Detoxification
Detoxifying our bodies is one of the most important steps we can take on any journey from illness to wellness. Incorporating certain forms of detoxification into our daily lives on a regular basis can also be very beneficial for anyone who is already healthy and is interested in taking proactive steps to remain in the best of health.
There are many different forms of internal cleansing which will be outlined on this page, all of which are very effective tools on the path to healing and vibrant health.
Body Burden
Virtually every one of us on the planet in this day and age is harboring many, many different kinds of potentially harmful substances in our bodies. Untold numbers and amounts of man made chemicals and heavy metals have been entering both our environment and our bodies for decades, and each year countless new synthetic substances are being manufactured and released into our biosphere. And although it may be argued that many of the chemicals manufactured in the world have been tested for safe levels in humans, the truth is that each of these chemicals is tested on its own – in a vacuum as it were – and no one has ever measured the effect a combination of these substances may have upon the body. Therefore it remains unknown how all these different toxins are interacting synergistically with one another inside of our bodies.
The bottom line is that we’re all carrying within our bodies an unnatural chemical cocktail composed of myriad different poisons with which our bodies were never designed to deal.
Here are links to some websites with more information on this subject:
http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/execsumm.php
The Impairment of Our Natural Cleansing System
Even though our bodies are actually designed to clean and detoxify themselves naturally, this innate capacity for internal cleansing has been compromised, and in some cases significantly hindered, in many people. When we don’t consume proper nourishment for any length of time, are chronically constipated, dehydrated, and/or are under any kind of chronic stress or strain for extended periods, the ability of our body to naturally offload toxins and cleanse itself can become hindered dramatically. On top of that, many peoples' bodies are systematically becoming more and more heavily burdened with a toxic cocktail of heavy metals and other environmental contaminants. When we consider all these factors, it’s easy to see how the effectiveness of our natural eliminatory functions can become increasingly attenuated as time goes by.
Toxic Everyday Products
Aside from the contamination that gets into our bodies in the form of food, which is often laced with poisons like pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, there are also many potentially harmful contaminants that enter our bodies, particularly through our skin and lungs, via all kinds of products commonly used by many people most every day. Therefore if we’re going to get serious about detoxification, it’s important for us to take stock of everything we use on a regular basis that might be adding to our internal chemical body burden. An important part of detoxing the body is getting rid of toxic everyday products and replacing them with non-toxic substitutes.
This includes household cleaning products, such as:
Dish soap
Dishwasher detergent
Laundry detergent
Dryer sheets
Floor cleaning and polishing products
Toilet & bathroom cleaners
Carpet cleaners
Furniture polish
Air fresheners
It’s important to check labels of household products for petrochemicals and other ingredients that are unpronounceable and get rid of them. Either choose eco-friendly products made by companies like Biokleen or Seventh Generation, or else make your own cleaning products by using things like white vinegar, baking soda, borax, castile soap, grapeseed extract, lemon juice, organic essential oils, hydrogen peroxide and washing soda to clean dishes, clothes and home.
Here are a couple of sites with some helpful info on green homemade household cleaners:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html
http://www.michaelandjudystouffer.com/judy/articles/vinegar.htm
It also very important to check the labels of any personal products used regularly, such as:
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Make up
Skin creams and lotions
Deodorants/antiperspirants
Soaps
Shampoos
Hair conditioners
Nail polish/removers
Anything labeled “antibacterial” should be avoided
Here’s a partial list of ingredients to avoid in personal products:
cocoamide DEA,
diethanolamine,
TEA,
triethanolamine,
MEA
propylene glycol
propylene oxide
polyethylene glycol
sodium lauryl sulfate
sodium laureth sulfate
sodium fluoride
mineral Oil,
petrolatum
coal tar
Organic virgin coconut oil, castor oil, cocoa butter and shea butter are wonderful to use on the skin. H2O2, baking soda and activated charcoal can be used in the mouth, and magnesium hydroxide (aka milk of magnesia) is fantastic for neutralizing underarm odor, and there are more and more hair care products being made these days that don’t contain harmful ingredients.
The Body’s Pathways of Elimination
Since many of us have been exposed throughout our lives to so many different noxious substances, the pathways through which our bodies naturally eliminate toxins, pathogens and other wastes are often overburdened, which can cause these organs to become congested, stagnated, or perhaps even blocked. This is especially true in the case of people suffering from most any kind of chronic degenerative disease.
The primary pathways of elimination through which our bodies offload toxins and wastes are the:
Liver
Digestive tract
Lymphatic system
Lungs
Kidneys
Skin
Out of these, the liver, bowels and lymph system are the three organs of elimination that seem, in the majority of people, to be most commonly susceptible to becoming overloaded, sluggish or obstructed.
