite the gut to return to its innate intelligence.
Hydration Through Nature
Real hydration comes not just from water, but from structured, mineral-rich, flowing moisture—found in fruits, raw plants, coconut water, herbal teas. The gut needs lubrication to move waste, prevent friction, and allow absorption. Without this fluid matrix, digestion becomes dry, brittle, and inflamed. Grapes, melons, citrus, papaya, berries, mango, tender greens, and wild herbs cleanse the intestines, feed the microbiome, and hydrate the tissues between the cells. This is the kind of hydration that moves—not just through the bloodstream, but through the lymph and interstitial fluid where deeper stagnation sits. You can’t reach those places with water alone.
Fasting
Fasting, when approached with reverence, is the gut’s great repair window. Whether intermittent or prolonged, it allows the digestive system to pause, clean house, and redirect energy to healing.
“Fasting gives nature time to rebuild what has been damaged.” — Herbert Shelton
Even a day of rest, even a single mono-meal, can give the gut space to breathe.
Simplicity is medicine. Mono meals—just grapes, just melon—allow the body to focus. Periods of rest, juice fasting, or warm tea days give digestion space to breathe. You don’t need ten steps. You need space. And trust.
Heal the Microbiome
is part of this story. It is a living, breathing ecosystem. When we eat raw plants in their whole form, the gut’s microbial community comes alive. These microbes produce vitamins, protect the intestinal wall, and influence everything from immune function to mood. They are not separate from us—they are extensions of us, shaped by every bite, every breath, every thought.
Here is what helps it thrive:
Living Foods with Enzymatic Life
Fruits and greens are the foundation. These are the original foods—rich in hydration, fiber, enzymes, and electricity. Fresh fruits, tender greens, bitter herbs, and raw vegetables are the original medicine of the gut. Their water, fiber, and living enzymes sweep, soften, and enliven the digestive tract. They feed beneficial bacteria and restore hydration at a cellular level.
“Disease equals toxemia. Health equals cleanliness.” — Arnold Ehret
Fruits, especially, are the most cleansing—melons, citrus, grapes, berries—they hydrate, dissolve, and regenerate. Greens add minerals and structure. Bitter herbs (like dandelion, burdock, and gentian) stimulate digestive secretions and bile flow.
Cleanse the Colon
The gut cannot heal while it's holding on to old waste.
This is a process of unwinding layers of stagnation, softening hardened buildup, and restoring flow. When waste sits, fermentation and inflammation follow. Enemas, herbal laxatives, psyllium and charcoal, or simply a high-fruit diet with space between meals—all support the colon in releasing what it no longer needs. Castor oil packs placed over the abdomen can draw out deep-held waste and move lymph through the gut wall.
As Bernard Jensen wrote, “Poor bowel management lies at the root of most people’s health problems.”
Strengthen Digestive Fire
Digestion is a flame—known by Agni in Ayurveda—and it must be tended like any sacred fire. Too much food extinguishes it. Cold, dry, lifeless food weakens it. During transitional stages, especially when the body is cold, depleted, or holding long-term waste, cooked food may serve as a bridge. Lightly steamed roots, warming broths, and herbal stews can soften resistance and offer stability. Systems like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine honor this phase, using warm nourishment to kindle digestive fire—but always with the aim of restoring clarity and movement. Cooked food is not the goal—it’s the transition.
Herbs that Soothe, Cleanse, and Rebuild
Herbs are allies in this process. Slippery elm and marshmallow root soothe and rebuild the intestinal lining. Aloe vera cools inflammation and supports tissue repair. Triphala gently tones the bowels. Licorice root nourishes and strengthens. Calendula and chamomile offer calm to both the gut and the nervous system. Bitter herbs like dandelion root, gentian, and yellow dock support bile flow, breaking stagnation and awakening digestion. These plants are codes. They remind the body how to heal—guides that invite the gut to return to its innate intelligence.
