3430-D Anderson Hwy, Powhatan, VA  23139  

Phone: 804-598-5352

FAVORITE HEALTH QUOTE

"Prevention in… areas of

 medicine is generally not a

 source of income for physicians

 or corporations and, therefore,

 is not often studied." 

~Hana R Solomon, MD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: 

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF 

by having regular massages from

 DOLCE MASSAGE &

 BODY WORKS 

Call Abbey Merritt (234-1055)

 OR Jessica Hutt (357-3027) 

for an appointment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 NOW IN STOCK  

Planetary Formulas Yellow Dock Skin Cleanse

JANUARY, 2007 NEWSLETTER

TOXIC OVERLOAD

One New Year's resolution I love hearing is when people decide to take better care of their bodies and eat healthier. Following healthier lifestyles and diets can lead to having more energy, better mental health, and less disease. Sometimes, however, we have a hard time achieving total health until we first treat a condition known as toxic overload that most of us suffer from. 

Normal elimination occurs through the following systems: respiratory (lungs, throat, sinuses, bronchial tubes and noses), gastrointestinal (liver, gallbladder, colon & GI tract), urinary (kidneys, bladder & urethra), skin (sweat and sebaceous glands, tears) and lymphatic (lymph channels & nodes). Our bodies will neutralize, transform or eliminate toxins; however, sometimes we get overloaded with toxins through poor eating habits (sugar, caffeine, fast food, lack of water, too little fiber) and our normal channels of elimination can't get rid of them, causing health problems. Other toxins accumulate from additives, preservatives, pesticides, hormones, drugs, and air pollution. 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. Finally, toxic overload can occur from stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, improper elimination, and overwork. Waste and toxins accumulate in our tissues, cells, organs and systems, causing a host of symptoms. Our livers act as our bodies' "oil filter" and toxins often accumulate there causing serious diseases. 

Symptoms of toxic overload are often misdiagnosed since they create so many common problems. Signs and symptoms include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pains, high blood fats, backaches, itchy nose, frequent colds, irritated eyes, lowered immunity, sinusitis, acne, insomnia, skin rashes, indigestion, bad breath, constipation, diarrhea, mood disorders, depression, and more. Obesity is frequently a side-effect of toxicity since toxins are stored in fat. 

Toxic overload requires intervention 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. Many common disorders and illnesses can be alleviated by detoxification and cleansing. Fortunately, treating toxic overload is very easy. The following methods can be used to eliminate toxins from our bodies: Fasting (juice, water); eating cleansing foods (raw, whole foods diet); using cleansing herbs to detox the colon, blood, and liver; exercise; sweating; lymphatic massage; chelation (eliminating heavy metals); dry skin brushing; maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle; and drinking lots & lots of pure water every day. 

The most cleansing foods we can eat are as follows: Fruits: lemons, oranges, grapefruits, apples, pears, grapes, cherries, mangoes, papayas, melons and pineapples. [For liver support, squeeze a slice of fresh lemon in every glass of water you drink.] Vegetables: Carrots, beets, onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, fennel, celery, watercress, cucumber, lettuce, and sprouts. Grains & green foods: Brown rice, barley, chlorella, millet, couscous, oats, corn, barley, buckwheat, quinoa, wheat grass, and spirulina. Nuts & seeds: Walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, chestnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and linseeds. Oils: Olive, safflower, sunflower, and canola. 

To take a detoxifying bath, try adding a few drops of a cleansing essential oil to your bath, like myrrh, rosemary, lavender or lemon; pour 1 pound of Epsom salts in a bath & soak for 20 minutes (add hot water if it gets too cool); or 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.] 

To detoxify by moving lymph through your system, try dry-brushing your skin. Use a natural bristle brush and work from the lower limbs up, then the arms from the hands toward the center, then circular movements on the stomach, and finally the back, neck and shoulders. All movements should be toward the heart. 

Many herbs are very detoxifying. There are blood and liver-cleansing herbs like red clover, Oregon grape root, and yellow dock; colon cleansers like cascara sagrada, psyllium, and aloe juice; liver cleansers like Oregon grape root; and diuretics like uva ursi, corn silk, and parsley. Dandelion root and burdock root will detox multiple systems. There are also special cleansing kits available. Some will detox the liver, colon and blood using blended herbal formulas. 

Whichever method you choose will get your body started on its way to better health. Let us know if you have questions - we can help!