Cleansing and detoxification to Build a Healthy Immune System
by William E. Richardson, M.D. and John D. Richardson, MBA
Sadly, most of us have no understanding and no gratitude for this essential, life-saving process occurring within us. As our cleansing and detoxification systems are working properly, it is in fact very difficult for you to get or remain sick.
Well, I’m you sure are aware that Spring-time is upon us — A time when Mother Nature is at her best…. Birds are singing, the sun is shining, the temperature is rising, the grass if growing and the flowers will be blooming! It is also a time when many of us experience Allergies, Hay Fever, Asthma, Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Colds, Flu, Headaches, Nausea, and basically a change in our body chemistry. What we may not realize, however, is that many of these “Spring Time” illnesses are an indication of our body’s attempt at cleansing and detoxification. In fact, the whole subject of cleansing and detoxification is probably the most mis-understood and least trusted “Natural” function that our human bodies perform to keep us “alive and healthy”. Furthermore, the earth we live on itself undergoes a constant cleansing and renewal process. All creatures, including humans, live according to the truly wondrous principles of cleansing and detoxification.
Furthermore, cleansing and detoxification allows our bodies to restore balance when the imbalance becomes too great and threatens our lives. Cleansing and detoxification is your body’s natural way to get rid of waste or toxins, and it occurs daily in some form or another. Tears, urine, bowels, mucus, sweat — all are examples of body cleansing that we regard as very normal. But the body has other normal ways to eliminate harmful substances by giving us such disruptions as fevers, allergies, coughs, colds, and skin eruptions, many of which we have been taught that these are “bad” and need to be suppressed!!!
Nothing could be further from the truth! The body is designed to rid itself naturally of toxins and waste, but when we:
- take drugs,
- become dependent on drugs,
- refuse to change our lifestyle and diet, etc.,
- refuse to exercise/relax/rest properly,
- eat too much fast food/junk food/constipating refined food/overly processed and chemical-laden polluted food (and water).
We end up poisoning ourselves by not allowing our bodies to cleanse and detoxify, thereby driving these toxins and waste deeper and deeper into our body’s systems. This process in turn weakens our vital organs including: the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, heart, etc. Once our vital organs are sufficiently weakened, they then lose their energy to eliminate toxins and fight disease, which means we get sick! Finally, we should realize that cleansing and detoxification is a key element in the ultimate healing of any disease.
We must realize that cleansing and detoxification is a continuing, step-by-step phenomenon of natural forces that drive impurities from the body; impurities resulting from the poor quality of our diets, environmental pollution, and our unbalanced emotional lives. Disease, on the other hand, occurs when the body loses its ability to cleanse itself and gives up the struggle to remain pure.
The cleansing process is very simple; when the organs of elimination (lungs, liver, kidneys, lymphatics, colon) become overwhelmed with impurities and toxins, these toxins lodge somewhere in the cells, tissues, or muscles (usually where we have genetic weaknesses). In an attempt to maintain integrity, the body organizes a cleansing, forcing the toxins out in some disruptive form like a fever, cold, flu, rash, acne, or other “illness”. If this attempt to cleanse is artificially and “temporarily” stopped by a drug (such as antibiotics or cold medicines) the toxins are driven deeper into the body. With each attempt at cleansing that drugs suppress, the major organs step by step give up a little of their fight until, with time, they give up altogether, becoming diseased. This is what many times happens in victims of cancer, heart disease, chronic fatigue, candidiasis, and other immune system disorders.
Drugs are obviously necessary and valuable many times to pull us out of health emergencies when our bodies own healing mechanisms have shut down. But, all too often, our society is far too dependent on drug therapy to “temporarily” solve our health problems such that we refuse to change our Lifestyle, Diet, Nutrition, etc. Our fast food, junk food, TV, 30-second sound byte answer, Hollywood, Quick Fix, Let some “Expert” help me mentality — deludes us into not looking for the root problem that caused many of our illnesses in the first place…. and that is us!!!!!
