Detoxifying the Body

Decker Weiss: NMD & Naturopathic Cardiologist

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What exactly is "detoxification"?
How do toxins accumulate in our bodies?
What is whole body cleansing?
What should I consider when choosing an effective whole body cleansing program?
What’s the best way to have safe and effective detoxification?
Are detoxification programs safe?
Detoxification references

Safe, Natural, Effective Cleansing - Detoxification

Hair spray. Lawn fertilizers. Food preservatives. Dry cleaning. Flea repellenton our pets. We depend on these products to keep our hair stylish, our grassgreen, our food fresh, our clothes clean, and our pets healthy. However, thecreation of these and thousands of other products are exposing us to morechemicals and toxins than ever before. And the presence of these harmfulsubstances is becoming increasingly widespread.According to organizations devoted to protecting the environment, includingthe Sierra Club, the Izaak Walton League, and even the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, we are exposed to literally tens of thousands of chemicalsand contaminants every day. All across America, from big cities to smallvillages, from sprawling suburbs to wide-open prairies, harmful toxins arepresent in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.1-3The evidence is clear. It’s no longer a question of the need to detoxify,but how to detoxify. The proof is sitting on health food store shelves. Butfrom the hundreds of detoxification products ranging from one simple supplementto complex and complicated regimens, how do you choose the best? Inthis issue of Ask the Doctor we will discuss the safest, most effective, andhealthiest method of detoxification: a program of whole body cleansing withpowerful, yet gentle, all-natural products.

What exactly is "detoxification"?

Detoxification refers to the elimination ofpoisons or toxins. Detoxification programsinclude a vast variety of treatments aimed atgetting rid of bodily toxins and improvinghealth.Don’t we have a built-in natural detoxificationsystem?

Yes, we do. Our liver, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinaltract, and skin all work to eliminatetoxins that we take in. And, for the most part,they do a pretty good job. But the huge amountsof today’s environmental contaminants maypresent too tough a challenge for these built-indetoxification systems. The toxins remain in ourbodies, accumulating dangerously.

How do toxins accumulate in our bodies?

When the food we eat and the water wedrink leave the stomach, they enter the smallintestine where they mix with digestiveenzymes. These enzymes break down the food’sfats, proteins, and carbohydrates into simplecompounds. Some of these simple compounds goto the liver to be metabolized. Others are carriedaway by the lymph, an important part of theimmune system. What’s left travels on throughthe large intestine, or colon, where water isremoved and bowel movements are formed.4,5

But if toxins in the food we eat and the waterwe drink cannot be destroyed by the digestiveenzymes, or detoxified by the liver, or eliminatedby the immune system, they begin to build up. As these toxins accumulate, they willaffect every part of our body: slow ourmetabolism, rob us of energy, reduce ourimmunity, and can even lead to seriouschronic illness.6 The result? A body in seriousneed of cleansing.

What is whole body cleansing?

Most detoxification supplements focus only on the liver and colon. That’s becausesignificant amounts of our body’s own builtindetoxification happens in these importantdigestive organs. However, the only way tomake sure that detoxification is truly successful,is to cleanse the whole body. Andthat demands detoxification of the bloodand lymph. These two vital fluids nourishand protect the liver, colon, and every otherorgan, tissue, and cell. And if toxins arepresent in blood or lymph, every organ, tissue,and cell will be exposed to these toxinsand contaminants, too. Even if you are currentlyundergoing detoxification.6

Detoxifying the colon and liver withoutcleansing the blood and lymph is like replacingyour car’s dirty oil filter with a newclean one, but not changing the oil. Runningdirty oil through that new filter will certainlynot improve the performance of your caror help it run more efficiently. It’s the samewith your blood and lymph systems. Thesefluids need "changing" or detoxification, too,for your body’s best performance.

What should I consider when choosingan effective whole body cleansing program?

Many detox programs are complicated anddifficult to follow. Even their instructions areconfusing. If you can’tunderstand what youneed to do, chances arethe detoxification is notgoing to work very well.Some programs containsuch ineffective and uselessingredients that theyare literally nothing morethan money down the drain. And others containproducts known to harm your health.

Many detoxification programs are basedon senna and cascara, stimulant laxativesthat can create bowel dependence, deplete vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, and leavetheir users feeling drained and fatigued.7Enemas and colonics, the basis of otherdetoxification programs, place significantdemands on bowel health.7 While these typesof detoxification programs may be helpful incertain situations, they are not appropriatefor home use and should be used under thesupervision of a health care practitioner.

What’s the best way to have safe andeffective detoxification?

The best detoxification program is basedon safe, effective, all-natural herbs and nutrients.The program should be gradual andgentle and work with your body’s own detoxificationability and normal patterns of elimination.

The initial two-week phase should:

• Scrub your intestines naturally,stirring up and freeing stored toxins,
• Bind the freed toxins with fiber forexcretion and elimination,
• Restore power to the liver, so it canonce more eliminate toxins, poisons,and contaminants,
• Purify the blood, the fluid of life,
• Cleanse the lymph, the fluid of health.

