Tom J. Kennedy writes:

I learned about "The Master Cleanser" in the fall of 1998 from a health-conscious, friend who has been following the program for a few years. My friend passed along a copy of the booklet "The Master Cleanser" by Stanley Burroughs, a natural healer. After reading and re-reading the booklet I learned that indeed cleansing the body of toxins is basic for the elimination of every kind of disease. I committed to following "The Master Cleanser" for the first time in January 1999. I have determined that "The Master Cleanser" is a safe and effective method of detoxifying my body. I choose to follow "The Master Cleanser" program because I am subject to so many toxins in the environment - even though I am very careful about what foods I do eat. Though "fasting" from solid food is a part of "The Master Cleaners" program, it is not defined as a "fast" but rather a "superior diet." It is very important to understand that remedy offered by" The Master Cleanser" has immeasurable benefit when properly followed. Following "The Master Cleanser" restores my body's natural biological balance and corrects any biochemical imbalances.

Many natural healers attest to fasting as the oldest and proven remedy for the cure of disease. In fact, I can recall observing sick animals on the farm where I grew as a child. These sick animals voluntarily chose to refuse solid food as their preferred approach to healing. So why should I as a civilized man think it is necessary to eat solid food in order to keep up my strength if I am stricken with disease?

I have learned that in disease, nature is really in the process of purifying the body by casting out its waste and toxins. This action cleanses the body in preparation for active health rebuilding. Fortified by this knowledge, I am fully aware that any symptoms that arise during a health-maintenance activity such as "The Master Cleanser" need not cause alarm since their appearance is to be expected as therapeutic in character.

I also understand that the omission of solid food stimulates the action of the eliminative organs, and their work is performed without interference by the processes of digestion. Furthermore, any health-maintenance activity which includes the aspect of "fasting" is far more safe and effective when a solvent liquid diet, such as the lemonade drink - which is low in caloric value is consumed regularly. The lemonade drink as advocated by "The Master Cleanser" is able to activate and facilitate the waste eliminative stimulus through an entirely natural means with the daily ingestion of 4 to 6 glasses of the lemonade/maple syrup/cayenne pepper/water mixture. In addition, Stanley Burroughs also recommends the ingestion of the "internal salt water bath" as a morning routine during "The Master Cleanser."

In summary, I wish to make it clear that while I believe that following "The Master Cleanser" program can be a timely and powerful natural medicine when followed in a reasonable manner three or four times a year. I am also aware that excessive fasting is known as "mortification of the flesh" and thereby regarded as inappropriate behaviour. I concur with the direction that at no time should a "fast" be undertaken except under the direction of someone who is familiar with its procedures and who is a competent guide to the subject.

In his booklet Stanley Burroughs writes:

At last the basic cause of disease is no longer a mystery. The basic cause is the habits of improper diet, inadequate exercise, negative mental attitudes, and lack of spiritual attunement which combine to produce toxic conditions and malfunction of our bodies.

The Master Cleanser has been tested and approved since 1940 all around the world as the most successful of any cleansing program of its type. According to Stanley Burroughs:

Nothing can compare with its positive approach toward perfection in the cleansing and healing field. Nothing can compare with its rapidity and completeness. It is superior in every way as a reducing and body conditioning diet. As the originator of this superior diet, I humbly and yet proudly offer it to you, confident that you will receive vigorous good health from its use.

Tom J. Kennedy writes:

The key point of fasting is that during a fast any conditions that a person may have, BUT are net yet aware of, will show up as the body begins to rid itself of poisoness toxins. Following "The Master Cleanser" allows me to be active and energetic throughout the duration of the fast.

I have recently completed "The Master Cleanser" program. This is the fourth time that I have followed the program in 1999. I followed it for 10 days in January, 14 days in April, 10 days in July and 10 days in November 1999. I had a complete medical check up in August and the medical doctor expressed the results in this way. He said: "Your blood pressure and your cholesterol are disgustingly normal." Each time that I have followed The Master Cleanser program I have lost 10 to 12 pounds. During the 14 day fast lost 10 pounds in the first 10 days and I did not lose any more weight during the next four days.

Here is a portion of Chapter 2 (beginning at page 16) The Lemonade Diet from the booklet "The Master Cleanser" by Stanley Burroughs.

Purpose:

To dissolve and eliminate toxins and congestion that have formed in any part of the body. 

To cleanse the kidneys and the digestive system.

To purify the glands and cells throughout the entire body.

To eliminate all unusable waste and hardened material in the joints and muscles.

To relieve pressures and irritation in the nerves, arteries, and blood vessels.

To build a healthy bloodstream.

To keep youth and elasticity regardless of our years.

When To Use It

When sickness has developed - for all acute and chronic conditions.

