Focus on Detoxification Increases Likelihood of Full and Lasting Recovery

by Scott A. Forsgren

After having observed hundreds of people attempting to recover from chronic illnesses, it has become more and more apparent to me that many of us are missing one of the most important factors contributing to our state of illness.

The predominant focus in many treatment programs is on the elimination of infection. We take handfuls of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents under the false presumption that once the bugs are gone, we will miraculously be “well”. It seems that so many never ask the question “What factors set the stage for us to become ill in the first place?”

Why do some “well” people have the same infections as those of us that are “unwell” and yet they do not identify as being “sick”? The more I learn, the more it becomes clear to me that a significant part of the answer is related to the numerous toxins which are stored in our bodies. A major part of the solution then becomes the removal of these toxins and the creation of an environment that is inhospitable to the unwanted microbes.

Many people with chronic Lyme disease have a treatment program that is heavily weighted towards, if not entirely, antibiotics. Though antibiotics may be a necessary part of the solution for some, they are not the solution alone. They may make us feel better, but if we do not correct the underlying factors that led us to becoming unwell, the likelihood of a relapse upon cessation of treatment is significant. Further, one may never reach the stage where stopping treatment is an attainable reality.

I have not, myself, met anyone that had chronic Lyme disease that became “well” with antibiotics alone. I have, however, met people that have become well as a result of stepping back and looking at the bigger picture and addressing the key factors that set the stage for illness.

Many of these are factors outside of the scope of this article but may include: detoxifying the body from numerous toxins (including heavy metals such as lead, mercury, aluminum, and cadmium; biotoxins produced from bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections; xenobiotics such as PCBs, PBDEs, insecticides, dioxins, and phthalates from plastics; food preservatives, additives, and colorings), supporting the immune system, removing known allergens, resolving hypercoagulation, dealing with unresolved emotional conflicts, avoiding electromagnetic and geopathic stressors, addressing dental contributors and interference fields such as those created from scars, and creating an unwelcome environment for the numerous infections that are often involved.

Through the teachings of one of my mentors, Dietrich Klinghardt, MD PhD, I was exposed to the “Klinghardt Axiom”. The Klinghardt Axiom says that for each amount of a toxin stored in the body, there will be an equal amount of unwanted microbes that establish their residence. It further states that for each unresolved emotional conflict or trauma, there is an equal amount of stored toxins. Thus in order to successfully move from a state of illness to a state of health, three things must be done simultaneously.

These are:

1) Detoxifying the physical body

2) Addressing the infectious component of an illness

3) Treating unresolved psycho-emotional issues

In order to effectively treat the illness, one must address detoxification, support microbial inhibition, and resolve the various emotional issues which may be keeping the body in a state of “unwellness”.

It is the impairment of our immune system that results from exposure to these toxins that enables the microorganisms to take hold. To make things even more complicated, the microbes themselves are a producer of toxins in the body. When looking at the symptoms caused by the microorganisms vs. the symptoms that are caused from the poisons that the organisms create, it is generally accepted that the toxins produced have a much more significant negative impact on the state of health than the organisms alone. Dr. Klinghardt has suggested that the toxins that are produced by the various microorganisms in us account for more than 15 times the symptoms that the pathenogenic organisms create. Where then should our focus of treatment be? It becomes rather obvious.

It is when the body has a significant amount of toxins in the various body compartments that the immune system is no longer able to deal with removing the microorganisms. These areas become breeding grounds for infection and allow the infections to hide from our immune surveillance.

For each equivalent of stored toxins there is an equal amount of pathogenic microorganisms in the body. – Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD

Another interesting relationship between microorganisms and toxins has been described between fungal infections and heavy metals. Fungi such as Candida have an affinity for binding heavy metals. It has been suggested that the body may allow various fungi to exist within us in an attempt to protect the body from the more dangerous effects of heavy metals.

The downside of this, of course, is that now the body has to feed the fungi. The fungi also produce toxins which further add to our symptom picture. It has been observed that a worsening of symptoms which occurs from an anti-fungal treatment may be the result of an increase in heavy metals that are being released from the dying fungi. Again, detoxification and microbial inhibition go hand in hand.

It has been found that a well-planned heavy metal detoxification program in some cases results in the elimination of a previously existing Candida infection. Approaching a chronic illness with a focus solely on elimination of infections likely results in a far less satisfactory outcome than an approach that considers the importance of detoxification.

Detoxification is a required component on the road to wellness. It has been my experience that the most significant toxins that must be addressed to forge a path to health are the heavy metals. Heavy metal detoxification is a complex area and one that should be done only with a knowledgeable practitioner. Ignoring heavy metal toxicity while attempting to recover from any chronic illness entirely undermines the overall treatment program.

The Klinghardt Axiom:

For each unresolved psycho-emotional conflict or trauma there is an equivalent of stored toxins and an equivalent of pathogenic microorganisms. To successfully detoxify the body the three issues have to be addressed simultaneously. – Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD

As the heavy metals and environmental toxins are being removed and the body terrain is cleaned up, blood flow is enhanced and oxygen utilization normalized. The microbes are less likely to survive in a body with adequate blood flow and optimal distribution of oxygen. The mold, fungi, and other microorganisms that may be making us feel unwell will not survive. The microbes lose their playground and our health recovers.

