Detoxification.

18 min read  · 

Detoxification.

Detoxification Procedure You Can Do At Home

Our Toxic World:

Sadly our beautiful world has been polluted by the human race. It is wrong, lacks integrity and ethics, but there you are. It is what is. It is now up to you to do something about it. First task is to clean your body of these chemical pollutants. If you choose to do so, you will buy clean, green, organic foods and household/personal care products. How we spend and what we spend our money on can and will begin to change the world. Global detoxification starts with one human at a time. That gives us personal power and responsibility. On top of that, why wait until you are chronically ill before you take action to detoxify yourself? You wash before you get very smelly and that is only on the outside. Inside your body is where it really counts.

Toxicity refers to chemicals originating outside or inside the body that interfere with the healthy functioning of the body. Normal living produces internal waste materials and being under stress produces a whole lot more. Toxicity also comes from external sources like:

Heavy metals: amalgam tooth fillings, vaccines, antiperspirants, cigarette smoke, paint, copper and lead pipes, tinned food and food packaging.

Household chemicals from household cleaning agents, air fresheners, disinfectants, drain cleaners, furniture polish, wax, paints, glue, personal care products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, perfumes, stain removers, softeners, bleach, dyes, scents and hairsprays.

Building materials and products: adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products (eg chipboard), photocopy machines, pesticides and cleaning agents may emit volatile organic compounds ( VOCs) including formaldehyde.

Medications: The side effects and residue from medicines and prescribed drugs.

Environmental toxins. Pollution from the air we breathe, outdoors or indoors (sick building syndrome, gas cooking, paraffin, heaters air conditioning/mold), the food we eat (pesticides, colourings, additives) and the polluted municipal water we drink, cook with and bathe in.

Electromagnetic toxins from cell phones, PCs, cell phone towers, lighting, televisions, freezers, WI-FI, pylons and microwaves.

Industrial toxins from the outputs of large industrial plants- powerstations.

Bacteria, fungus, molds, yeasts, and parasites from our food, water supply, pets and unhealthy digestive tracts.

Intestinal toxins from gut dysbiosis, candida, SIBO and others

Internally generated toxins from the body’s own metabolic processes and stress. The amounts produced increase considerably in the presence of nutritional deficiencies.

Since 1930 the global production of man made chemicals increased from 1 million to 500 million per year, Little is known about the toxicity of most of these chemicals. An estimated 80,000 synthetic chemicals are in everyday use. Most chemicals have never been assessed for their effect on health or the environment. There is evidence linking chemical toxicity to a wide range of conditions including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, multiple sclerosis, memory loss, childhood cancers, premature puberty, low sperm counts, testicular cancer, breast cancer, undescended testicles, multiple myeloma, non Hodgkin’s. lymphoma, infertility, birth defects, asthma and learning disabilities.

There is a considerable amount of evidence to suggest that GM foods and accompanying pesticides are suppressing our immune responses to bacteria, viruses, parasites and tumours, making millions of people significantly more vulnerable to disease. The World Health Organization reports roughly 5 million pesticide poisonings annually and 500.000 deaths from these. The actual figures may be many times higher.

A report based on tests or samples of umbilical chord blood found an average of 287 contaminants in the blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, and Teflon chemical(PFOA). Of the 287 chemicals detected, 180 cause cancer in humans of animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The danger of pre or post natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins has never been studied. Hullo! Never! Why not. Big business is blocking this obviously. These toxins have already been subjected to the livers attempts to get rid of them via detoxification before they are picked up in umbilical chord blood. Other measures of breast milk carrying horrible toxins are just as frightening.

How Toxins Cause Disease:

Whether a toxin or combination of toxins causes problems within your body depends on a lot of different things, including the toxicity of the toxin, the amount and the presence and combination of other toxins. Also factors relating to your body play a big role. The ability of any given toxin to cause health problems is closely related to the efficiency and effectiveness of the bodys’ detoxification systems. An Italian study tested liver detoxification enzyme activity of a group of chemical plant workers among whom there was an excessively high rate of bladder cancer. The researchers found a direct correlation between those that developed bladder cancer and those with a less efficient detoxification system. The workers were exposed to the same levels of chemicals. It was found that those with impaired liver detoxification were the ones who developed cancer.

