In today’s modern world, we are continually around chemicals and pollutants – no matter how clean we try to live. These toxins have detrimental effects on the entire body, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems, as well as the liver and kidneys. It’s important to pull toxins from our body regularly, before they can cause permanent damage.
The bad news: Toxins are everywhere
Toxins can be found everywhere around us, including:
- Air: Pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone present in the air can cause respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. Long-term exposure to air pollution is also linked to cardiovascular diseases, impaired lung development in children, and an increased risk of lung cancer.
- Water: Contaminated water sources can contain various toxins, such as heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides, industrial chemicals and microbial pathogens. Consuming or coming into contact with contaminated water can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses, liver and kidney damage, neurological disorders, developmental issues in children, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
- Soil and food: Industrial activities, agricultural practices and improper waste disposal can introduce toxins into the soil, which can then be absorbed by plants and enter the food chain. Contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can accumulate in food products. Long-term exposure to these contaminants through diet can lead to various health problems, including reproductive disorders, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity and an increased risk of cancer.
- Household and personal care products: Chemicals found in household products, cosmetics, industrial settings and contaminated environments can have detrimental effects on health. Many chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), flame retardants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been associated with hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, developmental disorders, compromised immune function, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
- Heavy metal poisoning: Exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and chromium can occur through contaminated air, water, soil or occupational settings. These metals can accumulate in the body over time and cause severe health problems. They can damage the nervous system, impair cognitive development in children, disrupt hormone function, damage organs (such as the liver and kidneys), and lead to various neurological disorders.
- Endocrine disruption: Certain environmental toxins, such as certain pesticides, plasticizers and industrial chemicals, can interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates hormone production and signaling in the body. Endocrine disruptors can mimic or block hormone action, leading to reproductive disorders, developmental abnormalities, impaired fertility, thyroid dysfunction, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
The good news: Take control with medical detoxes
While toxins do surround us – and much of it is out of our control – there are things we can do. For example, minimizing exposure to environmental toxins through pollution control, proper waste management, and personal choices can help reduce the associated health risks.
Regularly completing a medical detoxification protocol can also help pull toxins from the body. There are two main detox plans that I recommend to my patients, depending on their individual health histories, environments and conditions:
1. Foundational Detox
I typically recommend this detox for everyone once a year to remove toxins that have accumulated in the body. This four-step process takes approximately four months to complete, and addresses:
- Energy and drainage. In this step, we deliver key nutrients for supporting mitochondrial health and establishing healthy drainage pathways — both of which are essential before entering periods of detoxification. This also helps make the detox process smoother and helps with energy production.
- Gut and immune support. After optimizing ATP production (aka adenosine triphosphate, which is the energy currency of the cell) and healthy drainage pathways, we turn our focus to promoting the body’s natural detoxification processes and nurturing the gut microbiome.
- Whole body immune support. This step builds momentum for deeper, whole body cleansing. We continue to support healthy drainage pathways, aid in the removal of occasional intestinal buildup, and assist in liver health and bile flow.
- Systemic detox. The final step continues promoting systemic detoxification and healthy drainage pathways. Goals are to optimize energy production and mitochondrial health, promote the body’s natural ability to detoxify beyond the gut and encourage cellular repair, support lymphatic drainage, digestion, the gut microbiome and immune health.
2. Comprehensive Detox
This plan is for patients who have been tested for environmental toxins and were positive for mold, heavy metals or chemicals. It can take up to a year to complete this protocol, which includes the same steps as the Foundational Detox, but goes deeper into systemic detoxification and immune support.
For example, the enhanced systemic detox promotes cleansing within and beyond the gut, helping maintain a balanced gut microbiome. The deeper immune support phase is designed to encourage lymphatic drainage, optimize immune system function, promote systemic detoxification, and support the gut microbiome.
During any detox process, I also commonly recommend complementary treatments, including infrared light therapy and coffee enemas, for complete detoxing effects.
What to expect in a medical detox
It’s important to know that when you’re going through a medical detox, most people will have ups and downs with how they feel. Common side effects can include cramping, nausea, constipation, fatigue, sweats and brain fog. Adjustments can be made to address side effects, so I encourage my patients to keep in communication and share questions and concerns throughout the process.
Get started with detoxing your life
If you are interested in learning more about detoxification, I’d love to help you get started. If you’re in the Oklahoma City area, I’m seeing patients in-person at my functional family medicine clinic. I also offer online consulting for clients across the country. Learn more and schedule your appointment at drcasmd.com.