Busting the detox myths

a UK group of scientists tired of hearing the false claims many use to make money off of those they can convince that they need to "detox".

Our bodies have their own ‘detox’ mechanisms. The gut prevents bacteria and many toxins from entering the body. When harmful chemicals do enter the body, the liver acts as an extraordinary chemical factory, usually combining them with its own chemicals to make a water soluble compound that can be excreted by the kidneys. The body thus detoxifies itself. The body is re-hydrated with ordinary tap water. It is refreshed with a good night’s sleep.

These processes do not occur more effectively as a result of taking “detox” tablets, wearing “detox” socks, having a “detox” body wrap, eating Nettle Root extract, drinking herbal infusions or “oxygenated” water, following a special “detox” diet, or using any of the other products and rituals that are promoted. They waste money and sow confusion about how our bodies, nutrition and chemistry actually work.

This summary of scientists’ views of detox is drawn from an initiative organised by Sense About Science to encourage chemical scientists to explain their concerns to the growing lifestyle industry (see Note 2 below).

note 2:

Chemical scientists’ criticism of the detox industry is part of a 16-page report from a working group and wider consultation, to be published on 26 January 2006. The report challenges six major misconceptions about chemicals that pervade the lifestyle market and commentary (the latter having grown exponentially in the last decade, through internet, product & retailers’ literature, men’s/women’s/family health, and food commentary) . The full report will be launched at a meeting at the end of January between chemical scientists and lifestyle commentators – the first of its kind – aimed at addressing the growing disconnection between the two.

Tracey Brown, Director of Sense About Science, said, “We were surprised to find such strength of feeling about the detox industry among scientists. The criticisms were unanimous across our working group, and were echoed by other scientists and clinicians that we consulted about our forthcoming lifestyle and chemicals report. So we encouraged scientists to present these views early in the New Year, when interest in detox is at its height, in advance of the report publication later in the month.”

SORRY friends but detoxing isnt what those selling stuff says, and its an unecesary expense that at times may even be dangerous!!

the best thing we can do while battling Lyme is eat healthy and drink clean water and lessen the baddies: alcohol and cigarette smoke etc etc

I ate healthy and exercised and avoided 'the baddies' and still got sicker. Detoxing helped me. I guess what works for some people, just doesn't work for others.

Peace,

Connie

Fin, I know you are the more 'scientific' person on this site. I am just wondering where you are on your recovery for Lyme and what's working for you? I don't mean that in a rude way - just curious. I read all of your posts but I don't really see 'how you are feeling or doing' in your recovery.

Fin, do you do anything to help your body detox besides drink ordinary tap water and avoid 'the baddies' as you suggest? How are you feeling? You share so much information with us. It's nice having a 'medline' in our group, but I don't see where you've shared how you are doing in your recovery or how you are feeling or even what you've done in the past. Is anything working for you? I hope so. None of us deserve to suffer like a lymie suffers. I'm just curious.

Peace,

Connie

I guess its calling it "detox" thats the problem--you may feel better and the heat from IR saunas may relax muscles and ease pain but that doesnt mean any toxins are lost--Im not saying dont do them--just dont be swayed into thinking its removing toxins--or to tell others thats what its doing

and why do you think I drink ordinary tap water??? (I dont but I certainly dont drink hexagon or other magic water either--just purified and occassionally distilled--but Im not convinced thats all that healthy given that there are no distilled water natural sources-- my guess is that G-d put minerals into water for a reason <g>

Ive been in several remissions in the past using many many things and Im sure that there are many posts ( maybe not specifically here) that has the whole sordid history

Ive been anywheres from 90% healed to as little as 10% and "terminal" as I was this past winter!!! Ive been at 5'2" 83 lbs and sent home to die--nothing left to do

what worked in past?? and most recently?? too long to type

also realize that I dont have "just" lyme--I have inherited/genetic hyperadrenergic POTS as well as infection induced peripheral OI and EDS/JHS a connective tissue genetic inheretance that all 3 combine to make me extremely ill due to dysautonomia--if I had never been bitten Id still be quite disabled!!!

now having said that

what helps me now:

keeping well hydrated ( dysauto)

wheat free ( and almost gluten free when I can stand it)- GI malabsorption

glutamine/taurine/AllOne rice base multi powdered/magtabSR/ potassium rx

small (tiny) frequent meals often pureed to ease absorption and digestion

( when lazy resorting to baby food)

source naturals resveratrol--knotweed + smilax (sarsaparilla)(lyme etc)

minocycline ( 100-200 mg/day)(bart)

what Ive recently also done/stopped--levoquin, Suprax,cats claw,minerals, mangosteen ( a total WASTE)