Your Genetic Inheritance:

Chemicals in the bodies of your parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents might be affecting your health now through a phenomenon called epigenetic inheritance. This refers to the passing down of biological information from one generation to the next that is not encoded in the DNA but attached to the DNA. These epigenetic changes influence the way DNA and genes work. Researchers propose that these epigenetic inheritances might be responsible for children born with fatal diseases or in later life developing breast or prostate cancer. Think about how long our race has been ignorantly poisoning itself. Well over a hundred years ago the standard treatment for venereal disease was mercury. Drug companies have been pumping chemicals into innocent people for a long time. I have had patients whose mothers were the only possible source of a certain toxin found in their systems that had entered their bodies via their mothers womb. No wonder the bible mentions several generations of people affected by their ancestors. Our genes play a big part in determining how effectively our bodies respond to toxins. This is why the rate at which toxins are inactivated by the liver might vary by as much as fivefold in healthy individuals. This explains why two people exposed to a similar load of toxins are affected very differently. Fortunately someone with inherited slow detoxification may be helped by supplements,  herbs, diet and lifestyle changes.

Detoxification is the name of the game.

Can we stop disease? First get rid of the toxins.

To stop disease, we have to clean up our lives through a detoxification process which includes optimal nutrition, special diets, cleansing programs, specific vitamins and supplements, fresh extracted juices, herbs and other natural therapies which do not harm the body. We have to change our living habits and the way we think. We need to find a balance between the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our life.

So, how does one detoxify? It can’t be done overnight. You took time to build those toxins up. If you go too fast, it will throw your body into a healing crisis which is unpleasant. What is on the detoxification menu. Possibilities are

  • Concentrate on stopping the toxins getting into your body to start with. To do so you need to reduce exposure to air pollution, electro-pollution, toxic household cleaning products, toxic personal care products, chlorine, fluoride, mercury, cadmium, aluminium, lead, emotional stress and geopathic stress.
  • Use herbs and supplements which aid your body in its daily detox. This is not random use. Use an evidence based targeted approach. Know what you are doing and why. Keep records in your diary or journal. Know what you are doing and roughly for how long you intend to do it. Have definite goals.
  • Do what you are comfortable with and increase intensity slowly.
  • Clean up your diet. Stop sugar and junk food. Minimize seed oils and braaied food. Even baking food increases the amount of AGEs (toxins). Everyday eating is more important than big cleanses because it is long term. Focus on the right daily nutrition for you. This is a work in progress for all of us. Big cleanses are useful, but short term. We all need a mix of ongoing and short term detoxes.
  • Only use pure water for cooking, drinking and bathing.
  • Sauna/ sweat those toxins out. Frequency depends on necessity and intention.
  • Fast on water alone or detoxifying herb teas or fresh home made juices. Do so regularly. I like a one day green tea fast once a week. It works for me. If I was dealing with cancer it would be a whole different ball game. Introduce and increase these intensive methods with guidance from an experienced expert. Do not develop an eating disorder while detoxifying. Intention/focus is vital.
  • Eat more raw foods or go on a raw food diet instead of or alternating with water or juice fasting. Find out what works best for you.
  • Find out your levels of toxic metals and go back and check on them at regular intervals. This ensures that you are making progress. Hair analysis, urine, blood and saliva tests are very helpful for keeping track of your status. I check details of phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification+ levels of inflammation, allergies/intolorance of all kinds, hormones (especially zenoestrogen), gut health details and a lot more. I do not believe in random detox with no goals.
  • Natural healing has always been keen on spring and autumn cleansing programs. In our modern world it is necessary to be on some kind of cleanse all year round just to avoid disease. If you have a chronic or life threatening condition, work out an intensive manageable program with the help of your natural practicioner or health coach. Moniter your progress. I use a blend of cleansing fasts once a week and bigger cleanouts during spring and autumn.
  • Find out the status of your organs of elimination. Liver, lungs, colon/intestines, lymph system, kidneys and skin(blood stream). Keep abreast of their improvements so that you know that you are actually getting healthier. This article will touch into diet next and then give you tools to improve the detox ability of each organ of elimination.
  • Work on the stress levels in your life. Actually keep up with your psycho-spiritual progress. If you fail to do this, all other efforts are going to be sabotaged and your life will feel like a meaningless struggle. Being alive is about being happy and creative or miserable and destructive. It is up to you to make your choice. We all have our problems and challenges. Health involves being up for it all, taking the good and the bad as it comes “all in the days’ adventure”. Life is not meant to be a nightmare all the time. Holistic health is what life is all about. Physical and emotional toxins remain on par with each other. Like the layers of an onion, we have to peel away layer after layer.

