“It can be strongly said that the health of an individual is largely determined by the ability of the body to detoxify.”
—Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., and Michael Murray, N.D., Encyclopedia of Natural Health
“Brushing, clipping, combing, cutting, shampooing, picking, scratching, shaving, washing, scrubbing, sweating, blowing, breathing, coughing, sneezing, clearing, burping, defecating, flatulating, discharging, dripping, draining, menstruating, spitting, sweating, urinating, vomiting, wiping, methylating, acetylating, glucuronidating, sulfating, glutathionylating, glycinating. … Ridding oneself of unwanted stuff is a lot of work. The serious part of this work is synthetic, and unlike the items in the first part of my list, requires the lion’s share of daily energy requirements involved in making new molecules.”
—Sidney Baker McDonald
We are exposed to toxins everywhere—from the air we breathe to the foods we eat, even as a result of metabolism. These toxins cause irritation and inflammation throughout our bodies. People have always been exposed to toxic substances, but today’s exposure to contaminants far exceeds that of previous times. Each week, approximately 6,000 new chemicals are listed in the Chemical Society’s Chemical Abstracts, which adds up to more than 300,000 new chemicals each year. Annually, we consume, on average, 14 pounds of food additives, including colorings, preservatives, flavorings, emulsifiers, humectants, and antimicrobials. In 1990, the EPA estimated that 70,000 chemicals were commonly used in pesticides, foods, and drugs. Between January of 2007 through June of 2008, the EPA received a total of 1,724 new chemicals to review for approval. More than one billion tons of pesticides are used in the United States every year.
It’s estimated that the average person is exposed to 100 synthetic chemicals daily. You probably say, “Not me!” But think about it: shampoo, deodorant, cleaning products, gas for your car, hair dye, cosmetics, lotions, potions, dishwashing soap, pesticides, phthalates found in plastics and inside of cans. … The list goes on and on and on.
Our body normally produces toxins as a by-product of metabolism. We call them endotoxins, which means they come from within us. If not eliminated, these endotoxins can irritate and inflame our tissues, blocking normal functions. Endotoxins formed by bacteria and yeasts can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Antibodies formed to protect us against the harmful effects of these endotoxins often trigger a systemic effect, causing an autoimmune reaction, so our body begins fighting itself. By assisting your body in removal of stored toxins through detoxification programs, your body can more easily heal itself.
Some of the many functions of the liver are to act as a filter, to let nutrients pass, to “humanize” other substances if possible, and to transform toxins into safe substances that can be eliminated in urine and stool. When the liver enzymes fail to break down these toxins, they are stored in the liver and fatty tissue throughout our bodies.
Throughout time and in various cultures, people have seen the need for periodic internal cleansing. Native Americans and Mexicans use sweat lodges. Ancient Roman bathhouses had rooms for bathing in steam, warm water, and cold water. Jewish women have used ritual mikvah baths to cleanse both body and spirit. Most Swedish people have home saunas, and our own health clubs have saunas, steam baths, hot tubs, and Jacuzzis. People “take the waters” in Europe and parts of the United States. Hawaiians use steam and a form of massage, called lomilomi, where they scrub people clean with the red Hawaiian dirt and sea salt. In fact, mud and clay have been used worldwide to draw toxins from the body while simultaneously providing essential nutrients.
Fasting is an important part of many religious holidays and customs. Both Jesus and John the Baptist fasted to gain mental and spiritual clarity. During Ramadan, an important Muslim holiday, people fast during daylight hours for a month. Jewish people fast on Yom Kippur. Indigenous people of many cultures use fasting as a way to clarify thought and provoke visions.
Removal of waste material—detoxification—is essential to the healthy functioning of our bodies. This is shown in the many different ways the body cleanses itself. Skin is our body’s largest organ. In addition to being a protective organ, it is also an organ of elimination through perspiration. Sneezes clear our sinuses. Lungs breathe out carbon dioxide, and even the breath allows for removal of some wastes. Kidneys filter wastes from the bloodstream. Stool is the residue from the digestive process. The liver filters the substances that are absorbed through the digestive barrier into the bloodstream. White blood cells gobble up bacteria and foreign substances, and the lymphatic system clears the debris from circulation. During a cleansing program, your body more rapidly recycles materials to build new cells, take apart aged cells, and repair damaged cells.
