Detoxification

Detoxification is the term used to describe the process the body goes through to eliminate toxins that have accumulated in the physical and energetic body.

The world we live in, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil in which the food grows, all are full of toxins that our body must deal with and eliminate on a daily basis.

With poor body functioning or a weakened system, toxins can accumulate in our bodies resulting in ill health.

Detoxification is the oldest know medical treatment.  Historically, detox was achieved by fasting or abstaining from certain foods over a period of time.  The body naturally detoxifies via perpiration, urination, exhalation and bowel movements.  Due to the increased volume of toxins in the environment, one may begin to wonder if we are able to efficiently eliminate the toxins from our body.

Detoxication is a tradition that has been practiced for centuries, as seen in the Native American sweat lodges, the fasting of the Ayurvedic tradition in India, and the herbal prescriptions of Amazon shamans (spiritual healers). Detoxification ranges in complexity from simple changes in diet, such as the intake of more water, to the more demanding, and potentially most rewarding case, of complete fasting.

Additionally, Dr. Sijbrant states that the benefits of detoxification have been well documented for centuries since “fasting and detoxification have been practiced in medical history for thousands of years with reported benefits.” Such benefits include a clearer complexion, increased mental clarity, elimination of headaches, bloating, and joint pains, elevated levels of energy, and decreased susceptibility to disease. One of his participants, Kristen Jadelrab, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, enthusiastically supported the doctor’s assertions stating, “Physically, I lost weight and my skin seemed clearer. I felt healthy!”

The major detoxification therapy categories are: fasting, specific diets, vitamin therapy, colon therapy, chelation therapy, and hyperthermia.

Detoxification therapies run the gamut from self-directed fasting to intravenously-administered synthetic drugs, and none should be undertaken without medical supervision.

Although there is limited research data available to prove that detoxification therapies work, proponents report lower blood pressure, reduction in blood fat levels, and better vitamin and mineral absorption as benefits.

While there is no doubt that processed food contains additives and preservatives, that drinking water is far from pure, and that air is contaminated, more scientific studies need to be performed to prove that a particular therapy can purify the body of these toxins.

Indications:

• Sinusitis
• Irregular Bowel Patterns
• Persistent Cough
• Fatigue
• Cold & Flu Symptoms
• Gas
• Headache
• Irritability
• Skin Rash
• Digestive Disorders
• Joint Pain
• Allergies
• Sensitivities to chemicals/perfumes, synthetics
• Hemorrhoids
• Acne
• Psoriasis
• Lung disorders
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Depression

Benefits:

• Increased vitality & energy
• Improved mental clarity/concentration & memory
• Decreased Blood Pressure
• Decreased symptoms of depression
• Decreased Blood Fats,
• Improved assimilation of vitamins and minerals
• Overall improved digestive health
• Diminished food sensitivities
• Decreased body weight

Detoxification at IMI may involve a combination of:

• Dietary Changes
• Herbal & Vitamin Support
• Chelation Therapy
• Coffee Enemas
• Colonics
• Hyperthermia

Fasting
This is certainly the least expensive and easiest therapy to attempt, but it should always be preceded by a visit to a qualified health professional or nutritionist. Fasting is generally done for a limited, specific number of days.

All fasting regimens permit water to be consumed, for it is essential to prevent dehydration. Others allow juice as well, although purists consider this to be food.

The main rationale for fasting is that since far fewer toxins are taken in, the body is able to rid itself of those already present.

Diets
Proponents say that a strong immune system founded on a plant-based diet is the best defense against environmental toxins. As opposed to fasting, detoxification or detox diets as they are more commonly known, can be undertaken for extended periods of time.

Although there are many different types of detox diets, most are based on eating organic rather than processed foods, minimizing meats and maximizing fruits and vegetables, and drinking filtered water.

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners also hold that certain foods, like radishes, turnips, soybeans, swiss chard, and vinegar, can actually counteract or neutralize toxins.

Vitamin Therapy
The use of antioxidants is generally recommended as an ongoing, daily regimen in people's lives, especially if they are in a compromised, or particularly unhealthy environment.

