DETOXIFICATION

Toxicity is becoming an ever-increasing problem in today’s society. Everywhere you turn, you are likely to be exposed to toxins. They’re in the air you breathe, the water you drink, the foods you eat, products you use and most medicines you take. Without question, this is one of the greatest health challenges today. Children are especially vulnerable to these toxins as their bodies have not developed sufficiently to cope with the load caused by toxins.

Here is a list of some of the toxins in our immediate environment:

 Pesticides, Herbicides and Fungicides – Pesticides are sprayed on most (non-organic) fruit and vegetables. The produce that is usually worst affected, and so best bought organic, include: apples, strawberries, celery, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, capsicum, potatoes, blueberries and lettuce. Many pesticides are highly carcinogenic and can severely adversely affect our health, especially relating to our endocrine (hormone) and reproductive functions. Herbicides such as glyphosate are weedkillers that are used to kill unwanted plants. Herbicides are highly toxic and have been linked with contributing to Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Fungicides are toxic chemicals used to kill or inhibit the growth of fungi. They are used in industry, agriculture and in many homes. Most inorganic fungicides contain compounds with highly toxic substances such as mercury, arsenic and cadmium. Fungicides are also highly carcinogenic and especially adversely affect our skin (with direct contact) and our endocrine and respiratory systems. Some fungicides also principally affect the central nervous system resulting in symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and sometimes convulsions or loss of consciousness.

Toxic Elements (Heavy Metals) – Toxic heavy metals accumulate in our bodies during the course of our lifetime. Some heavy metals frequently found to be evident in body tissue include:

Lead – Lead accumulation in the tissues is frequently found in my clinic. Unfortunately, this highly toxic heavy metal is all around us. It can easily be found in dust and soil, especially in and around old buildings. Much of it has accumulated after decades of use of leaded petrol and paints. Some other sources of exposure include: pvc water pipes (pvc leeches lead), cigarette smoking, old paint, ceramic pottery, lead crystal, cosmetics (some), industrial pollution, lead water pipes, occupational sources e.g. scrap metal, glass-makers etc., hair colouring (some), wines (some), batteries, burning metallic based candle wicks, printing (e.g. newspaper ink), lead solder in food cans, metal polish, gas additives, pesticides, acidic foods retained in metal containers. Most foods contain lead, mostly due to industrial pollution. We are particularly exposed to lead while renovating older homes. Lead greatly impairs the body's general health. It is an indestructible metal, unchangeable by body chemistry. It especially affects the central nervous system, kidneys and bone marrow. It causes numerous neurological and other symptoms such as depression, lowered IQ, behavioural problems, slow growth, iron-deficiency anaemia, impaired concentration, reduced short-term memory, slow reaction time, seizures, impaired hearing, poor coordination, deep bone pains, fibromyalgia, fatigue, headaches, suppressed immune system function, muscle weakness, peripheral neuropathy, constipation, abdominal pain, infertility (in males), difficulty falling asleep and an increased susceptibility to brain tumours. In children, lead toxicity may be the unidentified cause of delayed development or learning, hyperactivity, lethargy, irritability or aggression.

Cadmium – Cadmium is another highly toxic heavy metal commonly found in human body tissues. Its sources include: burning of fossil fuels, cigarette smoking, solvents, corrosion of galvanized pipes, runoff from metal refineries, waste batteries and paints, burning of plastics, mining, industry and manufacturing including coal, electronics, smelters, refining and paper mills. In agriculture, soils and superphosphate fertilisers contain cadmium. Cadmium contaminates the environment and can be found in the air, on the ground, in water and snow and in animals, fish and plants. We obtain exposure via cigarette smoking, the air we breathe, water we drink and the foods we eat. Foods often high in cadmium include shellfish, offal, potatoes and leafy vegetables. Toxic accumulations of cadmium in the body can cause: kidney disease, birth defects, endocrine and reproductive disorders including infertility, osteoporosis, osteomalacia (i.e. softening of the bones), anaemia, lung and prostate cancer, fatigue, sleeping difficulties, learning difficulties (especially in children) and vague flu-like symptoms.

