Strengthen First

Some patients need to be strengthened before they can begin a detox program to minimize the “healing crisis” effect as the toxins are being released from a cellular to a tissue and organ level. If the patients constitution has been significantly weakened by toxins, the constitution has to be restored.

Chinese tonic herbs are extremely important and beneficial in fulfilling this need. Ginseng, deer antler, cordyceps and schizandra to name a few will help move the body in the direction of strength and resiliency, and ready to get the full benefit of a thorough detox program while feeling good going through the process.

There’s No Placebo Effect in Animals

Whether it is a pharmaceutical or a homeopathic when we administer it to a dog, cat or horse we are sure to get the true response; there is no placebo effect in animals. So while treating animals with detox regimens for more than twenty years the beneficial effects are clear from a physical and emotional level. The outward appearance of a better hair coat, brighter eyes, and more energy is easy to notice. The improved behavior is more nuanced but obvious. The underlying cause can’t be known. Are they acting better because they simply feel better, or has the detox directly helped the cognitive and neurological function? I believe the latter is an important component. Regardless, the point is that detox and drainage clearly benefits the body even before directly addressing the central problem. And often times with weak individuals it is the only place to start. With stronger individuals (person or pet) detox and drainage can accompany other programs like a sports training program for someone new to holistic approaches.

The Solution: Detoxification

Toxic load reduction is widely recognized as essential for the restoration of well being. Although the problem of toxicity has received considerable attention from holistic health advocates, it is only recently that the process and mechanisms of detoxification have been well understood.

When healthy the body has a remarkable capacity to neutralize and excrete toxins. Upon exposure to a harmful substance, numerous enzymes and other molecules rally to prevent damage to cells and tissues which come in contact. A variety of mechanisms exist to de- activate, chemically alter, and eliminate foreign substances.

However, when the body is stressed due to fatigue, a recent infection, mental and emotional trauma, or recurrent exposure to quantities of toxins, or if the toxin is particularly noxious, these natural defenses become overloaded. They may be preoccupied in eliminating a microorganism, or the quantity of the toxins may simply overwhelm the capacity of the body to detoxify. When this happens, toxic substances tend to accumulate in and around the cells, causing problems both directly (by poisoning the cells) and indirectly ( by accumulating in the extra-cellular fluid), thereby slowing down uptake and release of cell metabolites and interfering with the intracellular communication process.

The majority of detoxification is carried out by four systems in the body

Respiratory. Digestive. Urinary. Dermal.

These are supported by the diffuse communication/transportation networks of the circulatory and lymphatic systems. How effectively all these systems work to detoxify the body both depends on and determines the body’s overall state of health. Ideally, all toxins must be rapidly and completely removed from the body.

The Problem: Toxicity

Low level toxicity from many sources can be very difficult – if not impossible – to detect. Yet the combined actions of these toxins creates a ” toxic cocktail” effect which can seriously weaken the body and mind, making them even more susceptible to disease and stress. The symptoms of such exposures are usually not correlated to the presence of toxins. In fact, conventional medicine testing often does not have an explanation for the symptoms, hence the frequent diagnosis of “psychosomatic” maladies. The symptoms of toxicity may take years to manifest after initial exposure, making it extremely difficult to correlate the toxins with the symptoms.

Quite often, laboratory tests will not indicate the presence of toxins in the body, but symptoms will persist, occurring rarely, sporadically, frequently, or on a daily basis. Ignoring them or failing to detoxify the body can eventually lead to chronic systemic toxicity, which ultimately results in damage to internal organs or tissues. Such patients are ideal candidates to undergo a detoxification regimen, as indicated by their rapid relief from chronic complaints. Many may start to feel significantly better within a few weeks of beginning to detoxify.

Some are more susceptible to toxins than others. Their reaction to the toxicity of a given substance depends on a number of factors, including the amount to which they are exposed, frequency of exposure, the state of their elimination and filtering organs, and how tolerant they are to the substance. One’s tolerance and susceptibility, in turn, can be influenced by their current overall state of health, and possible inherited constitutional weakness.

Some of the more common symptoms of toxicity include: fatigue, drowsiness, headaches, general restlessness or irritability, rashes, nausea, joint aches, ringing in the ears, swollen glands, hormonal imbalances, sudden hair loss, and overall system degeneration, i.e., premature aging and disease.

The distinct steps must be taken to enjoy good health in the future.

1) Reduce our susceptibility to toxins.
2) Detoxify the body.
3) Reduce or prevent future exposure.