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Are Years of Built-Up
Toxins Wreaking Havoc On Your Health? If So, Whole Body Detoxification Is Vital
To Maintain Or Rejuvenate Your Health
By Greg Ciola & Gary Tunsky, ND
Did you know that one of the primary causes of disease is the slow accumulation
of toxic compounds in the body, coupled with nutrient deficiencies at the
cellular level? In layman’s terms, when you retain more toxins in your body than
you can effectively eliminate through your liver, kidneys, colon, lymphatic
system, lungs or skin, they will eventually end up storing in cells, tissues,
organs, joints, and bones and wreak havoc on your health. Most disease is really
nothing more than an attempt on the weak part of the body to rid itself of these
toxins through one of the body’s elimination routes.
Toxins always settle where the cells are weakest and where they are unable to
discard what they do not need. When cell membranes become coated with
accumulated waste matter, cells cannot breathe properly and this can eventually
lead to oxygen deprivation, nutrient starvation, cell asphyxiation, and then to
cell death.
Proper elimination of all toxins and metabolic waste from the body while
supplying your cells the nutrients needed for healthy replication and survival
is one of the major solutions to the sick care industry. Most of us are overfed
but under nourished. We eat non-food foods, drink lifeless contaminated drinks,
consume empty calories and fill our bodies at almost every meal with
hydrogenated fats, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, pesticides,
herbicides, emulsifiers, stabilizers and a list of other poisonous substances.
From morning till night people are ingesting whatever they feel like, whenever
they feel like having it.
Because no one dies on the first cigarette, shot of whiskey, French fry, potato
chip, soda, cookie, fried chicken dinner or microwave dinner, no one associates
their stomach/digestive problems, headaches, skin rashes, nausea, fatigue, heart
disease, high blood pressure, and pre-mature aging to the decades of abuse from
what they ate, drank, breathed or smoked. Then we think we can take a pill when
we get sick from this routine, totally oblivious to the drug side effects.
Signs of A Toxic Body
Chronic fatigue and lack of energy even after sleeping through the night
Inability to get quality sleep
Restlessness and agitation during the day and night
Sudden onset of weight gain and noticeably slower metabolism
Allergic reactions to things you were never allergic to before
More intense seasonal allergies
More intense allergies to pets, dust, pollen, etc.
Sudden onset of chemical sensitivities
Intense cravings to constantly eat without ever feeling satisfied
Constipation (don’t go to the bathroom at least 2-3 times per day)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Acid reflux
Poor digestion
Bad breath
Persistent bad gas
Body odor
Poor circulation
Muscle pains and joint aches
Chronic back pain, sciatica and leg pain
Brain fog and lack of mental alertness
Poor memory
Swollen lymph nodes
Frequent headaches
Irritability
Yellowing of eyes
Rashes and skin problems (i.e. acne, rosacea, eczema, brown spots, etc.)
Depression
Pre-mature aging
Brittle bones and soft teeth
Vision impairment
Fibromyalgia
Cancer
The name of the disease associated with your condition depends on where the
toxins have settled. Without properly detoxifying the body there is little
chance that any of these symptoms will be eliminated. It is vitally important
that detoxification methods are incorporated to remove the stored toxins that
could be causing your problem (s).
Toxins cause free radical damage and suffocation of the cells. When the cells
aren’t breathing, they can’t absorb oxygen and nutrients and they asphyxiate.
When these cells get weak, the mitochondria get damaged. When the mitochondria
get damaged you can’t produce ATP or energy from the power source. Therefore,
the free radicals enter the cell and hit the DNA over and over again and they
start hitting the genes that control new cell growth and eventually the cell
mutates into what’s called an onco-gene.
Your Blood Is Either A River Of Life To All Your Body’s Cells Or
A River Of Disease
The Bible says, “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). Whatever
you breathe, ingest, or apply topically eventually ends up in the bloodstream.
Your blood is the supply line for all of the substances your cells need to
survive. Your blood will deliver to your cells whatever toxic carcinogens you’ve
taken into your body. Everybody has a weak link, weak organ, or weak system that
these poisons migrate and settle in like a stagnant pond or swamp.
