Article [10]
by: David G. Schwartz, M.D.
Why
is detoxification important?
It is a normal function of our bodies to constantly remove by-products of
normal and abnormal processes within the body, including the removal of dead
cells, dead bacteria, used hormones, gut bacterial fermentation products, and
substances in the food we eat that cannot be used.
The body also has to remove poisons ingested from the outside.
So why is it so important that it demands our special attention?
Never before in human history have we had such an abnormal context for
our detoxification processes, never before such extreme circumstances that are
intensifying by the month, as several new synthetic chemicals are being
introduced every week, and millions of tons of chemicals continue to be released
into our environment each year. The
average person has nearly 100 synthetic chemicals detectable in a random blood
sample, some of which represent exposure from years ago, and some of which
represent current exposure.
Not only can these chemicals cause the obvious things, an example of
which would be the breathing of polluted air causing respiratory problems and
other immediate symptoms; but perhaps the greatest danger is the long term
effects for which we have no way of tracking which chemical
or what synergy of chemicals caused what problem, how long ago, and from
what sources. Probably the number
one concern regarding this log term effect is cancer.
Sandra Steingraber writes an excellent, well researched, thoroughly
documented report on the connection between environmental chemical and cancer in
her book, Living Downstream, Vintage Books, 1998.
ISBN # 0-375-70099-4
Steingraber draws our attention to the rapid rise in cancer incidence in
the 20th century, especially in children, for
rare and unusual forms of cancer, with highest rates near industrial
plants and toxic waste sites, and in the more industrialized sections of the
country.
She shows a variance in cancer rates in direct proportion to the distance
people live from industrial sites. Also
she points out clusters of cancer occurring in families of origin, and not
necessarily biological families. The
rates are more similar for adoptees with their adopted families than with their
genetic families.
Some other major points she makes are:
1. A majority of new
chemicals are released for use without being tested for their carcinogenicity.
2. It is difficult to prove
causation because of the ubiquity of so many chemicals and the mobility of the
population. 3.
Many chemicals like dioxin are not produced for any purpose, but they are
by-products of the manufacturing processes for many of the products that we
think we need to buy.
As Alan Atkisson points out in his book, Believing Cassandra (Chelsea
Green Publishing, 1999 ISBN # f1-890132-16-0), we cannot expect a solution to
our environmental crisis with buildup of toxic waste unless we change our buying
habits to support a more service-based economy with less “throughput” of
material things. Also important is
the collaboration of industry, government, communities, and consumers to invent
together cleaner and more efficient means of production with more re-use and
recycling.
Sandra Steingraber proposes the Precautionary Principle which recommends
that the proponent of any new activity which could be dangerous, such as the
release of new chemicals into the environment should bear the burden of proof
that it is safe, rather than the public proving that it is dangerous several
years or decades later, which has been the case in most of the 20th
Century. We are still getting
chemicals in our food imported from countries that use chemicals that were
exported to them by our companies many years after the chemicals were banned for
sale in this country.
Peter Bennett, N.D., Stephen Barrie, N.D., and Sara Faye wrote an
excellent book, The 7 Day Detox Miracle (Prima Publishing 1999 ISBN #
0-7615-1422-8). The authors
describe how our bodies remove tosins and how we can support that natural
process.
They recommend for people with health problems to go through a special
7-day process several times a year and also to improve year-round daily health
habits, especially nutrition. For people who are otherwise healthy it is
recommended to do this once a year.
The 6 steps of the program involve: 1.
Removing obstacles
– cleaning up the diet, reducing stress, etc. 2.
Improve
circulation; with exercise, massage, and hydrotherapy. 3.
Enhance
elimination through the kidneys, intestines, and skin. 4.
Repair the
gastrointestinal system by removing offending agents, improving digestion,
supplementing beneficial bacteria, and healing intestinal permeability with
special nutrients. 5.
Support the liver
through exercise, special foods, nutrients, and herbs. 6. Transform stress so the body can save the energy otherwise dissipated by stress to use for detoxification
They recommend for people with health problems to go through a special
7-day process several times a year and also to improve year-round daily health
habits, especially nutrition. For people who are otherwise healthy it is
recommended to do this once a year.
DETOXIFICATION PART II By David G. Schwartz, M.D.
