What exactly is the detoxification process for the body? And how does it effect symptoms

I couldn't find a straight forward answer from Google. I'm curious to how the body detoxifies itself and how herbs and supplements that detox assist.

Do binders and other herbals/supplements pull out the toxins from the tissues or do they do collect them in the bloodstream. I'm sure each remedy has a different function.

The reason I ask is because you can detox too fast or too much and get herx like feelings and increase in symptoms. But some recommend to detox more if you feel bad to clean out said toxins.

What's the trick? Finding the ideal rate at which your body can "process" the toxins out without having too many toxins being moved around from organ to organ?

Like if I take an Epsom salt bath, I get immediate relief but end up doing worse later on.

Do certain things hunt down the toxins and pull them out of the tissues or do they just mop up what is already circulating?

Sorry it may be a simple explanation but I've had trouble understanding how certain detox regimens interact with the toxins and aid in getting them out of the body.

What's the final step in the detox process? Your intestines or the liver?

I've been wanting to know this for so long lol hopefully someone here knows exactly what happens. I know it's a process and it would be cool to understand it to be able to give my body what it needs when it needs it!

No, moving too many toxins into the blood stream will make your herx too strong possibly. Remember, toxins are toxic to the body and the more toxins you have in your blood, the less your body will concentrate on healing.

If you are having trouble with a lot of herxing when you try to detox, then it's very likely that you do have the gene mutations. There are supplements that you can take, depending on which ones you have, that will make it much easier for you to detox.

It binds to the free roaming ones. Charcoal saved the day more than once for me!!

I want to know about skin brushing.

superj50 said...
I'm not feeling super terrible but I wouldn't think I would get to the point where I need to stay in bed because of the toxins being pulled out.

Does charcoal bind to the free roaming toxins or does it pull them out of tissues, traveler? Should it make things better unlike salt baths?

In my opinion there is no need to kill/herx strongly enough to force you to take to bed. If you are treating and seeing improvement that means your bacterial load is declining. Low and slow die-off is effective, it just takes a while, and won't result in loss of function.

If you are using herbs (especially combinations) either exclusively or using them in conjunction with abx, the possibility of resistance drastically declines; so slow won't matter. Doctors are used to being forced to hit hard and fast with antibiotics; the only way to decrease the buildup of resistant cells to monotherapy.

Charcoal, zeolite and other clays should remain in the intestinal tract (if you don't suffer from leaky gut). They don't circulate though the body. Lymph and blood are filtered and detoxified by the liver and the toxins are dumped into the large intestine. From there the toxins should exit, but if they linger long enough they will be resorbed back into the body through the gut lining. Charcoal etc. will bind to these toxins, preventing the possibility of reabsorption and allowing them to be passed out.

Insuring proper gut flora (probiotics, fermented vegetables, kefir etc.) and the ingestion of soluble fibers (organic psyllium, chia seeds and other bulk enhancers) will help move stool along the colon and out. The longer it sits, the more chance of reabsorption there is.

If you are herxing from baths and sauna you are releasing toxins faster than your body can handle. Slow down to every 2nd or 3rd day, drink lots of water (to excrete toxins through the urine), and make sure these toxins have a chance to exit through the colon as well.

Tunaaa said...
What's a good binder besides charcoal? I read that charcoal should not be taken with abx.

There are natural clays that you can take internally as well as a couple of prescription binders that are available that you can talk to your doctor about - if they know anything about them anyway.

It doesn't matter if a person is taking charcoal or another type of binder, they all must be kept 2 hours away from all meds, foods, drinks (except water!!!), tinctures, supplements or anything else that you want your body to absorb - but you should NOT avoid them while you are on abx, that's when your body needs them the most!! Those that believe you can't take these things while on abx, they are just misinformed is all.

Thanks for the explanations Traveler and rowing mom! I'm taking Dr J's Borrelogen and Neuroantitox II CNS/PNS at the moment and have been on it for about 3 weeks.

Before that, I was on a host of antibiotics and felt much worse on those.

Borrelogen isn't an antibiotic, so I doubt it can cause a massive die-off, if any. But the neuroantitox is pretty good stuff and it makes me wonder if it's moving toxins around too quickly, and causing herx like feelings indirectly. Similar to what's explained in this article with cholestryamine :

http://www.ladyoflyme.com/blog/why-a-fast-detox-cholestyraine-can-cause-a-herx-in-lyme-patients-plus-information-on-the-role-toxins-play-in-our-bodies-and-how-they-cause-symptoms-inflammation

I had a real bad reaction with cholestryamine the first time I took it. This article would explain why. I'm not sure if the Neuroantitox I'm taking has similar capabilities. Eventually I was able to tolerate cholestryamine pretty good, so I'm thinking my toxin load was pretty heavy since I have a lot of fat haha.

I feel like I just need to play catch up and get the toxin load down enough to the point where I don't feel any worsening after detoxing. It makes me wonder if I have a mutation because most people don't feel this bad while on Dr J's protocol from what I've read.

I wonder if it would be beneficial to take the Neuroantitox and charcoal together?

In my experience with detoxing, I've only taken the charcoal when I was herxing really bad...usually stomach stuff,. But I wouldn't take it everyday....I looked at it like an emergency detoxifier.

I like the skin brushing, baths, drinking water..gentle exercise...

It's a balance that will change as you go through treatment. There were times when I took 2 detox baths a day I was so toxic. Now I take one about every 3 days......

Thanks for the info on skin brushing. I've been at this for years but since I never understood the reason why, aside from exfoliating and letting the skin breathe, I've been hit and miss.