PRESENTED BY:

DEBBIE MARKEL, CH, CNHP

Certified herbalist, certified natural health professional

JANUARY 28, 2004

 WHAT IS TOXIC OVERLOAD?

Normal elimination occurs through our respiratory system (lungs, throat, sinuses, bronchial tubes and noses), gastrointestinal system (liver, gallbladder, colon & GI tract), urinary (kidneys, bladder & urethra), skin (sweat and sebaceous glands, tears) and lymphatic (lymph channels & nodes).  Our bodies neutralize, transform or eliminate toxins.  Sometimes we get overloaded with toxins through poor habits (see page 1) and our normal channels of elimination can’t get rid of them, causing the toxins to be stored in various tissues.  Waste accumulates in our cells, organs and systems, causing a host of symptoms.  According to the World Health Organization, hundreds of millions of pounds of chemicals enter the environment yearly. Industrial pollutants, smoke, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, heavy metals, plastics, petrochemicals and drugs make their way into the air, soil and water, which, in turn, enter the food chain, surroundings and atmosphere.[1] Toxic overload requires intervention through fasting and cleansing foods and herbs to readjust the balance in our systems and help us feel better.  Then improving our habits, foods and lifestyles can help keep us in balance. 

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC OVERLOAD?

Symptoms of toxic overload often are misdiagnosed since they create so many common problems.  Signs and symptoms are as follows:

Headaches                  Backaches                              Runny nose                 Fatigue

Joint pains                   Itchy nose                                Nervousness               Skin rashes

Cough                         Frequent colds                        Sleepiness                  Hives

Wheezing                    Irritated eyes                           Insomnia                     Nausea

Sore throat                  Immune weakness                 Dizziness                    Indigestion

Tight or stiff neck        Environmental sensitivity        Mood changes           Anorexia

Angina pectoris           Sinus congestion                    Anxiety                       Bad breath

Circulatory deficits      Fever                                       Depression                 Constipation

High blood fats

Many common illnesses can be alleviated by detoxification and cleansing.  Addicts can often overcome their addictions through a detox program.  Obesity is frequently a side-effect of toxicity since toxins are stored in fat.  Some of the conditions and problems related to toxic overload are:

Acne                            Abscesses                              Boils                            Eczema

Allergies                      Arthritis                                    Vaginitis                       Varicose veins

Diabetes                      Peptic ulcers                           Asthma                        Constipation

Colitis                          Hemorrhoids                           Diverticulitis                 Cirrhosis

Hepatitis                      Stroke                                      Gastritis                       Pancreatitis

Fibrocystic breasts     Atherosclerosis                       Heart disease              Hypertension

Thrombophlebitis        Worms                                     Uterine fibroids            Cancer

Cataracts                    Colds                                       Bronchitis                    Pneumonia

Sinusitis                      Emphysema                           Kidney stones             Kidney disease

Mental illness              Multiple sclerosis                    Alzheimer’s disease   Dementia

Forgetfulness              Parkinson’s disease               Drug addiction             Tension headaches

Migraines                     Gallstones                               Gout                            Obesity

Infections (bacterial/viral/fungal)                                 Prostate disease         Menstrual problems

WHAT ARE THE WAYS WE TREAT TOXIC OVERLOAD?

1.                  Fasting (juice, water)

2.                  Cleansing foods (raw, whole foods diet)

3.                  Cleansing herbs

4.                  Colon hydrotherapy (colon cleansing - Appendix )

5.                  Exercise

6.                  Sweating

7.                  Massage therapy (lymphatic massage)

8.                  Chelation therapy (cleansing the blood of heavy metals & toxins – see Appendix)

9.                  Meditation

10.              Baths/Dry skin brushing

11.              Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle and drinking lots & lots of pure water

WHAT ARE SOME EFFECTIVE CLEANSING HERBS?

Blood Cleansers                   Laxatives                   Diuretics                    Antibiotics

(Blood, lymph & liver)          Colon (BM’s)             Kidneys (Urination)  (Kills infections)

Echinacea                               Cascara sagrada        Parsley                        Garlic

Red Clover                              Buckthorn                    Yarrow                         Myrrh

Dandelion root                         Dandelion root             Cleavers                      Yellow dock                

Burdock root                           Yellow dock                 Horsetail                      Goldenseal

Yellow dock                             Rhubarb root               Corn silk                      Prickly ash

Oregon grape root                  Senna leaf                   Uva ursi                       Wormwood

Milk thistle seed                       Licorice*                      Juniper berries            Echinacea

Turmeric                                 Psyllium                                                          Propolis

