Natural Cleansing is about ridding the body of both Endotoxins and Exotoxins. By definition a toxin is something that interferes with normal physiology and negatively impacts normal bodily function. Endotoxins are waste products created by normal cellular metabolism. Examples would include uric acid, ammonia and lactic acid, to name a few. Exotoxins are human made toxins that we are often exposed to inadvertently. Studies now show that every person living today carries measurable levels of several hundred synthetic chemicals and toxins, many of these are fat soluble, and end up being stored in our fat.

 Toxins when left in the body cause irritation and damage to existing cells. In an attempt to buffer the impact of these toxins, cells trap these toxins and coat them in mucous, creating inflammation. We are now realizing that inflammation is a primary cause of disease, including the biggies like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and immune disorders. We absolutely want to rid the body of both toxins and inflammation. This cleansing diet will accomplish both.

 In Chinese Medicine we hunt for clues of toxicity which include symptoms like allergies, low energy, disturbed sleep, inability to lose weight, yellowing of the skin or eyes, redness of the eyes, a coat on the tongue, irregular bowel movements, and mood swings. We believe the ability to detoxify is the root source of your physical health. We are able to use dietary changes, and herbs to accomplish ridding the body of these harmful toxins and waste products. We encourage healthy patients to detoxify and cleanse at least once every year. Patients with illness may have to detoxify more often.

 Because 70% of our body is made up of water, it is so important that we are drinking clean, filtered, slightly alkaline water. Endotoxins from regular cellular processes are highly acidic, and by drinking slightly alkaline water we are able to negate some of the harmful impact. A recent study showed that 41 million Americans drink water contaminated with Anti-depressants, hormones, heart medications, and other prescription and over the counter drugs. It has never been more important to filter your water. If you can afford an expensive filter system, that would be best. If not, even a simple Brita system from your store will help.

 Your digestive tract is the largest, most important site of exposure to the toxins of our modern world. Interestingly both health and disease start in the intestines. I tell patients regularly, if the digestive tract is unhealthy, the person will be unhealthy as well. The intestines are responsible for all of our nutrient absorption as well as our first line of defense. Because of the toxin exposure from foods we eat, chemicals in our food, air we breathe, water we drink, much of the healthy bacteria, necessary for healthy bowel function is destroyed leaving people with unhealthy bacteria running rampant resulting in overgrowth of yeast and mucous. Common offenders include antibiotics, aerosols, solvents, preservatives, color additives, coffee, and alcohol.  This causes our Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue (GALT) to become coated in mucous, creating a constant immune response. Long term this can result in auto-immune disease where the body starts attacking itself because it is in a state of constant high alert. This is why intestinal cleansing is so important.

 What I also find interesting is that most people do not realize that 80% – 90% of our serotonin is manufactured by the nerve cells in our gut. When the gut becomes coated in mucous, these nerve cells no longer function properly and serotonin production decreases dramatically. It is no wonder that depression is on the rise in our country and that anti-depressants are one of the most highly prescribed drugs. I believe one of the best steps in eliminating depression is natural cleansing to clean up the gut.

 Another interesting presentation of the gut is skin issues. Every single time a patient comes to me with a skin rash I work with the gut. Examples would include eczema, psoriasis, and hives. When I work with the gut, skin issues resolve or greatly improve in most every case.

 Liver Cleansing without the proper supplements can be harmful. The liver converts fat soluble toxins to water soluble toxins so they can be excreted. Because of high toxin exposure in our environment, the liver cannot keep up and these toxins are stored long term in the fat, ultimately creating inflammation and disease. This is why it is necessary that you follow a protocol that includes dietary changes and the necessary supplements to aid in neutralizing the toxins. Once the toxins are released into the system, you must have something for them to bind to in order to be carried out of the body. Examples would include herbs, fiber, clay, charcoal and plenty of clean water; otherwise you will reabsorb the very toxins you are trying to eliminate.

 If digestion is stopped long enough (12 hours) the signal for the body to start detoxifying is turned on. With 12 hours there is time to do some real cleaning. The difficulty in most of our diets is we like to eat snacks while watching TV late at night and then we get up early, eat and go to work. The body is not having the down time to detoxify on a regular basis.  Between high toxin exposure and not having a full 12 hours without food in our system, we are all falling behind and becoming highly toxic.

 Some people experience detox symptoms like headaches, malaise, and body aches. When we send you the cleanse we will include a list of things you can do to combat these symptoms. For most people, within the first week they are feeling much better. They have done their initial toxin dump and their symptoms are gone or greatly decreased. By week two you should feel much better. Stay with it and you will rid your body of many of the toxins that can deeply impact your health. Sign up for our Newsletter and we will happily send you a copy of our cleanse. www.healingwayportland.com