Detoxification Detoxification is an integral part of the healing process, and involves a systematic approach to assisting your body to remove toxins stored in its tissues. It is a process that occurs naturally within a healthy body on a daily basis. What many people are unaware of is that the body can become overloaded with toxins as a result of lifestyle habits such as poor diet and limited physical activity. These, combined with excess drugs (both pharmaceutical and illicit) and alcohol, amount to an overload of toxins that are entering our bodies on a daily basis. This becomes more than what the body can cope with and the natural process of expelling these toxins becomes backlogged. What Kinds of Toxins Affect Us? Toxins are agents that are capable of causing harm to the body. While they are naturally released in urine, stools, sweat and expelled air from the lungs, sometimes an excess of these harmful substances can accumulate in the system increasing the chance of illnesses like digestive disorders, allergies, fatigue, weight gain, arthritis and other lifestyle conditions which are becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society. These toxins are either created externally and subsequently absorbed into the body’s tissue, or they are created internally. External Toxins Environmental Toxins- We are surrounded by environmental toxins daily. If you live in the suburbs where the air is polluted, and you are exposed to car fumes, factory emissions, and chemicals used in ordinary cleaning agents. Water sources are increasingly unreliable, and many individuals are exposed to chemicals at work with clothing, carpeting, new plastics and aerosols all adding to contamination of our personal environment. Most of us apply chemicals directly to our bodies in the form of personal care products made from petroleum and other toxic substances. Sadly, cumulative exposure to environmental toxins can begin even before birth, and short of moving out into the country and adopting a purely organic lifestyle it is difficult to avoid. Ingested Toxins Modern farming methods are often more geared to producing food which is 'bigger and better' - rather than food which is healthy and life sustaining. Even so-called 'healthy food' is full of artificial hormones, insecticides and other chemicals, which destroy the vitamins and essential nutrition of the food we eat. Alcohol, cigarette smoke, medication, drugs and mercury fillings are also examples of toxin sources – and are toxins which we do have limited control over. By limiting alcohol, refraining from smoking and cutting down on unnecessary medications we are already helping the body a great deal to reduce toxic build up. Internal Toxins Toxins can also be generated within the body from viral, bacterial or fungal infections (as in the case of candidiasis) or other illnesses which impact the immune system. Stress also plays a role in generating toxins within the body and thus too much stress can contribute to toxic build up in the body. In addition, our bodies generate Autogenous toxins as a by-product of our own metabolism. How Can Toxins Harm Us? When the levels of these toxins have built up sufficiently in the system they slowly begin to affect body functioning, especially the functioning of the liver. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is often seen as the most important one. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, a healthy liver is seen as the most critical element in the body's ability to fight disease and function optimally. When the liver can't accomplish its functions, you eventually begin to experience symptoms such as fatigue, skin eruptions, headaches, allergies, depressed immune systems, obesity, sluggish digestive systems, respiratory ailments and many other health problems. Natural Detox Programs for Your Health It is beneficial for everyone to undergo a detox at least once a year in order to rid the body of accumulated toxins. A detox program can serve to revitalize organ systems and promote cell renewal. However it is important to get ALL aspects of the digestive tract covered, not just the liver. In many people a major contributor to their health concerns is actually the state of their intestinal health and/or other organs, so it is just as vital to cleanse these areas of parasites and other matter... So where do you start with the myriad of 'detox' programs that are out there? We are all individuals with different circumstances and lifestyles, so it safe to say that there is not ONE detox program out ther which would 'fit all'. Most over-the-counter programs are prepared to fill societies need for a 'quick fix', and really arent worth the paper they are written on. An individualised, clinical detox can take anywhere from 4wks to a couple of months to complete, depending on your situation. A thorough detox will help rid the body of things like bacterial and yeast infections, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Heavy Metals, Chemical Deposits, and Impacted and Undigested Food particles. For a more detailed overview of the detoxification programs we can offer, please email us at | 