Arsenic – Arsenic is a highly poisonous toxin that is very disruptive to our body’s mechanisms, especially to our metabolic processes. Arsenic is created by nature and various oxides are also man made. These oxides are more poisonous and are made via mining and smelting. Arsenic is usually found in our drinking water and some of our foods. Seafood and non-organic poultry usually contain arsenic. Small amounts of organic arsenic compounds are approved, for their antimicrobial action, for use in animal and poultry feeds. Pesticides containing arsenic are also commonly placed around poultry barns to help eliminate vermin, especially rats which are attracted to the animal feed. In addition, many wood products used for construction, such as wooden decks, are treated with arsenic compounds as a pesticide to deter termites. Children are exposed when playing on wooden playground equipment. Signs of excessive exposure include dermatitis, hyperpigmentation of the skin, headaches, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea and sensory impairment. Arsenic reacts with various proteins in the body and inhibits their activity. It inactivates up to 200 enzymes, especially those involved in energy pathways and DNA synthesis and repair. Chronic arsenic toxicity results in disease of multiple body systems. It is a well-known carcinogen affecting numerous organs including the skin, bladder, kidneys, liver, lungs and prostate. It can also adversely affect our blood, bone marrow, cardiac function, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Arsenic can also lead to problems with hormone production, especially with sperm and ova. It also affects foetal development potentially causing sterility, miscarriage, still births, infant deaths, low birth weight in infants and various malformations.  

Mercury – Most people are aware that mercury often contaminates seafood (especially larger fish), but did you know that it is also often found in plants and livestock due to mercury toxicity in soils, water and the atmosphere? Environmental mercury toxicity comes from coal-burning power plants. The long life light globes in our homes also contain mercury gas. We can be exposed by breathing in contaminated air and by eating foods containing mercury. Mercury was until recently an ingredient in some vaccinations and is still an ingredient in amalgam, still used by many dentists. Amalgam fillings continuously emit traces of mercury into the body. For example, while chewing or brushing your teeth, mercury vapours are emitted which are then inhaled into the lungs and then absorbed into the blood. Mercury is a well-known neurotoxin which is able to cross the blood-brain and placenta barriers. It can prevent myelin formation and so adversely affect developing nerve sheaths in children. It has also been linked to Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Alzheimer’s disease due to its effect on neuro-chemical reactions involved in maintaining brain cell structure. Mercury also reduces selenium levels in the body leading to a reduction in the free radical scavenging effects of certain enzymes. Selenium binds itself to mercury to reduce its adverse effects. So, in cases of high mercury levels, the bio-availability of selenium is greatly reduced resulting in increased free radical activity which can result in cardiovascular disease, cancer and other serious health conditions. High mercury levels can also cause brain, kidney and lung damage, reduced immune function, obsessive compulsive disorder, headaches, fatigue, sensory impairment, poor coordination, “leaky gut” resulting in food sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, restlessness, irritation of mucous membranes, dermatitis, gingivitis, endocrine disturbance including hypothyroidism and profuse sweating and/or salivation. Like arsenic, mercury can also lead to problems with hormone production, especially with sperm and ova and affect foetal development potentially causing sterility, miscarriage, still births, infant deaths, low birth weight in infants, learning or speech delays and various malformations.

Aluminium - Aluminium is added into our water supply and also commonly enters the body from the use of antiperspirants, toothpaste and cosmetics. Other sources can include: children's baby powders, baking powders (some), white flour (some), cake mixes, cigarette smoke, pesticides, false teeth, acid or alkaline foods cooked in aluminium cookware (when food is cooked in aluminium, the food acids react with the metal resulting in aluminium oxidation and ultimately to traces of aluminium ending up in your food), acid or alkaline foods retained or stored in aluminium foil, industrial pollution, some medicines such as: antacids, aspirin, anti-diarrhoea medications, analgesics, anti-haemorrhoid preparations and vaccinations, processed cheese (some), some salts and seasonings. Conditions and symptoms of aluminium toxicity are numerous and can include: Alzheimer’s disease, Down-Syndrome, nausea, poor appetite, excessive perspiration, cramps, tiredness, tremors and jerking. Aluminium salts are capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier and may be responsible for neurofibrillary degeneration. Aluminium is also a known carcinogen (i.e. cancer-forming). Aluminium is a flocculent (i.e. things attach onto it). It attracts arsenic, cadmium, chromium etc. The maximum suggested (safe) level in water is 0.2mg/L, however, it is sometimes found in levels of 4-12mg/L. High concentrations of aluminium have been found in the brain tissue of patients dying of Alzheimer's disease.