Scrub the Intestines

One of the most effective, yet certainly oneof the most gentle laxatives available, magnesiumhydroxide, draws water into theintestines, causing its contents to soften andswell, then scrubs, loosens, and cleanses theintestinal walls.7 Slippery Elm Bark helpscoat irritated mucous membranes, draw outtoxins, and soothes the lining of the intestinalwall.8 Marshmallow Root helps white blood cells seek and destroy disease-causinggerms, then coats and soothes the intestinalwalls. 9 Peppermint Leaf Extract increases theflow of bile, relaxes intestinal muscles, andreduces cramps and gas that may occur duringdetoxification.10

Bind and Excrete Toxins

After the toxins have been stirred up andscrubbed from the intestinal walls, the nextstep is to grab onto them with naturaldetoxification fibers. When fiber enters theintestines, it expands, and soaks up the toxinsand waste materials, for eliminationthrough the intestines.11

The best and safest fibers to use in detoxificationare oat bran (the most soluble fiberof any grain),11 pectin from citrus fruit (itprovides fiber and helps strengthen immunecells, too),12 psyllium husk (has morereabsorption ability than any other bowelregulatingfiber),13 and guar gum, (a dietaryfiber and stabilizer from the seed of theguar plant helps clear the colon of toxinsand other wastes).11

But even the best detox fibers can’t cleansethe colon if they can’t absorb and eliminatethe toxins. The most effective detoxificationfibers are specially formulated to be thoroughlydispersed and completely releasedthroughout the entire colon.

Restore Liver Health

Without question the most revered herbfor the health of the liver is milk thistle.Not only can milk thistle help regenerateliver cells injured by toxins, it can actuallyblock the toxins from entering the liver inthe first place. Milk thistle has been shownto prevent liver damage in persons sufferingfrom alcoholism or hepatitis and can improvethe way the liver works in people with cirrhosisof the liver, a chronic and sometimesfatal disease.14

But not all milk thistle products are equal.Only milk thistle standardized to contain80% silymarin and formulated in a patentedprocess with phosphatidylcholine are capableof these amazing feats. And when combinedwith artichoke extract to stimulate healthybile production,15 as well as licorice and dandelionto help bile flow better into the smallintestine,16,17 these liver-loving herbs provideexcellent liver restoration.

Purify the Blood

Blood is the fluid of life. As it flows throughour body, it nourishes every tissue and organ in the body. Blood transports oxygen fromthe lungs, nutrients from the small intestine,hormones from glands, and immune cells tofight infection and reduce inflammation.Blood also takes toxins to the liver andtransports waste to the kidneys.18 Unfortunately,if the liver is unable to detoxify asit should, toxins will remain in the bloodstream,affecting every cell, tissue, andorgan in the body.

Burdock is by far, one of the most effectivenatural blood purifiers and cleansers. It alsohelps the kidneys filter impurities from theblood more quickly. And it helps cleanse therespiratory, lymphatic, urinary, and circulatorysystems, too.19,20

Cleanse the Lymph

Lymph is the fluid of health. The lymphaticsystem—the lymph vessels, lymph nodes,and lymph fluids—are often the first to alertthe body that toxins are present. Lymphabsorbs cellular wastes and drains them intothe lymph system, where they’re carried tothe lymph nodes for filtration. Once lymphhas been drained and filtered, it re-enters the bloodstream.21 It’s pretty easy to seehow cleansing lymph and the lymph systemis vital for good health.One of the most effective herbs for lymphdetoxification is red clover extract. It hasbeen studied for its ability to keep harmfultoxins out of the lymphatic system.6 Redclover extract also keeps the liver strong,especially during the detoxification processand stimulates bile production, so importantin digestion.22,23

Special Concerns During DetoxificationWhile most people will obtain excellentresults from the whole body cleansingprogram we just discussed, there are additionalnutritional supplements that helpwith specific detoxification needs.High Potency Metal ChelationHumifulvate, an extract from Hungarianpeat, is a mixture of humic acid, fulvicacid and phenolic acids. In clinical trials,Humifulvate reduced lead and cadmium levelsin people who had been exposed to these highly toxic metals. This high potency supplementbinds or “chelates" harmful metalsin the intestinal tract, without depleting thebody of healthy minerals, such as calciumor magnesium.24

Parasites

Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract is thefirst step in eliminating intestinal parasites.If you follow your cleanse with high potencypancreatic enzyme supplements at highdoses not only will the enzymes help keepyour intestines parasite-free, they can alsohelp your body make digestive enzymes,immune secretions, and beneficial flora. 25

Candida Reduction

Oregano, thyme, peppermint, and goldensealroot extract can inhibit the growth ofcandida, bacteria, viruses, and fungi afterdetoxification.6,26

Additional Intestinal Support AfterDetoxification

After detoxification is complete, yourintestines may need some help in gettingback to business. This transitional phase islike “re-booting" a computer after certainfunctions have been restored. There areseveral all-natural products that canprovide powerful intestinal restoration.