One of the liver’s many functions is to filter the blood to remove impurities, toxins and wastes. Although some toxins are rerouted for storage elsewhere in the body, the remainder are generally excreted by the liver as part of the bile it manufactures. Since the gall bladder is the main storage area for bile, and since many people’s livers are overburdened with so many toxins these days, in many cases toxin-laden bile, along with bile salts and cholesterol, can become congealed and even calcified to form stones, sludge, chaff and gluey globules. This stagnated bile can cause congestion in both the gall bladder as well as the liver, slowing or even impeding the flow of bile and overburdening the liver to an even greater degree.
Stagnant bile flow can not only hinder the liver’s ability to do its work, but it can also have a seriously negative effect upon digestion, as bile is important both for the assimilation of dietary fats, as well as important for stimulating peristalsis.
Many people in the west are also chronically constipated because for whatever reason, their digestive tracts are not working the way they were designed to. Ideally we should all be having as many bowel movements each day as we have meals, and contrary to what many of us experience, our BMs should be virtually as effortless as our urination.
Aside from being an integral part of the immune system, the lymphatic system also plays a huge role in both delivering nutrients to, as well as removing toxins, pathogens and metabolic wastes from, cellular tissue. And when the body is dealing with chronic illness, chances are that the lymph system is overburdened and functioning at less than peak efficiency as well.
Herxheimer Effect
The terms healing crisis and herxheimer reaction are both phrases used to describe symptoms, such as headaches, rashes, acne, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, or perhaps even a cold or flu, that can and often do occur when people attempt to do certain types of internal cleansing. What happens when we experience such a cleansing reaction is that the detoxification process encourages our bodies to dump some of our stored toxic load into the bloodstream, but it’s too much too soon for our major pathways of elimination to cope with because they’re not functioning at peak efficiency. The released toxins overload the already overworked liver and lymph system, and often cannot be excreted in a timely manner through the bowel due to constipation. So these toxins end up instead being recirculated and reabsorbed through our systems. When these poisons can’t be offloaded quickly enough, our bodies may attempt to push them out through the skin in the form of a rash or acne, or rapidly ejected them as vomit or diarrhea, or else they may simply end up making us feel generally sick, with headaches or cold/flu-like symptoms.
Ideally, we should find ways to detoxify that will not overwhelm our systems so as to avoid unpleasant effects. However chances are that if a detox protocol does cause a temporary herx reaction, it's because the body very much needs to offload some toxins.
Cleansing For Life
There’s a big misconception being promulgated these days that’s leading people to believe that if they just do “a cleanse” now and again that lasts for a brief amount of time, that this is an effective and lasting way to detoxify themselves. However for most of us, the toxic load we carry is significant, and is the result of a lifetime of accumulation that has occurred little by little, over time and is not something that can be eliminated from our bodies so easily and quickly. The idea that we can get rid of all the toxicity we harbor all at once, in one, or even a few brief fell swoops is completely unrealistic.
A much more viable and realistic solution is to take a multi-pronged approach to internal cleansing, and to look at the process of detoxification as an ongoing process which utilizes various practices that become consciously incorporated into our lives for the long haul. Rather than looking for some kind of detox quick fix, it’s best to approach detoxification as a part of the lifestyle changes we make to help our bodies heal if we are unwell, or as part of a maintenance program to help ensure we stay well if we’re not sick.
Most everyone makes it a habit to regularly brush their teeth and wash their hair, bodies, clothes, bedding and dishes, and clean their houses. In much the same way, particularly because our bodies have become so inundated with our ubiquitous exposure to poisonous toxins, if we are to heal from illness and stay well it’s imperative that we cultivate ongoing practices of bodily cleansing and detoxification, and that we make such practices a regular, integral part our lives.
Liver & Gall Bladder Detoxification
Liver Flushing
One of the most powerful and effective methods of helping to clear stagnancies, purify the blood, cleanse the body, improve digestion and support the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate itself is doing a series of liver/gall bladder flushes.
Flushing the liver and gall bladder involves a half day of fasting, drinking several doses of Epsom salt, (which help to empty the bowel as well as relax the biliary ducts and sphincter of Oddi) and drinking a combination of olive oil and citrus juice, which stimulates the gall bladder to forcefully expel some of its stored bile/stones/gravel/sludge into the intestines for excretion via the bowel.
There are many different protocols for doing such a cleanse, but after doing extensive research on this subject my feeling is that Hulda Clark’ recommended protocol, along with some minor modifications, is the most efficacious one.
