Nature's Aide

Within your body lies an awesome power, a power that may overcome virtually any disease, including major killers like heart disease and cancer. You were born with this power. It's as simple as the fact that the human body was designed to heal itself You may read the statement above with a certain amount of skepticism. "If," you might ask, "the body was designed to heal itself why am I not well?"

The answer is very simple and it lies within the framework of what some call "progress." I assure you that the body was indeed designed to maintain a state of homeostasis, of healthy balance. Barring accidents or massive infections, most of us were designed to live well into our hundreds in a state relative vigor. There are isolated groups of people who do. Scientists from every corner of the earth are studying them, trying to find their secret of active and healthy longevity.

There are a number of factors, but the one that stands out (and is accepted as a major underlying cause of the ills that plague us today) is the fact that we live in an extremely toxic world and long-lived people live in relatively pure areas. Science is only now beginning to understand that the human body cannot easily process the synthetic, man-made substances with which we are surrounded on a daily basis. Not that any one of these substances is inherently "bad" in and of itself, merely that we cannot physically handle the massive quantity of exposures to which we are subjected in the course of ordinary life.

Everything around us becomes, literally, a part of us. We absorb toxins either by inhaling them, ingesting them with the food we eat, or by absorbing them through the skin. For example, when we fill our cars with gasoline we leave the station with a measurable amount of benzene in our blood. Benzene is a known, and very powerful, carcinogen.

One exposure is not particularly dangerous. The body must metabolize everything it takes in in order to use it (as with food and nutrients) or to dispose of it without damaging or destroying the organs of excretion. We can process a limited number of toxins and the key word here is "limited." The problems begin when the exposures build up.

On the same day you fill your car with gasoline you probably began the day with a morning shower. While showering you breathed in highly toxic polyvinyl chloride fumes from the shower curtain. Then there are over 400 toxins that may have been present in the brand-name soap and or cosmetics used during and after your shower. Breakfast came complete with food additives, most of which are relatively toxic, and residues of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on the food you consumed. If your clothes were dry-cleaned a toxic miasma has surrounded you since the moment you took them off the hanger. This unrelenting exposure takes place every day, all day long, seven days a week.

The body becomes hopelessly overloaded. Breakdowns occur. We call these breakdowns by names like cancer, heart disease, aging, or arthritis

Stop the Breakdowns in Their Tracks

This scenario can go in several different directions. One path leads to the doctor's office and the hospital, to medications, surgery, and the rest of the wonders that conventional medicine employs to deal with the aftermath of living in the 21 century. The other path leads to better overall health but-take warning-this path requires effort. It requires that you take responsibility for your own health.

The most obvious first requirement is to eliminate some of the toxins. It's impossible to get rid of all of them, but you can begin to lighten the load on the body by replacing that plastic shower curtain with one made of hemp or cotton, by finding natural soaps and cosmetics, and seeking sources of organically grown, unpolluted food. The more you learn, the healthier you will become.

The next step to take is to unlock the super-healing power of your own body, to turn yourself into a health-oriented dynamo of damage control and repair.

The Key to Unlocking the Power

The key to unlocking nature's super-healing power can't be found on the list of the latest exotic (and expensive) prescription drugs, nor among the techniques of the newest innovative surgery. This direct path to better health can be accessed inexpensively and in the privacy of your own home. It is as simple as turning on your detox system, charging it up to get rid of the accumulation of 21st century toxins in your body.

When we began sending men into space it suddenly became important to understand how the human body processes the portions of its surroundings that actually become a part of the body. At the same time, science realized that with today's sophisticated drugs we needed to know more about how they were processed in the body in order to prevent toxic build-ups, and researchers in clinical ecology became concerned about our constant exposure to toxins. The result of this sudden awareness of need-to-know was intensive research-research that benefits all of us-and a clearer understanding of the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system, or what is familiarly known as the "detox" system.

The detox system has several methods for transforming toxins in order to usher them safely out of the body. Clinical ecologist, Sherry A. Rogers, MD, put it this way, "Somebody up there must have known we were going to be foolish enough to try to poison ourselves someday."

In Phase I of detoxification, the cells can choose from oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis, which are simply other names for adding or removing an electron, or removing hydrogen from the original toxic compound. Sometimes these reactions are all that is needed but, more often, they are not enough. In this case the partially transformed metabolite is sent on to Phase II. In this step, called conjugation, a large molecule (usually a protein or amino acid) is hooked onto the toxin metabolite making it bigger as well as increasing the electrical charge.

In this new form the toxin becomes more readily absorbed in water so it can be excreted through the kidneys, or (if it still too dangerous) it can be passed out into the feces through bile ducts.