“All cures come from within the central core of your body first, then it progresses outward and from the top of your body down to your feet and in reverse order in which disease symptoms first occurred.” If you get into detoxification, you will run into this physical/mental/emotional rule.

Diet. Nutrition.

Detoxification starts in the produce isle.

Eat more fresh raw fruits and vegetables.  The more varied the colours, the better and more balanced the detoxification cleansing process will be. Some of my favourite fruits and vegetables to keep the body in tip-top shape include: Apples, carrots, tomato, peppers, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, papaya, parsley, garlic, rocket, cos lettuce, avocado, ginger, broccoli, eggplant, nuts, legumes and zucchini. These provide fiber and fluid to get the bowels moving, improve oxygen utilization, help to burn up waste products in the system, and stabilize blood pH making the body more alkaline. When the body is alkaline it has energy and the oxygen to fight off disease, so that it can detoxify and rebuild. What amount of raw food do you eat daily? Do you steam your vegetables? Are you going to eat legumes? Are you going to eat meat or fish? What is right for your body? What is practical? Should you go for the vegetarian or vegan system? I give no answers here because the answers like your blood type and other factors are unique to you alone. Most systems say go raw foodist, or vegetarian or vegan. It may work for you short term, or not. Beware the “one size fits all philosophy” Make organic or home grown food a goal. Cut back on milk, cheese, poultry(unless really free range) and refined foods. Eliminate sugars, fried food, most grains, junk foods and packaged items. Eat more soft boiled eggs. Ensure that you are always hydrated.

 

Liver phase 1 and 2 detoxification pathways.

Your liver is your most important organ of detoxification and continuously processes all forms of substances from your digestive tract and the rest of your body. It has to deal with all these compounds, some of which are toxic and others which are beneficial as well as decide what needs to be done with them. It functions just like a complex chemical plant that manufactures new compounds, detoxifies dangerous compounds and directs substances all over the body for use, storage or excretion. The liver makes use of two pathways in order to carry out its detoxification work- phase 1 and phase 2 pathways. Phase 1 is responsible for breaking things down into smaller raw materials. I will give general liver detox tips to all patients first and foremost. Broken down toxins are then moved to Phase 2 which builds new substances from the raw materials, by adding molecules to them- a process called conjugation. There are seven parts of Phase 2 detox called:

  • The Methylation pathway
  • The Glutathione pathway
  • The Sulphation pathway.Enhanced by MSM and Epsom salts baths.
  • The Glycine pathway
  • The Taurine pathway
  • The Glucoronidation pathway
  • The Acetylation pathway

Methylation:

.  One of the most affective methods of countering genetic detoxification problems is to measure and address everyones methylation status.

The methylation cycle is a biochemical pathway involved in the production and distribution of methyl groups (CH3) in the body.

Methylation is a necessary part of the majority of biochemical reactions in the body, and is a critical component of:

  • Detoxifying the body
  • Producing energy
  • Controlling immune function
  • Producing neurotransmitters
  • Synthesizing proteins
  • Repairing DNA
  • Controlling homocysteine levels
  • Keeping inflammation in check
  • Recycling key antioxidants

Identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which represent genetic differences, is important. Assessing this and methylation status are top of the list when it comes to dealing with the health and detoxification of any person. Genetic variations are sometimes associated with an individuals’ susceptibility to certain diseases and/or conditions. For example, having defects in the methylation process can affect the brain and nervous system and affect:

  • Speech
  • Language
  • Auditory processing
  • Reading comprehension
  • Focus
  • Socialization

Methylation increases sulphation, which aides in the excretion of heavy metals and the elimination of allergies (environmental and immune). Furthermore, methylation improves the production of glutathione, which is needed to neutralize and excrete both environmental toxins and pathogens out of the body.

No matter what disease a person is suffering from, the first step in my opinion is to test for MTHFR genetic tendency and for methylation status. Those with MTHFR tend to have a much greater degree of methylation and detox problems. It is very rare to find someone with perfect methylation in this polluted world. Most people are over or under methylators. Methylation can be helped with one of two different supplement packages. Nutrient formulae for over or under methlyation are needed by most people. This is far more helpful than general multivitamins which may be further blocking your methylation. This is often referred to as part of phase one detoxification. Here is an overview of phase one detoxification:.