Your liver detoxifies in a two-phase system, called the cytochrome P450 system. In phase one your body pulls stored fat-soluble toxins from tissues throughout your body. These are stored in fat, nerves, brain, kidneys, and other tissues. We packed these away because they were toxic, and now they are floating in our bloodstream, which makes them more dangerous than when they were in our tissues. In phase two, we prepare these substances so that they can be excreted from the body. Adding a water-soluble molecule to each of these fat-soluble chemicals allows them to be taken out of the body.
How well the cytochrome P450 system works is determined by your genetics, how well nourished you are, and how toxic you are. I often have clients who are poor phase two detoxifiers. When they take a drug or supplement or are exposed to a chemical, they are slow to convert it. It stays in their system longer than for most people, so the doses they need for supplements and medications are typically less. I recognize it because when they try to cleanse or take medications or supplements, they are extremely sensitive to them. The cytochrome P450 process is energy demanding and requires many nutrients to function properly. In Figure 18.1 you can see which nutrients are required in phase one, phase two, and between phases. Since many of us lack antioxidants and other nutrients, this process cannot work optimally.
Common medications can inhibit the liver’s ability to adequately process toxins. For example, acetaminophen (Tylenol) causes liver damage when used in combination with alcoholic beverages. Cimetidine, an ulcer medication, limits the liver’s ability to detoxify foreign substances.
Figure 18.1 Liver detoxification pathways and supportive nutrients. (Used with permission of the Institute for Functional Medicine.)
Food can effect the way our liver detoxifies too. Naringinen and other molecules in grapefruit juice slow down phase one detoxification pathways. Many people are told not to drink grapefruit juice because it changes the dosages of medication they need. The catechins in red wine and the piperine in black pepper also slow down metabolism of drugs. Several studies indicate that eating a diet high in animal protein increases the level of intermediary metabolites. This is not seen in people eating a vegetarian diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables helps the liver to detoxify better. Polyphenols in foods such as red wine, green tea, turmeric, ginger, and spices have been shown to reduce rates of cancer and most other illnesses. Glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables also help us detoxify and lower cancer risk.
Your body’s ability to detoxify through the cytochrome P450 system can be measured in several ways. See Chapter 11 for more on this topic.
It is best if you follow a detoxification program under the supervision of a medical or health professional who can guide you through the process. Toxins released too quickly can make you feel worse than when you began and can aggravate your symptoms.
I do a liver cleanse once or twice a year. Generally I do one of three things: implement an elimination diet, use a rice-based protein powder along with an elimination diet, or make up a variation on the elimination diet, and add a lot of fresh vegetable juices and green drinks. We’re all exposed to an average of 100 chemicals daily, so I think that nearly everyone ought to cleanse. Complete the following questionnaire to compare your “before and after” results. See what symptoms improved.
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Rate each of the following symptoms based on your typical health profile for:
□ Past 30 days
□ Past 48 hours
Point Scale
0: Never or almost never have the symptom
1: Occasionally have it, effect is not severe
2: Occasionally have it, effect is severe
3: Frequently have it, effect is not severe
4: Frequently have it, effect is severe
Head
_____ Headaches
_____ Faintness
_____ Dizziness
_____ Insomnia
Total _____
Eyes
_____ Watery or itchy eyes
_____ Swollen, reddened/sticky eyelids
_____ Bags, dark circles
_____ Blurred or tunnel vision (does not include near-or far-sightedness)
Total _____
Ears
_____ Itchy ears
_____ Earaches, ear infections
_____ Drainage from ear
_____ Ringing/hearing loss
Total _____
Nose
_____ Stuffy nose
_____ Sinus problems
_____ Hay fever
_____ Sneezing attacks
_____ Excessive mucus
Total _____
Mouth/Throat
_____ Chronic coughing
_____ Gagging, throat clearing
_____ Sore throat, hoarseness
_____ Swollen/discolored tongue, gums, lips
_____ Canker sores
Total _____
Heart
_____ Irregular/skipped beats
_____ Rapid/pounding beats
_____ Chest pain
Total _____
Skin
