Do colon/kidney/liver/blood detox programs work? Are they worth the $100-200?
Im 6’0 and 17… and about 100 pounds over weight. I’ve been slowly losing weight and was wondering if detox programs would be worth the money. I gained close to 60 lbs in the course of a year and would like to start reversing some of the internal damage of gorging processed foods.
It’d be a christmas present
Tagged with: christmas • detox programs • internal damage • losing weight • money • processed foods
Filed under: Detox
Denisedds (88)
Toxins and foreign substances in our tissue can lead to premature aging, disease, and pain. Detoxification herbs can be beneficial if your body is not independently eliminating efficiently, or you have been exposed to a large amount of toxins. These would include pesticides, air pollution, plastics, cleaners, solvents, alcohol (in large quantities), preservatives, food coloring, hair dyes, etc.
The reason the detoxification herbs must be respected is that they are designed to ‘remove fire toxins’ from the body. In order to remove ‘fire toxins’, you must utilize very cold herbs typically. Eventually, these cause a Yin/Yang imbalance in the body. I typically recommend a ten day to two month course of detoxification before patients begin tonic herbal therapy. The exception is with chemotherapy patients, or those who have been exposed to severe toxin poisoning; I have had several patients who painted cars, airplanes, or refinished floors who required a longer course of treatment.
Our body does an amazing job of eliminating toxins all by itself. It is only when the body becomes overwhelmed with a large quantity of toxins, or an especially potent toxin, that it is unable to perform the various functions of elimination. The body is wise, and initially attempts to store toxins in fat cells far away from vital organ systems. This is why people often become ill when losing weight rapidly. The less desirable scenario exists when the toxins circulate in the arteries or are lodged in organ tissue or muscle tissue. Often, toxin act as free radicals; these unstable molecules create tissue damage.
Patients often ask about herbs that can ‘cleanse the blood.’ This is a bit of a misnomer, because organs are ultimately responsible for cleansing the blood there are specific herbs that act to strengthen those organ systems. While the lungs are an important organ for eliminating carbon monoxide, for this purpose, they are not included in the systems below.
Lymphatic
The lymphatic system consists of a myriad of delicate vessels found in almost every tissue of the body containing blood vessels. These vessels perform essential functions including the removal of waste products from cellular metabolism. The proper function of the lymphatic system is vital for proper immune system performance.
This vital system is often overlooked in detoxification programs. It is often referred to as the ‘back alleyway’ for trash removal of the body. There are a multitude of common herbs that help the lymphatic system work more efficiently; these would include cleavers, Echinacea, burdock and seaweed.
Liver
The liver is actually considered a gland, and performs a large number of vital tasks including storing vitamins, producing cholesterol, and synthesizing fatty acids from sugars and amino acids. As a detoxifying organ, the liver dilutes toxic substances such as metabolic waste, pesticides, and alcohol, with less toxic substances before sending them to be excreted from the kidneys.
The fact that the liver is negatively impacted by toxins and alcohol is well recognized in our culture. In Chinese medicine, the early signs of liver problems are often referred to as ‘Liver Qi Stagnation’. Liver detoxification herbs are popular and are very effective. Some favorites include dandelion, yellow dock, and eclipta. There are also significant tonic-type herbs that can be taken for several months to strengthen the Liver Function such as bupleurum and he-shu-wu.
Large Intestine
This obvious route of elimination is well recognized and appreciated. While laxative herbs such as cascara sagrada and senna are widely available, it is more important that the large intestine is able to perform on its own. There are many herbs that heal the walls of the intestine such as aloe and marshmallow. Other herbs are vital in restoring the necessary ‘Large Intestine Qi’ so that the bowels have the energy necessary for peristalsis such as bitter orange. There are actually a multitude of strategies that can help restore proper bowel movements. The Chinese often include oily herbs such as black sesame seed, and blood building herbs such as mulberry fruit, for dry bowel movements.
Skin
The skin is the largest organ involved with detoxification. Air conditioning is a recent phenomenon. Traditionally, people have had more opportunities to sweat. In our comfortable air conditioned cars, offices, and homes, it is unusual for us to perspire. One of the more efficient ways to eliminate toxins is through a good sweat. While a swift walk or hike would do the job, there are diaphoretic herbs that produce a good sweat also. These are most useful at the onset of a cold or flu. They would include catnip, elder, ginger, and lavender.
Kidney
The kidney and bladder are also vital in the elimination of the toxins from the liver. While the proper function of the Kidney System can be maintained with tonic herbs such as rehmannia and he-shu-wu, there are also potent diuretic herbs that will stimulate the kidneys directly. These include dandelion, water plantain, and meadowsweet.
A well thought out body detoxification program can be safe and beneficial. In many cultures ‘Spring Tonics’ were utilized as a once-per-year cleansing. In the last 50 years we have been exposed to man made toxins and synthetic pesticides that previous generations never had to cope with. It is now imperative that we utilize these natural herb remedies to realize our full health potential.
Kalos and Opus are correct…and for once I agree with a chiropractor.
This is a good goal for yourself, you will feel much better when you improve your diet. These cleansing programs is a load of crap, they do nothing except cleanse your wallet. All you need to do is to improve your foods, eat more fiber, less saturated fat, less calories, and possibly exercise more. Your liver needs no help in removing toxins from your body through the feces and urine. Keep it up and you will do just fine without spending money for nothing.
Improving your diet may help.
"Detox" programs are a load of crap. They do nothing.
People like to pretend that they have "flushed" their body of "toxins", but in REALITY, nothing has changed at all.
Save your money for something that REALLY works.