What makes a good detoxification program?
Drs Bennet and Barrie outline in their book, Seven Day Detox Miracle,
mentioned in Part I, a do-it-yourself plan to augment the body’s natural
cleansing process.
They recommend first of all to check with a health professional familiar
with nutrition and detoxification if pregnant or taking prescription medications
regularly or chronically underweight, or if any severe chronic condition is
present such as cancer, autoimmune disease, hyperthyroidism, mental illness, or
a genetic disease affecting metabolism before starting the program.
The 6 steps in detoxification listed in part I are described in detail.
First is to reduce exposure to toxins by eating foods that are as natural
and fresh as possible and grown organically, filtering drinking water, and
getting as clean air to breath as possible, perhaps getting an air filter.
This also means reducing exposure to things already known to be stressful
physically or emotionally, especially avoiding allergens and the use of
chemicals in-doors and out. The
foods for the detoxification week are chosen for their ease in digestion and low
toxic burden, and they are supplemented with nutrients that support
detoxification. The 2nd step is to improve circulation in order to get nutrients to go where they are needed and to flush out the toxins from the tissues. The circulation is improved by exercise, massage, and hydrotherapy (alternating hot an cold baths, and showers).
The 3rd step is to enhance elimination, through the intestines with
fiber, Vitamin C, and charcoal,
through the kidneys with increased drinking of purified fluids, and through the
skin with sweating therapy (saunas, etc.).
The 4th step is to repair the gastrointestinal system.
Poor digestion, poor elimination, and food allergies commonly cause
imbalance in bacteria and inflammation, which can cause abnormal permeability of
the intestines (leaky gut). Toxins
and bacterial and good antigens can leak into the circulation and overload the
liver’s detoxification burden. Beneficial
bacteria, fiber, digestive enzymes, and special nutrient supplementation can
help the digestive system to heal. A
comprehensive stool analysis can help to determine which areas most need
healing.
The 5th step is to support and stimulate the liver, the major
detoxification organ. Special
foods, nutrients, herbs, and certain exercises can assist the liver.
A test is also available to measure how well the liver detoxifies
substances.
The 6th step is to transform stress through positive thinking, breath
training, and other relaxation exercises.
Part III will go into detail regarding the 3 modules of diet,
supplementation, and circulation therapy, and a description of the activities of
the 7-day plan. What follows is
a basic shopping list in preparation for it, from page 219 in the book: Distilled or filtered water (or spring water from a pure source) Fresh fruits and vegetables, (All foods should be preferably organic.) Lemons for making lemon water Brown rice (white rice also acceptable) Rice cakes, crackers, bread, pasta, pancake mix (all made from only rice) Herbal teas and green tea Bottled (in glass) organic fruit and vegetable juices Rice protein concentrate powder (An excellent one is Ultra Clear Plus) from Metagenics.) Vitamin C 1000 mg tablets or capsules A multivitamin, containing at least the RDA’s for Vitamins A, E, and B-complex, and the minerals magnesium, zinc, selenium, and manganese. N-acetyl-cysteine (500 mg tablets) Charcoal capsules Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. bifidus Milk thistle (200mg capsules of standardized extract Skin brush, natural bristle, from health food store.
DETOXIFICATION PART III By David G. Schwartz, M.D.
This part is a more detailed description of the 7-day plan introduced in
Parts I and II, from the book, The 7-Day Detox Miracle.
If you choose to follow this pan, it is best to get the book and study
the plan in detail for best results, and to take a week off from work.
When you do any detoxification program, especially if it involves
fasting, please remember, as noted in part II, to get professional assistance if
you fall into any of the special categories mentioned.
Remember also that you can feel bad during the first few days with
fatigue, headache, bad odors, hunger, sleep problems, gas, itchy skin, and
irritability; however, feeling really ill with fever, diarrhea, etc., may be a
sign that the program is too intense for your body to handle, and that you need
to back off from it and to consult with a health professional trained in detox
medicine.
As noted previously, the 3 aspects of the program are the diet, the
supplements, and the circulation therapy.
The foods eaten vary markedly from the usual American diet.
Vegetables, if not organic, need to be washed with cold water and a few
drops of PURE
castile soap. Avoid any
foods that you already know are a problem for you causing stomach upset, hives,
wheezing, etc.