Hydration Through Nature
Real hydration comes not just from water, but from structured, mineral-rich, flowing moisture—found in fruits, raw plants, coconut water, herbal teas. The gut needs lubrication to move waste, prevent friction, and allow absorption. Without this fluid matrix, digestion becomes dry, brittle, and inflamed. Grapes, melons, citrus, papaya, berries, mango, tender greens, and wild herbs cleanse the intestines, feed the microbiome, and hydrate the tissues between the cells. This is the kind of hydration that moves—not just through the bloodstream, but through the lymph and interstitial fluid where deeper stagnation sits. You can’t reach those places with water alone.
Fasting
Fasting, when approached with reverence, is the gut’s great repair window. Whether intermittent or prolonged, it allows the digestive system to pause, clean house, and redirect energy to healing.
“Fasting gives nature time to rebuild what has been damaged.” — Herbert Shelton
Even a day of rest, even a single mono-meal, can give the gut space to breathe.
Simplicity is medicine. Mono meals—just grapes, just melon—allow the body to focus. Periods of rest, juice fasting, or warm tea days give digestion space to breathe. You don’t need ten steps. You need space. And trust.
Heal the Microbiome
is part of this story. It is a living, breathing ecosystem. When we eat raw plants in their whole form, the gut’s microbial community comes alive. These microbes produce vitamins, protect the intestinal wall, and influence everything from immune function to mood. They are not separate from us—they are extensions of us, shaped by every bite, every breath, every thought.
The Gut Microbiome
Trillions of microorganisms reside in the intestines—a complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes known as the gut microbiome. These microbes are not passive passengers; they play essential roles in digestion, metabolism, and immunity. They help break down fibers, produce key nutrients, and communicate with immune cells throughout the body.
An imbalance in this ecosystem (dysbiosis) can lead to digestive disorders, systemic inflammation, and even cognitive decline. A diverse, plant-based diet has been shown to nourish beneficial microbes and strengthen this inner ecosystem, while diets high in sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats tend to reduce microbial diversity and promote disease (1).
Roughly 70% of the body's immune cells reside in the gut, in constant interaction with these microbes. As Dr. Jonathan Jacobs of UCLA notes, “The microbiome and the immune system are critically intertwined” (1). The gut bacteria essentially train the immune system—educating immune cells to distinguish between friend and foe. A healthy microbiome is one of the most powerful forms of immunity.
An imbalance in this ecosystem (dysbiosis) can lead to digestive disorders, systemic inflammation, and even cognitive decline. A diverse, plant-based diet has been shown to nourish beneficial microbes and strengthen this inner ecosystem, while diets high in sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats tend to reduce microbial diversity and promote disease (1).
Roughly 70% of the body's immune cells reside in the gut, in constant interaction with these microbes. As Dr. Jonathan Jacobs of UCLA notes, “The microbiome and the immune system are critically intertwined” (1). The gut bacteria essentially train the immune system—educating immune cells to distinguish between friend and foe. A healthy microbiome is one of the most powerful forms of immunity.
The Microbiome: 'The Garden Within' Beneath the surface of the gut lies a vast, intelligent ecosystem—trillions of microbes weaving immunity, digestion, and even emotion. These unseen allies ferment fiber into healing compounds, produce neurotransmitters, and train the immune system at its roots. When balanced, they form a living garden of protection and vitality. When disturbed, inflammation follows.
To heal the microbiome is to restore the original covenant between the human body and the Earth—through fruits, greens, herbal infusions, and living foods that feed the soil within.
The Gut–Brain Axis
The gut is not merely a digestive organ—it is a perceptive field, a neural hub, a second brain woven into the body’s inner terrain. Embedded in the lining of the intestines is the enteric nervous system (ENS), a vast and intricate network of over 100 million neurons—more than are found in the spinal cord (1). This system operates with remarkable independence, managing digestion, motility, blood flow, and enzyme release with quiet intelligence.