When the digestive system needs a rest and a cleansing.

When overweight has become a problem.

When better assimilation and building of body tissue is needed.

And How Often?

Follow the diet for a minimum of 10 days or more - up to 40 days and beyond may be safely followed for extremely serious cases. The diet has all the nutrition needed during this time. Three to four times a year will do wonders for keeping the body in a normal healthy condition. The diet may be undertaken more frequently for serious conditions.

How To Make "The Master Cleanser"

(I have doubled the recipe that is in the booklet.)

4 tbsp lemon (or lime) juice (1 lemon)

4 tbsp genuine maple syrup (the darker the better)

1/5 tsp cayenne pepper (red pepper) or to taste

10 to 12 oz. water (spring or purified) (hot or cold)

Combine the lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper in a container.

Add the water and stir.

Use fresh lemons (organic if possible) or limes only, never canned lemon or lime juice nor frozen lemonade or frozen juice. The maple syrup is a balanced form of positive and negative sugar must be used, not some "substitute." There are three grades of maple syrup. Grade A is the first run - mild in taste, sweet and with less minerals that the other grades. It is more expensive and less desirable but it may be used. Grade B is the second run with more minerals plus more maple taste. It is more suitable for the diet and is less expensive. Grade C is the third run with even more minerals and still stronger taste of maple and slightly less pleasant for most people, although acceptable in the diet. It is lower in price. As Grade C is less expensive it can be used as an excellent sweetening agent in preparing foods. The strong maple flavour blends very well.

The Maple Syrup

The maple syrup has a large variety of minerals and vitamins. Naturally the mineral and vitamin content will vary according to the area where the trees grow and the mineral content in the soil. These are the minerals found in average samples of syrup from Vermont: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, phosphorus, sulphhur, chlorine and silicon. Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, and C, nicotinic acid and pantothenic acid are also present in the syrup. Information on the need and effect of these properties will be found in the Biochemistry in the back of the book, "Healing for the Age of Enlightenment."

Some uninformed operators of the sugaring of the maple syrup do use formaldehyde pellets, run through polyethylene tubing but there are many more that don't. Search out and demand the kind not using formaldehyde.

Dozens of letters weekly, from around the world highly praise the many superior benefits of the lemonade diet: Thus, we must conclude that since it does so much for so many it is truly The Master Cleanser. The following is a quote from one of the letters: "I tried the lemonade diet with exceptionally beneficial results."

The Lemon

• The lemon is a loosening and cleansing agent with many important building factors. The ability of the elements in the lemon and in the maple syrup working together creates these desired results.
• Its 49% potassium strengthens and energizes the heart, stimulates and builds the kidneys and adrenal glands.
• Its oxygen builds vitality.
• Its carbon acts as a motor stimulant.
• Its hydrogen activates the sensory nervous system.
• Its calcium strengthens and builds the lungs.
• Its phosphorus knits the bones, stimulates and builds the brain for clearer thinking.
• Its sodium encourages tissue building.
• Its magnesium acts as a blood alkalizer.
• Its iron builds the red corpuscles to rapidly correct the most common forms of anemia.
• Its chlorine cleanses the blood plasma.
• Its silicon aids the thyroid for deeper breathing.
• The natural iron, copper, calcium, carbon, and hydrogen found in the sweetening supplies more building and cleansing material. It truly is a perfect combination for cleansing, eliminating, healing, and building. Hence, supplements are not needed during the diet and may actually interfere with its cleansing action.

Blend a part of the lemon skin and pulp with the lemonade in a blender for further cleansing and laxative effect. (Note: commercially grown lemons may have had their skins dyed with yellow coloring and may have been subjected to poisonous insect sprays - be sure to peel off the outer skin if you cannot get uncolored, organically grown lemons.) The properties in the lemon skin also act as a hemostatic to prevent excess bleeding and to prevent clotting internally should there be any such prevailing condition. (Don't worry - normal conditions will occur during the menstrual periods.)

The Cayenne Pepper

Adding cayenne pepper is necessary as it breaks up mucus and increases warmth by building the blood for an additional lift. It also adds many of the B and C vitamins.

Will It Make Me Feel Bad or Weak?

In the cleansing process, some people experience a tremendous stirring up and may even feel worse for several days. It is not the lemonade that causes the trouble, but what the lemonade stirs up in the system that causes our dizziness and other disturbances. Vomiting may occur under certain conditions; increased pain may be felt in the various joints of the body; dizziness may develop on certain days. If weakness develops at any time, it is the result of poisons circulating through the bloodstream rather than a lack of food or vitamins. This diet gives a person all the vitamins, food, and energy necessary for the full ten days or longer in a liquid form. Rest and take it a little easier if you have to - although most people can go about their regular business without difficulty. Keep right on with the diet; don't give up or "cheat" be eating a little food or you may destroy the benefits.

