A Medical Doctor's opinion of detoxification
Detox (detoxification) is a term that's came into popular use in
the last decade or so but only within the realm of alternative
or holistic Western medicine.
Conventional, mainstream (allopathic) medical practitioners have
yet to latch on to this concept, since they're only trained to
treat diseases and symptoms specifically without treating the
patient as a whole.
However, the concepts associated with detox have been recognized
and practized in traditional Chinese (and other Asian, e.g.
Indian Ayurvedic medicine) society for at least 3,000 years.
Basically, detox is about: 1) Recognizing that the body is
exposed to toxins in the environment through the food we ingest
and the air we breathe;
2) Adopting a systematic approach to help the body cleanse
itself of these toxins and avoid further exposure to toxins.
Detox methods include dietary changes, fasting, supplements,
exercise, yoga/meditation, improving the environment (using
CFC-free hairsprays, for example), New Age methods include
aromatherapy, salt bath, skin brushing, etc.
Do I believe in detox? Well, most of it is plain simple
commonsense - proper diet, judicious supplementation, adequate
rest, exercise, stress-relieving techniques.
I always believe that if the person's energy fields are
harmonized and balanced (yin & yang), then his health will
generally be good. I also believe that physical health follows
mental and psychical health. So I'm a believer in the holistic
(Western or Eastern) approach to health.
But I draw the line at certain things. Colonic cleansing to me
is unacceptable and downright dangerous - people have died from
colon perforation, water intoxication, severe infections. The
human intestines are self-cleansing - there's absolutely no need
to do anything else except eat a healthy, balanced diet. Of
course certain herbs and supplements may help someone with
intestinal problems like dyspepsia, indigestion, wind and
irritable bowel syndrome.
As for treatments like sauna, foot baths, aromatherapy, etc, I
feel the effects are psychological more than physiological. If
you feel good after a good long soak in the bath, then you'll
probably be more relaxed, less stressed out, get better sleep,
and generally have better health. So no harm there.
Massages and spa treatments basically also do the same thing.
Spirit, mind & body must be in alignment for total well-being, a
concept that's only recently recognised in the West, but has
been acknowledged in India and China for millennia.
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