Gentle detoxification

There are so many contradicting schools of thought on detoxification, that it can get really confusing. Let’s briefly talk about how toxins effect our bodies. First, you must understand what a toxin is. Toxins consist of anything that the body cannot metabolize or anything that is foreign to the body. Sources of toxins are: food, water, noise, dramatic changes in weather, EMFs causing excessive radiation, emotional trauma, even an excess of normal chemicals in the body, and metatoxins which are the result of metabolized foods that cannot be eliminated. It is a commonly known fact that our bodies are 70% water. However, in actuality, that number is greater. I learned during a lecture by Dr. Robyn Murphy, ND that 99.5% of all molecules in the body are water. One molecule of a toxin (nicotine, stress hormone, GMO foods, etc.) will lock up 1000 molecules of water in our cell. That cell will begin to die or mutate, then it stops functioning. Once 20-30% of an organ's cellular function is down, you start seeing disease. The degeneration of intracellular fluids is the basis of all diseases.

Detoxification is at the heart of just about every recovery, from multiple diseases. I love the way Ellen Kamhi, PhD, RN also known as the “Natural Nurse” once said it, “Pharmaceuticals do nothing but suppress the symptoms. If you want to stop the break down process [inflammation] you need to do detoxification.”  When our bodies can’t detoxify effectively enough, we store these toxins (in fat cells, tissues, organs and bones) which is a safety mechanism designed by the body, unfortunately this also means we are harboring them until we do something to encourage the body to release them.  

There are two parts to the process of managing detoxification and both are necessary to see success in management of toxins. First, we must reduce the intake of toxins from our environment and second, we must help our bodies release and effectively remove the toxins they are holding on to. This can be tricky if you have genetic mutations in your methylation pathways, causing bottlenecking of these toxins as they try to leave the body. This will result in an uptick in symptoms, meaning the detox organs are being strained. So, caution and balance must always be a top priority in your choices. 

Gentle detoxification requires following the cues of the body and using supportive nutrients that encourage elimination as well as nutrients that support the organs that become taxed by detox.

FIR Sauna - Heavenly Heat

FIR saunas use infrared light, which is the same healing energy that is released by the sun, to heat the body from within, unlike traditional saunas which heat the air like an oven. It is for this reason that FIR saunas are more effective at lower, more tolerable temperatures (130 vs. 200+ degrees) than traditional saunas. Sweat from a FIR experience is composed of 80-85% water, the rest being composed of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, ammonia, sodium and uric acid (and this last one is music to my ears, because of our oxalate accumulation tendencies). It has also been noted that calcium is excreted during a FIR sauna, but not the usable calcium the body needs, but toxic synthetic calcium that the body can’t utilize. The sweat from a traditional sauna is composed of approximately 95-97% water, which means only 5-3% is true detoxification by comparison to 15-20% with the FIR sauna. So, as you can see, sweating can help reduce your toxic load.  

This isn’t all the FIR sauna is good for. Elevating body temperature, even just slightly, kills viruses and other microbes, including cancer cells. FIR saunas are ideal for mold toxicity recovery! For those with methylation issues, a FIR sauna should be at the top of your list, because releasing toxins via the pathway of the skin reduces the burden on the organs. In many European Countries, saunas are as commonplace and as essential as bathrooms, I would love to see a FIR sauna in every American home!  Maybe we wouldn’t be one of the sickest industrialized Nations on the planet.

Your skin is a major detoxification organ, but many people don’t sweat on a regular basis. I can’t speak highly enough about the benefits experienced by FIR saunas. The level of detoxification obtained by regular use is unmatched. I know this is probably the most costly item on the list, but it is not completely unattainable either, so don’t write it off just yet. Many wellness centers also have them, and you can pay per session. A one-person sauna can fit easily into an average sized room because it is about the size of a closet and since it is dry heat, there is no risk of moisture accumulation. If there is anything I would recommend starting a savings fund for, it’s this!  

You must, however, balance your desire for a sauna with safety. There are a lot of cheap saunas out there and you might be tempted to save a few bucks to acquire one sooner, but these saunas are dangerous and counterproductive due to the off-gassing of toxins like adhesives and varnishes. You also want to be sure the wood it’s made from is kiln dried and doesn’t release any of its own toxins.  

