General Rule III: Cleansing the Body of Accumulated Waste Materials

When waste accumulates in the body, the issue is not only the accumulation itself polluting its area, but also the partial absorption of waste causing contamination in various systems in the body and different cumulative damages. Therefore, one must ensure proper bowel activity to remove waste from the body at least once a day. Maimonides emphasized this importance in his 'Sefer HaMada':[1]

"One should always strive to keep their bowels loose, and to be slightly inclined toward diarrhea. This is a major principle in medicine: whenever waste is withheld or expelled with difficulty, bad illnesses come." It should be noted that constipation negatively affects not only physical health but also one's happiness and mood. A person might find themselves restless, reacting with anger and outbursts at minor faults of those around them, unaware that the internal pressure due to constipation is the main cause of their restlessness. By relieving themselves, they lighten the burden for both themselves and those around them.

To aid the intestines in their proper function and cleanse the body, it is important to drink plenty. Sometimes, drinking several glasses of water consecutively helps the intestines, and at times, natural grapefruit juice or another sour juice is what aids them. Foods rich in fibers like fruits and vegetables, or bran and whole-grain bread stimulate the intestines since fibers are not digested and compel the intestines to expel them. The benefits of fibers are twofold as they also absorb toxic and harmful substances and remove them out. However, consuming bran requires plenty of drinking. Without a sufficient amount of liquids, they might add to the existing waste in the intestines and make it difficult to expel. Dried plums and their soaking water also aid bowel activity. In special cases, medications intended for this purpose can be used, but one should not make it a habit to rely on them regularly. Even when necessary, natural remedies should be preferred over chemical ones.

[1] Maimonides, Hilchot De'ot, Chapter Four, 13.