Detoxification: Myths and Realities
There is growing belief that our environment and food contain more toxins than ever.
Some assert that our body is vulnerable to two types - external from the air and diet, and internal "autointoxication" from the massive accumulation of faecal matter.
Proponents of detoxification claim our natural defence mechanisms fail to fully eliminate these poisons and that they cause a variety of diseases.
In today's "detox cult", these proponents - mostly paramedical practitioners - stress the need to detoxify at least once a year. They often state that "scientific studies" prove the benefits, saying detox addresses the needs of individual cells.
They usually do suggest consulting a conventional medical doctor first, and to their further credit, their programmes often start with useful and coherent lifestyle measures. Daily toxins are first eliminated, such as tobacco, alcohol and excess food that's poor in nutrition like saturated fats.
Exercise is strongly promoted, which brings rapid beneficial effects. Finally, stress is managed through relaxation techniques including yoga, meditation, breath control and therapeutic massage.
Such detox regimens are accepted by mainstream medicine - but not those associated with more invasive approaches, such as chelation and colonic cleansing.
These approaches are sometimes based on controversial diagnosis methods like "live blood analysis", in which a "specialist" examines a drop of the client's blood under a special microscope and any changes observed are promptly linked to illness.
The problem here is that there are many ways to analyse blood and a high likelihood that two analysts will diagnose different abnormalities.
Chelation is a sound medical treatment that treats intoxication by lead, mercury and some drugs. EDTA is given intravenously to bind the heavy minerals so they can be discharged through the urine.
Chelation therapy should be limited to its approved indications, but it's widely used in detoxification to eliminate excess calcium to guard against heart disease and stroke. The US Food and Drug Administration and American Heart Association do not endorse such use.
Likewise, colon cleansing is sometimes inappropriately used. Doctors rely on it to prepare the colon prior to a colonoscopy. It's not intended for removing accumulated toxins in the form of waste matter - this is what the bowels are for.
Such detoxification techniques rely on weak science. Leading a healthy lifestyle is always the easier and preferable route - avoiding tobacco, excess alcohol and poor food and getting some exercise.
Detoxification: Myths and Realities
There is growing belief that our environment and food contain more toxins than ever. Some assert that our body is vulnerable to two types - external from the air and diet, and internal "autointoxication" from the massive accumulation of faecal matter.
Proponents of detoxification claim our natural defence mechanisms fail to fully eliminate these poisons and that they cause a variety of diseases.
In today's "detox cult", these proponents - mostly paramedical practitioners - stress the need to detoxify at least once a year. They often state that "scientific studies" prove the benefits, saying detox addresses the needs of individual cells.
They usually do suggest consulting a conventional medical doctor first, and to their further credit, their programmes often start with useful and coherent lifestyle measures. Daily toxins are first eliminated, such as tobacco, alcohol and excess food that's poor in nutrition like saturated fats.
Exercise is strongly promoted, which brings rapid beneficial effects. Finally, stress is managed through relaxation techniques including yoga, meditation, breath control and therapeutic massage.
Such detox regimens are accepted by mainstream medicine - but not those associated with more invasive approaches, such as chelation and colonic cleansing.
These approaches are sometimes based on controversial diagnosis methods like "live blood analysis", in which a "specialist" examines a drop of the client's blood under a special microscope and any changes observed are promptly linked to illness.
The problem here is that there are many ways to analyse blood and a high likelihood that two analysts will diagnose different abnormalities.
Chelation is a sound medical treatment that treats intoxication by lead, mercury and some drugs. EDTA is given intravenously to bind the heavy minerals so they can be discharged through the urine.
Chelation therapy should be limited to its approved indications, but it's widely used in detoxification to eliminate excess calcium to guard against heart disease and stroke. The US Food and Drug Administration and American Heart Association do not endorse such use.
Likewise, colon cleansing is sometimes inappropriately used. Doctors rely on it to prepare the colon prior to a colonoscopy. It's not intended for removing accumulated toxins in the form of waste matter - this is what the bowels are for.
Such detoxification techniques rely on weak science. Leading a healthy lifestyle is always the easier and preferable route - avoiding tobacco, excess alcohol and poor food and getting some exercise.
Dr Gerard Lalande is managing director of CEO-Health, which provides medical referrals for expatriates and customised executive medical check-ups in Thailand. He can be contacted at [email protected].