                                                Triphala                                                           Clove

                                                Aloe juice                                                         Eucalyptus

                                                Chlorella

Skin Cleansers/Diaphoretics                                  Anticatarrhals

Skin (promotes sweating)                                       Lungs (eliminates mucous)

Burdock root                                                               Echinacea

Oregon grape root                                                      Boneset

Yellow dock                                                                 Goldenseal

Goldenseal                                                                  Sage

Boneset                                                                       Hyssop

Elder flowers                                                               Garlic

Peppermint                                                                 Yarrow

Cayenne pepper                                                         Mullein

Ginger root

*Licorice should not be used by anyone with hypertension (high blood pressure)

There are many detox formulas around, too, like Yellow Dock Skin Cleanse, Herbasway Liver Enhancer, Tri-Cleanse, Red Clover Cleanser and various other products.  There are even cleansing kits on the market now.  (Apothecarian Herbals can order whatever we don’t have in stock.)   

HOW DO FOODS AFFECT CLEANSING?

There are foods that are more toxic and congesting than others.  Following is a scale to determine the potential toxicity of certain foods:

DETOX SUPER-FOODS

Lemons           Oranges          Grapefruits      Apples             Pears              Grapes            Cherries

Mangoes         Papayas          Melons             Pineapples

Carrots            Beets               Onion/Garlic    Cabbage         Broccoli           Tomatoes        Spinach

Fennel             Celery              Watercress     Cucumber       Lettuce            Sprouts

Brown rice       Barley              Millet                Couscous       Oats                Corn                Barley

Buckwheat      Quinoa                       

Wheat grass   Spirulina         

Walnuts           Almonds          Cashews         Hazelnuts        Chestnuts       Pumpkin Seeds

Sesame Seeds                       Sunflower Seeds                    Linseeds

Olive Oil          Safflower Oil   Sunflower Oil  Canola Oil

DETOX BATHS

1. Add ½ C. Clorox bleach (must use unscented Clorox) to bath.  Soak 10 – 15 minutes.  (From Marcus Shumway, N.D. in my CNHP nutrition class.)

2. Add a few drops of a cleansing essential oil to your bath, like myrrh, rosemary, lavender or lemon.

3. Pour 1 pound of Epsom salts in a bath & soak for 20 minutes (add hot water if it gets too cool).

4. Sit in a sauna for 5 – 10 minutes, then take a cold shower.

NOTE:  Detox baths are not recommended for anyone with heart disease.  If you have eczema or high blood pressure, don’t take the Epsom salts bath.

SKIN BRUSHING – Use a natural bristle brush.  First do feet, brushing up the legs with long strokes.  Then brush over the buttocks up to the lower back.  Next brush the hands & arms toward the heart.  Brush the stomach using circular, clockwise movements.  Finally, move across the shoulders, down the chest, down the back – all toward the heart.

REFERENCES

Ashby, CCT, Cheryl, “What Happens During a Colon Hydrotherapy Session?” The Colon Therapists Network, www.colonhealth.net

Graimes, Nicola, The Detox Diet Cook Book, Anness Publishing, Inc., New York, NY, 2000.

Haas, M.D., Elson, “General Detoxification and Cleansing,” www.elsonhaas.com, accessed Spring, 2003.

Q&A About Chelation Therapy for CHD, National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Government,  www.nccam.nih.gov, accessed 1/22/04.

Shumway, N.D., Marcus, Certified Natural Health Professionals Nutrition Class notes, Dallas, TX, March, 2003.

 What is Chelation Therapy?

Chelation is a chemical process in which a substance is used to bind molecules, such as metals or minerals, and hold them tightly so that they can be removed from a system, such as the body. In medicine, chelation has been scientifically proven to rid the body of excess or toxic metals. For example, a person who has lead poisoning may be given chelation therapy in order to bind and remove excess lead from the body before it can cause damage.

In the case of EDTA chelation therapy, the substance that binds and removes metals and minerals is EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), a synthetic, or man-made, amino acid that is delivered intravenously (through the veins). EDTA was first used in the 1940s for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. EDTA chelation removes heavy metals and minerals from the blood, such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating lead poisoning and toxicity from other heavy metals. (emphasis added)

From a 2002 press release from the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Government (www.nccam.nih.gov/news/2002/chelation/q-and-a.htm#3)

NOTE:  There are oral chelation products on the market as well as oral EDTA.

Dr. Marcus Shumway’s Detox Drink (Modified “Master Cleanse”)

1 gallon distilled water

3 lemons, squeezed

½ C. grade C or D organic maple syrup OR blackstrap molasses

½ tsp. cayenne pepper

1 C. aloe juice

Drink only this for 2 or 3 days AFTER building up to the fast (raw diet) and BEFORE winding down from the fast (raw diet).