When most people think of a detox, they think of green juices, endless hunger and painful workouts. But a clinic in Amsterdam promises a full-body detox through a simple foot bath in warm water – just sit for 40 minutes and relax while your body is cleansed from the inside out. Impossible, right?
I first stumbled upon “Clenz” (Ceintuurbaan 344hs) online and was intrigued by the concept. In a nutshell: the machine promises to detox your internal organs through a painless footbath, leaving you with more energy, reduced cravings, better digestion and less stress, amongst many other benefits. I’ll get to the science of it later, but first comes the incredible story of how it all began.
“Clenz” was founded in Amsterdam by husband and wife duo Arthur van Eldik and Anja Eckhoff. Arthur was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and on the verge of liver failure with liver counts reaching nearly 4,000 when they should be between 30 and 40. Doctors were skeptical if he could survive and suggested a type of chemotherapy that had little hope of success; at the same time, Anja discovered the “Biocleanse” machine that had been created by an American scientist. Desperate for an alternative solution, they decided to give it a try.
Imagine this: the human body is based on frequencies, which over time get thrown off due to environmental factors. On top of that, we’re exposed to toxins every day – from both our diet and the world around us – which accumulate and clog our joins, organs, blood and tissue. Cells begin to clump together, over time leading to a range of illness from fatigue and migraines through to cancer and genetic disorders.
As you soak your feet in the Biocleanse footbath (it looks oddly similar to a pedicure throne, without the nail polish application), it sends safe ionic frequencies into your body through stimulated water, to break up the toxins built up around your cells. Cells start releasing toxins and eliminating the “bad” free radicals, removing pollution from your body and leaving you feeling healthier and more energetic. Think of it as a fast and easy detox: your own cleansing system (which every human has) receives an immediate boost.
“Your feet start to sweat in the water, and the Biocleanse is attracting your free radicals,” explains Anja. “It leads to discoloration of the water, and depending on the color of the water we can interpret an indication of what’s happening inside your body. Biocleanse makes life possible in your cells where life wasn’t possible anymore.”
After using the Biocleanse machine every other day, Arthur began to recover; after a few months he returned to the hospital and his liver values – which had been at nearly fatal levels – were back to normal.
Inspired by the change that Biocleanse made in Arthur’s life, the duo made a commitment to help others with the technology. They first opened a few machines in the back room of a clothing shop on Ceinturbaan; it soon became so popular that they took over the whole space.
This incredible story, albeit inspiring, had me skeptical. So I rolled up my pants and soaked for 40 minutes, watching attentively as the water slowly discolored to a brownish-red hue with a floating black membrane-like sludge, which indicated distress in my liver and joints. It was both disgusting and intriguing at the same.
On the second visit, there was significantly less sludge, but small silvery flecks were extracts from heavy metals that had accumulated in my system – likely from my makeup, and definitely not good. This time, the cleanse had reached my lymph nodes and gall bladder.
On the third visit, the water was significantly clearer compared to the first, and had tackled my kidneys and joints again to turn the water a brownish-red.
It’s fair to say I left the clinic feeling less stressed; it’s a relaxing 40 minute break from your day, and Clenz will serve up healthy snacks like raw crackers and juices while you soak. But the impact seemed to run deeper than just the relaxation of a warm bath. Immediately after my first cleanse, I had noticeably increased energy and I slept like a baby that night. Perhaps it was psychological, but I did feel cleaner, lighter and I was craving vegetables of all things – that night, I wasn’t even tempted for a glass of champagne (most unlike my typical weekend personality).
For a full body detox, Clenz recommends you follow a 10-time bath program to achieve more astonishing results. The clinic will give you ample reading material about the progress and how you can maximize your success – drinking lots of water is crucial.
Today the Clenz business is owned by Handy van Ooijen, who used to work in sales and was on the verge of a burnout when he encountered the Biocleanse system. “My aunt gave me a treatment as a gift and I fell in love with it,” says Handy. “Our bodies have self-cleaning systems, but because of external systems we get out of balance. Clenz allows you to clean naturally and put everything back in balance, so your cells can interact in the best way possible again.”
For more information about Clenz or to book an appointment, visit www.clenz.nl.
For information on sales of the Biocleanse unit, vist www.clenz.org or contact info@clenz.org.