| Detoxing Naturally |
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The body is a marvelous machine designed to heal and cleanse itself. However, daily exposure to chemical
pollutants, preservatives in foods, smoking, alcohol, and other toxic chemicals take their toll on the bodies
natural abilities to heal.
The bodies own eliminative process normally takes care of itself by eliminating toxins through the colon,
liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph and skin. The body takes toxins and stores them in fatty deposits, which helps
to protect the system from imbalance. Unfortunately, because of the abundance of chemicals that we are
exposed to each day, the body becomes overwhelmed and can’t eliminate these toxins quickly enough.
This can cause the body’s immune system to be compromised and we are likely to develop symptoms
related to autoimmune type diseases.
There are over 2 million synthetic substances, which we are likely to come in contact with in our lifetime.
Research by the World Health Organization suggests that 60 – 80% of all cancers can be contributed to
environmental toxins. (WHO) Some chemical carcinogens have been known to interact with human
DNA, which could affect cell growth and behavior.
How to determine if your body is becoming toxic?
Do you experience any of the following?
Detoxification Systems:
Respiratory – lungs, bronchial tubes, throat, sinuses, and nose
Gastrointestinal – liver, gallbladder, colon, and whole GI track.
Urinary – kidneys, bladder, and urethra
Skin and dermal – sweat and sebaceous glands and tears
Lymphatic – lymph channels and lymph nodes
General Information on Cleansing.
Cleansing should be done at least twice a year in the spring and again in the fall. During the winter we tend
to eat heavier foods and in the spring we move into more fruits and vegetables and generally lighter meals.
However, there is no need to wait to until the spring or fall to cleanse, if you are experiencing symptoms
that your body is toxic you may not want to wait.
If you have never attempted a cleanse before, it is a good idea to start out slow. As mentioned earlier, the
body is very efficient at detoxifying itself naturally. One way to begin to cleanse is by increasing our water
intake, incorporating more fruits and vegetables in our diet and by eliminating or reducing the amount of red
meat and dairy products we consume. This allows the body to begin a very gradual cleanse without
experiencing very much discomfort. You may also want to eliminate chemical toxins from your home and
environment. Products such as laundry detergents, hair products, cosmetics, soaps, cleaning products and
pesticides all contain toxins which are harmful to the body and accumulate in tissues and organs over time.
Try switching to natural products, which are free of harsh chemicals and toxins.
We can also begin our detox by skin brushing and aerobic exercise. The skin is one of the largest
eliminative organs. Many toxins are released through the skin through perspiration, or in the form of acne,
boils, or other skin eruptions. Skin brushing aids elimination by removing dead cells from the surface of
the skin and by increasing circulation. When skin brushing you should use a natural fiber brush and brush
the whole body to include the bottoms of the feet. You should brush the skin when it is dry and you
should brush in a motion toward the heart
It is not uncommon to experience flu like symptoms while undergoing a cleanse. Symptoms such as fatigue,
headaches, irritability, congestion, and aches and pains may occur initially, but will gradually begin to
subside as the body continues to rid itself of toxins. In natural healing it is the belief that if you have
previously suppressed symptoms, these same symptoms may reoccur during times when the body is
healing or during a cleanse. No one should attempt any sort of detoxification or cleansing program if they
weak or debilitated. Before beginning a cleanse, insure that the individual is strong and not nutrient
depleted.
Herbs to support detoxification and cleansing:
(Information obtained from “Staying Healthy with Nutrition”, by Dr. Elson Haas, MD.)
To summarize, we have discussed how the body detoxifies naturally, who should detox and when we
should detox.
If you are interested in beginning a cleanse or interested in more information on detoxification, please talk to
a natural health care practitioner to set up a program which is right for you.
© Natalie Vickery, 2007
pollutants, preservatives in foods, smoking, alcohol, and other toxic chemicals take their toll on the bodies
natural abilities to heal.
The bodies own eliminative process normally takes care of itself by eliminating toxins through the colon,
liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph and skin. The body takes toxins and stores them in fatty deposits, which helps
to protect the system from imbalance. Unfortunately, because of the abundance of chemicals that we are
exposed to each day, the body becomes overwhelmed and can’t eliminate these toxins quickly enough.
This can cause the body’s immune system to be compromised and we are likely to develop symptoms
related to autoimmune type diseases.
There are over 2 million synthetic substances, which we are likely to come in contact with in our lifetime.
Research by the World Health Organization suggests that 60 – 80% of all cancers can be contributed to
environmental toxins. (WHO) Some chemical carcinogens have been known to interact with human
DNA, which could affect cell growth and behavior.