But digestion is only part of the story. The gut and brain are in constant dialogue, connected by the vagus nerve, a primary communication channel that extends from the abdomen to the brainstem. Around 90% of these signals travel upward—from gut to brain—not the other way around (1). What we often perceive as mood or mental state is, in many cases, a message that began in the belly.
This is the gut–brain axis: a two-way communication system made of neurons, hormones, immune signals, and microbial metabolites. It is a subtle, living current between the physical and the emotional. What we digest—or fail to digest—shapes not only the body, but perception itself.
The gut produces and regulates a vast array of neurotransmitters. Around 95% of the body's serotonin, the molecule so often associated with mood, is produced or stored in the gastrointestinal tract (1). The microbiome plays a central role here—stimulating or modulating these messengers in ways that influence emotion, memory, clarity, and nervous system balance (2).
Where there is gut imbalance, there may also be anxiety, fog, or fatigue. But when the gut is healing—when it is flowing and supported—the mind clears, the emotions settle, and the body comes back into coherence.
Ancient medicine knew this well. Ayurveda considers the belly the seat of knowing. Chinese medicine teaches that digestive organs govern thought, reflection, and worry. Even our language remembers: gut feeling, sick to my stomach, butterflies before a leap.
To tend the gut is to tend the mind. To nourish the gut is to nourish emotional rhythm, mental clarity, and the quiet, grounded sense of trust that lives deep in the body.
But digestion is only part of the story. The gut and brain are in constant dialogue, connected by the vagus nerve, a primary communication channel that extends from the abdomen to the brainstem. Around 90% of these signals travel upward—from gut to brain—not the other way around (1). What we often perceive as mood or mental state is, in many cases, a message that began in the belly.
This is the gut–brain axis: a two-way communication system made of neurons, hormones, immune signals, and microbial metabolites. It is a subtle, living current between the physical and the emotional. What we digest—or fail to digest—shapes not only the body, but perception itself.
The gut produces and regulates a vast array of neurotransmitters. Around 95% of the body's serotonin, the molecule so often associated with mood, is produced or stored in the gastrointestinal tract (1). The microbiome plays a central role here—stimulating or modulating these messengers in ways that influence emotion, memory, clarity, and nervous system balance (2).
Where there is gut imbalance, there may also be anxiety, fog, or fatigue. But when the gut is healing—when it is flowing and supported—the mind clears, the emotions settle, and the body comes back into coherence.
Ancient medicine knew this well. Ayurveda considers the belly the seat of knowing. Chinese medicine teaches that digestive organs govern thought, reflection, and worry. Even our language remembers: gut feeling, sick to my stomach, butterflies before a leap.
To tend the gut is to tend the mind. To nourish the gut is to nourish emotional rhythm, mental clarity, and the quiet, grounded sense of trust that lives deep in the body.
Masters of Gut Wisdom: Ancient Voices, Timeless Truths
Beneath the surface of modern detox lies a lineage of healing that spans continents and centuries. These ancient systems recognized that digestion is not merely mechanical—it is transformational. They saw the gut as a sacred chamber where food becomes fuel, vitality is born, and imbalance can quietly take root.
Ayurveda: The Fire of Agni
In Ayurveda, digestion is governed by Agni, the inner fire, the living flame of transformation. When Agni is strong and steady, nourishment flows and waste is properly expelled. When it is weak, a residue called Ama forms—a sticky, foul substance from undigested food that blocks the body’s subtle channels. To keep Agni strong, Ayurveda prescribes warm, well-spiced foods, constitutional eating based on doshas, and cleansing therapies like Panchakarma.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Spleen and Stomach as Central AxisIn Traditional Chinese Medicine, digestion is rooted in the Spleen and Stomach systems. Food is received by the Stomach and transformed by the Spleen into Qi and Blood—the vital substances that nourish all organs. The Spleen prefers warmth, rhythm, and ease. Overthinking, cold foods, and worry knot its energy. Herbs and acupuncture are used to restore digestive flow. TCM reminds us that the quality of our digestion is inseparable from the clarity of our thoughts and the steadiness of our emotional life.