It all sounds simple so far, but serious problems arise when the detox system becomes overloaded or breaks down because of a lack of raw materials needed to facilitate biotransformation.

Biochemical Bottlenecks

Phase I depends upon the presence of highly specialized enzymes, so highly specialized that many can facilitate only one specific reaction. To produce these enzymes the body needs coenzymes. What are coenzymes? They are simply the vitamins and minerals very few of us are getting in sufficient quantities in our diets and these missing elements create a serious biochemical bottleneck.

For example, many of the chemical toxins are first transformed into alcohols. The alcohol form is still highly toxic so from there it is changed into an aldehyde. Finally, the aldehyde can be transformed into an acid that will not damage the kidneys as it is passed from the body. Each step in this series of conversions is enzyme dependent. The physical consequences of just one missing enzyme can have profound results.

Alcohol dehydrogenase, for instance, is the enzyme needed to transform the alcohol into an aldehyde, but alcohol dehydrogenase must have a specific amount of zinc in order to function. Without enough zinc the detox system must choose either another pathway or another reaction. In many instances the alcohol is then transformed into chloral hydrate and, in case you're not familiar with the term, chloral hydrate is the main ingredient in old-fashioned knockout drops. This biochemical "Mickey Finn" circulates in the bloodstream producing extreme fatigue or a condition clinical ecologists call toxic encephalopathy or "brain fog.".

If you've been feeling tired, or have been out of sorts and forgetting things of late, it may only be a case of a missing nutrient and runaway toxins.

Missing nutrients are responsible for the lack of critical enzymes but they may also be responsible for a breakdown in Phase II caused by a lack of the proper large molecule or conjugator.

The major substances involved in the conjugation of toxic molecules are: glutathione (a tripeptide formed from three amino acids), glucuronic acid, and 3'-phosphadenosine, 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS). These substances must be constantly replenished and, like enzymes, are dependent upon the presence of various vitamins and minerals.

The First Step

It follows that one of the first steps toward unleashing the super-healing power of the body is to make certain the critical coenzymes and support nutrients are present in adequate amounts. A good broad-based supplement is important, but some of the coenzymes should be taken in extra amounts. One of the most vitally important of these is magnesium. Magnesium is required for the formation of over 300 enzymes. Without sufficient magnesium breakdowns occur and illness results.

The Second Step

The second step involves the various herbs and phytochemicals that have the reputation of supporting detoxification of the body. Many of these have been used traditionally to fight cancer. Their unique detox capabilities may be one of the reasons why they have gained this reputation. Users were stimulating their own healing powers without knowing exactly what was happening in terms of biochemistry.

For example, the phytochemicals in broccoli and kale are such powerful anti-carcinogens they've made the cover of Newsweek. The ability to aid or stimulate the detox system is essential in the fight against cancer, and the rest of the good news is that it is also a powerful tool in any recovery program from virtually all diseases.

Red clover is another substance that has been used for over 100 years to treat and prevent cancer. Many physicians using complementary methods use red clover as a "cleansing" agent-cleansing is simply another way of saying "detoxification." And, in the laboratory red clover has proven to have active antibiotic properties against several major pathogens, including the one that causes tuberculosis.

Oriental medicine brings us the amazing cleansing and healing properties of reishi mushrooms and kudzu root as well as the classic blood purifier, lycium berries. All three have been traditionally used in the treatment of toxicity, infections, arthritis, and cancer.

Since the beginning of recorded history peppermint has been one of the most valuable herbs in the natural pharmacopoeia. Modern research has shown that, among other things, peppermint stimulates the production of bile. This is extremely important to the process of detoxification because toxins hooked to a conjugator must be passed into the intestines along with the bile. In addition, peppermint inhibits and kills many of today's most bothersome pathogens like: Influenza A viruses; the herpes simplex virus; the streptococcus that causes sore throats, cystitis, and other infections; the staphylococcus that can cause everything from pneumonia to endocarditis; and the nasty culprit behind the yeast syndrome.

Another herb of detox note is schizandra. These berries are protective of the liver (the seat of the detox system) but also increase stamina to an astonishing degree. Russian pilots used schizandra berries to allow them to fly at high altitudes without oxygen. Most recently, schizandra has been a favorite of both Olympic athletes and the polo set. Polo ponies given schizandra perform better and have quicker physiological responses.

Nature's Aide® Combines Steps One and Two For Comprehensive Detox Support

The Nature's Aide® Phyto-Pure formula combines the extra magnesium needed for detoxification enzyme support, enough calcium to balance the magnesium, and every single one of the beneficial herbs and phytonutrients long regarded as essential to body "cleansing."

The Phyto-Pure natural detox formula is for everyone, not just those who are in active stages of disease. Anyone who lives in today's world needs additional support for the system that deals with living in our toxic times. Those who are combating degenerative disease should also consider the comprehensive detox program.

