Toxicity and Detoxification

"Toxicity" and "toxic load accumulation" in the human body is such an extensive topic that I am really going to attempt to use the "K.I.S.S." concept on this one, because what is often overlooked when the discussion of toxicity is raised is that these bodies that our souls drive around in all day long are toxic by their very nature. Toxic compounds are the normal products of cellular metabolism and catabolism, and we also assimilate varying amounts of toxic material from the air that we breathe, the food that we eat, from the water that we drink, and from other environmental sources. As you all know, we have 5 major pathways and 7 organs of detoxification and elimination (liver, large intestine/colon, 2 lungs, 2 kidneys, and the skin), each of which play an extremely vital role in the maintenance and optimization of human health. Additionally, each organ of detoxification has auxiliary detoxification potential, i.e., each organ has the capability of behaving as a "back-up" of sorts, in the event of insufficient elimination of toxins through the body's preferential routes of toxin removal at that time. This concept was developed and established in both the fields of homeopathy and naturopathy, and quite frankly since there is "nothing new under the sun" (as King Solomon eloquently mused in the book of Ecclesiastes 1:9), I genuinely do not know which field rightfully deserves the credit for what has come to be known in holistic circles as "vicarious elimination."

For instance, in the event of sluggish removal of intestinal waste, a condition known as "auto-intoxication", the inadequate elimination of putrefactive intestinal waste by the large intestine results in the absorption of at least the water-soluble poisons into the bloodstream. The net effect is that the body must and will shunt the burden of the removal of those water-soluble poisons to the kidneys and even the skin (integument) via the pores. Failure to do so would automatically result in the bioaccumulation of toxins, with consequential resultant "functional" illness (fatigue, fatty and fluid accumulation, headaches, to name but a few). This physiological dysfunction has the potential to quite possibly eventualize as disease if the body chronically accumulates these biochemical and therefore biological poisons.

More than a century has elapsed since this phenomenon was recognized and declared by the forefathers of holisitic detoxification programs, i.e., intestinal waste when chronically absorbed by the body leads to excessive toxemia (i.e., poisons in the circulatory system), consequently producing a myriad of symptoms and health disturbances. The elimination of this bioaccumulation of toxicity became the cornerstone of formative detoxification programs, yet the AMA required nearly 100 YEARS before a formal acknowledgement was made with simple statements regarding dietary fiber intake and its direct relationship to reduced incidence of colon cancer. Here's one excerpt from April 2007 that summarizes this relationship:

Dietary Fiber Decreases Colon Cancer Risk
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention looked at the impact of dietary fiber intake on the risk of colorectal cancer. The researchers determined that colon cancer risk (but not rectal cancer risk) decreased as a person's dietary fiber increased. Interestingly, dietary fiber from beans seemed to decrease colon cancer risk the most.

Here are some rather astonishing and simultaneously disturbing facts regarding the environment that we currently find ourselves living in today:

I) Toxic Ignorance

• There are at least 75,000 chemicals in commerce today.
• Approximately 1,000 new chemicals are brought to market each year.
• Less than 30% of the 75,000 chemicals have been adequately analyzed for their full impact on the environment and human health. Most have not even received basic toxicity testing.

II) Toxic Burden In Newborns

• Washington, DC based Environmental Working Group analyzed umbilical cord blood samples of 10 newborns (cost $10K each).
• 287 known toxic chemicals were found in each specimen, including 7 that had been banned in the US for over 30 years.
• 76 of the chemicals are known to cause cancer in humans or animals.
• 94 are known to be toxic to the brain or nervous system.
• 79 are known to cause birth defects in animals.

-- Body Burden-The Pollution in Newborns, The Environmental Working Group; July 14, 2005

III) Toxic Chemicals And Drugs In Our Water Supply

• Associated Press reports that over 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals are released into our waterways each year (92% are Phenol and Hydrogen Peroxide).
• 22 compounds are found to be both on the EPA industrial chemical list and the pharmaceutical list.
• There has been very limited government tracking.
• Over 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals and their packaging are thrown away by hospitals and long term care facilities.
--AP - 04-19-09.

