A Clean Start Internal Detoxification Is An Often-overlooked Factor In Achieving Good Health
Internal detoxification is often neglected, overlooked, or misunderstood by the general public.
Every day our bodies are exposed to toxins and pollutants in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Our environment subjects us to a variety of pesticides, chemicals, synthetics and petroleum products that are used in homes, offices and cars. Our modern diets consisting of processed and overcooked foods, genetically engineered foods, fast foods, and junk foods all contribute to the problem. Our stressful lifestyles also create additional burdens on the digestive organs; we tend to ‘take it in the gut.’
Since there is no way to avoid continuous exposure to toxins, our only hope is to build our immune system to defend ourselves, cleanse, and work toward balance in our lifestyle.
Recent research has proven that prolonged use of medication and drugs actually increases the risk of losing areas of protective mucosal lining in our intestinal tract. Once this leaking occurs, known as “leaky gut,” a situation exists where toxins are absorbed into the blood stream. When this happens, the body does not recognize the toxin and therefore, goes into a self-attack mode creating antibodies. It is widely known that this is the actual beginning of many auto-immune disorders. This blood then goes to our liver for filtration before being circulated throughout our body. This constant challenge to the liver results in overwork, and at some point the liver becomes so saturated with toxins it cannot process this overload; much like a sponge that has all the water it can absorb.
The liver is our largest internal organ. It has more than 300 functions but is mainly a filter. As it filters, it stores every condition we’ve suppressed with drugs. The bile that it secretes in its effort to purge goes to the gall bladder where it is concentrated 10 times from the liver. From there, this bile goes into our digestive system (small intestine) and helps to digest and alkalize our food. Can you see why a diet that is high in fat creates havoc on this process?
There are more than 500,000 gall bladders removed in the United States every year. Once that surgery is performed, the liver loses its helper and must take over its function. More stress on our system results. This process of digestion takes more energy than running five miles! We are all born with organs that are stronger than others. If there is a history of diabetes, the pancreas may be weak. Hormonal irregularities affect our adrenal glands. Build up the organ that is weakest so that as it attempts to adapt, it is being fully supported.
In this piece, I’ll address the importance of internal cleansing and detoxification, and why this often-overlooked factor in maintaining sound overall health shouldn’t be overlooked any longer.
Digesting Information
We all have stress in our lives. It’s when the stress turns into distress that every cell is on alert. Deepak Chopra, MD states: “Wherever a thought goes, a chemical goes with it.” And “belief creates biology.” He points out that stress doesn’t make people sick, losing the inner adaptability to stress does. This ongoing condition affects every tissue of the body, breaks down the immune system, and hinders proper digestion, absorption, and elimination. Other factors that contribute to this overload are lack of exercise, overeating, not drinking enough purified water, and, most importantly, ignoring our emotions.
Toxic acids are normal byproducts of cellular breakdown that occurs constantly in our bodies. We create a new stomach lining every six days, a new liver every six weeks, and an entirely new skeleton every year. The old cells are excreted through our normal eliminative channels: lungs, bowel, skin, kidneys, and lymph system. When these systems are flowing easily, we are in good health. But when toxins are being produced faster than they can be eliminated, they get picked up by the blood and circulate. This creates a condition know as Autointoxication, literally self-poisoning.
Common symptoms of excess toxins include constipation, excess weight, bloating, gas, headaches, chronic sinus problems, infections, poor memory, inability to concentrate, insomnia, menstrual problems, prostate enlargement (prostatitus), depression, skin eruptions, yeast infections, fatigue and a host of other health challenges.
Our bodies are amazing miracles; They will adapt to this condition and actually function for a time under this stress. Research shows that the veins will become 75{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} blocked before we even feel pain. It can take up to 20 years for certain cancers to show up. For every pound of fat, it takes an additional five miles of blood in the vein to feed it. This overload to the circulatory and cardiovascular system is one reason why heart disease is the number one killer in our country. The resulting stagnation in the bowel is why colon cancer is now the number two killer after heart disease.
When the body gets too much of one substance, it develops a sensitivity. Allergy is a signaling system for us, but we may ignore or we medicate the signal to shut it off. We then develop a tolerance for the medication so we try another one, creating a vicious cycle. The news is full of infections that are now resistant to the most powerful antibiotics.
This is a direct result of overuse and misuse of these drugs. They are commonly prescribed for viruses for which they are not only ineffective, but weaken the immune system as it tries to fight the offensive virus. Antibiotics are prescribed routinely for simple colds and flu. When the body really needs one for a serious infection, it no longer works. New information is providing that supplementing with probiotics creates the inner balance necessary for health to flourish naturally.
A proper diet of fresh organic foods, plenty of pure water, regular exercise, stress management and several daily bowel movements are vital to balancing these systems of elimination. Colon hydrotherapy helps gets a sluggish system moving again so that ideally for every meal we eat, we have a bowel movement. Output must equal input. It is vital to have the guidance of a health care professional when considering any cleanse. As the toxins are released, symptoms may appear and it is important to be coached by someone who is experienced and can guide you through this transaction to better health. Cleansing is often an enlightening process.
A theory from the science of naturopathy states that all disease begins in the colon. The tube from the mouth to the anus is approximately 30 feet long. Our eliminative organs (lungs, lymph, skin, kidneys, colon) must be constantly flowing in order to maintain balance in the body.
When the colon builds up undigested food, toxins form, pass through the intestinal wall and the disease process begins. Gas, belching, constipation, indigestion, food cravings, headaches, fatigue, allergies, yeast, and other infections are only a few of the beginning symptoms. These are the signals of an imbalance. We often adapt to these symptoms and/or medicate them for comfort. Unfortunately, the problem is still present: toxins circulating in the blood from waste that must be eliminated. But how do we make changes?
In order to facilitate the eliminative process, many people use laxative products. This only serves to propel the waste through the system resulting in weak colon muscles. These weak muscles then begin to rely on the purgative, and dependency develops. Any form of laxative, whether herbal or otherwise, will upset the digestive system.
Colon hydrotherapy is an effective, gentle and safe process that uses only pure water to gently bathe the five feet of large intestine. Used in conjunction with a supervised nutritional program, this process allows for balance in the system to occur in a natural, safe and effective way.
Dr. Alice Shabunin is director of A&L Holistic Health Spa in East Longmeadow, MA 01028; (413) 525-7500; anlholistichealthspa.com
