Christina Carreau, BA, ND
We live in an increasingly toxic world. One in which our bodies are being put to the test every day, in terms of toxin exposure. Let me start by outlining some of the toxins that we are exposed to on a regular basis. There are two categories of toxins: Endogenous (originating within the body) and Exogenous (originating from the external environment). Endogenous toxins include ammonia, uric acid, lactic acid, creatinine, carbon dioxide, an excess or deficiency of hormones and/or neurotransmitters, emotional toxins, and free radicals. Exogenous toxins include heavy metals, food additives, fertilizers, pesticides, hormones and drugs in our food, industrial chemicals, microbes, dust, mold, prescription drugs, recreational drugs, air pollution, household cleaning products, cosmetics, lotions, etc. As you can see, there is no shortage of toxins surrounding us.
Although we are exposed to a large number of toxins every day, we do have a system in place to help metabolize and eliminate toxins from our bodies. When our body is functioning optimally it is capable of removing all the endogenously produced metabolic waste products, plus any accumulated exogenously acquired wastes. These metabolic wastes, or toxins, pass through the liver where they are metabolized into a form which allows elimination from our body. The four main routes of elimination are the skin, intestines, kidneys and lungs. Illness often occurs when the rate at which toxins accumulate is greater than the rate at which they are eliminated. That rate is dependent on a number of things, including genetics, diet, lifestyle, emotional state, level and duration of toxin exposure and antibiotic or drug use. This means that to a large degree, we are able to exercise some control over whether or not we process and eliminate, or whether we store and accumulate these wastes and toxins.
Now that I have outlined the toxins that have the potential to make us sick, let me shift the focus to drainage and highlight how we can support the process of elimination. Drainage can be defined as a combination of measures used to ensure the regular elimination of toxins that burden the body of a person. It is the process of detoxifying the body, by opening the emunctories (organs of elimination) and then discharging the toxic accumulations.
Biotherapeutic Drainage is a technique that uses low potency homeopathics to enhance our bodies’ ability to eliminate toxins. They do this by optimizing function of our emunctories (ie. lungs, kidneys, skin, colon, etc), directing toxins towards their natural organs of elimination, normalizing function of glandular systems, detoxifing organs and modifying our terrain or homeostasis. This takes time but it is an effective tool when your body is in a state of ‘dis-ease’.
Of course, biotherapeutic drainage is not the only way to enhance removal of toxins. I wrote an earlier article entitled ‘Lay the Foundation First’ http://christinacarreaund.com/lay-the-foundation-first/, which highlights some of the ways that you can improve cellular health and support the role of each of your organs of elimination. Drinking enough water to support elimination of toxins via your kidneys, having enough fiber to support regular bowel movements, practicing diaphragmatic breathing to support both your nervous system and to eliminate toxins, sweating regularly to eliminate waste via your skin to name a few. I encourage you to read that article so that you are better equipped to support the physiological task of restoring homeostasis in an increasingly toxic world.
It’s important to consider your recurring toxic exposure. What are you eating, drinking, cleaning your house with, grooming yourself with, what emotions are you suppressing, what medications are you taking, what chemicals are you breathing in, what drugs do you use, what kind of work do you do, what sorts of fragrances are you exposed to? The less waste you put in your body, the less waste there is to process. Take some time and think about this.
Over the past few years, I have noticed a recurring theme in visits. People come in with symptoms of fatigue, or unexplained weight gain, or indigestion, or whatever the symptom might be, without any explanation as to why they are feeling this way. They have been to see their medical doctor and sometimes even specialists but all of their lab tests are normal and their physical exam reveals all normal findings. Sometimes even additional testing has been done (ie. Ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI, Colonoscopy, etc.) and still there is no explanation for the way that they are feeling.
I don’t want to go on a rant about the flaws in our current medical model, but I would like to highlight the fact that disease is evolving faster than our medical system is. If the system that we have in place is to diagnose disease but it is unable to account for the symptoms that occur leading up to disease then that is a huge problem! Unfortunately, this is a missing piece in our current model and it inherently undervalues health and well-being. Are health and disease really black or white? All or nothing? Could we focus on the grey area…the fuzzy area in between health and disease? The area where changes can be made to reverse the trend. The area where medicine can’t determine why people are feeling sick.
We need to better support our bodies. If symptoms of ‘dis-ease’ go on for long enough then disease is inevitable. Why wait? Be a part of your healing process. Think about the role that you can have in impacting your overall state of health. Biotherapeutic drainage is just one way for us to support homeostasis. I encourage you to do what you can to help your body eliminate toxins while at the same time reducing your exposure to toxins. Preventative medicine will improve your quality of life. So do yourself a favour and find some time every day to work towards a healthier you.
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