Evan has been on similar but he also is taking low dose naltrexone and that HAS helped his sleepiness and day/night swicth as well as pain--we will know in a few days if it also upped his immune which its supposed to do

its a bit silly given my complex medical status to even list what I "do" as even if I were to be "cured" of Lyme etc id still be quite ill anyway from the other stuff---you cant yet rebuild connective tissue and everything including blood vessels ( Im a big aneurism risk) to skin ( at 51 TODAY is my birthday and here I am explaining myself to all) looking 10-15 yrs older to muscle breakdown needs CT etc etc

and because I recognize that its not "just Lyme" for me; I tend to skip right by that--I mean how many have what I do??? so what I do is go to my strengths--patient advocacy for over 15 yrs for chronic illness but esp.Lyme and science education grades k- university level--and use what I have left to help others

however, Ive seen far too much of others being unable to or being coerced not to look into the details and take the time to get fully educated or informed before undertaking a treatment or ingesting a substance--and Ive seen many harmed by that too...and so I started as a patient advocate doing the usual supportive things--finding support groups, Drs and helping thru the maze of insurance etc

helping to decipher tests and treatments pros and cons..and then about 5-6 yeasr ago there was a bloom of what I call desperation dipsies

those who want a quick cure-all and will believe anything and buy more....and yet some things are harmless yet useless and only a burden on the pocketbook; others are quite dangerous ( especially if you abandon known helpful things); and I started to look into the companies and the people and the substances themselves

partly for me/Evan and mostly due to the many saying whats been going on ( like the 2 woman who lost kidneys to the Salt/C protocol and who couldnt post that as they were banned)--and then came the "lyme coaches" and "advisors" and "CNHP's" all making money and giving bad to dangerous advice and it became awful out here in Lymeland

and so I started to spend more and more time--now when Im up to it it can be as high as 4-6 hrs a day UNPAID trying to stay ahead of the charlatans and gettying newbies the info they need.

as for how I feel today??? well Im not dead as they predicted Id be so I guess thats good--but Im 50-75% housebound and some days bedbound and frankly annoyed that I wanted to spend my birthday at the NJ shore ( first time ion 6 yrs it didnt rain on my birthday weekend) and I cant--more than 10 min in a car has my vertigo set off then the vomiting which affects the dysauto and off Id go to the ER--not where Id like to spend my birthday!! so today Im annoyed at my disability

Im grateful Im not in a grave, and still here to help Evan ( and be with my other 2 kids) and every day Im alive I have a chance to feel just abit better...be here in case of new breakthroughs...but after 18 yrs of this it wears thin!!

the best thing I DO--is take day by day and hour by hr and thank G-d I have the scant energy I need to research and report back and try to keep others safe and informed..and on the days I dont/cant?? I just lie there best as I can.Like I did for the past 4 days unable to even get to my pc

and I also get into nature--even if it means being dragged about in a wheelchair==or simply carried to the back deck tohear the birds and feel the breeze

thats what I "do", for now that is

Finette

let me try this

Im NOT saying anything you/we/I do doesnt "work"--things may make us 'feel' better and other things may even make us better BUT I feel we should be careful when explaining to others the "why" or "how" as it may accidentally make them think its absolute.

i.e. saunas--they WILL make you relaxed which MAY help immune systems and other systems fight infections better, and some feel that raising inner core temps and sweating help the body too--BUT to say the reason is due to "detoxing" as in "removal of toxins/poisons" may be very innacurate given the fact that after looking at sweat composition nothing is there and looking at before and afters, no evidence of toxins loss either.

supplements may aid your body systems/organs in doing a better job, maybe not. more accurately you CAN say milk thistle supports liver finction and one thing the liver does is to help the body detox!!

the problems arise when a whole catgory is lumped together as a cure all--like "detox" and then many companies jump on a bandwagon selling stuff

again these treatments etc MAY be good ( and some maybe not so good and thankfully very few may even harm) but we have to be aware of the MANY false claims about the why and how--and frankly whenever false claims are made you really have to ask yourself " well then what else are they not telling me the truth about"

and whats good for some may indeed be very bad for others ( like anything raising core body temps during pregnancy)

Milk thistle is amazing stuff, I know someone who had high liver enzymens and takes milk thistle and has never had high test again on all the drugs some of us take.

One of her docs, is a TOP lyme doc and also says the same thing, detox is hogwash, our bodies do it. BUT, I do believe that sometimes our bodies are just slammed with toxins. We just have to be careful what we do to help our body move it along

I tried activated charcoal caps, it was awesome. I was in a herx, didn't sleep for 7 days, and you know when I say I didn't sleep, I didn't sleep .... I was dead tired, took 2 of these activated charcoals, just wanted to lay down, so when I got home I layed down for 10 mins, then got up, full of energy, cleaned the bathroom and made dinner. It's supposed to be amazing stuff. problem is, need a 4 hour window. 2 hours after taking something, 2 hours before taking something again.

Hard to fit into the ol' schedule.

my lyme doc will even admit that treating lyme is a crap shoot. what works for one does not work for someone else. there is no "magic" drug as far as abx go. (although tuesday he did say he does think I WILL get well, it will just take time because I'm so sick, so that was renewed hope I desperatly needed)

I guess in the end, the best thing to say is if it sounds too good to be true, "instant cure" it probably is.

my heart is really leaning toward natural route lately, after some things I've been reading.

sorry I've not been on the boards, been very busy with pm's and helping newbies find docs. Hope you all are well.

But I'm also doing the natural route and getting great results doing so...

Jamie, you should try it you really should, you have nothing to lose at this point....

I do agree with you Jamie, what works for one might not work for another....

Julie

autonomic probs mean we cant regulate heat, and often we need strict climate controls--69-72 degrees F and not much hotter/cooler either

and often sweating is affected ( too muich or little) and a whole assortment of other issues.

as always be aware of your own body and whats going on with it/why

Finette

Bodies are so different, I fully agree what may work for one may not work for another.

J