Even though the lemon is an acid fruit, it becomes alkaline as it is digested and assimilated. It is, in fact, our best aid toward proper alkaline balance. There is no danger of "too much acid."

Alcoholics, smokers, and other drug addicts will receive untold benefits from this diet. The chemical changes and the cleansing have a way of removing the craving and the many probable deficiencies. Thus the desire for the unnatural types of stimulants and depressants disappears. The usual cravings experienced and suffered in breaking away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco no longer present themselves during and after this diet.

It is truly a wonderful feeling to be free from slavery to these many habit-forming and devitalizing elements of modern living. Coffee, tea, and various cola drinks, as habit-forming beverages, also lose their appeal through the marvels of the lemonade diet.

Another Cleansing Aid: Internal Salt Water Bathing

As it is necessary to bathe the outside of our bodies, so it is with the inside. Do not take enemas or colonics at any time during the cleansing diet or afterwards. They are unnecessary and can be extremely harmful.

There is a much superior method of cleansing the colonic tract without the harmful effects of customary colonics and enemas. This method will cleanse the entire digestive tract while the colonics and enemas will only reach the colon or a small part of it. Colonics can be expensive while our salt water method is not.

Directions: Prepare a full quart of luke-warm water and add two level teaspoons of uniodized sea salt. Do NOT use ordinary iodized salt as it will not work properly. Drink the entire quart of salt and water first thing in the morning. This must be taken on an empty stomach. The salt and water will not separate but will stay intact and quickly and thoroughly wash the entire tract in about one hour. Several eliminations will likely occur. The salt water has the same specific gravity as the blood, hence the kidneys cannot pick up the water and the blood cannot pick up the salt. This may be taken as often as needed for proper washing of the entire digestive system. If the salt wash does not work the first time, try adding more or less salt until the proper balance is found; or possibly take extra water without the salt. This often increases the activity. Remember, it can do no harm at any time. The colon needs a good washing, but do it the natural way - the salt water way.

It is quite advisable to take the herb laxative tea at night to loosen, then the salt water each morning to wash it out. If for some reason the salt water cannot be taken in the morning, then the herb laxative tea must be taken night and morning.

Tom Kennedy writes:

"I did not take the "internal salt water bath" during the weekdays because I was unable to be near a bathroom after ingesting it. Instead, I drink the herbal laxative teas. But on the sixth day of the fast, being a Saturday, I committed to taking the "internal salt water bath." Early in the morning, with an empty stomach I drank the quart of lukewarm water mixed with 2 teaspoons of sea salt. This is not an easy drink to get down. BUT I drank it quickly and within 40 minutes the eliminations started. For the next three to four hours I stayed near a bathroom as the eliminations are repeated as the body deletes the toxins from the colonic tract."

How To Break The Lemonade Diet

Coming off the lemonade diet properly is highly important - please follow the directions very carefully. After living in a semi-tropical and tropical climate for many years, I find that people have increasingly turned to a raw fruit, nut, and vegetable diet. Following is the schedule for people who normally follow such a natural vegetarian diet.

FIRST and SECOND day after the 10 day diet:

Several 8 oz. glasses of fresh orange juice as desired during the day. The orange juice prepares the digestive system to properly digest and assimilate regular food. Drink it slowly. If there has been any digestive difficulty prior to or during the changeover, extra water may be taken with the orange juice.

THIRD day:

Orange juice in the morning. Raw fruit for lunch. Fruit or raw vegetable salad at night. you are now ready to eat normally.

For those who have characteristically lived the unnatural way of meat, milk, refined and devitalized food, it may be best to change over as follows, gradually adopting the raw fruit, nut and vegetable diet:

FIRST day:

Several 8 oz. glasses of fresh orange juice as desired during the day. Drink it slowly.

SECOND day:

Drink several 8 oz. glasses of orange juice during the day - with extra water, if needed. Some time during the afternoon prepare a homemade vegetable soup (no canned soup) as follows:

RECIPE FOR VEGETABLE SOUP

Use several kinds of vegetables, perhaps one or two kinds of legumes, potatoes, celery, carrots, green vegetable tops, onion, etc. Dehydrated vegetables or vegetable soup powders may be added for extra flavor. Okra or okra powder, chili, curry, cayenne (red) pepper, tomatoes, green peppers and zucchini squash may be included to good advantage. Brown rice may be used, but no meat or meat stock. Other spices may be added) delicately for flavor. Use salt delicately as a limited amount of salt is necessary. Learn to enjoy the natural flavor of the vegetables. The less cooking the better. Read the special article on salt in the September 1977 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Have this soup for the evening meal using the broth mostly, although some of the vegetables may be eaten. Rye wafers may be eaten sparingly with the soup, but no bread or crackers.

