Holistic Healing

Homotoxicology


Complex Homeopathy in Kendal, Cumbria, with Liz McWatt, Nutritional Therapist, Homeopath

How can Homotoxicology help me?

Homotoxicology was developed by Dr Reckeweg during the 1940’s and uses homeopathic remedies in a combined form to bring about healing. These remedies are easy to use in a therapeutic way with each remedy having its own clear therapeutic action, with few side effects. This is different to classical homeopathy where the remedy has to be matched to the individual.

This approach to illness sees disease as the result of the body's attempt to heal itself by ridding itself of toxins which are either created within the body as a result of cellular function or are taken in through the chemicals we are exposed to in our environment. In minor, self-limiting disorders, the body does this unaided. In more serious situations, treatment is needed. If the treatment used eliminates the toxins, then real healing can result. If the treatment suppresses the toxins, however, then they go deeper into the tissues and manifest after a latent period as a more destructive disease. This may lead to chronic degenerative disease and, ultimately, to serious conditions like cancer.

Homotoxicology works very well along side other therapies and particularly nutritional therapy to enhance the detoxification process. These complex homeopathic remedies not only aid the detoxification process, but can be used to gently support and stimulate various organs and the immune system to assist the body in the healing process and the restoration of health and vitality.




What Are Toxins
A toxin is a harmful substance capable of producing illness in the body. Naturopathic philosophy regards illness in part as a result of a build up of toxicity, which inhibits normal function. Sluggish eliminatory systems / organs can lead to a build up of toxicity within the body. Nutritional deficiencies can also impair the body’s ability to function normally and throw off toxins.




Sources of Toxicity
There are 3 main sources of toxicity within the body:
1. Those we encounter in the environment or from our foods (exogenous toxins),for example, chemical pollutants, pesticides, chemicals used in processed foods, drug traces in animal produce, chemicals in water, drugs, cigarette smoke, heavy metal contamination, dental amalgam, fumes etc..
2. Those produced as a by product of metabolism within the body (autogenous toxins)
3. Toxins from bacteria and viruses our body’s encounter (endogenous Toxins)

What Are the Symptoms of Toxicity?
The symptoms can affect any part of the body and this can vary from person to person depending upon individual’s weaknesses. For some people their weak area may be the skin or others the bowel for instance. General symptoms of toxicity may include:
• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Weight Gain
• Digestive symptoms such as nausea, bloating, indigestion, bad breath,
• Bowel symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea, piles, wind
• Fertility problems
• Water retention
• Menstrual problems such as PMT
• Lowered resistance to infection
• Skin problems such as acne, boils, skin irritation
• Urinary Frequency
• Excess mucous production
• Sinus congestion
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Muscular cramps
• Joint inflammation

Cellular Toxicity
If cells are under functioning, they can become unable to throw off toxins and to perform their vital functions.

Causes of cellular toxicity:

(1) Nutrient deficiencies
Particularly the minerals, which act as co - factors for many 100’s of enzymes. If the mineral co - factors are absent, the enzymes cannot work. Each cell is dependant upon many enzymes, to survive and perform its function.

(2) Raised cellular sodium (SALT)
Average sodium intake is far in excess of daily requirements. Sodium and potassium are known as “antagonistic” minerals, which compete with each other for absorption, uptake and utilisation by the cells. Whilst both of these minerals are important to us, we should have much higher concentrations of potassium within the cell, and sodium should be in higher quantities outside the cells, in the fluid which bathes them.
If the cellular sodium levels become raised, potassium is pushed out of the cells, and sodium retained. Unfortunately increasing levels of potassium makes the body think there is a high potassium level within the body due to raised circulatory levels, so the body tries harder to retain sodium, setting up a vicious circle of escalating sodium levels.
Removal of sodium from the cells is an active process, requiring energy. But if enzyme processes are inhibited, energy production is inhibited, so the cell does not have enough energy to maintain the sodium pump. Magnesium is a mineral that is very important in the production of energy and for the function of the sodium pump, unfortunately most people’s diets do not contain adequate levels of this vital mineral.

