Detoxification is a term used to describe the medical or physiological removal of toxins from the body, including the urinary system, the colon and the skin. It occurs when a person has one or more bowel movements or experiences one or more occurrences of vomiting. Also known as a fast, detoxification can be required for a variety of health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, carcinogenesis, inflammatory diseases and detoxification from exposure to heavy metals, drugs and other toxins. In the recent past, detoxification has also been recognized and recommended for patients undergoing dialysis as well as patients who had undergone surgery.
Symptoms of detoxification may include vomiting, diarrhea, cold flashes, abdominal cramps, sweating, headaches, tremors, insomnia, anxiety, agitation, tremors, joint pain, agitation, anxiety, restlessness and agitation. A physical exam may be performed to confirm the presence of a toxic compound or to rule out other possibilities, and patients are advised to avoid heavy and addictive substances such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methadone. Detoxification may be subdivided into mild (or maintenance) and severe (or withdrawal) detoxification. Some symptoms of mild detoxification include restlessness, sweating, and insomnia; symptoms of severe detoxification include tremors, seizures, loss of consciousness, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.
In theory, detoxification is designed to remove or decrease the risk of a potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to a drug or other substance use disorder. In practice, detoxification is usually accompanied by medication therapy in order to lessen the severity of symptoms related to withdrawal. Although research on the psychological and behavioral aspects of detoxification is becoming more sophisticated and well documented, the specific effectiveness of detoxification treatments is still a matter of debate. The following discussion focuses on evidence on substance use disorders and detoxification.
The premise that detoxification can help you reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms is based on your body’s natural detoxification process, which begins when you eat foods containing heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. The toxic remnants of these metals accumulate in your tissues over time and interfere with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include fatigue, muscle weakness, anemia, anorexia, constipation, hair loss, mouth sores, and slow healing, and may also include tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Studies of human detoxification show that detoxification can occur when your diet is changed from a primarily processed Western diet rich in refined sugars and heavily processed carbohydrates to a diet rich in live, fresh organic foods. Live, fresh organic foods contain important digestive enzymes, prebiotics (good bacteria) and probiotics (the good bacteria that eliminate toxins from the body). Live foods can speed up the elimination of wastes from the intestines while helping to maintain regular digestion. The introduction of live, organic raw foods can help restore the balance of intestinal flora that has been disrupted by excessive carbohydrates and sugars in the diet. By introducing live foods to the diet, the detoxification process may begin before the impacted areas of the intestines begin to display inflammation and other symptoms.
In addition to using supplements for detoxification, taking an all natural supplement such as Green Tea also assists in the cleansing process by supplying antioxidants to the body. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals in the body that are suspected to contribute to cancer, atherosclerosis and aging. In particular, antioxidants provided through Green Tea can neutralize the oxidative damage caused by free radicals in your cells. Some evidence also suggests that antioxidants taken with Green Tea may prevent certain types of cancers. Antioxidant intake has been shown to be beneficial for the heart and the brain, and may help prevent serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s.