Each year we’re all exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals and pollutants from
our air, water, and food. They’re in many of the beverages we consume. They’re
in your household cleaners. They’re in the pesticides and herbicides sprayed on
our crops. As many as 10,000 chemicals in the form of solvents, emulsifiers and
preservatives are used in food processing which can remain in the body for years
if you don’t get them out. Millions of Americans live in areas that exceed smog
standards. Most municipal water contains hundreds of harmful carcinogens in the
form of lead, chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, heavy metal ions, and MTBE to name a
few.
This bombardment of poisons on our systems eventually pollutes the body’s
tissues and cells by suffocating and shutting down the filtration systems. Then
it knocks out the immune system and eventually these poisons end up in the
bloodstream where they manifest themselves in a variety of symptoms including
decreased immune function, nerve cell toxicity, hormonal dysfunction,
psychological disturbances, environmental illnesses, and Chronic Fatigue.
It’s a slow systemic poisoning of the body. If we weren’t breathing, eating,
drinking and bathing in all these poisons – the liver, the kidneys, the colon,
and the immune system would be strong enough to keep us healthy. God made us
that way. The problem is, when you’ve got more toxins coming in than you have
coming out, you’re on your way out. The disease is just a name that is slapped
on the organ or system that is the weakest link where the poisons are being
dumped by the blood.
What Detoxification Can Do For You
Detoxification can make a huge difference in your overall health and can happen
one of two ways. You can alter your lifestyle by eating healthier, exercising,
drinking more water or discontinuing a habit such as smoking, drinking alcohol,
or drinking caffeinated beverages. When you make any of these changes your body
will undergo a period of detoxification.
The other form of detoxification can be done by assisting the body’s natural
filtration systems and elimination routes with the aid of supplements, herbs and
other natural remedies that open all of these channels up and remove years of
stored toxins and poisons imbedded in your body. More and more people are
discovering that unless we take back control of our health and reach a new level
of understanding that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself, we will
succumb to becoming a statistic of the disease-care industry. It’s time for a
true wake-up call to the shocking cause of most degenerative diseases and the
direct enemy of self-healing. The technical name is Congestive Toxicosis.
How To Effectively Detoxify The Body
For many, you may feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to choose a specific
detoxification program to follow. There are hundreds of options to choose from
and it’s impossible to market a one-size-fits-all program, especially since
everyone’s body is different. Toxins may be stored in different areas of the
body, and each one’s state of health is varied so greatly. While there are
specific sets of protocols everyone should follow, you, yourself, may require
other strategies or approaches depending upon how your body responds or how
serious your health condition may be. Outlined below are some simple steps you
can take to get started. There are at least eight different detoxification
measures that can be undertaken to eliminate toxins from your body.
1.) Colon Cleanse: The first area
of the body one should detoxify is the colon. The reason for this is fairly
obvious: A clogged and diseased colon is the end of the line in the elimination
system and can lead to the liver, kidneys, gall bladder and lymphatic system
backing up with toxins. Gastrointestinal related issues are the most common
symptoms patients complain to their doctors about. If you’re not having a
healthy bowel movement 2-3 times per day you are in serious need of detoxifying
your colon. There are a number of effective ways to do this.
a.) Oxygen colon cleansing supplements
b.) Home colonics/enemas
c.) Outpatient colonics at licensed clinics
d.) Coffee enemas
e.) Herbal laxatives
f.) High fiber/psyllium
g.) Rectal ozone treatments
2.) Liver Cleanse: The liver should be the second area of your body to
detoxify. Most of the biochemical activity of detoxification takes place in the
gastrointestinal system and liver. The liver is responsible for filtering toxic
residues from the blood and transforming them into harmless, water soluble,
biodegradable substances that can be filtered through the kidneys. A healthy,
functioning liver can clear 99% of toxins from the blood before they enter the
general circulation.
There are many medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements that can help cleanse
the liver and remove toxic compounds, including homeopathic remedies, coffee
enemas, milk thistle, wormwood, and mushroom extracts. There are several
different liver cleansing programs promoted in holistic medicine that are very
effective.
3.) Kidney Cleanse: The kidneys play an extremely important role in waste
elimination, pH balance and optimum health. After the colon and liver, it’s
important to focus on cleansing your kidneys. The kidneys are part of both the
urinary and endocrine systems, performing numerous functions such as:
eliminating metabolic waste, filtering the blood, producing hormones, regulating
blood pressure, balancing electrolytes, balancing acid/alkaline levels. Kidneys
are also responsible for vitamin D activation, prostaglandin synthesis, and
erythrocyte production. There are many good herbs, nutritional supplements and
homeopathic remedies available to effectively cleanse and detoxify your kidneys.
