Top 10 Reasons Why Detox Heals

Updated April 7, 2024

Detoxification is a key strategy for healing from complex illness.  Learn the 10 top reasons why detox is effective at restoring health, vitality, and optimal body function.

It’s not uncommon that I hear people who are suffering from complex chronic illness describe years of expensive and difficult treatment.  They report having tried every method they could find, both conventional and alternative, to heal their symptoms.

It begs the question, what’s missing from the current way we go about treating Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus and other chronic infections?  Aside from treating the infections themselves, what else does the body need to promote recovery and keep healing moving forward?

While “detox” is a popular strategy in holistic medicine and wellness circles, it’s often approached through vitamins and herbal supplements alone.  The many lifestyle practices that produce the real results of deep tissue cleansing are less popular, perhaps because it requires some knowledge and guidance to get started.

The ancient, profound, and ultimately simple healing technique of fasting, as well as many modifications and lifestyle routines that mimic and create similar results, support the healing from complex illness and re-vitalization of the body like nothing else can.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 reasons that detox heals what ails you!

#1. Our biology is designed to heal through encouraging detoxification.

From fatigue, to blood pressure dysregulation to diabetes, depression, cancer, heart disease – and of course chronic infections such as Lyme disease which mimics all these and more – cleansing is a foundational healing tool.  Detoxification and fasting is a natural mammalian instinct to heal disease through rest and purification.  When you are sick and dysregulated, your biology is hard-wired to initiate healing when allowed to clear and clean itself out.  Earth-connected cultures throughout human history have developed rituals and practices to heal illness and maintain health through detoxification.

#2. Cleansing reverses toxicity-induced symptoms.

Lyme disease, candida-yeast, parasites and other chronic infections are infamous for causing toxin-related symptoms.  A toxic body manifests discomforts such as migraines, skin rashes, fatigue, pain, stiffness and flu-like symptoms.  As toxins are safely and gradually cleared from the body, many symptoms considered “irreversible” may reduce or are relieved altogether.

#3. Longevity and youthful regeneration.

Studies show that fasting and fasting-mimicking routines, like exercise, create changes at the cellular level that help extend your lifespan. This is in part because fasting increases human growth hormone (HGH) production.  HGH is necessary for maintaining the look and feel, the inner vitality and functionality we associate with youth and the capacity to live a long and healthy life.

#4. Weight Loss.

Cleansing routines can shift your body from using glucose as its primary fuel to using fat for fuel.  This metabolic shift leads to weight loss, detoxification, and numerous other health benefits.  And, because toxins are often stored in fat cells, encouraging the release of toxins from the system leads to a reduction in the number of fat cells.

#5. Detoxification leads to increased energy.  

With 60% of the body’s energy dedicated to digestion following an average meal, certain dietary practices can make digestion easier.  This means less energy is spent on digestion, and more usable energy is received from the digestive process to support healing.  Detox routines also encourage mitochondrial (cellular) energy production and free up stagnant energy that the body can then use to promote healing from chronic infection and disease.

#6.  Detox and fasting-mimicking practices are unique in their ability to initiate the restoration of vitality and healing of deeper layers of damaged tissue.

A team of researchers from the University of Southern California recently discovered that fasting initiates the regeneration of stem cells. These are the cells the body uses to renew organs and tissues in order to repair and replace damaged tissues throughout the body.

#7.  Cleansing improves cognitive function, brain structure, and promotes deeper sleep and nervous system relaxation.

These benefits are clear from both scientific studies done comparing fasting and non-fasting rats, as well as my own personal experience and clinical experience guiding many people through short and long-term detox programs.

#8.  Detoxification normalizes insulin and leptin sensitivity.

This means food sensitivities and allergies can be minimized, and health issues like diabetes, blood sugar problems, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and adrenal taxation can be restored through the rejuvenation of the adrenals, pancreas, and gut through the use of regular cleansing practices.

#9. Fasting initiates autophagy.

Autophagy is a vital process in which your body consumes dead disease matter, damaged tissue, and faulty cells – like a massive clean-up and recycling effort to beautify and preserve the health of your inner and outer landscape.  Many types of fasts and cleansing supports this process.

#10. Reduce and control inflammation.

Effective detoxification can massively diminish inflammation, as well as pain and symptoms related to inflammation anywhere in the body.

After 25 years of practicing natural medicine, detox remains an irreplaceable healing strategy that has widespread beneficial effects.

Adding a detox cleanse program to your healing and recovery process may seem challenging at first, but with the proper knowledge and guidance it’s very do-able, even for busy parents or professionals, or very sick people.

There are many methods of detox, cleansing and fasting that supply nutrients and energy for healing and staying active while encouraging rest and elimination from within.  We encourage you to start with small changes, get comfortable there, then add the next change, and continue to advance at a pace that works for you.

I hope this inspires you to learn more about how to integrate detox into your healing lifestyle, and support your recovery from complex illness naturally!

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Ready to learn how to effectively, safely detox – and literally clear the way for healing?  Check out Detox For Lyme, our 8-week online course.  Enroll now and receive the added bonus of live coaching and expert guidance!  This course teaches you everything you need to know to cleanse and detoxify what burdens you, whether you are just learning how or ready to move to an advanced level of cleansing.

Sources:

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4. Patterson RE, Sears DD. Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017 Aug 21;37:371-393. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064634. Epub 2017 Jul 17. PMID: 28715993