Cleansing and Detoxification
Over time the body needs periods of rest and aid in cleansing and elimination. Our bodies produce metabolic waste and acquire exogenous waste everyday that needs to be removed.
Blood brings nourishment to the cells of our body and removes their waste. Cleansing the blood occurs as it is filtered through the kidneys, liver, skin and lungs. While the lungs expel the gasses dissolved in the blood, the sweat glands of the skin excrete some mineral salts and other soluble substances. The kidneys excrete most of the soluble waste from the blood. However, it is necessary for certain compounds to be processed by the liver before they can be excreted in the urine. If the liver does not adequately metabolize (chemically change) ammonia, bilirubin, or certain steroids these compounds accumulate and produce toxic biproducts. Drugs and other toxins from outside the body are also metabolized in the liver. The liver excretes some of the changed waste products into the intestines in the bile. These metabolized compounds are normally eliminated through the colon along with the waste from undigested food.
In cases of constipation the reabsorption of some of these waste compounds from the colon contaminates the blood. Toxins produced by intestinal bacteria from the breakdown of undigested protein can also be absorbed. An increased burden of waste excretion then falls on the skin, lungs, and kidneys as toxins accumulate in the blood. If their elimination is inadequate, symptoms such as skin rashes or blemishes, bad breath, foul-smelling gas, or dark concentrated urine typically result. When the emunctories do not function adequately, waste accumulates in the blood and becomes increasingly difficult to remove effectively from around the cells. These compounds poison the tissues throughout the body as cells become enveloped in toxins. This in turn aggravates previously existing health problems.
The body, when given a break from digestion or energy expenditure goes into clean up mode. It is constantly trying to get rid of excess waste material and toxins that accumulate in the body. Often a good detoxification is achieved by supporting the organs of elimination and giving the body a chance to do the cleaning it needs to do by decreasing digestion and resting. A good detoxification first clears out the colon, then the kidneys, next the gallbladder, then the liver and lastly the blood and lymphatic system. If a detoxification is not done in this order, headaches, fatigue,irritability and other detoxification symptoms result.
The body should be supported through a detoxification every six months. This decreases the chance of toxins to build up and keeps the system running smoothly. We take showers daily to get rid of waste accumulation from endogenous and exogenous sources, our digestive tract and internal systems get just as "dirty". Just like the pipes and filters in our homes or engines in our cars; the vessels and filters in our bodies need to be cleaned out to work optimally.
Most symptoms, disorders and diseases are greatly alleviated by beginning the healing process with a good cleanse.