_____ Acne
_____ Hives, rashes, dry skin
_____ Hair loss
_____ Flushing, hot flashes
_____ Excessive sweating
Total _____
Lungs
_____ Chest congestion
_____ Asthma, bronchitis
_____ Shortness of breath
_____ Difficulty breathing
Total _____
Digestive Tract
_____ Nausea, vomiting
_____ Diarrhea
_____ Constipation
_____ Bloated feeling
_____ Belching, passing gas
_____ Heartburn
_____ Intestinal/stomach pain
Total _____
Joints/Muscle
_____ Pain or aches in joints
_____ Arthritis
_____ Stiffness/limited movement
_____ Pain or aches in muscles
_____ Feeling of weakness or tiredness
Total _____
Weight
_____ Binge eating/drinking
_____ Craving certain foods
_____ Excessive weight
_____ Compulsive eating
_____ Water retention
_____ Underweight
Total _____
Energy/Activity
_____ Fatigue, sluggishness
_____ Apathy, lethargy
_____ Hyperactivity
_____ Restless leg
_____ Jet lag
Total _____
Mind
_____ Poor memory
_____ Confusion, poor
_____ comprehension
_____ Poor concentration
_____ Poor physical coordination
_____ Difficulty making decisions
_____ Stuttering or stammering
_____ Slurred speech
_____ Learning disabilities
Total _____
Emotions
_____ Mood swings
_____ Anxiety, fear, nervousness
_____ Anger, irritability, aggressiveness
_____ Depression
Total _____
Other
_____ Frequent illness
_____ Frequent or urgent urination
_____ Genital itch or discharge
_____ Bone pain
Total _____
Grand total
©2009 Institute for Functional Medicine
Most detoxification programs focus on the liver or colon. The liver is, in my opinion, the most overworked organ of the body. It has responsibility for manufacturing 13,000 different enzymes, producing cholesterol, breaking down estrogen, regulating blood sugar, filtering blood, manufacturing bile, breaking down old red blood cells, and detoxifying harmful substances. When the liver loses its ability to easily perform these functions, we begin to feel ill, with many systems out of balance.
Detoxification techniques such as fasting, modified fasting, metabolic cleansing, colonic irrigation, steaming, mud packs, saunas, herbal detoxification programs, and hot tubs all have therapeutic benefits. When choosing a detoxification program, it must meet specific criteria: it needs to (1) work with your life and your values, (2) be thorough, and (3) be gentle and nurturing to your body.
During the past several years, I have personally and professionally relied on three main detoxification programs that are effective and gentle: fruit and vegetable cleansing, metabolic cleansing, and low-temperature steams and saunas. I also recommend vitamin C flushes between cleansings. Other professionals may prefer fasting programs or colonic irrigation, which in the right hands can be powerful tools for healing. Because there are many fine books on fasting and colonic irrigation, I have not included information about them here.
The elimination diet outlined in Chapter 15 works well as a gentle cleanse. See Chapter 15 for more information.
The first cleanse that I ever used was simply fruits and vegetables for 7 to 10 days. Typically you’ll eat between 8 to 12 cups daily of produce.
I used this cleanse as a jump-start for many of the weight control groups I facilitated. While this works amazingly well, some may not feel that it provides enough food to keep blood sugar levels even. So, if it doesn’t feel right to you, don’t do it.
In this gentle cleanse, you may eat all you want of fruits and vegetables, and use olive and sunflower oils, salt and pepper, and other herbs for 7 to 10 days. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are an excellent source of easily assimilated nutrients and alkalizing minerals and can enhance the detoxification pathways. You can have raw, steamed, juiced, grilled, stir-fried, and cultured vegetables. You can have raw, juiced, cooked, frozen, or dried fruit. You can use canned fruit if it’s packed in its own juice. You can make smoothies. Eat large salads every day. Make salad dressings with lemon or lime and olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Make pots of vegetable soup. Make a batch of roasted or baked root vegetables for something hearty to eat.
It’s important to eat every two to three hours to keep your blood sugar levels normal. The major benefit of this detox method is that you can do this on your own without professional supervision. Of course, if you are under a doctor’s care or taking medication of any kind, you’ll need to let your physician know of your plans. The first few days may require mental and physical adjustments to your new regimen, but most people feel a sense of general well-being. You may notice that many of your outstanding symptoms have disappeared or become less aggravated.