Supplemental Fiber

Containing inulin and oligofructose (OF),these soluble dietary fibers nurture thegrowth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.These fibers also help our immune systemfight bacteria and viruses, improve thestrength of the heart, and keep our entiredigestive tract healthy.11

Probiotics

Retained intestinal toxins can cause bacterialflora to decline significantly. Once detoxificationis complete, probiotic supplements canreplenish this intestinal flora. However,many probiotic supplements actually containdead and dying intestinal flora bacteria.That’s because these beneficial bacteria areeasily destroyed by light, air, poor packaging,and (if they live long enough) stomachacid. Be sure to buy a probiotic product thatWarranty delivery of the bacteria into theintestine, right where they belong.27,28

Are detoxification programs safe?

For most people, the answer is definitely yes. However,pregnant or nursing women should not use any detoxificationprograms—even those that are specifically designedto be extremely gentle.

And it’s best to not detox more than four times in oneyear, unless directed by your health care practitioner. Ifyou develop cramping or diarrhea simply reduce the doseof the intestinal cleanser. And if these problems persist,are painful, or are disruptive you should discontinue its use.

It’s also very important to drink at least 64 ounces ofbottled or filtered water every day while on the detoxificationprogram. Try drinking the water on the rocks or witha twist of lemon.

Conclusion

How well we digest the food we put into our bodies isalmost as crucial to our health as what kind of food weput into our bodies. A simple fact of a healthy life is thatthere is no true health without digestive health. And anessential key to superior digestive health is whole bodycleansing and detoxification that gently and graduallyworks with your body’s own detoxification ability andnormal patterns of elimination.

Dexotification References

1. The Sierra Club. Accessed on May 28, 2003. Available at: http://www.sierraclub.org

2. The Izaak Walton League. Accessed on May 28, 2003. Availableat: http://www.iwla.org

3. United States Environmental Protection Agency.Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment.Accessed on May 28, 2003. Available at:http://www.epa.gov/

4. Nick GL. The intestinal tract. In: Clinical Purification: AComplete Treatment and Reference Manual. Brookfield, Wis:Longevity Through Prevention Books; 2001: 43-44.

5. Porth CM. The liver and hepatobiliary system. In:Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. 5th ed.Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 1998:745-753.

6. Nick GL. Detoxification overview. In: Clinical Purification: AComplete Treatment and Reference Manual. Brookfield, Wis:Longevity Through Prevention Books; 2001:167-178.

7. Lehne RA. Laxatives. In: Pharmacology for Nursing Care. 3rd ed.Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders; 1998: 787-792.

8. Fleming T, ed. Slippery Elm bark. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines.Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 697.

9. Marshmallow. Ibid. 505-506.

10. Peppermint. Ibid. 580-583.

11. Grodner M, Anderson SL, DeYoung S. Fiber. In: Foundations andClinical Applications of Nutrition: A Nursing Approach. St. Louis,Mo: Mosby; 2000: 102-108.

12. Nangia-Makker P, Hogan V, Honjo Y, et al. Inhibition of humancancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice by oral intakeof modified citrus pectin. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002;94:1854-62.

13. Marlett JA, Kajs TM, Fischer MH. An unfermented gelcomponent of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as alubricant in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;72:784-9.

14. Brown DJ. Milk thistle. In: Herbal Prescriptions for Health & Healing. California: Prima Publishing;2000:193-202.

15. Fleming T, ed. Artichoke. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines.Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 44-46.

16. Licorice. Ibid. 469-474.

17. Dandelion. Ibid. 245-246.

18. Guyton AC, Hall JE. Circulation. In: Textbook of Medical Physiology.10th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company; 2000: 647.

19. Fleming T., ed. Burdock. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines.Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000:128-130.

20. Nick GL. Burdock root. In: Clinical Purification: A CompleteTreatment and Reference Manual. Brookfield, Wis: LongevityThrough Prevention Books; 2001:155-162.

21. Porth CM. Lymphatic system. Pathophysiology: Concepts ofAltered Health States. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott;2002: 427-428.

22. Red clover. Ibid. 167-178.

23. Fleming T., ed. Red clover. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines.Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 633-634.

24. Reduction of blood lead and/or cadmium levels by Humifulvate.Proprietary documentation. December 2002.

25. PDR Health. Supplemental enzymes. Accessed on May 16, 2003.Available at: http://www.pdrhealth.com/

26. Fleming T., ed. Goldenseal In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines.Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 355-358.

27. Wollowski I, Rechkemmer G, Pool-Zobel BL. Protective role ofprobiotics and prebiotics in colon cancer. Am J Clin Nutr.2001;73:451S-455S.

28. Bengmark S. Gut microbial ecology in critical illness: is there arole for prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics? Curr Opin CritCare. 2002;8:145-51.