Liver phase 1 detoxification may be improved or stimulated by:

Liver cleansing formulae:

There are many Chinese liver cleansing formulae and I will not go into detail here, except to mention the most famous TCM detox formula Xiao Yao San or Bupleurum and Tang Kuei formula. It consists of bupleurum root, angelica sinensis, paeonia alba root, atractylodis macrocephalae, poria, licorice, Chinese mint and ginger root. TCM  also uses food to work on the liver. There are three main liver dysfunctions

Tonify liver blood deficiency and the foods are: spirulena, black and blue berries, green drinks, gelatin, artichoke, beetroot, dandelion leaf, kelp, avocado, dates, black sesame seed, chicken soup, eggs, beef and organic liver.

Cool liver heat: mung bean sprouts, celery, seaweed, lettuce, cucumber, millet, plums, mushrooms, radish, daikon radish and chrysanthemum flower tea.

Reduce liver wind: celery, basil, sage, fennel, ginger, anise, oats, black sesame seed, pine nuts, coconut, cold pressed flax oil, lemon and chamomile tea.

There are also great Ayurvedic herbal formulae for the liver as well as food and spices for each dosha. Like the Chinese herb formula, I will give only one well known formula and what each ingredient works on:

Gudchi- bowel flora, all doshas, intestines, anti inflammatory, improves digestion, chronic fatigue, candida, immunity, libido, autoimmune conditions, anti arthritic, immune regulator, liver detox, blood stream and skin detox(skin disorders).

Manjistha -liver detox, lymph detox, skin detox, kidney detox, anti inflammatory, blood detox, tumor and stone detox,

Tumeric – it is easier to say that this spice, the common ingredient of curry, has a cleansing and healing effect on every part of the body.

Kutki – liver and spleen detox, intestines detox, blood detox, acne, eczema, psoriasis healing, anti inflammatory, digestion, cleans blood vessels and heart tonic,  anti bacteria, anti parasites, anti allergic, boosts immunity, diabetes and blood sugar balancing, weight loss, and heart detox.

Chitrak – intestines/colon detox, liver and spleen detox, parasites, analgesic, atherosclerosis, diaphoretic, for slow metabolism, poor digestion, edema, kidney detox, reproductive detox, anti inflammatory.

Neem – sinus, liver, blood, skin, parasites, bacteria, virus, intestines detox and blood sugar regulating and eyesight regeneration.

Vidanga – general detox, bowels, parasites, worm, kidney, blood, bacteria, virus and fungus detox.

Mahasudarshan – detox deep rooted toxins, anti inflammatory, all infections/ antimicrobial or herbal antibiotic (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites), lymph cleaning, alleviates allergies, boosts immunity, reduces craving for sweets, skin detox, eye disorders, blood cleansing, for slow digestion or metabolism, liver detox, arthritis, acne, rash, eczema, psoriasis, GERD, heartburn, nausea, crohn’s disease, gastritis, colitis, gastric ulcers and intestinal disorders.

The above herbs are sometimes mixed with licorice, triphala, trikatu, musta, daruharidra and bhumyamalaki making it one of the most powerful combinations in Ayurvedic herbalism.

Western Herbs:

My herbalism teacher Dr John Christopher had a famous formula for liver detox: 3 parts of barberry/berberis and one part of each of the following: wild yam, cramp bark, fennel seed, ginger root, catnip, peppermint, blessed thistle and aloe or cascara. Other western liver detox herbs are: milk thistle, dandelion root, chicory root, burdock root, black walnut hulls, black root, blue flag root, boldo, fringetree bark, yellow dock, gentian, wormwood, lentinus edodes and coriolus versicolor( 2 kinds of mushrooms), picrorhiza, phyllanthus extract, calamus, wild cherry bark, wahoo and balmony.

Supplements that support phase 1 and 2 liver detox are:

Alpha lipoic acid          60-200 mg daily

NAC                              500—2000 mg daily away from food.

Antioxidant formula. Take the strongest that you can find. Antioxidants protect the liver from the damaging effects of toxins.

SOD formulations also help protect the liver.

Glutathione peroxidase detox pathways are also able to enhance detox and protect the liver. The supplements NAC +milk thistle + whey powder+L Glutamine get glutathione pathways detoxifying

Manganese citrate                  1—5 mg daily

Molybdenum glycinate           150 mcg—300mcg daily

Selenomethionine                    200 mcg—600mcg.