The main grains and seeds are rice, millet, quinoa, and amaranth.
Avoid all other grains. The main legume sources are Mung beans, bean thread noodles, and miso. No other beans or bean products are used.
All vegetables and fruits are OK except grapefruit, which can slow the
liver’s phase I detoxification. You
may notice increased gas with increased consumption of vegetables.
If so, eat less raw and more cooked veggies.
The only oils and fats used are extra virgin olive oil
and unheated flax oil, with a limit of 2 tablespoons per day, total.
The only beverages are herbal teas, green tea, lemon water, vegetable
juice, diluted fruit juice, and water (purified).
No condiments are used except spices, miso, vinegar, sea salt, and
vegetable salt.
Especially good to include are beets, broccoli, green barley powder,
Jerusalem artichokes, and rice protein concentrate.
(An excellent one especially formulated for detoxification is Ultra Clear
Plus from Metagenics.)
During this time avoid excess exposure to chemicals, avoiding cleaning
solutions and solvents, fluoridated toothpaste, aluminum-containing deodorants,
and aluminum cookware and containers. Only
herbal deodorants and natural shampoos and soaps are used.
No plastics are used for food storage.
On days one and 2 of the 7-day plan, consume only water, lemon water, and
herbal tea. (People who have
hypoglycemia or who get extremely weak with fasting should not do this strict
fast or should include vegetable juice and rice protein concentrate.)
ON days 3-7 a typical menu may be something like this from page 176 in
the book. Upon
arising: 8 ounces of hot lemon water Breakfast:
A rice protein shake made with fresh fruit and fruit juice; rice cakes; fresh
fruit; herbal tea Snack:
Fruit and/or a protein shake; herbal tea Lunch: Salad and soup; rice and steamed vegetables; baked or sweet potato and cold steamed vegetables Snack:
Fruit and/or protein shake; rice cakes; rice crackers; herbal tea Dinner
or Supper: Rice and mixed vegetables, steamed or lightly sautéed; soup and
salad; salad and baked potato The basic supplement plan includes:
Other supplements can further support detoxification: Alpha lipoic acid 600mg 2 x/day Glycine 500-1000mg 3 x/day between meals Lecithin 500mg 3 z/day L-glutamine 500mg 3 x/day Pantothenic acid 500mg/day Dandelion root Turmeric Green tea (Contains catechins, bioflavinoids very helpful in detoxificaiton.) Anti-yeast
and anti-parasitic supplements as needed.
Circulation therapy includes hydrotherapy, low temperature sauna, dry
skin brushing, exercise therapy, and mind tlrailning.
Hydrotherapy uses alternating hot and cold water, only one of the 224
methods described by John Harvey Kellogg M.D. in Rational Hydrotherapy (1923).
One method is hot showering on the back for 5 minutes and cold for ½
minute, than 2 more hot-cold cycles, then drying off and immediately getting
into a very warm bed for 1/2 hr. Any
method of hot-cold therapies should always end up with war, to avoid excessive
chilling and risk of pneumonia, and should be done on an empty stomach.
Low temperature sauna 150-170 F helps to increase removal of toxins
through the skin. Drink plenty
water. Stay for only 15 minutes the
1st time and rinse afterward with cool water.
The process can be repeated 2 more times, and as tolerance develops, more
cycles can be done. Always stop the
process if feeling ill, dizzy, or excessively fatigued.
Dry skin brushing with a natural-bristle brush sold in a health food
store improves skin circulation, and is best done after hydrotherapy.
Brush toward the heart, lightly at first, then more vigorously as
tolerated. Massage is also
similarly beneficial. Stretching
exercises such as hatha yoga also improve circulation.
Aerobic exercise probably needs no explanation of its benefits.
It should be begun slowly if you are not accustomed to it, and should be
stopped if weakness occurs.
Mind training includes deep relaxation techniques, alternate nostril
breathing, meditation, and stretching exercises.
I you are new to these techniques, it would be best to get a lesson from
a certified yoga instructor who is flexible enough to adapt instruction to fit
your needs. For questions or support you can call 1-888 ECOTOX (888-326-8697) or go online to www.ecotox.com, as recommended by the authors.
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