What is detox?
Detox or body cleansing has recently become very popular, although, not many people fully understand what it involves. For some people it means going on a special diet, avoiding certain foods or seeping smoothies full of nutrients.
Detoxification means the process of removing toxic or harmful chemicals from the body. It may appear to be a new concept but it has been around for a very long time. Most ancient medicinal interventions were focused on cleansing and balancing the body and mind. Over time, more and more advanced medical treatments replaced them and natural body detoxification procedures lost their popularity.
Technological evolution speeds up exponentially and although, it has made our lives easier in many ways, sadly, it did not appear to resolve long standing issues such as famine, a lack of pure drinking water or effective disease treatments. We’ve paid a high price for the industrial revolution with more people than ever complaining of all sorts of health problems and ailments that oftentimes are considered incurable by conventional medicine.
So what we are doing wrong?
Modern medicine blames harmful microbes, genetics, degeneration, stress or unhealthy lifestyle as main cause of disease. It focuses on and deals with symptoms, not the actual cause of a disease that typically leads to a wrong diagnosis. It fails to recognise that ongoing exposure to all sorts of toxins and their accumulation in the body can and eventually will evolve into serious health challenges.
We are exposed to toxic substances on a daily basis. Air we breathe in is polluted, water we drink contains heavy metals, toxic chemicals and microorganisms, soil is contaminated with pesticides and herbicides used in agriculture and food we eat is heavily refined and stuffed with additives and preservatives. On top of it, we deal with emotional, mental and environmental stresses that add to the overall toxic burden.
The amount of toxins we are exposed to is enormous and they need to be processed and metabolised by the body’s detoxification mechanisms. Our bodies will naturally detoxify in order to maintain their balance. However, if we accumulate an increased amount of toxins, our detoxification organs and processes will become overloaded and much less effective at performing their job. This is when the body loses its balance, the immune system is compromised and our health starts deteriorating. Even minor health problems mean an increased level of toxicity.
The symptoms of toxic overload:
• Abnormal body odour, bad breath and coated tongue
• Chronic respiratory problems, asthma, blocked sinuses,allergies
• Problems with joints, back, arthritis, headaches
• Poor memory recall and mental ‘fogginess’
• Low mood and depression
• Sleep problems
• Emotional problems- irritability, aggression, mood swings
• Low energy levels, fatigue
• Skin, hair, nails problems- rashes, acne, psoriasis, eczema, brittle hair and nails, cellulite
• Weight problems- under- or overweight
• Cardiovascular problems
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Neurological problems, e.g. multiple sclerosis
• Autoimmune disorders
• Diabetes
• Diarrhoea, constipation
In order to restore health, we need to support our body and mind with effective detoxification procedures. There are many ways to do that but to achieve complete health it needs addressing at the physical (body), mental (mind), emotional (feelings) and spiritual (soul/spirit) level. Without effective cleansing and re-balancing procedures, toxic substances stored in the tissues will continue to adversely affect body functioning and lead to more imbalance and degeneration.
The benefits of detoxification:
• Improves digestion, food tolerance and nutrients absorption
• Relieves allergies, sinus congestion and asthma
• Normalizes blood pressure and cholesterol level
• Enhances memory, concentration and mental clarity
• Stabilizes hormone levels
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves wound healing and body repair
• Revitalizes the body and improves energy levels
• Improves or heals chronic and degenerative diseases
• Improves recovery from injuries
An effective process of detoxification should be holistic and synergistic to improve every aspect of our health: physical body, emotions, mental processing as well as spirit. To be carried out safely, it should also be tailored to our individual needs. It is always best to consult a professional before commencing any detoxifying protocols.