Removing Toxins

At my second visit (which has been a few weeks ago now) to see my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Dr. L. and I began to see more clearly just how sick I am.

Traditional Chinese doctors can tell the status of your health in ways that fascinate me; by reading radial pulse, looking at the tongue, the eyes, the color and feel of the skin, sensing the way the body reacts to different puncture areas, and feeling changes of temperature across the body. I had learned a little about reading of the tongue, from my previous acupuncturist. A tongue with a thick coating and odd color is a sign of problems in the body. How the tongue looks, its size, and its shape are all important to a TCM doctor. They are also trained to know to look at specific areas of the tongue to know more about where the problem is occuring.


Of recent, my tongue, regardless of how well or how often I brush/gargle has had a thick bright yellowish orangey color. Fortunately, this isn't something noticed unless I decide to do a Jena Bush and stick out my tongue. The bright yellowish orangey color is due to my body trying to detox from being on so many prescription medications as well as having toxins in my body from a diet that was lacking in being healthy. Along with the oddity of the color of my tongue, have been other changes that are a quite odd and somewhat embarrassing. But hoping that others may benefit from reading my blog, I feel that I need to be somewhat open. However, being reared by a very modest mother, I have been taught there are certain things a lady doesn't discuss...forgive me, Mama.


My urine and bowel movements are GREEN! Yes, green! Freaked me out at first, actually a couple weeks later it still does! I make sure to tell my doctor. She says, "No problem! One lady I treated, she pooped white." White??? Did she say white??? How does that happen? As one friend told me when I told her about the color of things coming out of me, she said, "It's pretty scary isn't? To think that we are trying to do what is best for us (referring to me taking the medications I need for MS and other health issues) and then to see something like that coming out!"

My body has also been itching a lot. Unfortunately, I can't take Benedryl to help with the itching...I would be defeating the purpose of trying to eliminate the toxins. It is something I must try to deal with if at all possible. I have found that by taking as hot of a bath or shower that can be tolerated (or not cause pseudo symptoms if you have heat sensitive MS) and scrubbing with as much pressure as you can without tearing the skin helps. I also use an exfoliator to help release the toxins that might be trapped by dead skin cells. During a detox, our bodies will try to release the toxins through different methods including our skin and scalp. Along with my skin itching, my eyes have itched a lot during this process. Flushing my eyes out often with saline solution for contacts (although I'm not wearing my contacts right now...wouldn't be able to stand it during this detox phase) brings relief.

I go back and forth between being hot and cold. I guess the best way to describe this and probably the same principle is involved...it is like being sick and what occurs as our body defends the foreigner. I will break out with a clammy sweat and then, soon I will be freezing from being wet all over (from the sweat). I shower and start the process all over again. Fortunately, these cycles from sweating and freezing are beginning to slow down as I have continued to remove more toxins.

To speed up the release of toxins, I drink lots of warm to hot teas (not all of them being what we think of as traditional tea). One of my favorites my TCM provider told me about...tea made from corn silk (or as she said corn hair).

1. Purchase corn that hasn't been shucked yet.
   
2. Tear off the corn silk (looks like hair).
   
3. Rinse off the corn silk with vinegar (the vinegar will help cleanse the silk without destroying the nutrients).
   
4. Boil two cups of water with desired amount of honey.
   
5. Once water comes to a boil, add corn silk and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
   
6. Allow to cool to comfortable sipping temperature.
   

For best results, with the tea assisting in toxin removal, try to drink two to six cups of tea per day.


If you realize you have toxins that need to be released, make sure that you are under a doctor's care. If you too feel like you are on too many medications be sure to discuss with your doctor your concerns and outline together a safe tapering off level. Even under a doctor's guidance you are likely to experience unwanted side effects. For me, I keep reminding myself that it will be worth it in the end...when I'm no longer damaging my body by so many medications and can hopefully live a more productive life verses being tired all the time because of being so medicated.

With all the symptoms the one that is hardest for me is that of feeling so panicked. My body is going through so much turmoil trying to heal that my anxiety levels are through the roof. I have gained even a stronger sense of admiration for anyone who has ever recovered from being a drug addict or alcholic. I can see why it would be so easy to say, "Forget this!" and turn back to what their body has grown accustomed to and feel that it needs.

So, why exactly am I putting myself through this torture? Because on my second visit, when I discussed with Dr. L what had been occurring in the couple days since I had seen her and she read my body as described above, she said I'm the sickest patient she has ever seen and I was close to dying! Tears came to my eyes when she told me this, for I could tell she was sincere and wasn't saying this to get me to come see her more often. I immediately thanked the Lord for helping me choose Dr. L out of the yellow pages and for her strong knowledge of TCM.

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