You may also experience some discomfort during the first three or four days. Headaches, bad breath, skin breakouts, and changes in bowel habits are fairly common and may be the result of withdrawal from caffeine, sugar, alcohol, or other substances. They are an indicator that toxins are being flushed out or that your body is going through withdrawal. To facilitate this, drink a lot of water, diluted juices, and all herbal teas except those containing caffeine. Dandelion tea is especially useful.
Some people develop rashes or pimples as the skin works hard to eliminate toxins. Taking saunas, steam bathing, and massaging your skin with a soft, dry brush or loofa can help your skin. If you are constipated, make sure you eat enough fiber-rich fruits and vegetables (apples, broccoli, pears, sweet potatoes, peas, brussels sprouts, corn, potatoes, carrots, greens, blackberries, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, and spinach). Constipation opens up a chance for toxins to be reabsorbed into your bloodstream, causing symptoms such as headaches and nausea, so add a fiber supplement if needed; psyllium seeds or psyllium seed husks work well. Begin with 1 teaspoon in water, and drink quickly before it turns into a gel. Aloe vera juice may also help regulate your bowels.
After the cleansing, slowly reintroduce healthful foods such as beans, tofu, chicken, and fish. Then add healthful grains, nuts, seeds, and cultured dairy products.
Metabolic cleansing is a gentle yet deep method of detoxification, and it is the best, most thorough program I have used. The foundation of this program is a hypoallergenic-sensitive, rice-based protein and nutrient drink that is designed specifically to assist with phase one and phase two liver detoxification. There are many companies that make this type of product. You can find them in the resource directory at http://www.digestivewellnessbook.com.
Use of liver detoxification protein drinks has been researched for its health benefits. These drinks have been reported to be of enormous benefit in people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, weight loss, and other conditions.
I use this product along with the elimination diet that is outlined in Chapter 15. If you know that you are sensitive to bananas, melons, or other foods that are allowed on the plan, then avoid them as well. It is possible for people to continue their normal daily routine while on this program.
Typically I begin people with two scoops of the detoxification drink once daily for several days; then increase to two scoops twice daily for several days; then finally continue with two scoops three times daily until they are ready to complete the cleanse.
This program is administered only through health professionals who can monitor your progress, determine when you should quit, and help you adjust if you have any difficulties. Most people find a dramatic alleviation of symptoms and a distinct improvement in energy levels. The high levels of nutrients found in the rice protein drink and in the fruits and vegetables help the liver activate its detoxification pathways and move unwanted materials out of the body. The intention here is to allow your digestive system to rest, relax, and heal itself.
Once you have completed the cleansing, it is important to slowly reintroduce foods back into your diet. Being a food sleuth takes a lot of patience; it’s not always apparent which foods cause adverse symptoms. But with persistent detective work you can discover many of them. Keep a running record of everything you eat and of your symptoms. Food sensitivities often display delayed reactions, so it may take up to 48 hours to feel the effect of a newly introduced food.
You may want to have testing done for food allergies and sensitivities at this time. If you have uncovered a problem, these tests can further pinpoint which foods and substances are making you ill.
I learned this technique from Russell Jaffe, M.D., and am indebted to him for this protocol and many other things. It’s something that I personally use and used with my children. Over the past 20 years, I’ve used this flush with many clients. Although it’s a bit harsh on some people, others say that after the first or second time they feel better than they’ve felt in years. A good-quality ascorbate can be utilized by the body to produce energy. Because of that, I often hear that energy levels have dramatically improved after a vitamin C flush.
Vitamin C has been well researched for its ability to help detoxify bacterial toxins, drugs, environmental toxins, and heavy metals from our bodies. Its gentle and potent detoxification counteracts and neutralizes the harmful effects of manufactured poisons.
High levels of vitamin C help detoxify the body, rebalance intestinal flora, and strengthen the immune system. The vitamin C flush can be used between metabolic cleansing therapies or at the first sign of a cold or infection. If your immune system is weak or you’ve been exposed to a lot of toxins, you may want to do a vitamin C flush once a week for a month or two. On days when you are not doing a vitamin C flush, take a minimum of 2,000 to 3,000 mg. Humans are one of the only animals that do not produce their own vitamin C, so we need to replenish our supply daily.