Remember studies clearly reveal that you are 86% in control of your health. How are you 86% in control of your health? Because let me state it here and now that the prevailing evidence reveals that “Improper lifestyle, faulty dietary habits, environmental pollution, yeast/candida/parasite infestations, misuse/over-use of medications, inadequate sleep, relaxation and exercise, vitamin/mineral/nutrient deficiencies, and unbalanced mental/emotional states are (86%) major contributors to health problems!”
Toxins are Everywhere
Toxins place a heavy burden on our bodies in this “modern” day and age. Hundreds have been identified in human tissue. Toxins come in many forms. Some prominent examples are: heavy metals, organic solvents, hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, petrochemicals, and asbestos. One or a combination of these chemicals can almost always be found in our air, water, clothing, homes, offices, and cosmetics. The drugs that we consume can also act as toxins to the body, as can our food. Of course, there are other substances which we ingest such as sugar, alcohol, caffeine, fried foods, and foods to which one might be allergic, which can also act as toxins and suppress the body’s natural cleansing mechanisms.
The accumulation of toxins from any of these sources can create a broad range of symptoms in the body. These may include, among others: fatigue, mental confusion, headaches, sinus problems, allergies, chronic sore throats, swollen glands, gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia, weight gain, as well as muscle aches and pains.
When the liver becomes congested with toxins, it can no longer act as a screen to filter and cleanse the blood and lymphatic system of poisons that are continually entering the body. These poisons are often not eliminated properly because the colon becomes thick with a buildup of putrefied waste products and noxious gases, causing improper functioning. The immune system becomes depressed and the nervous system is overwhelmed. When the toxic load becomes too burdensome, the body begins to deteriorate and one becomes debilitated.
[dt_sc_blockquote type=”type1″ textcolor=”#8224e3″ variation=”ferngreen” cite=”William Richardson, MD”]Pro-active, preventive detoxification is key to cleanse the body of this heavy load of toxins is referred to as detoxification. [/dt_sc_blockquote] The purpose is to clean, especially, the liver, blood, and lymphatic systems of these accumulated poisons so that one’s immune system can regain its integrity. The idea of detoxifying the body is a new concept to many and an old one to those who have involved in holistic medicine for some time.
When one begins the process of detoxification, he or she must realize that this is, in fact, a process and is not something that can be achieved overnight. I ask my patients, “How long do you think it took for you all to develop poor health you are now experiencing?” The answer is usually about 20 to 50 years! So, we cannot expect the body to be repaired in a few weeks. The time required depends upon how suppressed one’s own healing system is at that particular point in time. And this is a function of how much exposure one has had to high levels of stress and to the toxic substances that inhibit healing.
Crucial to the detoxification process is the avoidance of putting more and more toxins into the body. One must stop overwhelming the immune system with more poisons and cleanse from the body those toxins presently being held. The cleanse is further facilitated by the use of specific foods, herbs, and nutritional supplements and by exercise. Many chemicals and drugs are stored in the body’s fat cells. Losing excess weight, for example, can often take a large toxic load off the body.
Understanding The Healing Crisis/Diet Is Key
The process of detoxification such as avoiding sugar, refined carbohydrates, and caffeine (or fasting, herbal cleansing, etc.). This can be very traumatic, both emotionally and physically, if one has become addicted to these substances for the “energy” they provide. But in reality, these stimulants actually, over time, create a vicious cycle of depleting the adrenals, our glands which provide adrenaline. Hence, the body requires more and more of the substances to achieve the initial response, and the adrenals are stressed to an even greater extent. Foods to which one has become allergic can also act as stimulants, creating a rush of adrenaline when consumed, and causing the same cycle of adrenal exhaustion.
I often find that when one eliminates from his or her diet specific food toxins such as sugar, refined carbohydrates, caffeine, and even foods to which one has become allergic…. that fatigue, mental cloudiness, and headaches often result for a period of time. These are the symptoms of withdrawal. When one experiences these withdrawal symptoms, the tendency is to reach again for the stimulating foods (or stop fasting or taking herbs). It is not unlike an alcoholic’s addiction to alcohol. During the detoxification process, it is essential to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of filtered water daily and to exercise. This will assist the body in flushing out the toxins being released.
