There are two types of detoxification that I discuss here.
Acupuncture detox
Detoxification or detox can refer to the process of reducing withdrawal symptoms when trying to overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol. Acupuncture is popular for this purpose, for example in rehab clinics. The acupuncture addiction protocol can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings and reduce relapse rates. It also promotes a feeling of calmness and improves sleep quality.
Boost your body’s natural detoxification process
The second type of detoxification is the natural process that occurs in our body every day. Given the right nutrients, our bodies are able to detoxify and eliminate many natural but harmful waste products that are produced in the body during normal metabolic processes. Sometimes this detoxification process does not go so smoothly and there are several reasons for this.
We live in an increasingly toxic world, with constant bombarding by chemicals that are difficult to detoxify and eliminate. Pollution, heavy metals and xenoestrogens are in our food, water and air. Our homes are filled with chemical products, in cleaning materials and personal care products. Many of us are also exposed to chemicals in the workplace. Some of the most common toxic exposures are from agricultural products such as herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers. In fact, scientists suspect that the average adult has around 700 toxic substances in their body. And, a newborn baby has around 200.
It is hardly surprising then, that sometimes the number of toxins can overwhelm our ability to clear them from our body and can impair health and well being. This toxic burden can cause symptoms, such as:
- fatigue
- muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia
- chemical sensitivities
- allergies, rashes and hives
- headaches
- cognitive decline
- obesity
- hormonal imbalances
If you suffer from one or more of these symptoms you might want to consider whether you could have an increased burden of toxicity. In which case, functional herbal and nutritional therapy can help to reduce your body’s toxic burden by identifying and reducing potential toxic exposures and ensuring that the body’s detoxification processes are optimal.
See my articles on Detoxification.