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Feature Article:
Detoxification
- An Essential Part of Health for Today's Lifestyle
Signs and Symptoms of Toxicity: Headaches, Joint Pain, Coughs, Wheezing, Sore throat, Stiff neck, Circulatory Issues, High Cholesterol, Backaches, Frequent Colds, Sinus congestion, Runny nose, Fatigue, Insomnia, Depression, Skin Rashes, Hives, Nausea, Indigestion, Bad breath, Constipation....... Diseases due to Build Up of Toxicity in the Body (the wheels are falling off the car...) Acne, Eczema, Allergies, Arthritis, Asthma, Colitis, Diverticulitis, Irritable Bowel, Cirrhosis, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, Gout, Obesity, Infections, Uterine fibroids, Cancer, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Kidney Stones, Stroke, Prostate Disease, Menstrual problems, Vaginitis, Varicose Veins, Diabetes, Ulcers, Gastritis, Migraine Headaches...... (Of course, not all these problems are related solely to toxicity, nor will they be completely cured through detoxification alone.) What is Detoxification and Why Do I Need It? Detoxification is the process of clearing toxins from the body or neutralizing or transforming them, and hence clearing excess mucus and congestion. Like a small river, it will become stagnant and overloaded with muck if there is no movement and vitality to its water. Contrast that with the mountain stream, sparking and rushing with clear and vibrant water. Naturopathic Medicine has always focused on treating the root of disease which often leads to treating the liver and the bowel. These are the two main helpers for detoxification of the body. Keeping the body's tissues and organs healthy and vibrant will make sure that disease of the body is not even a possibility. How Do You Detoxify the Body? There are endless numbers of kits and programs available to the public. A note of caution if you have specific health concerns that you are attempting to remedy through detoxification: You have to make sure that the routes of elimination are open and working before flushing the body clean. Most programs are not specific to you, but are marketed to everyone. If you flush the liver and the bowels are not moving regularily, toxic accumulation will cause nausea, headaches, fatigue, etc. I have heard many health food store employees tell people that this is a good sign that your body is detoxifying! Who wants to feel worse while you are trying to help yourself? In our clinic, we set patients on an individualized program to eliminate potential negative effects of cleansing. Step 1 - Bowel Regularity - Make sure the bowels are moving 1-3 times per day with normal bowel movements. Various fibre products, herbs and homeopathics can help those who require support in this area. No point in putting more cars on the highway if there is already a traffic jam. Step 2- Cleansing Diet. Depending on the current state of health and motivation of the patient, there are varying levels of focused diets. For some, removing coffee, chocolate and alcohol will make improvements. Others may require a program of supervised fasting to thoroughly cleanse the body. It has been recognized for centuries that when animals are ill, they do not eat. By cleansing and allowing the body to focus on repairing itself, illness and disease can be both eliminated or prevented. Step 3 - Intestinal Support - The intestines require a specific environment in which to carry out the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Some patients will require vitamins, minerals, healthy bacteria, digestive enzymes or specific amino acids in order to support the healing and cleansing of the intestines. Step 4 - Liver Support - Most patients will use a herbal combination to ensure the liver is increasing the flow of bile (thus adding to the flow the "river" mentioned earlier). If the person has been exposed to various chemicals repeatedly (caffeine, nicotine and prescription medications included), they will require specific nutraceuticals to make sure the liver has the proper nutrients to allow continued detoxification. An analogy I often use in practice is a highway with 6 tollbooths on it. Each chemical is a car that has to use a specific tollbooth. If you overload the highway with the same type of car, then there is going to be a huge lineup for that tollbooth. Eventually the worker in the tollbooth gets so tired, he just quits - then you're in trouble. As Naturopathic Doctors, we recommend that people begin to use detoxification routinely in order to prevent disease and feel fantastic. The best times to detoxify are during periods of illness or general fatigue, but also every spring and fall. Most people get run down with the changing of the seasons. In the Edmonton area, this time falls into late September, early October. For that reason, we are starting the semi-annual detox club. Please see details below if you are interested in joining others in an educational and motivational group setting as you learn the steps to detoxification.
Clinic
News:
Detoxification Club This is your opportunity to experience health and healing with a group of motivated and focused members. Dr. David Richmond, ND will be guiding a small group of 8 people through the three week program. Detoxification is one of the oldest and most natural processes on the planet and has been used for thousands of years. This is your chance to learn and experience this process in a relaxed and supportive environment. Empower yourself to choose a better life. Eliminate aches and pains, fatigue, bloating, skin blemishes and digestive upset. Instill confidence and laser-like focus in your daily life. The program will be on Tuesday evenings between 7 and 8 pm for three consecutive weeks. This 2 week program will include three group meetings lasting one hour each lead by Dr. David Richmond, ND, the supplements required for the program and information packages to learn and guide you. Sept 27th - First Meeting will include: introduction to detoxification, a review of diet and supplement programs, meeting other group members, question and answer period. October 4th - Second Meeting will include: follow up motivation session with all members, detoxification: mental and physical cleansing, detoxification and the terrain theory of medicine, question and answer period. October 11th - Third Meeting will include: sharing of favourite recipes, wrap up motivation session, detoxification as prevention of future health issues, tips and ideas for your healthy future. As this group session fills up, new sessions will be added in the near future. Call the office at 459-5601 for more details. Spring and fall are the perfect time for cleansing your body and Dr. Richmond and Dr. Tocher are dedicated to helping you learn this time-honoured process. Fees for this program: $100.00 includes 3 group education sessions, Mediclear Detoxification Formula-1 jug, customized herbal tincture, information package. Receipts are available for those with insurance coverage for Naturopathic Medicine (check with your insurance provider). Call Danielle at our office, 459-5601 to reserve your spot today! In
the News
There are 25 different
trials showing that when combined with vitamin D, calcium supplements
can improve bone mineral density significantly and reduce hip and
vertebral fractures. In fact, the data suggest that if you had to
choose between the two, you're likely to get better bone effects from
vitamin D alone than from calcium supplements alone. Vitamin D
resulted in an increased rate of discontinuing osteoporosis medication
in comparison to control. Bromelain for treatment of Sports Injuries Seventy four boxers with bruises of the face and hematomas of the eyes, ears, chest and arms resulting from a boxing match were given bromelain 4 times per day for 4 days. All signs of bruising disappeared with four days in 78.4% of the boxers receiving bromelain and 13.9% of the boxers given placebo. Blonstein, JL, Control of swelling in boxing injuries. Practitioner 1969: 203-206. (This bit of research has certainly stood the test of time. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes from the stem of pineapple plant. It enhances the removal of fibrin thereby restoring drainage and reducing swelling. The remedies we use with good success in the office are Phytoprofen and Arnica!) Calcium and Vitamin D Papadimitropoulos E, et al. Endocr Rev 2002; 23(4): 560-569 Health food stores are full of calcium products claiming to be the "most bio-available" or the "best absorbed". There is no single best form of calcium for everyone. Recommendations for Calcium, Vitamin D and Magnesium are based on many factors unique to the individual. It is clear that calcium supplement claims of "easy absorption" are meaningless without Vitamin D in the formula. There are 15 clinical studies involving over 1,800 subjects looking at the relationship between calcium supplementation and calcium deposition in bone. Overall, the data indicate that while supplements do raise serum (blood) levels, they have little effect on bone mineral density. Include vitamin D, and it is a whole different story. Your body can manufacture Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Therefore, Vitamin D requirements vary depending on an individuals exposure to the sun. Vitamin D supplementation is especially important for Alberta residents, particularly in the winter months. Recipe of the month Vegetarian Chili with
Tofu
1 1/4 cup onion, chopped 1 cup green pepper, chopped 1 cup red pepper, chopped 3/4 cup celery, chopped 3/4 cup carrots, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp chili powder 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, quartered 1 cup zucchini, cubed 1-28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained 1-19 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed 1-19 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1-19 oz can chick peas, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup water 1 block firm tofu, cubed (optional) 1 tbsp cumin, ground 1 1/2 tsp oregano, dried 1 1/2 tsp basil, dried 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1. In large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. 2. Add onions, green and red peppers, celery, carrots, garlic and chili powder. Cook, stirring often, until veggies are softened. 3. Add mushrooms and zucchini. Cook and stir for 4 more minutes. 4. Add tomatoes, beans, chickpeas, water, tofu, cumin, oregano, basil and cayenne. Stir everything together. 5. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over brown rice or your favourite grain. |