Detoxing and eliminating toxins and waste from our bodies is a beneficial therapy that is often overlooked and not discussed enough. I have heard so many stories of people who start eating clean and then immediately go through a phase of elimination, which is what I call the purge. Often this discourages people from continuing the journey because they interpret this as “getting sick” when in fact it’s the body’s process of “getting better” and supporting the return to homeostasis. I imagine a water hose that is full of gunk, it needs to be cleared and clean for the water to flow properly, and I see our body the same way, each part needs to be clean and clear for our lifeforce energy, blood, oxygen, lymphatic fluid, etc. to flow properly and maintain balance. There are six organs of elimination within our body to include the lungs, bowel, skin, kidneys, liver, and the lymphatic system. For this assignment I am going to discuss the skin and the lymphatic system.
The skin is the largest organ and plays an important role in detoxifying and eliminating toxins from the body. Also known as the integumentary system, it is the external barrier that protects us from environmental pollutants/toxins, provides the body information about its external environment, it is responsible for body temperature regulation, vitamin d synthesis, and the elimination of waste. The skin receives one-third of the body’s circulating blood and should eliminate one-third of the body’s wastes through sweat and perspiration (Petersen, 2022). Allowing our bodies a good sweat every day is highly beneficial, practicing a daily exercise or body movement that allows us to sweat naturally is ideal. It is important to drink plenty of water to keep the fluids moving. Using saunas and steam rooms are also beneficial to prompt sweating. There are many ways to take care of our skin and provide it with the proper nutrients to function in balance. A healthy lifestyle to include whole organic fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, clean and plentiful water, proper sleep habits, practices to balance our mental health, and movement every day is the foundation to our health. Dry brushing, alternating hot and cold showers, and minerals such as silica and sulfur are also beneficial ways to support healthy skin functioning.
The lymphatic system is another beneficial and crucial system within the body when it comes to elimination. The lymphatic system cleanses and protects the body from invading bacteria by preventing them from entering the general circulation (Petersen, 2022). The lymph system relies on muscle movement to support the movement of fluid around the body and to support elimination, which is one reason why daily movement is crucial to help support our lymphatic system. The lymphatic system keeps the cellular environment clean, returns proteins and tissue fluids to the blood, defends against disease, and provides a pathway for fats and fat-soluble vitamins to enter the bloodstream (Shiland, 2023). When the lymph system is clogged and congested it cannot function properly and can cause many imbalances within the body. As stated previously, a healthy lifestyle is crucial, along with dry skin brushing and massage to stimulate circulation, daily exercise and body movement, and minerals such as potassium and chlorine.
References
Petersen, D. (2022). Nutrition, Bodycare, and Herbalism (20th ed.). American College of Healthcare Sciences
Shiland, B. (2023). Mastering Healthcare Terminology (7th ed.). Elsevier.
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