Stepping Down the Path to Healthful Detoxification
Stepping Down the Path to Healthful Detoxification
When you boil the area of ill health down to its bare essentials, there is always one common element: stress. That stress can be physical, chemical, biological, mental or emotional. Eliminate the stressor, and you eliminate the foundational cause of ill health. In my experience, the most prevalent forms of stress have tended to be chemical or biological. Which means that, at some point, a detoxification protocol is in order.
Most people who adhere to natural health principles are well familiar with the concept of detoxification, otherwise known as cleansing. But how many people have done cleanse after cleanse, and never seem to enjoy true good health? Very few know what really constitutes a thorough, lasting, health-enhancing detoxification.
There are several very important, specific steps which must be followed to achieve true detoxification. The first is to prepare the biological terrain. A detoxification is, by its very nature, a stressful event, especially with respect to the immune system. The body must be alkalized through dietary changes and provided with the proper amount of electrolytes so that the ensuing physiological changes will minimally impact the body.
Second, the drainage pathways for the toxins must be opened. This involves using specifically targeted natural products to open the colon, liver, and lymph drainage pathways so that, when detoxification occurs, there is a place for the toxins to move through and be eliminated from the body. Sometimes, if a person is carrying a significant toxic load, the body will start the initial stages of detoxification during this phase. That is certainly a good and necessary thing. However, it is also only an indication of the severity of the toxic load upon the body, and the need to proceed further to thoroughly resolve the problem.
Third, the specific toxin must be identified. Although an alkaline, plant based diet can certainly work wonders, it is truly a long term therapy and will do nothing to provide a client with near term, specific relief. Fortunately, there are some very effective, targeted remedies which help the body to first identify the existing toxic influences, and then to “tag” them so that the body’s innate defense mechanisms can take over and start the elimination process.
Hand in hand with these remedies are the drainage and nutritional support remedies which healthfully support the detoxification process. It is one thing to start a detoxification. It is quite another to provide the body with the tools to both safely and comfortably eliminate the toxins and support the affected organ systems so that, when detoxification is complete, they can again resume normal physiological functions. It is important to note that, in some instances, multiple toxic influences may be present. Usually, the body addresses these in layers, permitting the most proximate cause of ill health to be eliminated, followed by the next most toxic, etc. The watchword here is patience!
Detoxification can literally be a life changing experience, if executed properly. The stages of the process must be followed conscientiously for there to be lasting results. We have considerable experience and training in these sophisticated, targeted protocols. Let us show you how they can work for you!
Peter M. McCarthy, ND
Peter M. McCarthy, ND is a nationally board certified traditional naturopath, and a wellness consultant with Martins Compounding and Wellness Centers in Austin, TX. He is the author of Adrenaline Nation: Chronic Stress is Ruining Our Health and Bankrupting Our Economy – Discover What YOU Can Do About It NOW! Trained in both functional blood work analysis and saliva hormone analysis, he is a former member of the Advisory Committee of the American Naturopathic Certification Board. He is available for individual wellness consultations by appointment at Dripping Springs Pharmacy, 100 Commons Road, Suite 1, Dripping Springs, TX, Monday through Friday from 12 pm til 6 pm.