DETOXIFICATION THERAPIES / HEAVY METALS
Detoxification refers a set of normal, built-in, bodily functions by which your body transforms toxic and nontoxic substances into nontoxic substances that can be excreted. Part of the price of normal living is that excess waste accumulates in your body similar to the way garbage collects in your neighborhood. The detoxification process developed in humans over time to eliminate natural normal compounds produced in the body. For example, when your body makes hormones like testosterone and estrogen, once they have performed their function they need to be eliminated. Carbon dioxide, a by-product of metabolism can be toxic and must be eliminated in this case by the lungs. Detoxification also eliminates potentially toxic compounds that might be in foods ingested. Ages ago, when our diet was natural and thus organic, our detoxification system could adequately do the job of breaking down and removing potential toxins and waste products.
Today, due to the thousands of chemicals that we are exposed to daily such as pesticides, food additives, artificial colorings, and pollution for many of us our detoxification process is stressed and working overtime. Many of us are walking around with impaired detoxification. Potential toxins need to be removed, for if they accumulated, they would be toxic and harmful to the body. All of the drugs that we take whether by prescription or over the counter, also need to be metabolized and removed from the body. One of the metabolites of acetaminophen is very toxic if it is not removed by liver detoxification. Many of the unnatural chemicals such as benzine, PCB’s, dioxin, and many pesticides are actually carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and need to be removed. Of course they should be avoided, but as that is often not possible. We have to at least be able to detoxify them and be able to excrete them from the body. The body has a limited ability to detoxify. If you’ve been exposed to a large quantity of toxins: alcohol, medications, professed foods, dry cleaning pollution- the body can be overwhelmed and run out of nutrients needed for detoxification.
For most of us today, especially in urban areas, the question is not whether you are toxic, but rather, how toxic are you? Toxicity is quickly becoming a growing concern as more and more chemicals and toxins are used in products we consume or wear or live in that make our lives easier.
Daily choices increase your risk of building up bodily toxins. Eating fast food and highly processed foods means consuming more chemicals by mouth. Urban pollution, cigarettes, working around chemicals and airports means inhaling more chemicals. Beauty products such as moisturizers, chemical peels, hair dyes and make-up introduce you to everyday toxins.We absorb toxins from the dry-cleaned clothes we wear. In addition some toxins are internal such as that from improperly digested food, from dehydration and poor nutrition, and even from toxic thought patterns .
Heavy metal toxicity may affect the body. Water, air, food, or absorption through the skin in those exposed to toxic farming and chemical and toxic exposure in industries. Well known potential heavy metal toxicity are lead from old paint, and mercury from dental fillings and consuming fish like tuna and sword fish. Most people can excrete toxic heavy metals from the body successfully. However, some people—especially those who suffer from chronic conditions—cannot excrete them efficiently enough and a build-up occurs.
Symptoms of Toxicity and Heavy Metal Toxicity
Over exposure to heavy metals and toxicity can lead to a number of diseases and repercussions at various stages. Some of the symptoms associated with heavy metal toxicity are due to damage of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, blood production, gastrointestinal system, reproductive system and kidney functioning.Some of the common symptoms of toxicity are:
- Chronic fatigue
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Mental confusion
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal upsets
- Food allergies
- Vision problems
- Poor concentration
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Depression
- Speech difficulties
- Hypertension
It can also result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function, as in autism ADD/ADHD, and chemical sensitivity . Long-term exposure may result in slowly progressing physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative processes that mimic Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis.
Exposure to toxicity and heavy metals may include:
- Having mercury amalgams (“silver fillings”) in teeth
- Living in a home built prior to 1978 that has lead-based paint
- Smoking and/or inhaling second-hand smoke
- Eating foods (such as contaminated fish) that contain high levels of mercury
- Living near a landfill
- Working in an environment where exposure is prevalent, such as at a dentist’s office where amalgam is used to fill cavities
- Receiving vaccinations that contain thimerosal (mercury preservative)
- Contaminated water
- Mercury contamination from badly fitted dental fillings or silver amalgams.
Our Integrative Approach
Initial steps in treating heavy metal toxicity involve identifying of the toxic elements that are causing the problem and then begin the removal process of these metals from the body. A urine collection with the use of a chelating drug or challenge is often used to identify the toxicity and the body burden.
Once the problem is identified, treatment is individualized. For many patients, the treatment involves the use of oral metal chelating drugs such as DMSA. For some support with nutritionals and herbs are often used to nourish the liver and kidneys which are used in detoxification. Some food, such as cilantro, support heavy metal detoxification.
Detoxification is more than a one-time affair. It is a lifestyle change, which allows your body to clear out the current toxins and prevent the build-up of additional ones. You may need to change your eating habits, and adjust your lifestyle so that you exercise regularly, and take better care of yourself.
Treatments to support your detoxification include:
- Infrared Sauna
- Lymphatic Drainage
- General lifestyle changes
- Vitamin and Mineral supplementation
- Oral and intravenous chelation
- Massage or Acupuncture therapies
- Herbal supplementation of your diet
- Liver support and castor oil packs
Detoxification is an ongoing process, which requires a full commitment for it to work. It may not be easy at first, but in the long run you will find that you feel more energetic, can think more clearly, may lose excess weight, and will generally feel healthier on a day-to-day basis. It is very important to note that treatment regimens vary significantly and are tailored to each specific individual’s medical condition and the circumstance of their exposure. Findings from physical examinations vary with the age of the person, health status of the person, amount or form of the substance, and time since exposure.