To do a vitamin C flush, you take vitamin C to the level of tissue saturation. You’ll know you’ve reached it because you will have watery diarrhea. You’ll need to purchase powdered mineral ascorbate C, which is more easily tolerated by most people because it doesn’t change your pH balance. The amount you take varies depending on your personal needs that day. Many of us require about 5,000 mg; others need 15 or 20 times that much. For instance, if you’re coming down with a cold, have chronic fatigue syndrome, or are under excessive stress, you’ll probably need a lot more.
To do a vitamin C flush, take ½ teaspoon, about 1,500 mg, of vitamin C powder, mix with water or fruit juice, and drink. Repeat in 15 minutes. Keep taking ½ teaspoon of ascorbate every 15 minutes until you have watery diarrhea. It’s like you are urinating out of your backside. It will have a brown, green, or yellow color. As soon as you see this, stop taking the ascorbate.
Do not stop with just gas. Rapidly adding vitamin C helps prevent bloating and cramping. Stop once you get diarrhea. Keep track of how much vitamin C you take. This will help you determine your optimal dosage. In divided amounts, take daily one-half to three-quarters of the amount it takes to produce a vitamin C flush.
Over time your needs may increase but then substantially decrease as repair occurs.
“If the sauna, schnapps, and tar don’t help, then the illness is fatal.”
—Old Finnish adage
Low-temperature saunas or steambaths are useful to eliminate fat-soluble chemicals from our systems. They are commonly used to help detoxify those who have had high exposure to pesticides, solvents, pharmaceutical drugs, and petrochemicals. Slow, steady sweat encourages the release of fat-soluble toxins through the skin from their storage sites in our tissues. Saunas increase our peripheral circulation; decrease circulation to our muscles, kidney, and organs; increase our metabolism; and increase oxygen utilization, blood pressure, and heart rate. In the process, we lose sodium, potassium, and chloride via our sweat, so remember to rehydrate and replenish with vegetable juice or diluted fruit juice. Taking saunas increases hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and prolactin. It ultimately opens up our lungs, relaxes our muscles, makes us more flexible, and thins synovial fluid in our joints. It also gives us a good cardiovascular workout, similar to doing moderate to vigorous walking.
Saunas help us to release xenobiotic toxins from our fat cells. Many compounds have been reported to be released, including minerals, urea, drugs, and polychlorinated bromines (PCBs). In addition, hyperthermia is well known to help with cancer treatment and is being used in some oncology centers in the United States and Europe.
Most saunas and steam baths are set at temperatures too high to accomplish the full detox potential, so be sure a dry sauna is set between 110 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit and a steam bath is at 110 degrees Fahrenheit so you can stay in for at least 45 minutes without getting too hot or chilled. It is best to spend 30 to 60 minutes in a sauna or steam three to five times a week. Releasing toxins cannot be accomplished with higher heat or shorter amounts of time. The object is to sweat slowly and steadily.
After you are done sweating, you must shower immediately, using a glycerin-based soap such as Neutrogena. It will wash away the toxins and keep you from reabsorbing them.
Saunas are contraindicated in women who are at high risk for pregnancy and for people with aortic stenosis, unstable angina, and recent heart attack. If you have extreme toxicity from environmental chemicals, you’ll need to detox under the supervision of a physician. The temporary release of toxins into your circulation can be quite severe and debilitating. Some clinics specialize in using saunas for medical detoxification. In her excellent book Poisoning Our Children, Nancy Sokol Green describes her experience in a detox clinic in depth: “On the fourteenth day of detox, I started experiencing allergic symptoms, such as eyelid swelling, while I was in the sauna! … I was actually beginning to reek of the pesticides that had been sprayed in my home. … Several of the patients at the clinic who were sensitive to pesticides had to stay away from me as I triggered adverse reactions in them.”
Saunas are a useful detoxification therapy when used preventively and therapeutically. If you are using a sauna therapeutically, do so under the supervision of a physician who can guide you through the process. And next time you get into your car that’s been warmed by the sun, spend a few minutes basking in the glory of the heat. You have your own infrared sauna!