Detox

           Your body is endowed with an enormous capability to adapt itself to abnormal, adverse conditions.  But this capacity is limited.  When health destroying conditions continue unchecked for prolonged periods of time, various disturbances in the functions of the organs and glands begin to manifest themselves.  These may be in the form of fever, repeated colds, and infections, tonsillitis, an enlarged liver, increased blood pressure, skin eruptions, etc.  In most cases, these are protective measures initiated by the body in its effort to protect itself against the existing abnormal conditions.  Ignored or suppressed by drugs, such symptoms may get progressively worse or change their nature and ultimately result in chronic pathological and degenerative changes.  The detoxification process does not happen overnight, nor does it happen in one month.  When we have toxic substances in the colon seeping into the body tissues, it's like having a time-release poison in your bowel—it works slowly, imperceptibly wearing down the vitality, resistance and health of body tissues and organs.  It's sort of like having our own personal chemical dump that we carry around with us all the time.

            People are more toxic today than ever in known history.  The levels of toxins and the extent of their damage are becoming a nightmare as illness walks the land.  The need to detoxify and cleanse the body has never been greater than right now.  Nearly all the patients I see have a toxicity problem that has to be resolved first.  When we cleanse and remove the toxic debris, feed the body good healthy and vital foods and stop poisoning ourselves, the body will respond with healing and the reversal of disease processes.  

           The process of detoxification occurs by the skin (perspiration), the colon (bowel movements), the kidneys (urination),  the lungs (respiration) and the liver.  If any of these organs are congested with toxins, then the process will take longer, as the organ needs to be detoxified as well. The changes may be subtle, but rest assured, if involved in a detoxification process, the body is detoxifying itself.    

          You need to be aware of the physical and mental discomforts that accompany successful healing.  Healing reactions present an opportunity to go back through everything not previously resolved in one's life.  We carry our entire personal history in our bodies.  Every injury that did not heal fully - whether physical, emotional or mental - must be made right.  All obstructions, toxins, aberrations and pain must be cleared in a total healing. 

          The nature of a reaction indicates which phase of life is being healed.  The reactions feel similar to the original disease or emotional trauma, but usually appear in a diminished form.  If the reaction is an emotional discharge of anger, the feelings surrounding the discharge will remind one of anger earlier in one's life, even though the present anger may be 'caused' by different circumstances.  Physical discharges are also reminders of old conditions.  If chronic sore throats occurred during childhood, a healing reaction could involve one or two sore throats that would eliminate any residues that accumulated from the original infection. 

           Certainly everyone wants healing reactions to be minimal or non-existent.  According to traditional Japanese medicine, "if there is no healing reaction, there is no cure".  Most reactions involve the body's purging itself of toxins.  

            Examples of healing reactions are as follows:  Tension or pain may occur in the upper back and neck, which may move upwards to the head, downward across the abdomen, arms, and legs, and eventually to the top of the head, toes and fingers.  Pain may occur in the internal organs, particularly in the liver area under the right side of the rib cage.  Headache is common. Vomiting may occur.  Bile or various types of mucus may come up.  Digestive imbalances may develop, i.e., gas, cramps, diarrhea, etc.  Weakness, weight loss, and sensations of cold and/or heat are signs that the body is first strongly eliminating before the building and strengthening phase occurs.  Typical emotional reactions include unreasonable impatience, anger, and/or depression.  More sleep may be needed during transition, and dreams may be 'wild'.  Unusual visions, apparitions, or altered states occasionally occur.  Sexual desire usually diminishes, especially in men, but eventually becomes more balanced than previously, once the kidney-adrenal function is strengthened.  Possible discharges include boils, pimples, rashes, body odors, carbuncles, nasal and vaginal discharges, coating  on the tongue and black feces.  Silver amalgam (mercury) fillings may fall out.  Most healing reactions involving pain and discharges will last less than a week, although some of these symptoms may  last longer. 

            When toxins are discharged in the body during healing reactions, use cleansing foods to help lighten the process:  vegetables, fruit, and the sprouts of seeds, grains, and legumes.  If there are feelings of coldness and weakness, then cook all cleansing foods and also use less of them.  When one is changing in the direction of more vegetarian eating patterns, small amounts of nutritionally rich protein food help ease the body over the shock of losing animal products.  In addition, chlorophyll-rich foods are especially beneficial to discharge the residues of animal toxins, build new blood, and support cell renewal.  All green vegetables can normally be emphasized during transitional healing reactions.           

            Certain common foods are toxin neutralizers and should be eaten frequently.  They are tofu, millet  mung beans, aduki beans, black soy beans, Swiss chard, radishes, turnips, and figs.  These can be used freely in the diet during a transition and especially during healing reactions (if food is tolerated at all).

           The strongest reactions from dietary transition occur in the first six months, although major reactions can occur years later.  Older or very weak individuals need to change dietary patterns more slowly, by replacing poor-quality foods.  Sufficient regular exercise is essential for processing and 'burning up' excesses.  When reactions and discharges are especially severe or numerous, it may mean that the pace or dietary change is too fast.  In some cases, strong reactions will be difficult to avoid, regardless.