Here’s a link to a description of the Clark liver/gall bladder flush:
http://www.curezone.com/cleanse/liver/huldas_recipe.asp
Some beneficial addtions to the Clark protocol are as follows :
-
an enema (or two) the afternoon of the flush in order to help clear the digestive tract
-
a castor oil pack over the liver for about an hour the evening of the flush, which stimulates blood flow to the area and helps to draw out even more toxins
-
a coffee enema a day or two after the flush, which stimulates the liver to release more toxins in the form of bile
Coffee enemas in and of themselves are a very effective method of cleansing which have a long history of being used to help improve liver function by helping to relax biliary ducts and encouraging the release of bile and wastes:
http://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/kb.asp?ID=186
http://www.gallbladderattack.com/coffeeenema.shtml
http://www.ralphmoss.com/coff.html
Here are some more links to information on liver flushing:
http://www.ener-chi.com/more_liv.htm
http://www.drclark.net/en/cleanses_clean-ups/liver_cleanses.php
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=985355
There are also several herbs that have a long history of being used for liver cleansing and support, some of the most effective of which are milk thistle, dandelion root and chanca piedra.
Digestive Tract Detoxification
Activated Charcoal and Clay for Adsorptive Internal & External Cleansing
Although there are many colon cleansing products on the market these days that contain a wide variety of herbal preparations designed for intestinal cleansing, several of which can be very irritating to the lining of the digestive tract, I much prefer to rely on two substances for internal cleansing that have long been used historically by humans for cleansing and detoxifying purposes.
Activated charcoal is known as the universal antidote. It’s kept on hand in emergency rooms for use as an antidote to many poisons.
Many different kinds of healing clays, especially including montmorillonite, bentonite, pyrophyllite and illite, have been used for ages by native peoples all over the planet for ages to help cleanse the body internally and heal infections and wounds externally. It’s been well documented that many wild animals also seek out and consume clay, which serves to neutralize the potentially harmful toxins contained in certain foods they eat.
Both activated charcoal and clay share some unique characteristics. They both have massive microscopic latticework surface areas, and they are both extremely adsorbent.
This means that when hydrated, they carry a negative electromagnetic charge, so all kinds of poisons, pathogens, heavy metals, toxins and wastes, many of which are positively charged, are sorpted or drawn into them and held fast to their huge surface areas.
When we take charcoal slurries and hydrated clay into our bodies by drinking them, they literally pull toxins, wastes and even heavy metals from our bodies and into themselves, purifying the blood and taking a load off the major pathways of elimination. They then pass out of the body along with the feces, offloading toxicity and cleansing the entire system as they move through us.
Clay can also be used in baths (as can charcoal, but that can be really messy!) for soaking to draw heavy metals and other toxins out of the body through the skin.
Charcoal and clay can also be used to make packs and poultices, which when applied to the body externally, will draw toxins and infections out through the skin.
Here are some excellent links to information on the healing and cleansing properties of clays:
And links to information on activated charcoal:
http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/
http://www.charcoalremedies.com/
http://healingtools.tripod.com/ACP_pages.html
http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?page=LIST&ProdID=327&zType=2
Homozon Bowel Cleanser (magnesium oxide)
Homozon is a specially formulated product made from magnesium oxide which is taken internally and activated with the ingestion of a small amount of lemon juice. Once inside the digestive tract, Homozon releases ozone and liquefies the contents of the bowel, cleansing and clearing wastes as it moves through and out of the bowels. There are other types of magnesium oxide available, including brands such as OxyPowder and Colosan, most all of which are based on the original Homozon formula.
http://www.envirohealthtech.com/homozon.htm
http://www.oxygenamerica.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=475
http://www.nutrilife.net/homozon.htm
http://www.excellentthings.com/Homozon.html
Mucilages and Pectins for Bowel Tonifying and Cleansing
Emollient, demulcent and mucilaginous herbs such as slippery elm and marshmallow root absorb moisture in the digestive tract and can help to soften stools, soothe digestive upset and improve digestive function.
Besides being a good source of plant based omega 3s, the chia seed is another mucilage that’s especially helpful for neutralizing excess acid in the stomach, as well as aiding digesting and adding soluble fiber to the diet.
Fruit pectins such as those from apples and grapefruit are excellent sources of soluble fiber, and can help draw wastes into the stool for elimination via the colon.
Enemas and Colon Hydrotherapy
Enemas and colonics are administered by introducing water into the lower portions of the bowel via the anus, and can be very beneficial for helping to expedite the removal of stagnant fecal matter and wastes from the body.