Some feel that certain vitamins, such as C and E, are antioxidant nutrients capable of neutralizing certain toxins called free radicals.

A free radical is a particular type of atom or group of atoms that can damage cells and impair a person's immunity system. While our bodies contain natural enzymes that work against these free radicals, some argue that vitamins C and E as well as the beta-carotene in vitamin A function as free-radical scavengers, thus neutralizing the toxins that harm our immune systems.

Colon Therapy
Colonics, or cleansing the large intestine with purified water, herbs, or other cleansing agents, is sometimes combined with fasting to flush out toxins from the body.

A step beyond a simple enema, this procedure is performed by a trained therapist who introduces from 5-25 gal (19-941 l) of water, or other cleansing agents, directly into the rectum using a tube and nozzle.

This technique is supposed to remove toxic stool that remains in the folds of the intestine. If performed improperly or too frequently, it can be dangerous.

Chelation Therapy
The most common type of chelation therapy involves the use of a chemical agent that is recognized as being able to effectively treat heavy-metal poisoning (like lead or mercury).

The synthetic drug ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is administered intravenously or orally and binds to heavy metals in the blood. The toxic metals are then flushed out naturally through the kidneys. Doctors also use natural chelating agents like zinc, garlic, vitamin C, and amino acids like cysteine.

Oral chelation, while less expensive and more convenient, has been reported to work considerably slower than the intravenous method. Chelation therapy has also been used to treat artherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. It has been theorized that chelation removes calcium which is part of the plaque that coats arteries.

While some patients have reported remarkable results with this treatment, no reliable scientific data exists to support their statements. Research is also needed to confirm reports of success with treating heart and cancer patients with chelation therapy.

Hyperthermia
Also known as heat stress detoxification, hyperthermia essentially uses a sauna or a steam bath to sweat out toxic chemicals from fat cells.

The various detoxification therapies all claim to be able to eliminate chemicals and pollutants from the body's systems, to alleviate the symptoms of this toxicity, and to help the patient return to good health.

Detoxification does require close supervision to ensure the proper nutrients are consumed. The process helps to eliminate, or clean out of the body, the different toxins that have accumulated in the physical and energetic body. Most detoxification processes deal with only the physical body, while detoxification with Choming Natural Essences deals with the energetic body, namely the aura and the chakras, as well as the physical body.

Detoxification

- Acupuncture/acupressure/acumassage/electroacupuncture
- Auriculotherapy
- Body work, massage, lymphatic massage, Thai, Swedish massage
- Hydrotherapy, sea salt body wraps
- Infra-red sauna, hyperthermia
- Ozone therapies, steam sauna, water, insufflation, etc.
- Herbal/ supplements/ homeopathic treatments
- Intravenous modalities, chelation
- Meditation and process work - detoxifying at higher levels
- Didactic and participative classroom work and exercises
- Salves and topical medicaments focused specifically at particular symptom

Heavy Metals Detoxification

Heavy metals are one of the more common toxins experienced;

What are they?
Simply put, toxic metals are naturally-occurring metals that do not participate in the normal essential functions of our body but rather exert a toxic influence in the body. This group of metals is quite large but for our purposes we will refer to mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, antimony and aluminum as "the" toxic/heavy metals.

Heavy metals are a health concern for many reasons not the least of which are that they:

1. block the activity of many essential enzyme systems in the body
2. suppress immune function
3. enhance free radical damage ("aging") to the tissues
4. bind to DNA creating mutations
5. may contribute to anti-microbial resistance in micro-organisms and allow for the growth of pathogenic species
6. inhibit the absorption or use of nutritional minerals

Now by no means will every toxic metal produce all of these effects, yet each one of these effects alone can be dramatically challenging to our health.

