Detoxification is a common buzz word for living a healthy lifestyle but how
many of us really understand what it means to be toxic? Did you know that you
are bombarded with toxins on a daily basis? A toxin is anything that irritates,
inflames or causes a harmful effect in our body or mind. Toxins can be ingested,
inhaled or absorbed on an external level. We come into contact with toxic substances
everyday such as gas fumes, paint chemicals and pesticides.
On an internal level our bodies produce biochemical wastes
that must be eliminated. If they are not properly
eliminated our bodies do not function at their optimal
levels. Many required functions can be blocked in entirety due to a toxic
internal
terrain. On a mental – emotional level we can have toxic thoughts that
cause psychological stressors that are then manifested at the physical level.
Our physical bodies, if working at their optimal levels,
are designed to identify and eliminate external and
internal toxins. The difficulty that
we have in
our modern times is that we are being exposed to higher levels of super
toxins and are experiencing greater difficulty in
eliminating these toxins.
We generally detoxify through five different systems, urinary,
respiratory, lymphatic, gastrointestinal, and dermal
or skin. These systems help us
to neutralize, change and eliminate toxins. Detoxifying can create movement
where there was
none and assist in changing not only the internal terrain but mental
terrain as well. By clearing the stagnation that
toxicity creates we can move forward
toward health and happiness in our daily lives.
A safe detox can create relief from illness, and potential
disease as well as improve energy and prevent aging.
Many people take detoxing to
the extreme
and utilize harsh products that are sold over the counter without benefit
of supervision by a licensed healthcare practitioner. It’s not appropriate
to over eliminate and deplete our bodies of adequate hydration and essential
vitamins and minerals needed to maintain optimum health.
A general rule of Oriental Medicine is to find balance
and avoid extremes of any kind. A belief that more
is better is a common one in this country
and
helps explain our lifestyle excesses. Obesity is at an all time high
and is the basis for many illnesses and disease.
Allergy symptoms are quite frequent signs of toxicity.
Headache, runny nose, joint pain, cough, stiff neck,
and skin rashes are a
few symptoms
that may
indicate a toxic terrain.
During
weight loss we release toxins that were stored in our fat
tissue and require additional assistance in elimination. That
assistance can
be as simple
as additional water and fiber intake. Of course not all problems
are cured by detoxification but maintaining a clean terrain will
enable
your body
to more easily combat viruses, bacteria and resolve any other
health challenges that you may face.
A simple way to begin a detox program is to eat in a nontoxic
way. Red meat, fried foods and refined sugars are
highly toxic and create great
stagnation
in the body and they should be avoided. Eating organic foods and drinking
clean filtered water is number one on the list. Don’t forget to cook with clean
water as well. Use of stainless steel and glass in cookware is also wise. Remember
to only use glass or porcelain if you do cook in your microwave. Plastics are
not natural and they can break down over time and become carcinogenic.
Many products are sold as simple colon or liver cleanses.
Although this is a good idea, remember that toxins
exist in all of your cells
not just
the
cells of your liver and colon. The French homeopathy technique called “drainage” utilizes
homeopathic solutions to drain toxins away form each and every cell of your
body. During this type of detoxification you may re-experience the symptoms
you have had in the past or feel achy. This is normal and a result of the expression
of your toxic terrain.
Remember you should consult a licensed healthcare practitioner
before you embark on a detoxification of any kind
especially if you are in
fragile health or
on multiple pharmaceutical medications.
Christina Captain, DOM, AP, is a doctor of oriental medicine
and the owner of the Family Healing Center. Her clinic
is located in
Sarasota
at 1219
East Avenue South, Suite 104. Please call 941-951-1119 or visit
www.familyhealingcntr.com.
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