Another consideration is Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) exposure. Some brands take this very seriously and invest a lot of time and money into addressing this growing concern, while others do not. While the seats in many units have low or even zero EMF, the wall readings vary depending on where the wiring is running and you would also want to be sure to test all the different types Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR). Body voltage would indicate the effects the EMR has on the body while sitting in a sauna. We don’t lean against the walls, we lean on a backrest which is an optional accessory. It props us away from the wall while adding comfort.

Heavenly Heat was the only brand our Building Biologist said has tested well overall.

IonCleanse foot bath by AMD

Ionic foot baths effectively change the PH of your body from acidic to alkaline (which has been confirmed via urine PH testing) and the detox continues to alkalize the body up to 48 hours after the treatment, via urination and sweat. It is especially beneficial for people who have gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions, fungal or yeast infections, and cancer. Detoxification via this route bypasses the GI tract, virtually creating it’s own detox channel.

Detoxification of this kind dates back 5000 years in the Eastern Indian tradition of Ayurvedic Medicine, where they used concentrated sea salt baths to draw impurities out of the body. Through ionization, where the water is charged with both positive and negative ions (acting similar to the concentrated salt in water), results are much more dramatic in shorter periods of time. The electrolysis combined with added sea salt creates positive and negative ions. The toxins in the feet, which are actually charged particles, are naturally drawn to their opposite charge in the water.  Voila, detox, just add water….and salt!! There are other brands, but I can’t speak to their safety or efficacy merely because I only have experience with IonCleanse. 

**Note - Foot detoxes are contraindicated for people who have seizures.

Natural zeolite Clinoptilolite by Touchstone Essentials

Made by the same creator as TRS, this natural nano-clinoptilite zeolite builds upon the reputation natural zeolite already has in the scientific arena. That’s not to say that TRS isn’t safe, we’ve used it quite successfully, but the studies confirming the safety of zeolite are all done on natural zeolite rather than synthetic zeolite, so I just decided to stick with the natural version. Why conduct an experiment when you don’t have to? This bottle is twice the size for less too.

Nano-sized zeolite liquid reaches to a cellular level and works like mini-magnets to attract and remove positively-charged toxins such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and more. Using advanced nanotechnology, natural zeolite has a vast surface area to trap and remove toxins.

With over 300 studies listed on PubMed.org confirming the beneficial properties of Clinoptilolite zeolite, this mineral has gained increasing renown for its natural ability to trap toxins, heavy metals and environmental pollutants.

While synthetic zeolites are used in industrial applications, human and animal studies show benefit with whole, natural zeolite. Pure Body Extra Strength uses natural zeolite, purified to perfection, and nano-sized for a whole-body detox.

Probiotics

A large part of detoxification occurs within the microbiome and is facilitated by certain beneficial bacteria. If there is an imbalance in the gut flora, this will impact our ability to detoxify effectively. Every detoxification regimen should include the inoculation of beneficial bacteria on a regular basis. Diversity, however, is just as important so the types of beneficial bacteria ideally would come from a variety of sources. Fermented foods are one of the best ways to find the natural diversity that our bodies rely on, but people with mast cell activation and trouble eliminating histamine won’t do well with fermented foods, because of the histamine elevation found in most probiotics. So sometimes a well-chosen supplement will be a foundational part of a microbiome-balancing routine.

Chlorella Growth Factor

We never tolerated chlorella very well, that is until we tried chlorella growth factor from BioPure!

Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF) is a special extract of the micro-algae chlorella. It is mostly from the cell nucleus of chlorella, a concentration of DNA and RNA.

Many health experts consider CGF to be the most phenomenal aspect of chlorella. It provides powerful support for tissue renewal and immune health.

In addition to chlorella’s uncanny ability to assist in detoxification, it is also one of the most balanced nutrients available on the market, and rivals synthetic multivitamins, without a doubt. It is the only known plant source of B-12 that we can digest and it contains more B-12 than a T-bone steak. Chlorella is one of the richest foods in protein, beta carotene, nucleic acids (RNA & DNA) and it contains more chlorophyll than any other food and since it assimilates instantly due to the algae’s predigestion of it’s protein and beneficial fats, it is more likely to be utilized effectively by the body. Due to its acid polysaccharides, it is also an immune booster. It sure appears to live up to being a superfood! Because we also take cilantro tincture for detoxification, which can mobilize more metals than it can eliminate, this is another reason to have chlorella on board.  When we use the sauna or the IonCleanse, we always take this chlorella at the beginning of our session, then thirty minutes later we take cilantro tincture and then follow-up with a good binder an hour or two afterwards, to be sure everything that was mobilized exits the body.