Phos Choline                            1000—-3000mg daily

Inositol and choline                  500—3000mg

Vitamins A,C and D

Appropiate B vitamins that suit your type of methylation.

Grapefruit and lemon juice

Origanum oil                    1—5 soft gel capsules. Regulates liver detox.

Niacinamide.                   500 mg—2000mg daily.Regulates liver detox.

Heavy Metal detoxification if a hair analysis shows that it is necessary. EDTA,

DMSO/MSM, chlorella, zeolite, parsley, cilantro, Epsom salts foot bathes and garlic.

Lung Detoxification:

Expectorant herbs facilitate the removal of excessive mucous from the lungs and help to relieve congestion. While a thin coating of mucous is necessary to keep the mucous membranes healthy, too much mucous causes stagnation and creates a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses as well as interferes with healthy lung function. Expectorants act on the entire respiratory system and are especially useful for supporting the body in overcoming colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses. Some expectorant herbs, such as mullein and marshmallow are mucilaginous and they have a slippery, soothing quality that helps to heal bronchial tissue that has been irritated by allergies, air pollution, smoking, or bronchitis. These herbs can be taken over a long period of time as tonics for the lungs. Other expectorants such as thyme and eucalyptus have potent antimicrobial action and help to cleanse the lungs of harmful microorganisms. They are useful for treating colds, flus and other infections.

Lung Herbal Cleansers:

Licorice, mullein, marshmallow, fenugreek, fennel, thyme, eucalyptus, peppermint, coltsfoot, aniseed, chickweed, comfrey leaf or root, echinacea, ginger, sage, marshmallow root or flowers, lobelia, violet flowers, angelica, elecampane, hyssop, lungwort, senega, thyme, horehound, wild cherry bark, sundew and red clover.

 

Bowel detoxification:

For chronic constipation problems, my favorite formula is:

Marshmallow root, slippery elm root, aloe vera juice, psyllium husk, flaxseed powder, yellow dock root, licorice root, fennel seed, red raspberry leaf, ginger, rhubarb root, barberry bark, pectin, white clay or montmarillite. Take probiotics at another stage for example half and hour after the formula. Do not use this forever. Take pre and probiotics ongoing. The herbs are somewhat non-addictive and can shift your bowel habits permanently with only a few months of adding it to your supplement program. Some people prefer to add coffee enemas or colon hydrotherapy to their detoxification programs. This is good, but don’t overdo them. Three per week should be the maximum amount for coffee enemas in the detoxification program. And if your issue is candida, parasites, worms or irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease, you will need gut cleansing and regeneration for those problems.

Juicing is an easy way to get the liver and gallbladder going. Adding some raw beet juice, sugarless cranberry juice and or green bitter vegetable juice will stimulate the gall bladder to increase detoxification and get things moving bowel wise.

You may also want to add in some liquid acidophilus or the latest spore probiotics to your detoxification program–especially if you have bowel issues, crave sugar, know you have yeast problems, or have had a history of taking antibiotics. Certain B vitamins, especially B5 and ionic mineral supplements are also helpful both in gut detoxification and maintenance phases.

Kidney Detoxification:

Symptoms of poor kidney function are water retention, dark coloured urine, mood swings, kidney stones, hypertension, dizziness and puffiness under the eyes. Poisonous residues from toxic substances such as pesticides, food additives, drugs, household and garden chemicals, solvents, and synthetic body care products are all filtered through the kidneys via the bloodstream. Keep your organs of detoxification functioning optimally and keep your exposure to dietary and environmental toxins to a minimum. The kidneys are stressed by alcohol, coffee, excess salt, excess protein and insufficient fluids. Eat lots of grapes, dandelion greens, beetroot, cucumber, asparagus, ginger, parsley, cranberries and watermelon to clean the kidneys. Kidney emotions are nervousness, fear, anxiety, dread or worry according to chinese medicine. Excessive experience of those emotions damages the kidneys.

Kidney and Bladder herbs:

Buchu, clivers, gravel root, juniper berries, marshmallow root and leaf, parsley root, uva ursi, lobelia, ginger, golden seal(infections), wild carrot, couch grass, white pond lily, black cohosh root, yarrow, burdock and nettle tea.