Other commonly contaminating heavy metals include: copper, antimony, uranium and beryllium.

Radiation – The risks and hazards associated with radiation are well known. Exposure occurs from: 5G network, microwave ovens, radars, mobile phones, electric blankets, electric meter boxes, power lines, telephone transmission towers, computers, radio and television broadcasting, wireless internet connections. High exposure can cause malignancy. Small doses (as used in homeopathy and isopathy) can be administered following radiation damage from various sources including radiation therapy. This may help reduce some of the toxic load.

Chemicals - Chemical toxicity is a serious new health challenge affecting us globally. Babies and children are especially vulnerable to the effects. The list of synthetic chemicals in our environment is seemingly endless. They are in products used around our homes and work places, in agriculture, horticulture and food and beverage production. They include:

• Organochloride, organophosphate and carbamate pesticides (POP’s) – these are pesticides and herbicides, most of which (but not all) have been banned in Australia. An example of an organochloride pesticide is the infamous DDT, which is still being used in some developing countries. These groups of chemicals are linked to cancers, confusion, aggressive or bizarre behaviours, developmental delays, headaches, kidney damage, memory problems, muscular weakness, seizures and tremors and tachycardia.

• Industrial chemicals (hydrocarbons) – Exposure to hydrocarbons is almost unavoidable. Some common sources of these chemicals include: petrol, propellants and other fuels, motor oil, mineral spirits, lighter fluid, kerosene, furniture polish, household cleansers, dry-cleaning solutions, paint, spot remover, rubber cement, and solvents. Hydrocarbons can be derived from either petroleum or wood. Hydrocarbon toxicity can affect many different organs, but the lungs are most commonly adversely affected. Some can also cause damage to the brain, bone marrow (e.g. leukaemia and bone marrow tumours), the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, skin and eyes. In children, it may cause developmental delays. Other commonly seen symptoms include: numbness of hands and feet, poor coordination, nausea and dizziness.

• Bisphenol A (BPA) – This is a chemical compound commonly used in the manufacture of plastics to harden them or make them shatterproof. It is found within the lining of most plastic food and beverage containers including many babies’ bottles. BPA disrupts the endocrine and reproductive systems by mimicking oestrogen (xenoestrogen), thus causing numerous health problems including breast cancer, obesity, lowered libido and erectile dysfunction in males, infertility, birth defects, uterine tumours (benign or malignant), prostate enlargement and prostate cancer, precocious puberty (i.e. comes on too early), mood swings and poor memory. BPA is bio-accumulative in human tissue (i.e. our bodies are usually unable to remove it at the same rate of its intake resulting in it being sequestered or stored in human tissue). This occurs with even very minute amounts. This is something worthy of consideration given the drastic increase in prostate and breast cancers in recent years. Infants and children are likely to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of BPA than adults. Since they are not fully developed, their detoxification abilities (via the liver) are much less than that of adults. Infants are generally more at risk due to high exposure of BPA obtained from milk heated in plastic bottles, especially if heated in a microwave oven.

• Some other nasty chemicals that pose significant threats to our health and well-being include:

- phthalates found in plastics, lubricants, paints, textiles, enteric coatings on some pharmaceutical drugs and supplements, detergents, adhesives and many more products.

- nitrates which are used in fertilisers, explosives and usually a preservative used in processed meats.

- parabens which are used in many cosmetics, skin lotions, sunscreens, shampoos, shaving gels, lubricants and soaps as a preservative. They are also often used as food additives.