Effects of Raised Cellular Sodium
Raised intracellular sodium leads to increased acidity within the cell. When a cell becomes more acidic, access of vital minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and chromium is denied to the cell, leading to serious cellular dysfunction. Normal sodium / potassium balance is essential for optimal biochemical function of the cell.
In a cell that is “ sodiumised “ the membrane becomes compromised, allowing in substances it would normally block, including an excess of calcium, which leads to a hardening, and dysfunction of the cell. The cell swells with fluid, becomes moribund and dies. Raised cellular sodium is thought to play a role in many chronic conditions including cancer, arthritis and allergies.
For a detoxification programme to be successful, it must be able to support detoxification at a cell level.

The Importance of the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is an important part of the immune system which comprises of lymph glands and lymph vessels. The lymph gland's purposes are to filter out and destroy foreign substances, to produce antibodies and lymphatic cells for the lymph system. The lymphatic vessels are a system of vessels which work alongside the cardiovascular system of blood vessels and arteries. The toxins released by the cells are drained away to the eliminatory organs (bowel, liver, kidneys) by the lymphatic system.
Unlike the cardiovascular system, this system of vessels is not pumped by the heart but relies on muscular contractions to circulate the body. Exercise and massage can boost the function of the lymphatic system, assisting in detoxification. Dry skin brushing can also be an effective way of stimulating the flow of the lymphatic system. Another important way of helping the lymphatic system to flow is to drink plenty of water.

The Bowel
The bowel is one of the main ways of eliminating toxins from the body. Unfortunately, the bowel is often under functioning. A vital component of healthy bowel function is having the correct bacteria contained within the bowel. Healthy bowel flora are vital for the function of the immune system, they also stimulate peristalsis which is the natural movement of the bowel and manufacture some of the B vitamins.
Putrefactive (unhealthy) bowel bacteria’s produce their own toxins, which irritate the bowel and are absorbed into the body, increasing the burden on the liver.
Part of the detoxification role of the liver is to take toxins and combine them with a substance to form a less toxic molecule, which is then excreted in the bile; bile is released in to the intestines. Unfortunately the putrefactive bowel flora breakdown these substances so they become free toxins again and are reabsorbed to cause problems within the body. At the same time the putrefactive bacteria continue to manufacture their own toxic chemicals and we continue to eat food containing toxic chemicals and therefore the load on the liver continues to increase.

The Liver
The liver is a vital organ – it has over 500 functions, so it is imperative it is kept healthy. A major function of the liver is detoxification. Our body’s are bombarded by toxins on a daily basis from many sources, it cannot be over stated how important it is to support this vital organ of the body to optimise good health.

The Kidneys
The kidneys are a key area for removing water soluble toxicity from the body and for helping to maintain the optimum sodium / potassium balance to help us achieve the correct level of acid / alkali balance within the body. Our kidneys function in a similar way like that of a water filter. They help in filtering the blood in the body and then removes all the wastes that we do not require; kidneys have a major role to play for our well being so it is important that we take measures to support them to optimize health.

What Does a Detoxification Program Consist of?
Usually there are dietary changes and emphasis on particular foods which can boost the body’s ability to rid itself of toxins. Avoidance of highly processed foods is recommended whilst trying to include as much organic whole-food produce as possible.
Supportive measures such as dry skin brushing can be useful and supplements which may help the process are often included in a detox program.
The structure of your detox program may change as your treatment progresses with focus on different areas of the body involved in the eliminatory process at different stages of the program.

Is it Safe for Anyone to Follow a Detoxification Program?
Detoxification should not be undertaken by anyone who is pregnant, breast feeding, suffering or recovering from a serious illness or currently undergoing medical treatment (unless your Doctor is happy for you to proceed). If in doubt you should seek the advice of your GP.

Is Detoxification a “Quick Fix”?
Rapid detox regimes are generally not recommended. They can make you feel quite ill in the short term and may not have any positive lasting effects. Ideally you should follow a gentle detoxification program with the supervision of a suitably qualified practitioner.

Liz McWatt
RGN.DNMed.MLCHom.DA.DTM
BANT Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
Registered Homeopath (MARH)
Registered Aromatherapist (MIFA)
Flower Essence Practitioner

Tel: 01539 728188
liz@holistic-healing.org.uk