Detoxification — clear and cleanse your body

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP and Dixie Mills, MD

Many people think of detoxification as something we only need to do to get rid of unusual or excess toxins in the body, but the truth is, we do it all the time. Every time you exhale, every time you urinate or move your bowels, you’re detoxing — because the wastes you eliminate and the air you exhale include many of those molecules that your body is trying to get rid of. The liver, kidneys, spleen, and lymphatic system all target the waste and toxins that otherwise would build up in our tissues. Even when we cry we’re detoxing, because emotions, too, can be toxic! We take these forms of detox for granted, never realizing how important they are to our well-being.

When patients tell me how tired they are, or how bloated, achy or spaced-out they’ve been feeling, I wonder if their bodies are being overwhelmed by retained wastes or toxic burden. It’s not surprising that this should be the case, when we live in a world where heavy metals, prescription medications, environmental chemicals, and antibiotics leach into our food and water supply. With all that going on, it’s no wonder our bodies are fighting to keep clean! This toxic sludge can build up in your system faster than you think, clogging your primary detox systems in the liver and lymphatic system. And when the body’s natural detoxification pathways are disrupted, your hormonal balance and overall feeling of wellness can be quickly degraded.

The good news is, you can boost your body’s natural detox functions and support its inbuilt ability to heal itself. In our experience, detoxifying can refresh, rejuvenate and energize women. It helps you regain your mental focus, promotes clearer skin, improves your digestion, and much more — and with a little time and attention, these benefits aren’t difficult to achieve. In fact, a periodic detox is one of the easiest ways to see a dramatic improvement in how you feel — quickly!

Our resources on detoxification will give you an in-depth look at the lymphatic system, guide you through a quick, two-week detox program, and provide many other insights into how we can prevent toxicity from compromising our health. Tune in to the rhythms and natural capacity of your body to detoxify and cleanse itself — and you will find that being inside your skin is a wonderful place to be!

Our most popular resources on detoxification:

To access an article, just choose from the list of excerpts below. To find more articles, use the search function below. Don’t see a topic that’s important to you? Let us know.

• Purging the poisons: how to support natural detoxification
  The best natural detox system is the one you already have — your body’s detoxification system! Learn about how to support detox from Women to Women.
• The lymph system and your health
  It may surprise you that the lymphatic system is essential to immunity and overall health. It isn’t discussed much in conventional medical settings, and many women may not even have heard of it or know what it is! Here’s an up-close look at this crucial system and the many cleansing benefits it provides for our bodies.
• Endocrine disruptors — tipping the hormonal scales
  Did you ever think a plastic water bottle or a new wall-to-wall carpet could affect your hormones? As manmade chemicals become increasingly ubiquitous, they are having some surprising effects on our bodies. Here’s a look at how the aspects of our modern environment can throw off the endocrine system, and what you can do to help yourself.

 

Last Modified Date: 04/18/2011
Principal Author:Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP