by William L. Bergman, M.D.
Over the course of the last ten years we have learned an incredible amount about the health and aging process. Extensive research has been conducted into the effects of diet, life styles, exercise and biochemical supplements on the aging process. For the first time, science can realistically envision productive quality life spans exceeding 100 years.
Up until this point, the growth in the average life span has been the result of improvements is disease treatment, agriculture and, to some extent, the process of natural selection.
Now, for the first time, we find ourselves in a position to exercise significant control over the quality and span of our lives by controlling our mental attitude, diet and lifestyle, and by properly using certain biochemical supplements.
Recent advances in medical research have created a growing belief that the `natural' mental and physical decline associated with human aging can be significantly delayed and in some cases, actually reversed.
From a unified medical perspective, health is a state of harmony of mind and body centered on natural law. The greatest health challenge facing us on the physical level is our capacity to eliminate toxins; our greatest challenge on the psychological level is our ability to cleanse "emotional toxins" and maintain a resourceful mental attitude that allows to grow and move forward to realize our goals.
This article introduces important practical concepts related to the issue of cleansing the body.
In the second part of this article, the concept of empowering the mind will be more fully developed.
The growing problem of toxicity
Over the last few decades, mankind has drastically altered the chemistry of our environment. In 1989 alone, more than 1 million pounds of chemicals were released into the ground, affecting the soil in which we grow our food and the natural underground tables that supply some of our drinking water. Greater than 2.4 billion pounds of chemical emissions were released into the air, and an estimated 188 million pounds of chemicals were discharged into lakes and rivers.
Complicating this problem of toxic environment, we have refined away a great portion of the nutritional value of our foods, and have substituted a great abundance of artificial flavorings, preservatives, colorings, conditioners, etc. Many scientists are concerned with the over utilization of antibiotics and hormones in the food supply, along with the routine use of both over-the-counter and prescription medications which inundate our society.
The disturbance created to the natural order, and the dysfunction established within our own digestive tracts, allow unhealthy microorganisms to overtake the system, producing toxic by-products which increase the toxicity of our organs and tissues.
In spite of this distressing reality, the good news is that our bodies are incredibly resilient; given the right context and conditions, based on personal lifestyle choices we make each day, we can ensure that we and our families do not succumb to the adverse affects of toxicity. This involves learning what we need to know to help protect our bodies from toxicity and to develop the motivation to modify our behavior and develop a healthy pattern of living.
On a practical level, do as much as you can within reason to purify your work and home environments: if possible, remove any stored or leaking chemicals, solvents, glues, acids, paints, dyes, insecticides or cleaning agents. An effective air purifier can help in areas where you cannot remove the offending substances. When using any toxic materials, wear protective clothing or breathing apparatus. Replacing furnace and air conditioning filters may also be helpful.
It is extremely important to eat plenty of fresh whole foods and to cut way down on excess fat, refined sugars and carbohydrates, and foods high in additives and preservatives. Substitute organically- grown fruits and vegetables and organically-raised animals as much as possible. Be sure to drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of pure water every day; a home water filtering system is very important if you are using water from the tap, or if you are unsure of the source of bottled waters in your area.
Support your body's efforts
Since there is a limit to what you can do to reduce the amount of toxins you and your family are exposed to, it is vitally important to periodically conduct a cleansing and detoxification program for both yourselves and your children.
Adults can use a combination of specially-designed biological programs in addition to deeper-acting homeopathic cleansing formulas; for children, the homeopathic formulas are usually sufficient and can have dramatic effects on the health of your child.
For adults, it was formerly believed that a water or juice fast was the preferred detoxification program. (We are talking here, of course, about health benefits for the physical body; not the issue of the benefits of fasting as a spiritual discipline). This was based in the belief that the body will be able to clear stored toxins and heal itself when the "stress" of digestion and the further accumulation of new toxins were eliminated. The results of modern scientific research on the subject indicates that the body's detoxification apparatus (especially involving a two-phase process in the liver) is a heavily nutrient-supported process that requires specific nutritional supplementation to avoid protein loss from muscles and various organs, and disturbance of metabolic activity during a cleansing/detoxification program (see illustration)
Based on these findings, a more current approach to detoxification is to nourish the body fully, promoting and enhancing its natural detoxification mechanisms with the nutrients needed to achieve optimum cleansing activity. By providing high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fats through specially-formulated products, the body gets what it needs to prevent muscle and organ breakdown and depleted energy resources during the detoxification phase. In addition, nutrients can be provided which are specifically needed to support the function of the organs directly involved in detoxification: the liver, the intestinal tract and the kidneys.
For children, and for adults to compliment the above metabolic- clearing program, a number of specialized homeopathic formulations have been designed which specifically promote the deeper clearing and elimination of toxins from within and between the cells of the tissues.
For example, a 2,000-page report published recently by the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that dioxin levels in the fatty tissues of Americans who consume meat, fish. eggs and dairy products pose significant health risks. These include elevated incidence of cancer, disruption of the immune and hormonal systems, sexual abnormalities and stunted fetal growth. Dioxins are released by industrial processes, settle in soil and waterways, and accumulate in animal tissues. The conclusions are based on an exhaustive three-year review of dozens of medical studies. By utilizing a homeopathically prepared version of dioxin which is completely non-toxic, the body is stimulated to remove and cleanse this toxin from the tissues of adults and children. These products are available only through doctor's and are not sold in health food stores, pharmacies or through network marketing distributors.
If your child is already visiting doctors frequently, has taken antibiotics or vaccinations, seems to have low resistance to ear infections or colds, a professionally supervised homeopathic cleansing program can make a significant difference in your child's health and well-being.
If your child is healthy, such a program on a preventive basis from time to timer can ensure that their good health will continue and increase.
For more information on the programs referred to above & to receive a health assessment questionnaire, or to arrange an appointment or seminar program in your community, please contact the World Medical Health Foundation's Health Education and Resource Center at 481 8th Avenue, Suite 721 or call us at 212 947-1777.