Natural Medicines - Naturopathic Medicine
Detoxification for a Healthy Body
By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND (Doctor
of Naturopathic Medicine)
In the past, detox usually entailed fasting and drinking fluids.
This unfortunately depletes the body of valuable nutrients that
are required for the liver’s detoxification pathways. Fasting
may even cause the body to become more toxic.
Today, naturopaths and functional medicine practitioners who understand
the complex functions of the metabolic pathways of the liver can
help recommend an individualized detoxification program that enhances
the function of the liver. Specific detox plans can be created to
deal with your health concerns.
Our environment and food are filled with pollutants. The liver
is the major organ responsible for removing toxins from the body.
When the body is stressed, the elimination processes do not function
optimally to remove toxins and toxins that remain in the body are
stored in fat cells. Over time, this can be linked to chronic illness.
People with specific health concerns should consider doing a cleanse
to remove the internal factors that irritate the body and promote
inflammation. Healthy people should be proactive in their health
care and do a cleanse in the fall and spring to improve the body’s
overall function.
Even healthy people should consult a naturopath before embarking
upon a cleansing regime to design a program that is neither too
harsh nor too gentle. Programs can be tailored to last anywhere
from a few days to a few weeks. They can be as simple as eating
a specific regime of healthier foods or as complex as utilizing
supplements, sweating, sauna treatments and skin brushing to help
rid the body of unwanted toxins.
Health conditions
that may benefits from Detox
• Allergies, sinusitis, asthma
• IBS, Crohn’s disease, colitis, constipation and
digestive problems
• Arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Chronic headache, fatigue, muscle tension and pain
• Acne, eczema, psoriasis
• Infertility |
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