**CAUTION - do not disrupt heavy metals in the body using products like chlorella, cilantro or any other “chelator” if you currently have metal/amalgam fillings in your mouth. Not all metal-containing fillings are silver. White fillings can contain high amounts of metal as well. They would be evident in an x-ray by glowing white. Resin fillings don’t glow white in an x-ray.

CIlantro tincture

We use cilantro to kick up the natural elimination process. It is helpful in the detoxification process by binding with toxic metals and excreting them via urine and feces, but because it has an uncanny ability to mobilize more toxins than it can carry out of the body, we pair it with chlorella (above). We take chlorella thirty minutes prior to cilantro tincture and then follow-up with a good binder an hour or two later, to be sure everything that was mobilized exits the body. It is also a known superfood, because of its extensive source of vitamins and minerals. This combination nicely supports detoxification from sauna and IonCleanse foot bath use.

Activated bamboo charcoal

Activated charcoal is used by hospitals when a person comes in with suspected poisoning. It prevents the poison from being absorbed by the stomach. Likewise, activated charcoal can be used to adsorb toxins to ensure they are being effectively eliminated from the body. It is especially useful for those who’ve been exposed to mold due to it’s capacity to adsorb mycotoxins.

There are many other great uses for charcoal. We add it to our toothpaste to whiten our teeth.

Some people experience constipation if they take too much charcoal, so if you are prone to constipation, you may need to monitor your dosing.

ION Biome

Previously known as Restore. ION*Gut Health increases the body’s production of beneficial enzymes through redox signaling (cellular communication).

Those beneficial enzymes strengthen the tight junctions (the seals between cells) in our gut lining – the barrier protecting us from toxic substances like glyphosate and gluten while allowing the entry of beneficial nutrients.

It’s a critical barrier to keep strong so that a vibrant microbiome can flourish. Good health depends entirely on gut health because a lot more than digestion happens in the gut. It’s also where proper immune system function begins and the majority of our neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, are created.

The iodine protocol

A good portion of our population is iodine deficient. Iodine assists with detoxification as well as controlling pathogenic overgrowth, but what most people don’t realize is that iodine deficiency can also be at the root of thyroid and reproductive disorders as well as many types of cancer. Iodine is displaced from the body by chlorine, fluoride and bromine, all of which are available in excess via our water and diets.

The reason this section is labeled “The Iodine Protocol” is because no one should just start taking iodine without supporting it with cofactors needed to metabolize iodine properly. When you order from Miss Lizzy’s website, you will receive her “Getting Started” guide which is very important to the protocol. She will explain the whys and hows of iodine supplementation, as well as which other nutrients are important to the protocol. She supplies a few of the other cofactors right on her website, so you can get started right away.

I prefer 5% Lugol’s iodine, but Amazon stopped selling 5% Lugol’s so my new source is Miss Lizzy’s. Miss Lizzy’s Thiodine Lugol's Solution of Iodine is the original, full-strength solution of potassium iodide and molecular iodine. Sustainably-sourced from 250 million-year-old deep earth mines in the USA, Thiodine Lugol's Iodine is from some of the best iodine in the world. We use USP Grade, pharmaceutical-grade iodine.

Homeopathic cell salts for mineral support

There are 12 homeopathic bioplasma cell salts and according to Dr. Schuessler, these 12 minerals are crucial to the health of the body. They include forms of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and silica that work at the cellular level; hence, the name “cell” salts. Deficiency in of any of these minerals will cause an imbalance in the body. Homeopathic cell salts offer a safe way to rebalance the minerals that are out of balance.

Whenever you are pushing the body through intense or even gentle detoxification, minerals can become depleted in the process, so it’s a good idea to replenish minerals using a good supplement. In addition to supplementation, using homeopathic cell salts (also known as tissue salts) communicates with the body in a way that initiates healing by enabling the body to properly assimilate these minerals whether they are deficient or in excess. Homeopathy works like an adaptogen by giving the information to the body and letting the body do the work to rebalance itself.

This combination of all 12 cell salts is referred to as Bioplasma and it will help rebalance minerals during the detoxification process. 3-5 pellets are taken 2-3 times daily, dissolved in some drinking water. Homeopathic cell salts are safe for people of all ages and it does not interact with other treatment modalities.