In order to get maximum benefit we recommend taking Phyto-Pure along with a broad-based supplement like the Nature's Aide(r) Oral Chelation Formula.

The Comprehensive Detox Program

The body uses five pathways to get rid of wastes and toxins: the liver, the intestinal tract, the kidneys, the lungs, and the skin. Although the Phyto-Pure formula and good nutritional support will provide a positive step toward clearing the detox system healing may be accelerated with the following comprehensive program.

Initial detoxification takes from five to seven days. It is helped along by liver and gallbladder flushes. And, sooner or later we have to get down to basics and face the fact of intestinal toxemia caused by crusted fecal matter in the gut of anyone who has existed on the standard American diet. This crust prevents the absorption of nutrients, serves as a breeding ground for pathogens, and contains an accumulation of toxins your body has been trying to get rid of for years.

We urge you to go over this program with your health care provider before you begin. Although the detox program is, generally speaking, quite safe, you should never undertake a program of this depth without professional guidance.

During detoxification and thereafter, a source of clean well water or distilled water in glass containers is highly recommended. Tap water is a prime source of additional toxins and that is just what you will be trying to avoid.

The Liver Flush

The liver is the body's primary detox organ. It processes substances too poisonous to be dealt with elsewhere and is where most of the metabolites of toxins end up. As a result, the liver is usually the first organ to be overwhelmed by toxic overload.

There is a simple and highly effective medical technique that clears toxins from both the liver and gallbladder. It was listed in the Merck Manual until 1977 and was dropped not because it wasn't a valuable technique but because of the space requirements for listing prescription drugs-drugs that are often less effective. The medical technique is one you can do yourself. It is a simple coffee retention enema.

There is a special circulatory system connected only from the sigmoid colon (the lowest "S" shaped portion of the colon), to the liver. This enables any resorbed toxins to be sent directly to the liver for further detoxification rather than circulating throughout the rest of the body. Because of this special circulatory system the bioactive alkaloids in coffee go directly to the liver where they force the liver to unload toxins that have been accumulating in the bile ducts. This opens pathways and allows the liver to once again begin processing the toxins piled up in the bloodstream, other organs, and fatty tissues.

The coffee enema is an important part of both the Gerson and Kelley programs for cancer patients because of its intensive detoxification potential.

To prepare, brew coffee by adding two level tablespoons of drip grind coffee to one quart of boiling water. Continue to boil for five minutes. Turn off the heat. Add one tablespoon of unsulphured molasses, stir, and allow to cool to body temperature. Strain the coffee into an enema bag.

Hang the bag no higher than waist level so pressure will not force the coffee higher than the sigmoid colon. Gently insert the catheter and open the clamp to allow as much of the coffee as is comfortable to run into the colon. Clamp off the tube and roll from side to side to help disperse the coffee. Lie on your back and try to retain the coffee for fifteen minutes. If you must void sooner, do so.

If you are following the procedure exactly as described you will eventually hear a gurgling or squirting sound coming from under your ribs on your right side. This is the sound of bile ducts discharging into the bowel, flushing an accumulation of toxins out of your body.

Repeat once a day for five to seven days.

The Colon Cleanse

No healing program would be effective without a protocol designed to clean out the accumulation of encrusted debris in the colon. The colon cleanse not only helps eliminate toxins, it lowers the levels of pathogenic bacteria and allows toxins and fecal matter keep the lining of the gut inflamed, and this inflammation leads to a condition called leaky gut syndrome "exactly what it sounds like", a gut that leaks larger than normal particles of food into the bloodstream where they circulate through the entire body creating havoc.

Although some practitioners use colonics or a variety of cathartics, the colon cleanse described in the following paragraphs is a much safer and more gentle way to approach cleansing of the gut.

Psyllium seed husks are used to rough up caked-on debris so that it may be eliminated. These husks soak up many times their own weight in water, enlarging like thousands of tiny sponges that fill every nook and cranny of the intestines and force out accumulated toxins that can't be reached by any other means.

The other ingredient in the colon cleanse formula is bentonite clay. Bentonite is an absorbtive substance that binds toxins to its surface and carries them out of the gut. The total absorptive surface of only one tablespoon of bentonite solution is an incredible 900 square yards. This helps get rid of toxins fast.

If you are able to also do a healing fast the colon cleanse really has a chance to do a super-cleansing job on the gut. If you are unable to fast you should be careful to take the mixture only between meals. It should never be taken at the same time as food or any nutrients or medication as they will be clumped with the cleansing materials and removed from the body without doing the job nature intended. Allow two hours after eating or taking medication before using the colon cleanse mixture.

