What does detox mean?

Although we all try in our own way to remain relatively toxin free we are literally surrounded by toxins. They can enter the body by a variety of routes, such as skin, gut or lungs and if they are not metabolized and eliminated properly they can stay in the body for [...]]]> Detoxification

What does detox mean?

Although we all try in our own way to remain relatively toxin free we are literally surrounded by toxins. They can enter the body by a variety of routes, such as skin, gut or lungs and if they are not metabolized and eliminated properly they can stay in the body for years.  Depending on the type of toxin they can be stored in the fat and connective tissue, then the area known as the extracellular matrix (ECM) just underneath the skin becomes clogged and overrun with toxicity affecting all further elimination, drainage and communication between cells and their membranes.

According to homotoxicolgy, if these toxins are not isolated, metabolized and eliminated effectively as the body is evolved to do in a very sophisticated manner, they can in turn lead to acute and chronic disease. Therefore detoxification consists of support for liver, kidneys and gut as well as the lymphatic system which in turn drains the ECM and other tissue toxicity. Water and homeopathic medicines are used in the correct order and dosage to support this drainage.

When do we Detox and is it for everyone?

The need for detox and drainage exists in everyone today due to the wide variety of toxins in our food, water, medications, substances and air as well as the ongoing stress in our lives. Regular (1-4 times a year) internal and supervised detoxification is imperative as cleansing our bodies externally.

Why is Detox Beneficial?

Toxins stored in the body or those which are not eliminated can have a range of effects, such as: fatigue, brain fog and concentration loss, excessive mucous production eg allergies, hayfever and skin complaints, glandular disruption, obesity, mood swings, immune dysfunction or infections, organ impairment, eg liver overload and even cancer.

Why are some detox’s non-beneficial?

Most detox’s are designed for weight loss or for liver and bowel cleansing, which can be great for short term, but generally the body needs a more thorough cleanse and to open other channels of elimination such as the kidneys. The lymphatic system (the body’s garbage disposal service) is undeniable one of the most hardest hit in terms of body systems and most of the toxins end up in the ECM from the lymphatic system. Viruses, bacteria, hormones, medications and other ‘junk’ clog this area, which commercial detox regimes are unable to clear.

Why supervision while detoxing is imperative?

Most clients need to undergo supervision while detoxing as it puts a strain on the whole system. People’s needs are different as well, for example, caution must be exerted in very ill clients while some clients are not well enough to undergo detox, as they are malnourished or going through psycho-emotional trauma.

Also clients on medication and or chemotherapy must have skilled supervision as detox can impair the treatments. Supervision means a consultation so dosage and other requirements are considered for the client’s health and comfort. Detox can be slow or fast depending on the requirement, for example, certain drugs and alcohol can be removed quickly while fat stores and endo-toxins are relatively slow to remove safely.

What does Detox entail?

Firstly a consultation or health check-up is required to ascertain understanding of requirements. Secondly, external supply of toxins needs to cease then with the cooperation and motivation of client the ‘activation’ of the excretion system is achieved after at least 5 days on the medicines, then it will take another week before the complete activation of the excretory organs to occur.

Thus a gentle and thorough detoxification allows sufficient time for the body to regulate itself (drain) and expel (eliminate) toxins. This takes about 6 weeks. This is a very gentle and complete detox and it is often recommended to repeat the process for ideal results.

Those Helpful Extras …….

Detoxification is more than just changing your diet or taking naturopathic medicine. Humans have many behaviours’ that contribute to a ‘toxic’ body, for example, stress and ‘negativism’ create ongoing toxicity in the body. Stress produces an excess of the chemical cortisol which must then be broken down by the liver and excreted through the kidneys, producing more toxic burdens on the body. Negative thought patterns such as anger, hatred resentment and bitterness all contribute to a toxic overload for the body. This causes ongoing liver problems and often digestion upset. It is helpful to look at our lifestyle and thoughts during a detox to see if we can ‘spring clean’ and ditch a few nasty habits while we are at it.