THIRD day:

Drink orange juice in the morning. At noon have some more soup; enough may be made the night before and put in the refrigerator. For the evening meal eat whatever is desired in the form of vegetables, salads or fruit. No meat, fish, or eggs; no bread, pastries, tea, coffee, or milk. Milk is highly mucus-forming and tends to develop toxins throughout the body.

(Milk, being a predigested food, has been known to cause various complications in the stomach and colon, such as cramps and convulsions. The calcium in milk is difficult to assimilate and may cause toxins in the form of rheumatic fever, arthritis, neutitis, and bursitis. The resulting lack of proper digestion and assimilation of the calcium allows it to go into the blood stream in a free form and it is deposited in the tissues, cells, and joints where it can cause intense pain and suffering.)

FOURTH day:

Normal eating may be resumed, but the best health will be retained if the morning meal consists of our type of lemonade or fruit juice; and, of course, if a strictly fruit, vegetable, seed and berry diet is followed. If, after eating is resumed, distress or gas occurs, it is suggested that the lemonade diet be continued for several more days until the system is ready for food.

Recap of the steps to be taken in the diet: Be careful to read the entire instructions so that the diet will be of the best benefit to you. First prepare yourself mentally to follow in detail the entire directions and continue as long as is needed to make the necessary changes. One of the best signals of the completed diet is when the formerly coated and fuzzy tongue is clear pink and clean looking. During the diet it becomes very badly coated. The night before starting the diet take the laxative tea. In the morning take the salt water (or) laxative tea (see page 18 for details). This should be done each night and morning during the diet - rare exception - if diarrhea develops. When diarrhea is ended then continue above directions. Now the lemonade formula (see page 14 for details or page 16 if diabetic). Breaking the diet. Be absolutely sure you follow the directions very carefully to prepare your body for normal eating (our way). Do not over eat or eat too soon. Serious problems (nausea) can occur if detailed directions are not followed.

How Do I Get My Protein?

Often the question is asked about the need for amino acids, and animal protein foods. The need is highly exaggerated as only 16% of our body is protein. The answer to the question is very simple. We first need to understand that pure protein is primarily nitrogen, with oxygen, hydrogen and some carbon. We all know we get a large share of our oxygen and hydrogen needs from the air along with some carbon. There is four times the amount of nitrogen in the same air as there is oxygen, hydrogen and carbon combined. Since we are able to utilize and assimilate a large amount of our needs of these elements into our bodies we are able to assimilate and build the nitrogen also into our bodies as protein. This is done by natural bacteria action which is capable of converting it to our use.

From the combination of the best foods and clean air we are able to create our own amino acids, just as well as the animals do. We never try to feed amino acids to animals. Thus we are able to eliminate the need for toxic dead animal flesh and have no further need to worry about our constant source of protein.

People who smoke cannot pick up the nitrogen from the air so easily, but will still get enough from proper food without the use of animal flesh. For your own well being, however, elimination of smoking is a must.

Many people believe that eating meat gives them strength. If this is so, then why are the strongest animals in the world vegetarians? Did you ever stop to think that the animals you do eat are vegetarians? Where did they get their strength? All the meat-eating animals find it necessary to sleep 16 to 18 hours a daily because of excess toxins. The meat eating animals live a very short life. god has supplied such a bountiful supply of fresh, wholesome food that there is never a need to kill an animal for its more toxic flesh in our modern civilization.

Tom J. Kennedy writes:

Having completed "The Master Cleanser" for sixteenth time in November 2002 I can truly say that the experience of following this "superior diet" is mainly a discipline of the mind.. For me, it has become a routine experience. I do not crave food while I am following The Master Cleanser program. I am mentally prepared and I am committed to completing the program before I begin. I sleep very well and dream vividly. My body actually gains energy as I approach the end of the fast. The results of following "The Master Cleanser" are pleasant for me and make it a very worthwhile experience. Most of my closest friends and associates are astonished how I can go without food for 10+ days. Some of them have tried to follow "The Master Cleanser" BUT few of them have achieved the benefits of going the full 10 days. To stick with "The Master Cleanser" for 10 days one must be mentally prepared and one must be wholly committed and discipline oneself accordingly. I now understand just how addicted to food we are as a human species. The processed foods which taste good are almost totally devoid of nutrients. We tend to overeat these processed foods because the body is seeking nutrition and there is absolutely zero nutrition in these processed foods.

Mailing address: Tom J. Kennedy, P.O. Box 9333, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 3V1.