How to determine if your body is becoming toxic?
Do you experience any of the following?
- Unexplained weight gain of over 10 pounds.
- Body odor, bad breath, or a coating on your tongue.
- Frequent unexplained headaches, joint pain or arthritis.
- Poor digestion, food allergies, constipation, or bloating and gas.
- Nails which are brittle, hair with no luster and which may be brittle
- Adult acne, or psoriasis.
- Chronic sinus or respiratory problems; asthma.
- Sensitivity to chemicals or smells.
- Insomnia, problems with memory, irritability, depression, or chronic fatigue.
- Nervousness, mood changes, or anxiety
Detoxification Systems:
Respiratory – lungs, bronchial tubes, throat, sinuses, and nose
Gastrointestinal – liver, gallbladder, colon, and whole GI track.
Urinary – kidneys, bladder, and urethra
Skin and dermal – sweat and sebaceous glands and tears
Lymphatic – lymph channels and lymph nodes
General Information on Cleansing.
Cleansing should be done at least twice a year in the spring and again in the fall. During the winter we tend
to eat heavier foods and in the spring we move into more fruits and vegetables and generally lighter meals.
However, there is no need to wait to until the spring or fall to cleanse, if you are experiencing symptoms
that your body is toxic you may not want to wait.
If you have never attempted a cleanse before, it is a good idea to start out slow. As mentioned earlier, the
body is very efficient at detoxifying itself naturally. One way to begin to cleanse is by increasing our water
intake, incorporating more fruits and vegetables in our diet and by eliminating or reducing the amount of red
meat and dairy products we consume. This allows the body to begin a very gradual cleanse without
experiencing very much discomfort. You may also want to eliminate chemical toxins from your home and
environment. Products such as laundry detergents, hair products, cosmetics, soaps, cleaning products and
pesticides all contain toxins which are harmful to the body and accumulate in tissues and organs over time.
Try switching to natural products, which are free of harsh chemicals and toxins.
We can also begin our detox by skin brushing and aerobic exercise. The skin is one of the largest
eliminative organs. Many toxins are released through the skin through perspiration, or in the form of acne,
boils, or other skin eruptions. Skin brushing aids elimination by removing dead cells from the surface of
the skin and by increasing circulation. When skin brushing you should use a natural fiber brush and brush
the whole body to include the bottoms of the feet. You should brush the skin when it is dry and you
should brush in a motion toward the heart
It is not uncommon to experience flu like symptoms while undergoing a cleanse. Symptoms such as fatigue,
headaches, irritability, congestion, and aches and pains may occur initially, but will gradually begin to
subside as the body continues to rid itself of toxins. In natural healing it is the belief that if you have
previously suppressed symptoms, these same symptoms may reoccur during times when the body is
healing or during a cleanse. No one should attempt any sort of detoxification or cleansing program if they
weak or debilitated. Before beginning a cleanse, insure that the individual is strong and not nutrient
depleted.
Herbs to support detoxification and cleansing:
- Garlic – blood cleanser, lowers blood fats, natural antibiotic
- Red Clover Blossoms – blood cleanser, good during convalescence and healing
- Echinacea – lymph cleanser, improves lymphocyte and phagocyte actions
- Dandelion root – liver and blood cleanser, diuretic, filters toxins, a tonic
- Chaparral – strong blood cleanser, with possibilities for us in cancer therapy
- Cayenne pepper – blood purifier, increases fluid elimination and sweat
- Ginger root – stimulates circulation and sweating
- Licorice root – “great detoxifier,” biochemical balancer, mild laxative
- Yellow dock root – skin and blood cleanser, diuretic and diaphoretic, improves liver function,
antibacterial and antifungal properties. - Sarsaparilla root – blood and lymph cleanser, contains saponins, which reduce microbes and toxins.
- Prickly ash bark – good for nerves and joints, anti-infectious
- Oregon grape root – skin and colon cleanser, blood purifier, liver stimulant
- Parsley Leaf – diuretic, flushes kidneys
- Goldenseal root – blood, liver, kidney, and skin cleanser, stimulates detoxification
(Information obtained from “Staying Healthy with Nutrition”, by Dr. Elson Haas, MD.)
To summarize, we have discussed how the body detoxifies naturally, who should detox and when we
should detox.
If you are interested in beginning a cleanse or interested in more information on detoxification, please talk to
a natural health care practitioner to set up a program which is right for you.
© Natalie Vickery, 2007
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