Lymphatic and Skin Detoxification
Dry Skin Brushing
Using a natural bristle brush to brush the skin is very beneficial for both exfoliating and cleansing the skin, as well as stimulating and supporting the lymphatic system. Brushing all surfaces of the skin, (with the exception of the face, genitals and female breasts) working from the extremities inward toward the trunk and eventually the heart, helps to slough off old, dead skin cells, while providing a subtle but effective impetus to the flow of lymph fluid throughout the body.
http://www.racingsmarter.com/health/natural/skin_brushing.htm
Rebounding
Jumping on a mini trampoline is another excellent way to stimulate, support and improve circulation of lymph throughout the lymphatic system, which helps the body to offload cellular wastes more rapidly and effectively.
http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/rebounding-for-detoxification-and-health.htm\
Sweating
Vigorous exercise, saunas, steam baths, or any other methods which cause the body to perspire are all fantastic ways to help the body to rapidly eliminate toxins and wastes. It’s important however to shower after sweating, as any toxins excreted through the skin via perspiration that are allowed to sit on the skin for any length of time can be reabsorbed into the body.
Clay & Salt Baths
Both clay and salt added to a bath for soaking will draw toxins, impurities and wastes out of the body through the skin. Clay is especially helpful for drawing heavy metals out of the body:
http://eytonsearth.org/clay-baths.php
Any type of clean, pure salt added to bathwater, such as epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) dead sea salt, or sea salt, is very therapeutic, soothing and purifying for the body.
Natural Hot Mineral Springs Baths
Soaking in mineral rich, geothermally heated spring water is highly therapeutic and detoxifying for all systems of the body.
Ocean & Fresh Water Swimming
Immersing our bodies in salty sea water is one of the most healing and cleansing things we can do for ourselves, and swimming in bodies of pure fresh water can be a clarifying, invigorating and very grounding experience, all of which are of immense benefit, especially when done on a regular basis.
Hydrotherapy
By exposing the body to hot water, then cold water, then hot again etc, - such as soaking in a hot tub or sitting in a steam room or sauna, then dunking into a cold plunge - blood flow throughout the system is powerfully stimulated. Exposure to heat pushes blood away from the core, towards the extremities and skin, and a rapid shift to cold draws the heat internally, back into the vital organs. Physiologically, this enhanced blood flow not only stimulates lymphatic flow and cellular detoxification, but it also forcefully imbues the cells with an extra burst of much needed oxygen and nutrients.
Clay Packs
Hydrated clay, made into a pack and placed on the skin, stimulates blood circulation and draws out toxicity.
Castor Oil Packs
The external application of castor oil packs are another very effective method for improving blood flow and helping the body to detoxify:
http://www.edgarcayce.org/health/database/health_resources/castor_Oil_Packs.asp
http://www.cayce.com/castoroil.htm
Bodywork
Massage therapy, lymphatic drainage, acupuncture and reflexology are just a few examples of various bodywork modalities that can be very beneficial in terms of encouraging the release of bodily toxins.
Oral and Nasal Detoxification
Neti Pot Nasal Irrigation
A neti pot is a small teapot shaped vessel that has been used for eons by yogis in the east to cleanse and purify the nasal passages, sinuses, throat and mouth by pouring a saline solution into one nostril and allowing it to flow out the other. Nasal irrigation with a neti pot helps to loosen mucus and phlegm and clear internal cavities of the face. Used regularly a neti pot can help to relieve symptoms of colds, flus, sinus infections and allergies, and is a wonderful, refreshing and easy to do method of detoxification
http://www.jalanetipot.com/index.html
Tongue Scraping
Using a specially made metal instrument to scrape the tongue (plastic tongue scrapers should not be used) is another ancient yogic technique of internal cleansing. Tongue scraping removes excess mucous, bacteria and toxins from the tongue and mouth, stimulates salivary glands which can improve digestion, can be beneficial in preventing or healing sore throats, and can help prevent halitosis.
Mouth Care
Some non-toxic alternatives to commercial toothpaste include baking soda, fine powdered clay, activated charcoal, hydrogen peroxide, tincture of myrrh and bee propolis. Filling a WaterPik or similar oral irrigation unit with a 3% solution of food grade hydrogen peroxide is an excellent way to neutralize potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth, clean teeth below the gum line and cleanse and stimulate the gums.
Ozone & Oxygen Therapies
Using any kind of oxygen therapy, especially ozone, is a powerful way to detoxify the body.
Ozone therapy is currently widely and very successfully used to treat many different ailments in hospitals and clinics all over Europe. However its use in the US is not well known and is being suppressed by the government and the medical industrial complex.
Here are some links to information on ozone and oxidative therapies:
http://www.o3center.org/index.html
http://healingtools.tripod.com/OT_pages.html
http://www.falconblanco.com/health/ozone/index.htm
http://www.ozoneuniversity.com/