Detoxification is a type of alternative medicine, the purpose of which is to rid the body of "toxins". According to the concept of "detox", toxic substances accumulate in the human body and have an adverse effect on organs. Detoxification therapy uses diets, fasting, colon cleansing, and chelator therapy. Do I need to cleanse my intestines or other parts of my body?
Basic detoxification ideas and methods
Toxin contamination hypotheses go back to the old saying: "death begins in the colon." Bernard Jensen is the founder of "detoxification therapy", a chiropractor and creator of a wide range of pseudoscientific schools. He is known for developing the concept of acupuncture, hydrotherapy and color therapy.
The basic principle of detoxification is: “toxins” in the colon are the cause of all modern diseases.
Therefore, the cure for all diseases should be cleansing the body of these toxins. There is uncertainty in both the definition of “toxins” and the measures that help cleanse the body.
In most cases, “detoxification” refers to enemas, saunas, laxatives, and fasting. Some alternative practices also use mercury, vaccines, or other substances to remove toxins.
Why is detoxification contrary to scientific knowledge about a person?
The whole idea of "detoxification" suggests that a healthy digestive tract is absolutely clean. According to modern scientific medicine, the intestines contain hundreds of species of bacteria. E. coli account for only 1% to 2% of the total number of bacteria. Human stool consists of 10% of microorganisms. It sounds disgusting, but frankly, without all these bacteria, a person will not be able to digest food.
Proponents of "detoxification" have a certain obsession with bacteria and "germs." Some microorganisms are definitely dangerous if not fatal if they enter the intestines. Listeria and some subtypes of E. coli can contaminate food and cause acute diarrhea. Pathogenic bacteria are rare in developed countries.
The skin, mouth, intestines, lungs and other organs are filled with bacteria, most of which live in harmonious relationships with the body. The intestinal tract contains mainly bacteria that can aid digestion. Enema or a laxative relieve the body of not only "bad", but also "good" bacteria. Some microorganisms can be a person’s best friend because they help digest hard-to-digest fibers.
Scientific medicine does not deny that the body absorbs toxins from food and produces harmful end products in the natural metabolism. Toxins are eliminated through bile and urine or with stool. As long as the organs are healthy, supportive measures are not required to eliminate toxic substances.
It makes sense to use medical detoxification only in case of damage to the liver or kidneys - the main filtering stations of a healthy body.
The only known example of the accumulation of toxins in medicine is pesticides. When the destruction of adipose tissue (during starvation) they can be released in dangerously high concentrations. However, there is no way to safely dispose of these toxic substances.
Are detoxification methods useless in all cases, or are there exceptions?
Scientific medicine knows diseases that are caused by the deposition of metabolic waste in tissues. Cholesterol and calcium are deposited in vessels with atherosclerosis, and urate crystals in the joints with gout. The cause of the deposition of various substances is an unfavorable lifestyle and a genetic predisposition. Weight loss through diets helps prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Limiting the use of purines (meat, eggs) for gout reduces the risk of precipitation of urate crystals.
Interesting! Subjective "recovery" in serious diseases can be explained by the placebo effect - the patient’s faith in the effectiveness of the method.
There is evidence in the scientific literature that fasting can reduce the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis attacks. The therapeutic effect is due to the normalization of the intestinal microbiome.
However, detoxification does not benefit healthy people, because organs are able to independently release "toxins." For medical reasons, it is possible to cleanse the blood or intestines only after consulting a doctor.