And finally, just one more absolutely harrowing finding of yet another industrially generated environmental pollutant that has found its way into this everyday, common, ordinary grocery item in virtually everyone's refrigerator who is reading this and mind-blowingly into the bloodstreams of all breast-fed newborns:

IV) Toxic Milk

• A toxic chemical found in rocket fuel - Perchlorate (Texas Tech University - S Dasgupta, PhD).
• 46 of 47 cow’s milk samples collected from 11 states had perchlorates in them.
• 36 breast milk samples were collected from mothers in 18 states. They had perchlorate levels 5 times higher than those found in the cow’s milk.
• Perchlorates effect iodine uptake by the thyroid.
-- Perchlorates May Be More Widespread Than Thought, Researchers Say; WebMD
Medical News. February 24, 2005

In closing here's a simple questionnaire that was developed by the "think-tank" minds at Apex Energetics, whereby one can readily ascertain your individual degree of exposure to environmental contaminants, and the degree of efficiency that you are presently eliminating those toxic compounds, or not :-(, based upon your symptomatology.

PATIENT QUESTIONNAIRE/TOXIC LOAD

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1) Are you now or have you been in the past in contact with toxic material
in your home and/or work place? YES NO
If yes, what kind? ________________________________________.
2) Do you live in a house which is over 25 years old? YES NO
3) Have you had recent remodeling in your house? YES NO
If yes, when? _____, Did your symptoms increase after remodeling?
4) Do you sleep or work in an area close to electronic equipment? YES NO
5) Have you been in contact with toxic materials anytime in the past? YES NO
If yes, what kind? _________________.
6) Please put a percentage next to the food groups that make up your overall diet. YES NO
_____ Fish_____ Chicken _____ Red Meat ______ Vegetables _____ Fruits_______Fast food
7) Do you get blisters/canker sores in the mouth? YES NO
8) Do you have mercury fillings? If so, how many? ______ YES NO
9) Do you have any nerve related symptoms? YES NO
If so, please give details:___________________________________.
10) Are you under emotional stress?______________. If so, what is the predominant emotion which you experience?

Do you get colds easily? YES NO
What sensitivities/allergies do you have?____________________________________________________

Do you have any of the following? If so, please indicate “M” for Mild and “S” for Severe:

Fatigue and Exhaustion
Depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Indecision
Difficulty concentrating
Headaches
Joint pains
Autoimmune disorders
Loss of appetite
Allergies
Memory loss
Digestive problems
Foul breath
Skin rashes
Swollen glands
Numbness and tingling in extremities
Irregular heart beat
Low grade fever
Chest pains and/or pain under the arms
Muscular disorders
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Diarrhea/constipation
Candida/yeast infections
Weight loss/weight gain
Excessive sweating
(Copyright © 2003, Apex Energetics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

So, in closing Toxic Load Reduction, both "aspecific" and "specific" (which I will elaborate on in future blogs), has been one of my primary areas of clinical concern and focus since my first introduction to the phenomenon of "toxic bioaccumulation" whilest enrolled in Chiropractic school circa 1982. Through a variety of holistic interventive methodologies employed, the expert release and removal of these toxins can be supervised to facilitate the restoration of your compromised health. Folks, at the end of the day, each and every last one of us had better be a "lean, mean, detoxification and waste elimination machine", or as my clinical experience has shown, you, the patient, will quite simply feel ROTTEN. The great news is that as long as the body has a pulse, it continuously attempts to manage and excrete its internal toxic load. Combinations of dietary modification, lifestyle, homeopathic remedies, herbal formulations, and juicing, just to name a few, can quite dramatically CHANGE both your quality of life and longevity, thereby adding not only years to your life, but ADDING LIFE TO YOUR YEARS!

May God bless each and everyone of you on this night.

"Dr. B"