To make the mixture add one tablespoon of liquid bentonite and one tablespoon of psyllium seed husks to one cup of water. Stir or shake vigorously. Drink the mixture immediately and follow with a full glass of pure water.

Repeat three times a day between meals for five to seven days.

The Healing Fast

This type of fasting is not starvation because during a healing fast juice, broth, and herbal teas are encouraged and recommended. It is a traditional and amazingly effective healing technique because it allows the body to "rest," to concentrate on healing rather than everyday business as usual. Researchers in life extension say that periodic fasts give the organs a rest, help detoxify the liver, colon, and kidneys, purify the blood, and rid the body of excess fluids. A three-day fast helps rid the body of toxins. A five-day fast begins the healing process.

During the fasting period avoid all sweeteners and condiments, including salt. Do not drink orange juice or tomato juice as they alter the acid/alkaline balance of the body. Avoid chewing anything-even sugarless gum-because chewing begins the digestive process and stimulates the release of digestive enzymes into the intestinal tract.

If you feel you must absolutely eat something confine yourself to a slice of watermelon or fresh, unsweetened applesauce made in your blender.

"Foods" Allowed on a Fast

Make a nutrient-dense vegetable broth by simmering carrots, celery (with leaves), a turnip, several beets, a half head of cabbage, a zucchini, a handful of parsley, half an onion, and a clove of garlic in enough pure water to cover. Add any of the dried seaweeds from the health food store as a vitamin-rich extra. Cook slowly for an hour, keeping the pan tightly covered. Strain out the vegetables and drink the broth two or three times a day.

Miso soup is acceptable. It may often be found in "instant" form at the better health food stores.

Unsweetened herbal tea may be drunk as often as desired. Try to include one cup each of burdock, dandelion root, and echinacea per day for their protective and super-cleansing capabilities. Most herbal teas are allowed but remember to avoid chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed.

Green drinks and fresh juices are recommended, but you will need a juicer as they should be consumed within twenty minutes of preparing in order to get maximum benefit from the nutrients and natural enzymes. Dilute with pure water. Highly recommended are: cabbage, beet, carrot, celery, leafy greens, cranberry, grape, lemon, and apple. Cabbage juice is a powerhouse remedy for ulcers and colon problems of any kind. Leafy green vegetables are excellent detoxifiers.

Either spirulina or chlorella are high in protein as well as most of the vitamins and minerals needed by the body and can boost energy during a healing fast. In addition the high chlorophyll content aids cleansing. Dissolve one teaspoon of powder in juice or herbal tea and drink three times daily. This is extremely important because the body needs the nutrient content to repair damage and encourage rapid detoxification.

Do not fast if you have hypoglycemia or diabetes.

The Sea Soak

Add once cup of baking soda and one cup of sea salt to bathwater as hot as you can stand it. Relax in the tub for twenty to thirty minutes. The osmotic action of the salt helps draw toxins to the surface of the skin. Rinse with clear water. The sea soak may be repeated once daily.

The Kelley Castor Oil Body Cleanse

Like the sea soak, the castor oil cleanse stimulates the release of toxins and waste material through the skin. But, this should not be repeated as often as a sea soak. Use only once during detox week.

Mix castor oil half and half with olive oil. Rub into skin from head to toe. After you are thoroughly oiled soak in a hot tub for fifteen minutes. Use caution getting out of the tub as the oil will make you excessively slippery. Lie down under heavy covers for one hour to sweat out toxins. Finish with a hot shower to wash off both residual oil and toxins.

Put It All Together For Detox Week and Super-Healing

Imagine, devoting one short week of your life to detoxification could put you squarely on the road to glowing health.

The conditions and ailments classified as "degenerative" are believed to be caused or encouraged by free radical damage, and toxins are the major culprits in the formation of free radicals. In addition, toxins are directly implicated in a variety of disease states. One researcher asserts that more than 90% of the visits to a doctor's office stem originally from exposure to environmental toxins.

The human body was not designed to process the load of man-made chemicals to which we are subjected in the course of an average day. The body needs help.

Getting rid of, or even reducing, your total body load of toxins will make almost any condition better. So, the rewards for a week of your time can be a million-fold. Your healing-system will shift into high gear, aches and pains will disappear, energy will be renewed, and-as a bonus-you'll look terrific.

The Nature's Aide® Phyto-Pure Formula Supports Natural Detoxification

The all-natural ingredients in the phyto-pure formula support detoxification on an on-going daily basis. This kind of support is important because the chemicals are still out there even after a comprehensive program like detox week. It doesn't take long for body levels of toxins to begin rising again and there you go on another downward spiral.

The wise approach is to continue detoxification with the help of formulas like Phyto-Pure.