Natural Hygiene and Western Pioneers
Healers like Arnold Ehret, Herbert Shelton, Bernard Jensen, and Dr. Robert Morse built upon these ancient foundations with raw foods, fasting, and colon cleansing. They described the gut as the body's sewer system—and warned of the dangers of mucoid plaque, auto-intoxication, and sluggish elimination. Ehret observed hardened feces and waste stones in colons during autopsy. Jensen estimated that the average person may carry 7 to 25 pounds of old fecal matter in the colon at any time. Their conclusion: vitality cannot rise in a body burdened by waste.
Paracelsus: Digestion as Sacred Alchemy
To Paracelsus, digestion was the holy fire of transformation—a process ruled by the Archaeus, or vital force. This wasn’t simply about breaking down food; it was about elevating substance into life. He wrote:
“The digestive force in man is like a fire that transmutes food into the very essence of life. If this fire is obstructed, corrupted, or extinguished, disease begins.”
To cleanse the gut was to purify the soul. Paracelsus believed that when food is not fully digested, it becomes a poison. He saw herbs and minerals not only as remedies, but as carriers of spiritual intelligence—spagyric medicines that renew life from within.
Paracelsus viewed digestion not as a passive breakdown of food, but as an alchemical fire—a sacred transformation governed by the Archaeus, or the vital force of the body. He wrote that this inner fire must be protected and kindled for true healing to take place:
“The digestive force in man is like a fire that transmutes food into the very essence of life. If this fire is obstructed, corrupted, or extinguished, disease begins.”
—Paracelsus, Volumen Paramirum
Digestion, across these traditions, is the foundation. To heal the body, one must begin with the gut. These voices—Ayurveda’s fire, TCM’s Spleen, Ehret’s clarity, Paracelsus’ inner alchemy—remind us that cleansing is not a trend. It is a return. A remembering.
Let their wisdom guide your steps as you tend the flame within.
Ayurveda: The Fire of Agni
In Ayurveda, digestion is governed by Agni, the inner fire, the living flame of transformation. When Agni is strong and steady, nourishment flows and waste is properly expelled. When it is weak, a residue called Ama forms—a sticky, foul substance from undigested food that blocks the body’s subtle channels. To keep Agni strong, Ayurveda prescribes warm, well-spiced foods, constitutional eating based on doshas, and cleansing therapies like Panchakarma.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Spleen and Stomach as Central AxisIn Traditional Chinese Medicine, digestion is rooted in the Spleen and Stomach systems. Food is received by the Stomach and transformed by the Spleen into Qi and Blood—the vital substances that nourish all organs. The Spleen prefers warmth, rhythm, and ease. Overthinking, cold foods, and worry knot its energy. Herbs and acupuncture are used to restore digestive flow. TCM reminds us that the quality of our digestion is inseparable from the clarity of our thoughts and the steadiness of our emotional life.
Natural Hygiene and Western Pioneers
Healers like Arnold Ehret, Herbert Shelton, Bernard Jensen, and Dr. Robert Morse built upon these ancient foundations with raw foods, fasting, and colon cleansing. They described the gut as the body's sewer system—and warned of the dangers of mucoid plaque, auto-intoxication, and sluggish elimination. Ehret observed hardened feces and waste stones in colons during autopsy. Jensen estimated that the average person may carry 7 to 25 pounds of old fecal matter in the colon at any time. Their conclusion: vitality cannot rise in a body burdened by waste.
Paracelsus: Digestion as Sacred Alchemy
To Paracelsus, digestion was the holy fire of transformation—a process ruled by the Archaeus, or vital force. This wasn’t simply about breaking down food; it was about elevating substance into life. He wrote:
“The digestive force in man is like a fire that transmutes food into the very essence of life. If this fire is obstructed, corrupted, or extinguished, disease begins.”