Toxic Effects
Each toxic metal has multiple symptoms it can produce. Mercury, for example, has long been known as the "great imitator" since it has the ability to produce or contribute to almost every imaginable medical condition known. The following table shows which body systems are most commonly affected by selected toxic metals:

METAL	BODY SYSTEM
Mercury	nervous, bone, skin, immune
Lead	nervous, liver, kidneys, bone
Arsenic	digestive, bone, skin, lungs
Cadmium	kidneys, liver, DNA
Antimony	skin, liver, kidneys, heart

The preferred place to start when addressing toxic metal concerns, would be determining the source of past, or ongoing exposure since one of the first rules of toxicology is to remove the source. Once a source is identified, then the necessary steps can be taken to minimize, if not entirely eliminate, that exposure.

Sources of Toxic Metal Exposure

Mercury - Dental amalgams, fish & shellfish, vaccines, broken thermometer, fungicides, algaecides, insecticides
Lead - Leaded gas (past exposure), lead-glaze (ceramic), lead paint, cigarettes, amalgams, soldered cans, water (lead pipes)
Arsenic - Pesticides, fish & shellfish
Cadmium - Tobacco, rice, cadmium paints, alloys (solders/welding), PVC leaching
Antimony - Paint, ceramic, glass, solders, flame-retardant fabrics, parasite medications

Determining Tissue Burdens
The whole arena of determining how much of each metal is in your body is challenging. Tthis stems from a number of factors influencing tissue stores of toxic metals such as:

1. Form of the metal one is exposed to (Exposure to mercury for example can be in the form of metallic mercury, a mercury salt or organic mercury.)
2. Manner in which one is exposed (Have you been exposed to a metal vapor, in food or through the skin?)
3. How recent was/is the exposure? Is it ongoing? (Was your exposure a one shot deal or are you still being exposed to the offending metal(s)?)
4. Health and nutritional status of the individual exposed (Lack of certain nutrients, genetically-coded enzyme deficiencies or anatomical changes due to defects, injury or surgery may worsen the effects of heavy metal exposure.)

Despite these factors, the science of determining metal loads has evolved considerably allowing simple, straightforward methods of evaluation.

Following are some of the more commonly used methods of evaluating toxic metal load in the body. While each of these methods has strengths and weaknesses, practitioners will invariably have their preferences in clinical use.

Pros & Cons of Various Methods of Toxic Metal Analysis

Hair Analysis - Inexpensive, non-invasive, good screening method for past exposure, will not reflect tissue stores or acute exposure

Urine Analysis - Random, relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, reflects ongoing or recent exposure, indicates only random urinary excretion, does not reflect tissue stores

Provoked Urinalysis - Better reflect tissue stores, most sensitive for evaluation of therapy, may cause “burden” issues, potentially more expensive

Fecal sample - Non-invasive, good measure of digestive exposure or liver metal elimination, appropriate to monitor therapy with natural chelators, useful when urine evaluation is not an option, subject to adequate liver function, does not reflect tissue stores

Blood Analysis - Sensitive, best for acute exposure, good for mineral/nutritional analysis during chelation therapy, most expensive, does not reflect tissue stores or chronic exposure

The two methods of urine analysis are, by far, the most commonly used within the realm of toxic metal evaluation due to their being non-invasive and more sensitive to tissue metal stores. Hair analysis is used as a screening test for toxic metal load while also serving to glimpse mineral status within the body. For children and the elderly, or people who cannot tolerate pharmaceutical chelating agents, the fecal analysis is predominantly used.

BOOKS
The Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Fife, WA: Future Medicine Publishing, 1995.

Fife, Bruce. The Detox Book. Colorado Springs, CO: HealthWise Publications, 1997.

Haas, Elson M. The Detox Diet: A How-to & When-to Guide for Cleansing the Body. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts Publishing, 1996. 

Wesson, Donald R. Detoxification from Alcohol and Other Drugs. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1995.

PERIODICALS
O'Connor, Amy and Reilly, Lee. "Do I Need to Detoxify?" Vegetarian Times. (April 1997): 90-92.

ORGANIZATIONS
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. 2366 Eastlake Ave., Ste. 322. Seattle, WA 98102. (800) 206-7610. (206) 323-7610.