- dioxins which are environmental pollutants resulting from manufacturing processes and also occurring naturally (volcanoes and forest fires).

- 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) which is used in sunscreen lotions due to its ability to protect the skin from UV light.

• More nasty chemicals that have the potential to disturb our health and well-being include: methyl 2,3,4, asbestos, chromium-6, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), Ammonium perchlorate, Teflon (PFOA - perfluorooctanoic acid).

Nutritional Elements – Nutritional elements, i.e. those necessary in your body, may also become toxic if too much is stored in your body’s tissues. Some nutritional elements regularly found to be in excess are sodium, potassium, copper and chromium.

Dietary Sources of Toxins and Organ Strain - If your diet includes processed foods which contain fewer nutrients and fibre, artificial additives such as preservatives, colourings and flavourings and the wrong kinds of fats, your body will not be able to function as it should and the toxic load will increase. Other poor food and lifestyle choices that may be harming your body include: excess sugar, alcohol, smoking, coffee and pharmaceutical and recreational drugs. Once the toxins have entered your body, your eliminatory organs/systems including your lungs, skin, kidneys and bladder, liver and gallbladder, lymphatic system and bowel, try to remove them. The trouble is that there is only so much that your organs can handle. This often results in illness and disease including auto immune diseases, mental illness including depression, cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, allergies, skin conditions, fatigue, bowel disease including bowel cancer, child behavioural problems such as ADHD (attention deficit) and autism and recurring infections.

Your organs also have to manage their regular functions including elimination of dead cells and metabolic waste and managing biochemical processes. It is easy to see how your organs may be overburdened and not function as well as they should.

Nanotechnologies and genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) are also increasingly being introduced into our foods and the environment creating new, as yet largely unknown challenges and complications affecting our health and the environment.

Methods of Detoxification

Ultimately, the amount of exposure to toxins and your individual susceptibility is what will determine the precise effect that the toxins will have on you and your family. Naturally, minimising your exposure in the first place is the best solution. I can provide you with strategies and resources to achieve this. However, we also need to eliminate the toxins which have built up in your body. I can assist you with this using:

Homeopathy and Isopathy – Using homeopathic (similar) and isopathic (same) remedies. For example, an accumulation of lead in the tissues can be eliminated with the use of an isopathic lead chelate. Likewise, hormonal imbalances in women resulting from the oral contraceptive pill can be treated using a specific homeopathic medicine prepared from oestrone, which is a synthetic form of oestrogen.

Herbal Medicine – Herbs can be used to provide additional support for your body and to assist the usual functions of your body’s organs. This will facilitate far greater toxic elimination and reduce the side effects and symptoms you will experience while the toxins are being eliminated. For example, if your liver is functioning adequately, then it has the capacity to eliminate many toxins from your body including alcohol, drugs such as antibiotics, sulphonamides and the like. Therefore, an integral part of my detoxification process would be to enhance your liver function with the use of herbal hepatic stimulants such as dandelion root and milk thistle.

Nutrition – I may also recommend certain foods or nutritional supplements to assist you with the removal of toxins. For example, artichokes improve liver function and asparagus assists the urinary system with its eliminatory functions. If you are found to have lead stored in your body’s tissues, then you may benefit from an iron and/or calcium supplement as these minerals antagonise lead. Vitamin C can help to excrete excess copper in the body and is a wonderful antioxidant and detoxifier which can be very beneficial for people suffering with cancer and autism. A high fibre diet or fibre supplementation will also help to remove toxins via your digestive system. Spirulina is also is great source of nutrients and antioxidants that can assist in removing toxins from your body.

Lifestyle changes – I may also recommend various lifestyle changes and other therapies. For example, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, a weekend away, regular massages, dry skin brushing to improve lymphatic circulation, exercise, purchasing a water purifying system, breathing techniques, meditation or chiropractic work.

The remedies, nutrients and lifestyle suggestions listed above have been provided as examples of methods I may use to assist you in the detoxification process. There can be many ways to achieve the required outcome. Consequently the best way to understand your individual requirements is via a consultation with you.

Contact me today to set up a detox program so that we can improve your health from the ground up