So Try some meditation or visualisation and  write frequently in your journal. Try to stay positive, loving and hopeful where possible. Other helpful activities during a detox include:

-       gentle exercise, outdoors if possible ( a triathlon is not gentle, a 30 minute walk is)

-       saunas

-       dry skin brushing

-       deep breathing

-       plenty of beneficial fluids ( filtered water, herbal teas, home-made fruit and vegetable juices …. not beer)

-       plenty of laughing and crying

Remember too that a detox is a positive, loving activity.  It isn’t a punishment or a life sentence or something to be endured.  Take this time to really care for yourself and learn a bit more about what makes you feel good and happy.  Good luck!

DETOXIFICATION

What Does Detox Mean?

Although we all try in our own way to remain relatively toxin free, we are literally surrounded by toxins.  These toxins can enter the body in a variety of ways (through the skin, gut or lungs) and if they are not processed or eliminated properly they can stay in the body for years.  Depending on the type of toxin, they can be stored in the fat and connective tissue and also the area known as the extracellular matrix (ECM).  When the ECM becomes clogged with toxicity it affects all elimination, drainage and the communication between cells.  This in turn can lead to acute and chronic disease.

The aim of detoxification then is to support and nourish the liver, kidneys, gut and the lymphatic system which then allows the ECM  and other tissues to drain away their toxicity.

Why Are Some Detoxes  Non-Beneficial?

Most commercial detoxes and popular detox programmes are designed for weight loss or for liver and bowel cleansing.  This can often have great benefits in the short term, but generally the body needs a more thorough cleanse and the ability to open up the other channels of elimination (such as the kidneys) and allow them to work more efficiently.  The lymphatic system ( the body’s garbage disposal service) is undeniably one of the most hard-working in the body and most of the toxins found in the extracellular matrix have come there from the lymphatic system.  Viruses, bacteria, hormones, medications and other ‘junk’ clog the ECM and commercial detox regimes are just unable to clear them

What Does Detox Entail?

There is a need for detox in everyone these days due to the wide variety of toxins in our food, water, medications, cosmetics, household cleaners and even the air we breathe – not to mention the increasing levels of stress in our everyday lives.  A supervised detox (from one to four times a year) is as necessary for life as washing our bodies on the outside.

A naturopathic consultation or health check is recommended at the start of your detox so that a programme can be tailored to your individual needs.  Some reduction in external toxins will be worked out (for example alcohol, caffeine, processed food etc) and homeopathic and naturopathic preparations will be prescribed.  The detoxification process must be ‘activated’ and, with the co-operation of the client, should begin after about five days.  A gentle and thorough process should take about six weeks and it may be necessary to repeat the detoxification for ideal results.

Why is Detox Important?

Toxins stored in the body can have a range of ill effects from fatigue, brain ‘fog’, concentration loss, allergies, hay-fever and skin complaints to glandular disruption, obesity, mood swings, immune dysfunction, liver overload and even cancer.

Why is it a Good Idea to Do a Supervised Detox?

Detoxing is a powerful process and needs highly skilled management and assessment.  People who are ill or weak, who are emotionally vulnerable, malnourished, on medication or receiving chemotherapy all need to be carefully monitored so that their health is enhanced rather than impaired.  Detoxing too quickly can be unpleasant and dangerous.  Some toxins can be removed quickly but others, such as fat stores and endo-toxins must be removed slowly in order to be safe.

Detoxing, done correctly and with professional help is an amazing and transformative process that can have real and lasting health benefits , but like many things it isn’t always as simple as it looks!

Heel Detox Kit -3 remedies in one great product for all your detoxing

pH (potential of hydrogen ions) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, eg a low pH indicates a high concentration of hydronium ions and the more acidic the solution, whilst a high pH indicates a low concentration, hence the solution is more alkaline. It is measured [...]]]> How  Acidity leads to Illness

pH (potential of hydrogen ions) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, eg a low pH indicates a high concentration of hydronium ions and the more acidic the solution, whilst a high pH indicates a low concentration, hence the solution is more alkaline. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7 or neutral such as water.

