By Christine Cheng, R.Ph., and Fred Cheng, R.Ph.
The start of a New Year brings new energy and resolve! For many, resolutions will involve starting a new exercise regime, losing weight, or undergoing a detoxification. Just as keeping our houses clean promotes a better sense of well-being and allows for greater enjoyment of our houses, keeping our bodies cleansed via detoxification helps us to feel better and may improve the success of our other resolutions.
So, where does the “dirt” come from? Our daily activities expose our bodies to many different toxins. Whether they be in the form of drugs that we take for medically necessary reasons, additives or preservatives found in our food, environmental toxins found in the air around us, or cellular debris from normal metabolic processes as well as disease processes, it is virtually impossible to avoid exposure. A buildup of toxins can lead to fatigue, degeneration, aging, and weakening of our immune defense. Toxins can lead to inflammation, which has been associated with many diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer.
Detoxifying our bodies involves removing toxins from the cells and encouraging their expulsion via the lymphatic system as well as the liver and kidneys. Herbal products are effective for cleaning structures outside of the cell, i.e., the lymph, blood, liver, kidneys and bowel. In other words, herbs are good for cleaning outside the “house” or cells. Homeopathic remedies can also clean the inside of the “house” by stimulating the cell to kick-out toxins by activating intra-cellular mechanisms. Detoxifications can be done for general cleansing, ongoing cleansing, or for preparing the body for upcoming therapies.
The basis of every detoxification should be adequate water intake. Water not only flushes out the system, it is a vehicle in which toxins can dissolve and be removed from the body. Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables helps with water intake, but also provides the body with vitamins that are necessary for synthesis of natural detoxification molecules. Vegetables are also a source of fibre, which can help to bind toxins as they are mobilized and remove them from the body. Different programs may detail specific diets, but in general, make sure to avoid alcohol and junk food, and ensure adequate intake of fibre and protein.
Many herbal formulations are available and usually consist of a laxative to clean the bowels, a diuretic to clean the kidneys and sometimes herbs to stimulate the liver’s normal detoxification functions. Some kits also contain fibre supplements and probiotics to help maintain a healthy gut flora. These kits are available in liquid form (e.g., Flora’s Flor.Essence or 7-Day Purification Kit) or in pill form (e.g., Enzymatic Therapy’s Whole Body Cleanse Kit) or a combination of both (e.g., Wild Rose D-tox).
Pascoe’s WHOLE BODY CLEANSE KIT consists of three homeopathic complexes. These remedies work by stimulating the body’s cleansing organs to work more efficiently. The greatest benefit of homeopathic cleansing is there are virtually no interactions with any other herbs or medications. As well, homeopathic detox programs are the only ones that make the cell eliminate toxins at the intra-cellular level.
Regardless of which detoxification program you choose, keep in mind that by flushing out the toxins from their “hiding spots”, your body is being re-exposed to them and thus for the first few days, you may experience a “healing crisis”, characterized by a feeling of malaise. Don’t be discouraged though as the benefits of detoxifying are felt soon after the “crisis” passes.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-owned and operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