Often, during a cleanse, people will experience old aches and pains that they say they have not felt for years. This can be disheartening to the patient and yet very encouraging to the doctor. It validates that old tissue is being replaced by new and that the body is releasing its stored accumulation of poisons.
The symptoms often move from one place to another as the body places energy to certain areas for cleansing. Eventually, as the tissues repair and regenerate and the liver, which serves as the organ of detoxification, becomes cleansed and able to fully function again, the body throws off the toxins that are stored in the fat cells and tissues of the body. One feels a renewed sense of well-being, and increased energy and mental clarity. Aches and pains fade, as well as chronic illness.
In my practice, we use an enormous variety of cleansing and detoxification techniques to assist the process and greatly alleviate the symptoms as well as the severity of Healing Crises as follows:
Colon Hydrotherapy or “Colonics”: a process of removing fecal material from the colon walls and diluting the bacteria and toxic concentrations in the large intestines. The therapeutic effects are: Improved muscle tone in the colon, which facilitates peristaltic action, thus improving our ability to eliminate wastes. Also, colonics enhance absorption of nutrients, while minimizing the absorption of toxic waste material.
Basically, colonic therapy is a gentle infusion of water in and out of the entire length of the colon, allowing impacted waste to be removed. While colonics are not a “cure” for any specific illness, its therapeutics are applicable in a wide range of health problems including: Constipation, Diarrhea, Hemorrhoids, Intestinal Problems, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Cancer, Arthritis, Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, etc.
Fasting: People and animals have been fasting for Health and Spiritual Evolution since the beginning of our existence. Fasting comes in many forms, from water fast to juice fast to abstaining from different types of rich foods (like meat and dairy and bread). Eating one (1) moderate meal per day is a form of fasting – as the Muslims do for Ramadan. To abstain from “Rich Food”, and to eat just basic fresh fruits and vegetables is a very beneficial form of fasting. Fasting greatly accelerates our body’s Cleansing and detoxification Process. Given the chance, the internal organs of our body (especially the liver and kidneys, colon, small intestines, etc.) will really respond and reset and regenerate our bodies. Give your body a periodic break from eating all the time. People don’t realize the enormous burden that eating puts on the body; especially fast/junk/fried/salty/sugary/fatty/processed food. But, let me warn you against long fasts, especially water. My experience with patients and myself lead me to believe that short fasts are very beneficial especially when taken with deep breathing exercises.
Employing Herbals and other Nutritional Supplements to assist the Detox Process:
Liver/Blood:
Dandelion, Milk Thistle, Burdock, Red Clover, Yellow Dock, Choline, and Inositol
Colon:
Psyllium Hulls, Flaxseed Fiber, Cascara Sagrada, Senna, Chickweed, Buckthorn, Acidophilus, and Bifidobacter
General:
Vitamins C and E, Garlic, Amino Acids containing sulfur (Cysteine and Methionine), Zinc, Selenium, Beta Carotene, and Co Q10
Obviously, we could go on and on with techniques for cleansing and detoxification. But, in summary, let me name some other well-known techniques that work which include:
- Juicing of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Enemas: Lemon, Herbs, Coffee
- Liver/Gallbladder Flushes using Apple Juice, Lemons, and Olive Oil
- Eating as much “live” raw, fresh, uncooked foods as possible
- Hot Baths with Herbs, Bath Salts, etc.
- Dry Skin Brushing
Heavy Exercise:
Aerobics, Yoga, Weight Lifting, Deep Breathing, Saunas, etc., and so on….
Finally, we must also consider the emotional side of cleansing and detoxification. It is well documented in the “new” science of psychoneuro-immunology that through techniques such as visualization, affirmations, prayer, meditation, and spiritual cleansing; we can enhance the cleansing/healing process. So in addition to cleansing on a physical evel, we must also cleanse our minds of negatives, impure thoughts and emotions, discharging them and replacing them with love, joy, peace, trust, and understanding. This is truly a holistic approach because surely we must comprehend that illness most often begins in the spirit, mind, and emotions, and then this illness “state-of-mind” manifests itself in the body.