The body has an acid-alkaline interplay which is a balance between positively charges ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) It continually strives to balance its pH as blood has to be alkaline at about 7.4 in which to sustain life, however over a lifetime ‘where and tear’ exists in the body to keep the blood at that pH. When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

Acid-Base Balance and Your Health

Most people who suffer ‘acidity’ have to buffer these acids or borrow minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from other parts of the body including the vital organs and the bones. In western countries calcium intake is one of the highest in the world, yet paradoxically we also have one of the highest rates of bone demineralization (osteoporosis).  Bone mineral content is dependent not just upon calcium intake but upon net calcium balance (calcium intake minus calcium excretion), the calcium excretion side of the equation is extremely important.

Bone health is substantially dependent on dietary acid/base balance, however other factors such as stress and trauma play a part in this balance.  All foods upon digestion ultimately must report to the kidneys as either acid or base and when the diet yields a net acid load such as a high protein diet, the acid must be buffered by the alkaline stores of base in the body.

In addition to promoting bone demineralization, a net acid-producing diet also contributes to the following maladies and illnesses: arthritis, gout, calcium kidney stones, age-related muscle wasting, hypertension, stroke and asthma. Calcium salts in the bones represent the largest store of alkaline base in the body and are depleted and eliminated in the urine when the diet produces a net acid load.

The highest acid-producing foods are hard cheeses, cereal grains, salted foods, meats, and legumes, whereas the only alkaline or base-producing foods are fruits and vegetables. Therefore because the average diet is overloaded with these foods at the expense of fruits and vegetables, it produces a net acid load promoting bone demineralization.  By replacing these and processed foods with plenty of green vegetables and fruits, the body comes back into balance, which brings us also back into calcium balance. The goal is to avoid a net acid load on your kidneys

It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if your body’s pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips, you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. If your urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 – 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 -7.0 in the evening, your body is functioning within a healthy range. If your saliva stays between 6.5 and 7.5 all day, your body is functioning within a healthy range. The best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal. Test your pH two days a week.

Test Your Body’s Acidity or Alkalinity with pH Strips.

Urine pH- Urine testing may indicate how well your body is excreting acids and assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. The urine is the perfect way for the body to remove any excess acids or alkaline substances that cannot be buffered. If the average urine pH is below 6.5 the body’s buffering system is overwhelmed and attention should be given to lowering acid.

Saliva pH -The results of saliva testing may indicate the activity of digestive enzymes (manufactured by the stomach, liver and pancreas) in the body. While the saliva also utilizes buffers just like the urine, it relies on this process to a much lesser degree.

If the saliva pH is too low (below 6.5), the body may be producing too many acids or may be overwhelmed by acids because it has lost the ability to adequately remove them through the urine. If the saliva pH is too high (over 6.8), the body may suffer greatly, e.g. excess gas, constipation and production of yeast, mold and fungus.

Restoring pH Balance in the Body

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. The Paleo Diet recommends an appropriate balance of acidic and basic (alkaline) foods (i.e., lean meats, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables) and will not cause osteoporosis in otherwise healthy individuals, but promote bone health.

Come into Essence Natural Therapy to get your pH test strips ($10.00) or your pH tested. Also obtain a list of your acid/alkaline foods (based on PRAL values) and dietary advice ($ 25.00)

Other supplements for sale may include; dietary enzymes, alkalizing and green powders.

PRAL (Potential Renal Acid Load per 100 grams)

A 1995 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association by Dr. Thomas Remer and Dr. Friedrich Manz helped determine the amount of acid or alkaline in dozens of different foods. They did this by determining foods’ potential renal acid load, or PRAL, values. A positive PRAL is an acidifying food, and a negative PRAL is an alkalinizing food. The further the number is from 0, the stronger its acidifying or alkalinizing effect. ??Raisins have the highest alkaline PRAL at -21.0 for 3.5 ounces, which means they are very alkalizing, a likely reason for this is their high content of potassium.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/135889-examples-alkaline-foods/#ixzz1IYUt7Ls5