To cleanse the gut was to purify the soul. Paracelsus believed that when food is not fully digested, it becomes a poison. He saw herbs and minerals not only as remedies, but as carriers of spiritual intelligence—spagyric medicines that renew life from within.
Paracelsus viewed digestion not as a passive breakdown of food, but as an alchemical fire—a sacred transformation governed by the Archaeus, or the vital force of the body. He wrote that this inner fire must be protected and kindled for true healing to take place:
“The digestive force in man is like a fire that transmutes food into the very essence of life. If this fire is obstructed, corrupted, or extinguished, disease begins.”
—Paracelsus, Volumen Paramirum
Digestion, across these traditions, is the foundation. To heal the body, one must begin with the gut. These voices—Ayurveda’s fire, TCM’s Spleen, Ehret’s clarity, Paracelsus’ inner alchemy—remind us that cleansing is not a trend. It is a return. A remembering.
Let their wisdom guide your steps as you tend the flame within.
The Solar Plexus: The Higher Intelligence of Digestion
The solar plexus is the seat of confidence and purpose; willpower and joy for life. Manipura, in Sanskrit, translates to “The Resplendent or Lustrous Gem.” It is here in Manipura that we rest in our center—knowing ourselves, owning our energy, standing in the quiet flame of our power.
While the physical digestive system processes food, the solar plexus is the higher-dimensional mirror of this same function. It is the energetic center responsible for processing emotions, experiences, and identity. Just as we assimilate nutrients through the gut, we assimilate truth, direction, and personal power through this chakra.
When we are fully embodied in Manipura, we meet life from a place of internal clarity. We do not step out of ourselves to please, explain, or perform. We hold our ground. We embody our light.
On the other hand, when we abandon this center—by giving our energy to others, hiding our needs, or ignoring intuition—we allow the fire to dim. We let others feed on the energy of our Resplendent Gem.
This chakra is also where unprocessed emotions are stored—especially in empaths. When life moves too fast for us to digest our experiences, they often lodge here. Guilt. Grief. Anger swallowed. Dreams denied. This is where they wait, asking to be felt.
Colon cleansing, gut healing, and emotional clearing are all ways of tending to this sacred fire. As the bowels release layer by layer, what has been buried often rises. This is a moment of honoring—with love—what we have carried that is no longer ours to hold. This is how we move forward, lighter and brighter, into embodiment of our true nature: the resplendent gem.
While the physical digestive system processes food, the solar plexus is the higher-dimensional mirror of this same function. It is the energetic center responsible for processing emotions, experiences, and identity. Just as we assimilate nutrients through the gut, we assimilate truth, direction, and personal power through this chakra.
When we are fully embodied in Manipura, we meet life from a place of internal clarity. We do not step out of ourselves to please, explain, or perform. We hold our ground. We embody our light.
On the other hand, when we abandon this center—by giving our energy to others, hiding our needs, or ignoring intuition—we allow the fire to dim. We let others feed on the energy of our Resplendent Gem.
This chakra is also where unprocessed emotions are stored—especially in empaths. When life moves too fast for us to digest our experiences, they often lodge here. Guilt. Grief. Anger swallowed. Dreams denied. This is where they wait, asking to be felt.
Colon cleansing, gut healing, and emotional clearing are all ways of tending to this sacred fire. As the bowels release layer by layer, what has been buried often rises. This is a moment of honoring—with love—what we have carried that is no longer ours to hold. This is how we move forward, lighter and brighter, into embodiment of our true nature: the resplendent gem.
Resources & Recommended
Additional Sources Cited:
(1) UCLA Health – Gut Microbiome & Immune System Interactions
(2) Scientific American – Neuroscience of the Enteric Nervous System & Vagus Nerve Communication
(3) Wikipedia – Gut–Brain Axis Overview and Neurotransmitter Role of Microbes
(2) Scientific American – Neuroscience of the Enteric Nervous System & Vagus Nerve Communication
(3) Wikipedia – Gut–Brain Axis Overview and Neurotransmitter Role of Microbes