Detoxification and Your Health
Our body, although perfect in design, was never designed for what it is subjected to today. We live in a polluted environment – our food, drink and even the air we breathe are all contaminated with chemicals. In fact, according to Environmental News Network, 2000, U.S. industry releases about 24 billion pounds of toxic substances annually. There are also toxins that we are exposed to in our everyday lives, such as chemicals in cleaners, perfumes and dyes, as well as toxins that our body produces naturally as it carries out normal biochemical processes.
Most disconcerting is that all these toxins have the ability to affect human health in a most insidious way. Many chemicals are fat soluble and not readily broken down in the body, and can therefore build up to dangerous levels. The range of health problems this can promote is extensive, including fatigue, headaches, overweight, allergies, hormone imbalance, fibromyalgia, autism, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and so many more.
Our liver is one of the major organs of detoxification. The Kuppfer cells are the trash collection service of the liver, cleaning up blood and lymph, engulfing toxins and secreting enzymes to break them down. If the Kuppfer cells are overworked for too long, the toxins will build up. We also have organs of elimination, including the skin, lungs, bowels and kidneys. These too must be functioning well in order to clear the debris that the liver has processed.
In this day and age, we do not get enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals from our food to help and protect the liver. We must use detoxifying treatments and correctly balanced supplements to aid the body in its cleansing functions.
At the core of a detoxification program is nutrition. Avoiding substances that stress the liver such as caffeine and alcohol, and foods that tend to have a high allergy potential, such as gluten, soy and dairy, can go a long way towards resting the digestive organs. Herbs and other supplements are also used. Milk Thistle helps regenerate liver cells and aids detox, while uva ursi and juniper assist kidney function.
There are also powerful treatments that increase the potency of any detox program, including ionic footbaths, far infra-red saunas, intravenous nutrient therapy and lymphatic drainage massage. These treatments will all be available at Stillpoint Center in coming months.
A detoxification program can provide a good “kick start” to the summer, increasing energy levels, shedding winter pounds, and boosting immune function. It can also be used as a deeply healing tool for those with chronic illness. Our bodies have the wisdom to heal themselves – sometimes the best thing we can do is remove as many of the obstacles to healing as possible. At Stillpoint Center we can design a detoxification and rejuvenation program based on your individual needs. Call us today and start to feel better!!