Detox Series: part 3
The rites of detoxification are many, varied and ancient.
Romans gathered daily to immerse themselves in hot thermal baths and then cold rooms, and Finns similarly crafted saunas using piles of burning hot rocks—and then jumped into the snow. That startling combination of hot and cold therapy is well-known to naturopaths as a potent detoxifier, demonstrated to increase general well-being, improve exercise tolerance, reduce pain levels, increase deep circulation, and generally tonify and detoxify the body. Fasting is another age-old method of detoxification, recommended in ancient Persian scriptures as well as on sacred days in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Native Americans used sweat lodges and herbal concoctions to cleanse, while Ayurveda relies on a five-step detoxification called a “panchakarma” cleanse which includes herbs as well as medicinal enemas. Other popular methods include juice fasts (a mainstay of the famous Gerson therapy), skin-brushing, lymphatic massage, bouncing on a rebounder, massage, vigorous exercise, enemas, infrared saunas, chelation therapy and numerous herbal programs.
No matter the approach, detoxification regimes are meant to encourage the body to release harmful compounds through sweat, urine and stool. And there is much to detoxify these days. We now have catalogued around 84,000 chemicals in the environment, and the average newborn has almost 300 toxins in his or her umbilical cord blood. Though our body has many sophisticated systems in place to neutralize, bind and excrete toxins, today’s load is excessive, and our protective systems can be overwhelmed.
Supporting our body’s detoxification and elimination ability is critical to good health, especially if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed here.
As we have been explaining here, opening the detox pathways is essential for an efficient detox and not create harmful situations.
Once our body is ready to go in the elimination mode (you start noticing that your ability to sweat is increased, your bowel movements are regular and smooth, and your urine is filtered), what we can do is supporting the six elimination organs, depending on what our specific need is.
I’m going to give detailed info on how to support the detoxification of each organ in the next blog posts, taking into consideration the best modalities according to my extensive research and experience.
Let’s list again the 6 elimination organs:
Colon
Kidneys
Lungs
Skin
Lymph
The liver is an amazing organ, key to our health and wellbeing. It is indispensable in many essential physiologic processes, like:
- Producing bile
- Processing nutrients absorbed by the intestines, so they are more efficiently absorbed
- Removing toxins from the bloodstream, including bilirubin, ammonia and others
- Breaking down and removing excess hormones
- Breaking down and metabolizing alcohol and medications
- Producing essential proteins and cholesterol
- Storing of minerals, iron and vitamin A for when they’re needed
- Managing the conversion of fats from your diet and manufacturing triglycerides and cholesterol
- Taking the carbohydrates you consume and turning them into glucose, a form of energy, to be stored for later use
- Balancing hormones
Among many others.
You can find the best way to give your liver some Love and support it in its hard work here.
I’m going to publish a special blog post for each organ, that goes thoroughly through the secrets and commons of the detox of the six elimination organs.
For the colon, we’ll follow a specific nutritional and herbal protocol.
For the kidneys, I’ll share the teachings of Dr. Morse.
For the lungs, I’ll propose some yoga poses, breathing exercises that can increase the respiratory muscles strength and promote better lung function, and steam therapy, foods and herbs that may improve breathing and help loosen mucus inside the airways and lungs.
For the skin, I’ll bite into the innovative findings of T. Grossbart from Harvard, that have been pivotal in the healing (and detox) of so many skin conditions.
For the lymph, I’ll dish out the best exercises and routine for the most efficient lymphatic uplift.
Can’t wait to share more with you!
Much Love,
Manuela