Introduction to levels - the Body

Level I - The first Level in this detoxification programme is to support and strengthen your digestion so that you assimilate what you eat more efficiently and to reduce exposure to reactive compounds such as food allergens, giving the body a chance to heal and recuperate. The reason that allergies and digestion are linked together is that in nutritional medicine, poor digestion is a precursor to allergies and if you have an intolerance to foods or substances, this creates problems with the absorption of nutrients. Equally, in TCM, the Earth element is connected to digestion and allergies are thought to arise as a consequence of a weakened spleen and stomach (the organs associated with this element). Therefore, before undertaking any detoxification regime, if you are deficient or suffering from fatigue and are generally stressed, you need to follow a nourishing diet to strengthen this element.

[ read more ]

Level II - Once strength is regained, it is the ideal opportunity to begin to gently detoxify your body by working on the superficial organs of elimination and so enhance the functioning of your immune system. Approximately half our immune cells are located in the gut, their function to intercept and destroy the allergens that are found in our food. If digestive function continues to decline and food allergies remain uncorrected (Level I) it can lead to irritable bowel syndrome and other inflammatory disorders. It also encourages the excessive growth of bacteria and yeasts that can cause fermentation and putrefication in your body. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen the terrain of the body to prevent the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria, as Louis Pasteur announced on his death bed 'le terrain est tout', meaning that the condition of the body is the determining factor in whether these microorganisms will flourish or not. The focus on Level II over the next four weeks is therefore to reduce your exposure to 'external' toxic substances (environmental pollutants, chemicals, medication such as antibiotics, pesticides etc), release toxins held in the bowel and improve and repair intestinal functioning in preparation for the larger amounts of toxins that will duly be released in Level III. By supporting the Metal element (bowel, lungs and skin) it enables us to 'let go' of toxins stored in the superficial levels and helps to strengthen our immunity and increase our resistance to infections.

[ read more ]

Level III - In the previous two Levels where the focus was digestive toxicity and colon toxicity, in Level III we are finally focusing on liver and kidney toxicity. The liver is a powerful organ of detoxification and regeneration, and is an essential part of the digestive process as it produces bile (nature's laxative), which helps with the digestion and absorption of fats. Functional medicine has identified two primary detoxification pathways (Phase I and II). A toxic colon creates an imbalance between these Phases and places additional stress on the detoxification pathways as the liver and kidney are already trying to detoxify compounds and are unable to cope with an extra toxic load coming from the gut. When this toxic material becomes too much for these organs to handle, they cannot destroy and dispose of the toxins that are dangerous to the body, leading to inflammatory reactions and symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, headaches, aches and pains, allergic reactions, hormonal imbalances and intolerance to fatty foods and alcohol. Therefore, it is essential to have followed Level II prior to attempting this deeper form of cleanse. The liver comes under the auspices of the Wood element and according to TCM, helps to filter blood and detoxify. The kidneys (Water element) also help to remove toxins from the liver and eliminate your body's wastes.

[ read more ]