Body cleansing detoxification is an alternative medicine technique. The purpose of a body cleanse is to rid the body of toxins. The theory is that toxins accumulate in the body from things like pollution and overly processed foods. Supporters of this treatment claim that body cleansing detoxification is to a body what an oil change is to a car. Although many testimonials can be found by satisfied and loyal consumers of these products, body detox is not generally supported by the scientific community.
Supporters of body cleansing detoxification believe that toxic buildup is the primary cause of many common symptoms, like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and gas. Chronic fatigue, skin problems, and mood swings have also been reportedly cured or helped by body cleansing detoxification. It is also thought that cancer may stem from toxins left in the body for months and years.
There are many different kinds of body cleansing detoxification methods. Some of these are directed toward a specific organ, like the colon cleanse or liver cleanse. Some processes are aimed at ridding the body of specific toxins, such as a heavy metal detox or a mercury detox. There are a variety of products available that can be used at home or require assistance from a trained physician. Any detoxification procedure should be supervised by a physician consultation in order to prevent complications.
A detoxification diet is one example of a method that can be done at home. Fasting and elimination diets are two common types of detox diets. The theory is that the body will be forced to burn the excess fat, which is a popular storage space for toxins. Once the fat is burned, the toxins are released into the blood stream and then out of the body via the bladder, colon, or lungs.
Colon cleansing can be done at home or in a physician's office. An enema is a common type of body cleanse detoxification that is said to not only cleanse the colon, but also detoxify the kidneys and liver. The colon can also be detoxified using herbal supplements, which are supposed to scrape clean the intestinal lining of any built up fecal matter.
The origin of body cleansing detoxification is in ancient Egypt and Greece. These cultures believed that when food is digested, it can get trapped in certain parts of the body, start to rot, and become toxic. Detoxification techniques were found to be unscientific in the early 1900s and therefore abandoned by modern medicine. Body cleansing detoxification practices have never fully fallen out of favor with alternative medicine practitioners and patients, despite the medical field's denouncement of it.
Many people claim to benefit from body cleansing detoxification. Unfortunately, this doesn't change the fact that much of the science behind detoxification has been debunked. The main reason that body cleansing detox is not supported by mainstream medicine is that the body naturally detoxifies itself using the liver and kidneys. Any additional threatening toxins have not been proved to exist or cause harm.