-
What is Detoxification? There are two kinds:
When we speak of detoxification, keep in mind that one is a naturally occurring process, and the other is a therapy designed to enhance, support or accelerate the detoxification processes of the body. Let’s talk about the naturally occurring one first.
Detoxification is a process in our body that transforms health threatening toxic substances from our environment, diets, and lifestyle, into something harmless or something that can be excreted. Our bodies are detoxifying every minute of every day from the food we eat, the chemicals in our clothing ( dyes and dry-cleaning), lipstick, deodorants and cleaning products , to the air we breathe (particularly those of us who live in cities), and heavy metals that seep into our bodies from aluminium cans and cooking ( to name just a few). Toxins also arise from any kind of stress: emotional stress, work stress, chronic anxiety, and even physical exertion.
Our body has several detoxification organs and systems: liver, colon, kidneys gallbladder, lungs, skin, lymph and blood. They help rid the body of wastes and toxins. In an ideal world, these systems clean out the toxins and keep us healthy. In the 21st century, these systems are constantly being pushed beyond the limit they were designed for, hence the need for an intervention strategy.
Now let’s talk about the second kind of detoxification, or Detox therapy, like the one we use. Detox therapy is a health system which enhances the natural detoxification process. It is used by practitioners in alternative health care because it is believed to be a primary, if not essential therapy in helping to rehabilitate health conditions. It is also used by those seeking to attain optimal health, because of its ability to help the body eliminate toxins that are accumulating in our body due to unavoidable chemicals in our foods, environment and stresses from our 21st century lifestyle.
Think of your body, your temple, as a temple that hasn’t been cleaned out in years, perhaps decades. The temple keeps finding new places to store the, let’s say garbage- putting it in back rooms, basement, any place out of the way. The same thing occurs in our body: toxins are moved out of the way- usually in fat- to protect our vital organs from harm. This process occurs daily: toxins are removed and stored in fat in order to protect the essential organs. As the body ages, it becomes less able to deal with the toxic overload from our lifestyles and environment. All kinds of problems occur with toxic overload- our immune system weakens, so we get more colds and flus, more headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as many kinds of inflammation, including arthritis and rheumatism, and the list goes on.(see below Indicators of Toxicity). Detox therapy cleans out the body brain temple, removing toxic debris, and let’s your body’s natural organs take over the job again, albeit more efficiently, to keep your metabolism humming.
-
Why is Detoxification Important?
Detoxification reduces the amount of toxins and pollution into our body to lessen the burden against the detoxification organs. Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald
In her book, The Detox Solution, Dr.Patricia Fitzgerald writes, “Research has shown that our susceptibility to disease is directly related to our ability to detoxify.” Toxins, she writes, “are often silent contributors in numerous health challenges.”
When our bodies are not detoxifying properly, our body becomes more acidic, a condition which can lead to cancer and diseases.
“Detoxification is even more important to longevity than good nutrition.” In her book, The Acid alkaline Balance, Felicia Drury Kliment writes that acidic wastes, caused from our bodies inability to rid itself of toxic debris, is the common denominator in all degenerative diseases.
The basic concept of Detox therapy therefore is this:
It reduces the amount of toxins and pollution in our body which wreak havoc with our health, creating problems like allergies, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, and immune related conditions, like fungus, yeast infections, arthritis, etc. Detox therapy reduces all kinds of toxins and increases the functioning of all the systems and organs. It is a metabolic adjustment; once the metabolic adjustment is made, the body can detoxify naturally and more effectively.
-
If our bodies have natural detoxification systems, why do we need detoxification?
Reality Check: We live in a modern world with an unprecedented load of toxins.
Fitzgerald writes, “the toxic overload is the price we’ve paid for the noteworthy progress which has been made over the past 150 years in technology and science. Among the many toxins we encounter today are pesticides, industrial wastes, synthetic medicine, food additives, car exhaust and cigarette smoke.”
Synthetic chemicals, pollution, and even antibiotics fed to our chickens, find their way into our bodies, and place an ever increasing burden on it to eliminate them with our overtaxed detoxification systems.
-
What are some of the symptoms or indications of Toxicity?
There are many signs of toxicity, below is a brief list of the most common:
- Feeling tired, fatigued on a regular basis
- Poor digestion
- Food cravings
- Frequently ill with colds and flus
- Depression
- Skin problems (eczema to hives)
- Chronically stressed
- Joint pain
-
What are some of the benefits of Detoxification?
Detox Therapy works on two levels: you feel like you have taken your body into the body repair shop for a major tune-up, while your brain feels like you rebooted the operating systems to get it to work better.
Other Benefits:
- Eliminating toxins strengthens the body's fight against cancer
- Mucous, congestion, fermentation, and inflammation in our digestive tract are cleansed
- Blood is purified
- Improved energy and vitality
- Overall Stronger Immunity, less vulnerable to illness and disease
- Sharper Mental Acuity
- Improved digestion and circulation
- Better appearance -toxicity makes us age, detox improves all organs, including skin
- Greater sense of emotional well-being
- Strong cravings for sugar, salt, carbohydrates, nicotine, alcohol and junk food are reduced and/or eliminated
-
What is does Detox Therapy involve: what do you eat and drink?
There are many kinds of cleansing therapies that fall under the umbrella of Detoxification.* Below is a brief summary of the one used in the Active Health Systems program:
AHS uses a general health Detox Therapy to improve your overall state of health and well-being. Our lead specialist, Jill Kazikos, has administered thousands of detox treatments to those in her Swedish clinic, and has 30 years experience with this therapy as a primary therapy for healing and wellness.
Our therapy uses only all natural foods, fruits and vegetables. To support the detoxification therapy, we also use all natural patented products and teas, body care treatments, and unique de-stress techniques.
* Reading on Detox Therapies include The Detox Solution by Patricia Fitzgerald, and Detoxification and Healing by Sidney MacDonald Baker, MD.