Blood Skin and Lymph Detoxification:

Symptoms of poor skin function are acne, clogged pores, excessively oily or dry skin, skin rashes, eczema or slow wound healing. The skin is the largest organ of your body. Sweat lodges and saunas are ancient traditional methods of cleansing the body via the skin. Most toxins can be excreted via the skin. The skin is sometimes referred to as the third kidney. 25% of the body’s waste is excreted through the skin. If the large intestine, kidneys,or liver are not adequately detoxifying and disposing of wastes, the burden falls on the skin. Acne, boils, skin rashes and other eruptions are signals that something is failing in the internal workings of the body’s detoxification system. The skin is a mirror for what is occurring inside of your body. The key to healthy skin requires attending to all of the organs of detoxification.

Herbs for the Skin:

Sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock, oregon grape root, red clover blossoms, nettle, chaparral, plantain, licorice root, poke root, peach bark, stillingia, sassafras,  prickly ash bark, buckthorn bark, echinacea. Diaphoretics are herbs that promote sweating.These increase elimination via the skin: yarrow, elder flowers+peppermint, boneset, catnip, thyme, horehound, pleurisy root, lime blossom, golden rod, garlic, ginger and cayenne.                                                                                                    Skin brushing is good for the skin and lymph system. Epsom salts baths and salt scrubs cleanse the skin.

Lymph System: Symptoms of poor lymph function: swollen lymph nodes, frequent infections, tender lymph nodes, hardened lymph nodes, cellulite, fibrocystic breasts, fluid retention.  Lymph passes into and out of the bloodstream through permeable membranes bringing nutrients to the cells and carrying away waste products. The waste materials transported out of the cells are filtered through lymph nodes which are clustered primarily in the armpits, neck, groin, abdomen and chest. The tonsils, adenoids, appendix, spleen and Peyer’s patches in the small intestine are also part of the lymphatic system. They filter toxins from the lymph and destroy harmful microorganisms and cellular wastes such as worn out blood cells. The lymph system is a vital part of the immune system. It relies on movement/exercise, breathing and massage to move its fluids. When the lymph is not flowing freely, stagnation occurs, wastes back up in the cells and infections are more likely to gain a foothold. Lymph drainage massage is very good for this system and jumping on a mini trampoline. Exercise is vital to keep the lymphatics healthy.

Herbs for the Lymph System:

Cleavers, mullein, red clover, prickly ash, devils claw, echinacea, golden seal, poke root, lobelia, burdock cayenne, chaparral, myrrh, plantain and essential oils: grapefruit, lemon, lime, birch, cypress, fennel, geranium and thyme.

The Healing Crisis:

So, how do you know when you are detoxifying too quickly? Symptoms of a healing crisis can include: Fever, swollen limbs/face, headaches, mobilization of mucous, weakness, weight-loss, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other digestive disorders, pains resurfacing, worsening of existing symptoms, rapid pulse, skin eruptions, and some say they feel like their world is “collapsing”. Emotions like anger, sadness, grief, depression, anxiety or others may well come up for processing and release. Remove physical toxins and mental/emotional toxins will also come up for detoxifying. If that happens, move through it.

What is the difference between a healing crisis and illness? You know when you are having a healing crisis because: The crisis usually lasts only one to three days. At the end of the healing crisis you feel much better than before the healing crisis occurred. You are eating all the right things and up until the healing crisis have had a good attitude. You know you are making changes in your lifestyle and are working on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of your life. You are mentally prepared to get through the healing. You may have just pampered yourself with some kind of bodywork—this sometimes triggers a healing crisis. This is a good thing. If you are truly sick, the symptoms above feel worse as time progresses. The symptoms are more than transient and more than mild.

Ways to work through a healing crisis: Drink lots of water, treat yourself to a massage or hot bath, do daily caster oil packs over your liver for 3-5 days, fast for a day or two, get a chiropractic adjustment or practice qi gong and yoga, pray, meditate, get into nature, do some attitudinal work and work with a coach to provide you with motivation and support.

This article gives a lot of information about detoxification. You decide if you want to nurture your body. It is a good idea. Get yourself into the detoxification mindset. It is a challenge, but the payoff makes it worthwhile. Potential benefits are: your health will improve; increased energy; better digestion; restful sleep; improved skin tone; weight loss comes as a bonus(it is not always the goal of detoxification, more like a side effect); enhanced flexibility; memory improvement; enhanced creativity; sharper mental focus; stable moods; increased joy and a greater sense of well-being. If you want to look and feel younger, listen to your body. It is crying out to be detoxified.

Michael Rault N.D.