Detoxification & Terrain Part Three

Once you have taken care of Part One and Part Two then you can move on to other areas.  A parasite cleanse may be the next step if you are at risk.  Parasites can rob you of nutritional resources and add to your toxic load.  Please see the blog on parasites. 

The next concept in wellness is terrain.  Terrain is simply the overall environment.  Terrain can be internal or external.  It can be physical but can also be emotional or mental.  If you normalize the terrain or create an environment for wellness then health will follow.

If you spray herbicide around a spring or branch you not only kill the vegetation but you also alter the entire environment.  This includes a complex ecosystem of animal, reptile, insect, and microorganisms that live there.  With such a change different organisms that may be unwanted could thrive.  If you remove the herbicide residue then plant life will eventually return along with the ecosystem.  While we view this as external, it is an example of what can happen internally. 

Internal terrain could be any part of the body such as the intestinal environment.  Taking antibiotics alters the bacterial terrain, creating imbalance and allowing yeast or unfriendly bacteria to grow.  Keep in mind that an imbalance such as yeast can create waste products that can be detrimental to your health.  Maintaining the good intestinal bacteria is vital to your overall health.  Taking a probiotic such as Enterobiotic SBOis a positive step in gastrointestinal health.

While cleanliness is important, avoid antibacterial soaps that alter bacteria on the skin.  A good vegetable based soap such as Dr. Bronner's Castile soap is adequate. Brushing the skin while bathing aids in lymphatic flow and exfoliation of dead cells.  

Another example of external terrain may include a clean hygienic space.  This may also include a spiritually healthy space that is supportive, friendly and happy.  Such an external environment is supportive of emotional health, which impacts your internal environment.  Negative emotions can increase blood pressure, decrease respirations, and cause hormone disruption.  While this is a sidelight to physical detoxification, there is such a thing as emotional detoxification.

Stay Well!

Eating Dirt

Have you ever eaten dirt?  Although you may be unaware, the answer is likely yes.  Perhaps you have inadvertently eaten particles of unwashed produce or consumed Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate, which contain clays.  Geophagy is the word to describe the consumption of clay.  This practice has been used to aid in child birth, male virility and various other cultural beliefs.  My father remembered as a child that a black woman he knew commonly ate clay as a remedy for intestinal issues.  This was part of the African culture.  My favorite earth mined substance is diatomaceous earth (DM). 

DM is the fossilized remains of hard-shelled algae known as a diatom.  This multi use silica abrasive has been used in toothpaste, in scrubs, deodorizers, facial masks, and as an insecticide.  DM can absorb six times its weight in water and is used in cat litter boxes. 

As an insecticide, it absorbs lipids or fats from the waxy outer layer of insects causing dehydration.  It is an effective, non-toxic substance that can be used as a dust for fleas or cockroaches. It can be taken by animals or humans internally for intestinal parasites.  For dogs you can make cornmeal biscuits with DM.   Wet DM for horses and mix in their feed.  And for humans, mix a tablespoonful in juice and drink.  The only precaution is not to breathe the dust because it causes silicosis, a respiratory disorder.

Silica is also an important mineral that is vital for skin, hair, and nails and for the recalcification of bones.  You will find it in any quality calcium/mineral supplement or hair, skin, and nail formulas.  It is commonly listed as horsetail, an herb which contains silica.  Silica may also interfere with the body’s retention of aluminum. 

The Homeopathic Materia Medica for Silica terra (Flint) is useful among other things “for soreness in the feet from the instep to the sole”.  I can offer a personal testimony for its effectiveness.  

Parasites?

                                                         Hook Worm (hook like) Mouth

At one time the image of the Southern “redneck” was viewed as a person poorly clothed, barefoot, lazy and of poor intelligence.  Some were thin with large abdomens and poor muscle development.  This was the Southern anemia caused by hookworms that enter the body as larvae thru the skin of bare feet.  They then enter the blood stream, migrate to the lungs, up the trachea and are swallowed to the digestive system.  The parasites feed on our blood.  They mate in our intestines and produce thousand of larvae that are passed on thru feces.  This was an illness of poor hygiene, clothing and the lack of adequate facilities.

In this day and age, little thought is given to human parasites. We are of course diligent about worming our pets.  Given their dietary indiscretions, worming our pets is a good idea.  So is there any risk to humans? 

You could be at risk if you have pets, allow them in your home, and/or sleep with them.  There is the old saying that “if you lie down with dogs you wake up with fleas” and perhaps other creatures.  Another potential risk is eating in restaurants that have workers that do not wash properly.   Some workers from the USA or other countries may have poor hygiene habits or contracted parasites from other parts of the world. Other risks include eating poorly cooked meat, especially pork, or eating sushi.  At risk recreational activities include swimming in lakes or rivers.

Symptoms of parasite problems include itching of personal areas, loss of appetite, hunger without satiety, constipation, protein deficiency, dry skin and hair, insomnia, fatigue, anemia, abdominal discomfort and grinding teeth at night.  Keep in mind that parasites consume your nutrition and create waste that your body has to deal with. 

Stool samples are not always conclusive.  You can have a negative stool sample but still have parasites.  So if you are at risk or have any of the symptoms listed above you might consider a parasite cleanse.  Herbal products include Wormwood, Black Walnut, Fennel seed, Pumpkin seed, Betel Nut, and West Indian Pink root.  This combination can be found in Verma Comp.  Adding the homepathic combination Verma HP is a great addition.