Note:  The ideas presented below ARE NOT meant as medical recommendations,
       but are intended to help you and your practitioner plan a detoxification
       program should both of you determine that is what should be prescribed.
       
       There are a number of contraindications for using detoxification
       techniques (e.g., porphoryia and fasting), so please consult your
       healthcare practitioner. Even if you perform a detoxification
       technique on occassion, it should not be used as the major source
       of healing -- just a very useful tool.
       
                             - Mark Gold
                                10/4/95


                          Detoxification

Discussion
----------

   The use of detoxification techniques can sometimes make the
   difference between an effective holistic healing program and endless 
   frustration.  I have seen these techniques get many people started on 
   their healing path where medications, diet, exercise, yoga, and
   everything else failed.  Cleansing techniques such as those described
   below have been frequently and successfully prescribed by holistic
   healers for moderate to severe immune system disorders.

   It is well-known that eating a diet high in saturated fats can often
   lead to a buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis).  In a similar 
   fashion, fats, cholesterols, mucus, xenobiotics (organic 
   toxins), inorganic chemicals, etc. can build up in various organs and 
   tissues of the body, severely affecting the operation of those organs 
   and tissues.  Often, these buildups aren't severe enough to be 
   recognized as diseases unto themselves, yet they can lead to quite a 
   few problems throughout the body.

   The exposure to toxic chemicals is a large source of toxic 
   buildups throughout the body.  After years of exposure to these 
   substances, often the body can no longer keep up with eliminating 
   these substances and they get recirculated into the bloodstream,
   wreacking havoc thoughout the body, or stored in the liver, body 
   fat or many other parts of the body.  These cleanses are geared 
   toward removing these toxic chemicals as well as other toxins.

   In addition to the buildups throughout the body, problems can begin 
   to arise in different areas of the body.  The GI tract can develop 
   microscopic ulcerations, pH imbalances, imbalance in bacteria and 
   fungus, granulomas, hypersecretion of mucus, and many other problems.  
   In addition to deposits of fatty acids in the liver, liver cells can 
   begin to die, bile flow can become inhibited making digestion of fats 
   difficult, etc.  And so it goes with other organs and tissues 
   throughout the body.

   These types of buildups and problems throughout the body can 
   contribute to the development of a serious illness.  In order to 
   reverse the serious illness, the buildups and other problems need to 
   be removed as part of an overall healing plan.  A holistic healing 
   plan *without* the use of cleansing techniques can often result
   in the gradual removal of toxic substances from the body.  But, in 
   many instances, the detoxification is so slow or even non-existent 
   that the use of cleansing techniques can be extremely beneficial.
   If you have had chemical poisoning or have been using prescription 
   pharmaceuticals for a number of years, detoxification may be 
   extremely helpful to your recovery.

   An Invitation
   -------------
   If you not extremely weak (e.g., - AIDS Wasting Syndrome, 
   bedridden, extremely low t-cell count), I strongly suggest that
   you consider performing a cleanse technique.  In many cases,
   it can get a person started on their healing path faster than
   many other holistic healing techniques.