NATURAL MEDICINE & WELLNESS CENTER

Michael Armentano, N.D.

DETOXIFICATION: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT CRITICAL TO YOUR HEALTH

Detoxification is the removal of toxins from your body.  Without your body's ability to do this, you would die very quickly.  Toxins are poisonous substances which at very low concentrations in the body will disrupt cellular biochemical processes resulting in disease.  Toxic sources are internal and external.  We make many toxins as a result of metabolism.  A good example of an internal toxin is carbon dioxide which is fatal in high concentrations.  When we exhale we are detoxifying by removing carbon dioxide.  The carbon dioxide is created internally due to cellular processing of glucose, oxygen and ADP.  The products of this very basic cellular metabolism are ATP (our body's energy molecule), water and carbon dioxide.  External toxins are impossible to avoid as they are found in the air, water, food, home, and many consumer products.  Toxins are eliminated from the body via emunctories which are the organs or ducts that are involved in detoxification.

Below is a summary of the 7 major emunctories:

1. The lymphatic system removes toxins from the immediate cellular environment and delivers the toxins to the circulatory system.

2. The circulatory system carries toxins in the blood.  The toxins are eventually filtered out as blood passes through the liver.

3. The liver converts toxic substances to a more soluble state (either fat or water soluble) so that other organs can remove the toxins from the body.

4. Water soluble toxins are excreted via the kidneys in urine which leaves the body.

5. Fat soluble toxins are excreted in bile, made by the liver,  which is incorporated in the feces which leaves the body via the colon.

6. The skin removes toxins via sweat which leaves the body.

7. The lungs remove volatile toxins via exhaled air which leaves the body.

All of us detoxify but not all of us detoxify well.  How well you detoxify depends on how many toxins you must remove from your body and the functional health of your emunctaries.  The following strategy will help you optimize your detoxification:

1. Decrease your exposure to external toxins by

   • filtering toxins out of the water you drink

   • filtering toxins out of the air you breath in your bedroom or your entire house. 

   • eating foods which are low in toxins (e.g.: organic produce)

   • using cosmetics, skin care, and hair care products which do not contain toxins

2. Support your emunctories for optimal functionality

   • Daily skin brushing will improve skin and lymphatic function.  Use a skin brush with light pressure and always brush in the direction of your heart.  This is best done at bedtime.

   • Drink enough water to assist circulatory and kidney function.  A good rule of thumb is to divide your body weight in pounds by 2 to arrive at the quantity of ounces of water to drink daily (e.g.: 150 lb person should drink 75 ounces of water daily).

   • Support liver  function with supplements such as artichoke, schisandra, taraxacum (dandelion), silybum (milk thistle), curcumin (tumeric extract), andrographis, gentian, glycerrhiza (licorice), rehmannia, glutathione, lipoic acid, and n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC).  You may also use castor oil packs to support the liver (see the detoxification power point presentation below).  A favorite detoxification formula that Dr. Armentano prescribes is Vital Nutrient's Liver Support Formula.

   • Support kidney function by drinking enough water (see above) and with herbs such as dandelion leaf, green tea, stinging nettles, uva-ursi, fo-ti, red clover, dandelion leaf, burdock, slippery elm.

   • Support your colon by eating plenty of fruits, veggies and whole grains which contain fiber.  You may also supplement with dietary fiber such as psyllium husk powder, ground flax seed and/or glutamine.   Fiber increases the amount of toxins which will be excreted via the feces. Fiber may also improve the frequency of bowel movements & improve the bowel transit time which is important in optimal colon function.  If you are not having at least 2 bowel movements (optimally 3) per day, your colon is not eliminating as well as should be.  Glutamine promotes optimal intestinal integrity

   • Performing cardiovascular and/or deep breathing exercises will help the lungs remove volatile toxins more effectively

   • Performing a supervised fast or modified fast quickly decreases your body's toxic burden.  This can be done annually or as needed.  The advice of a healthcare practitioner should be sought prior to fasting.

3. If you carry an extensive toxic burden, consider seeing a naturopathic doctor for a supervised fast, chelation therapy and/or colonic therapy.

If you ever had a fish tank, you know how important it is to periodically change the water to remove toxins.  If you do not do this the fish die within weeks or months.  The fish die from toxic overload.  The fish usually get diseases such as ich before they succumb just as people are more prone to disease when they are in a toxic state.   This is an analogy to how important detoxification is to our health.  When we do not detoxify well, the door is open for chronic illness and disease.

To see a basic powerpoint presentation on detoxification, click on the link below.  Use the page up and page down keys to speed up or slow down the presentation. 

Detoxification.htm

Dr. Armentano uses safe and effective natural therapies without the use of drugs and surgery.  Patients can expect to have an evaluation of their health blocks and stresses, including allergy and hypersensitivity testing.  Some examples of modalities used are herbal medicine, nutritional advice, homeopathy, and other bioenergetic therapies.   This approach allows the body to heal itself naturally from  disease, illness, pain, and stress resulting in a higher state of health and wellness.  Dr. Armentano treats all health conditions in all age groups.  If you would like to arrange for an office consultation to discuss your specific health concerns, please call Dr. Armentano at 203-637-8464 or email him at drarmentano@att.net.

Contact Information

Dr. Michael Armentano, ND

296 Sound Beach Avenue

Old Greenwich, CT  06870

Phone: 203-637-8464

Fax: 203-635-4825

Email: drarmentano@att.net