If, on the other hand, we choose to leave these heavy metal deposits and environmental toxins in the body, our chances of a full and lasting recovery are minimized. Years of antibiotics will not likely get us well. Even if we feel better, the odds of maintaining that feeling of wellness are diminished. The microbes will return when antibiotics are stopped and they recognize that the coast is now clear. Working on detoxification and microbial inhibition simultaneously is a far better plan of action.

There are likely as many different approaches to detoxifying the body as there are toxins themselves. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe for detoxification. It is important to investigate the various options available to you and work with your practitioner to determine the appropriate interventions for your unique situation.

In my opinion, anyone with a chronic illness that wants to improve their chances of getting well may benefit from regular Far Infrared (FIR) sauna treatments, if tolerated. FIR sauna helps support the body in the removal of toxins via the skin through the process of sweating. Pesticides, heavy metals, and many other toxins can be reduced with the incorporation of a FIR sauna program.

Mineral supplementation is an important factor in a well-planned detoxification program. Among the many benefits of incorporating minerals into a treatment program, minerals support the body in the heavy metal detoxification process. Essential minerals compete with toxic metals for binding sites within the body. When one is heavy metal toxic, mineral imbalances are almost universally present.

Drinking enough water is a key factor in supporting the body’s ability to detoxify. Adding an electrolyte solution to the water can be helpful in supporting the body’s fluid balance. I often put 1-3 tablespoons of electrolyte solution in a large container of filtered water each morning and drink throughout the day.

Don’t forget to use pure water sources. You aren’t helping your body to detoxify by adding further toxins to an already high body burden. Many people are surprised to find that as much as 80% of the toxins that are introduced into the body through water come from the water we use to shower or bathe in. Filtering your bathing water is inexpensive and removes one more item from the list of things that we expect our bodies to deal with on a daily basis.

Chlorella can be a very useful detoxification substance. Chlorella has many benefits including the ability to bind toxic metals, increase glutathione production, bind neurotoxins, and serves as an overall super-nutrient. Chlorella is both a mobilizer and a binder of heavy metals and other toxins, but at higher doses, is more of a binder than mobilizer.

Other products which may be helpful for heavy metal detoxification include
NDF www.BioRay2000.com)
and HMD www.HeavyMetalDetox.net
Pectasol www.advancedbionutritionals.com
and Modifilan www.modifilan.com are products worth consideration.

DMPS, DMSA, and Ca-EDTA are options for detoxification of heavy metals that can be discussed with your healthcare practitioner. As a rule, heavy metal detox should always be done with a healthcare practitioner. You don’t want to mobilize metals from one body compartment where they are creating only minor problems to another body compartment where the impact of the metals may be much more problematic.

It is generally unwise to consider starting a heavy metal detoxification program when amalgam fillings are still present. A consultation with a biological dentist (including pre and post-removal treatment plans) skilled in safe removal of mercury fillings may be appropriate. Further, it is important to ensure that your body is ready for a metal detoxification program.

One must always be certain that the exit routes out of the body are open before attempting to mobilize additional heavy metals or other toxins.

Additional interventions which may bind toxic products in our bodies include cholestyramine (see “Biotoxin Pathway Holds Key Pieces of Puzzle in Solving Chronic Illness” in June 2007 Public Health Alert), apple pectin, chitosan, charcoal, ground flax seed, spirulina, various fibers, and beta-sitosterol.

Zeolite products such as Destroxin (www.Destroxin.com) and Super Z-Lite (http://www.omicahealth.com) can be helpful in removing toxins from the body. Nutramedix Burbur and Nutramedix Parsley (www.Nutramedix.com) are additional products worth review. Other products that I have found useful for supporting general detoxification are Pure Encapsulations Clear Detox, Designs for Health PaleoCleanse, BioGenesis BioCleanse, and Metagenics Ultraclear among others.

Options that may be helpful in supporting detoxification of the colon include: DrNatura Colonix (www.DrNatura.com), Arise and Shine (www.ariseandshine.com), Dr. Schulze’s Bowel Detox (www.herbdoc.com), and one of my more recent favorites OxyPowder (www.oxypowder.com).

Ionic foot baths may be useful in helping the body to remove various toxins and increasing the body’s natural ability to excrete toxic substances via the liver and kidneys. I use a foot bath three times a week. A less expensive but still effective option may be to incorporate detox foot patches into your program. These are patches that are worn on the soles of the feet at night and help to remove toxins while we sleep. In fact, a focus on these external methods of detoxification, such as ionic foot baths or detox foot patches, can be an excellent way to start a detoxification program.

Colonics, castor oil packs, liver/gallbladder flushes, and coffee enemas can all have profound effects on detoxifying the body and moving one toward wellness. Various body soaks in a bath with Epsom salts, ginger, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or bentonite clay can help to rid the body of stored toxins.

The number of options for supporting detoxification as part of your road to recovery is endless. This article only begins to touch on a few of the many possibilities. Bottom line, detoxification is an important part of the journey. Without a well-planned detoxification component, the chances of recovery are lessened. A shift in focus towards the detoxification aspects of ones protocol can yield impressive results. Here’s to your health!

To learn more about Dr. Klinghardt’s Neurotoxin Elimination protocol, visit http://www.klinghardt.org

Scott Forsgren has been journeying through the world of Lyme disease for over 10 years and shares his experiences through his web site at http://www.BetterHealthGuy.com. Scott can be reached at Scott@BetterHealthGuy.com.

Disclaimer:

This article is not intended to serve as medical advice. Items mentioned in this article may not be appropriate for all persons and should be used with caution. Consult with your medical doctor on all aspects of your treatment program.