One excellent thing you can do for your kidneys is to drink plenty of clean,
mineral-rich water with fresh lemons or limes squeezed into it throughout the
day.
4.) Lymphatic Cleanse: The lymphatic system is intricately linked to your
immune system and is responsible for removing acidic wastes within and around
the cells. It consists of lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, and thymus. Lymph nodes
are found primarily in the armpits, groin, breasts, and neck and are responsible
for collecting lymphatic fluid. The tonsils, spleen, and thymus produce white
blood cells known as lymphocytes to scavenge for toxins and microbes.
The lymphatic system does not have a pump like the heart to keep lymphatic fluid
moving. Instead, it depends upon exercise, lymphatic massage, and other forms of
compression to keep the system cleansed and operational. Homeopathic, herbal and
nutritional remedies have been shown to be very effective in cleansing the
lymphatic system.
5.) Gallbladder Cleanse: The gallbladder is an organ located directly
under your liver. The liver uses bile to remove toxic substances from the blood.
Bile goes first to the gallbladder until food arrives in the small intestine.
Abnormal concentration of bile acids, cholesterol, and phospholipids in the bile
can cause the formation of gallstones. Cleansing the gallbladder is often
overlooked, but is another area of the body that should be addressed when it
comes to detoxification.
6.) Increase Perspiration (sweating): When most people focus on
detoxification, they forget to include the skin as an area that should be
addressed, as well. The skin is your body’s largest organ. The skin sweats,
breathes, and eliminates more cellular waste than the colon, liver, and kidneys
combined. The bottom line is that you need to intervene and create a situation
where your body sweats profusely for at least 30 minutes 3-4 days a week. The
two most effective methods of accomplishing this are exercise and saunas.
7.) Chelation Therapy: Chelation therapy has proven to be one of the most
effective ways to rid the body of heavy metals. Chelation agents bind to heavy
metal toxins and excrete them through the colon and kidneys. Several different
options available for chelation therapy are oral and IV chelation, mercury DMSA
or DMPS, and suppository chelation with a product called Detoxamin. Calcium EDTA
(not sodium EDTA), chlorella, garlic, and cilantro are also effective chelation
agents. It would be best to seek out a specialist in this field to explain the
various techniques used.
8.) Emotional And Spiritual Cleanse: The two most neglected areas of
research in disease epidemiology are the unseen levels of spirit and soul. In
addition to physical toxins, there are emotional, as well as spiritual toxins,
such as suppressed negative feelings and trauma from past experiences that
become imbedded or held in pressure points within the body. To fully establish
and experience real health within the whole person, these must also be cleansed.
By removing emotional toxins (i.e. anger, hatred, bitterness, stress, anxiety,
unforgiveness, worry, fear, etc.), and by purging the body of built up
contaminants, you can allow the whole body to heal.
Whole Body Detoxification Is Best
Instead of focusing on just one or two areas of detoxification, it is
recommended that you open up all of the elimination routes simultaneously. This
is what is termed Whole Body Detoxification. If all of the elimination routes
are open while you’re detoxifying, it doesn’t put added stress on any other
elimination routes or cause further blockages. The toxins are coming out as fast
as they’re being broken up.
If you don’t open up all of the elimination routes simultaneously, the toxins
are released into the bloodstream and carried through the circulatory system
where they wait in line to be expelled. In this case the poisons have to wait in
line in the blood in order to come out of the one or two organs that are open.
If you’re blocking the urine or the colon because you’re not defecating, and
you’re blocking your skin because you’re not sweating, and you have not
increased your respiration because you’re not exercising, it’s very dangerous.
It’s called Herxheimer reaction where you actually get toxic symptoms of
headache or nausea, you could vomit, your thinking becomes unclear, and you can
get skin rashes.
Once you’ve gone through a comprehensive whole body detoxification regimen it is
recommended that you do periodic cleanses throughout the year where you only
focus on one or two of the body’s elimination systems at time. If you’d like to
get your health back on track or keep yourself in a state of wellness, nothing
is more important than detoxifying the body.