Let’s get straight to the point: Yes, it generally makes sense to approach the subject of detoxification together with an experienced doctor or therapist.

The complexity and number of chronic diseases have continued to increase in recent decades. Many people suffer from a variety of symptoms that are not always clearly attributable, but instead cause a great deal of worry and suffering: Headaches, joint pain, depressive moods, forgetfulness, sleep disorders, exhaustion and much more. The consequences are often excessive attempts at therapy and treatment, multiple medications, doctor hopping or simply resignation. Some people then come across the topic of detoxification in the course of their research and sense a new opportunity, a new approach to treatment.

Detoxify instead of intoxicate

Unfortunately, in most cases the family doctor is unable to help, and so a detoxification cure is started on the patient’s own initiative, e.g. with preparations from the drugstore such as zeolite, Schüssler salts or milk thistle. Unfortunately, this one-off attempt is often all that is left, and it either doesn’t help much or even leads to a worsening of the symptoms. How can this be? Quite simply, detoxification is a highly complex subject. Proper and effective detoxification requires specialist knowledge, perseverance and the combination of many carefully selected substances, which ideally should themselves be free of toxic substances.

Why detoxify?

Nowadays we are exposed to enormous quantities of various environmental toxins practically everywhere. How can we keep track of this? How can we protect ourselves and how can we relieve our bodies?

We have pesticides and heavy metals in our food and water. Bisphenol A and xenoestrogens in packaging, drinking bottles, toys, coffee filters, till receipts and personal care products. We have nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air we breathe.

In addition, the body’s own cell metabolism produces breakdown products every second, which in turn need to be disposed of or detoxified. For example, if we overeat and/or malnourish ourselves for years, not only do we produce more breakdown products such as acids or cholesterol, but we also suffer from a micronutrient deficiency. And micronutrients or secondary plant substances are absolutely essential for detoxification to work.

Why electromagnetic radiation can block detoxification

Scientific studies clearly demonstrate the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation on the body, particularly on brain activity and metabolic processes in the brain (especially melatonin production). Our brain is not only responsible for thinking and remembering, it is also an endocrine gland that produces messenger substances. If it comes into contact with electromagnetic radiation, this leads to stress and massive EEG changes. And this can result in a wide range of health effects: Impairment of sleep architecture and regenerative capacity, impaired motor learning processes during sleep, reduced detoxification function, reduced fertility, cognitive disorders or memory problems, intensification of pre-existing inflammation or chronic diseases.

In addition, the microorganisms that live with us in our bodies are not happy to be exposed to electromagnetic fields. Germs such as fungi or bacteria feel attacked and therefore behave more aggressively or multiply more quickly.

The recommendation to our patients at the THERA Praxisklinik is therefore to have their own four walls examined and cleared of interference by a building biologist or, alternatively, to use the latest interference suppression technologies for electrical appliances themselves. In our view, an unpolluted environment is essential for maintaining or restoring health.

Amalgam & denture material

Fortunately more and more banned today, but once common practice: “fillings”.

Dental fillings made of amalgam – durable, easy to process and inexpensive. What many people don’t realize is that the amalgam contained in the silver-grey fillings consists of around 50% mercury. And this mercury is now exposed to constant everyday stress in our oral cavity: When we chew, grind or brush our teeth or are exposed to heat, for example, small particles can be rubbed off or vapors can be released and enter the body via the oral mucosa. After approx. 10 years, only half of the mercury originally present is still in the fillings. The rest must inevitably have been “lost” in the body or the environment. Oops. In the body, mercury can (among other things) block enzymes (and thus damage the mitochondrial metabolism, for example), bind trace elements, promote the formation of free radicals, damage DNA or accumulate in nerve cells or muscles. It is not without reason that links between mercury exposure and diseases of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are being discussed. This is because mercury is highly toxic even in very small quantities and also has a very long half-life.

Today, there are increasing numbers of dentists who offer safe and effective amalgam removal and restoration: With rubber dam protection, special drilling procedures, special suction cups and accompanying detoxification therapy. These protective measures should always have the highest priority for every amalgam removal.

A combination of different metals in the oral cavity creates a “battery effect”. Due to its high mineral content, saliva is the perfect electrolytic solution and a constant flow of ions is the result. The oral cavity becomes a field of tension.

Often there are even several different metal fillings in the mouth, for example gold crowns, titanium implants and amalgam fillings. These combinations are particularly dangerous, as they lead to mutual negative reinforcement and a so-called “battery effect“. When two different metals are placed in a conductive solution (in this case saliva), a constant flow of electrons occurs. This causes further increased decomposition of the above-mentioned dental materials and also significantly increased electrosensitivity.

What is the right way to detox?

Three phases of biotransformation

In the biochemistry of detoxification, a distinction is made between three phases: In the first phase, toxins are converted into a reactive (toxic) intermediate product (=detoxification), in the second phase fat-soluble toxins are made water-soluble (=detoxification), and then in the third phase they are transferred into the bloodstream and excreted via the intestines, kidneys or skin.

The entire biotransformation of toxins is ensured and regulated by various detoxification enzymes, which in turn can be assigned to phase I or II. However, the enzyme equipment and enzyme functionality is highly individual – and therefore makes every detoxification process a kind of “black box”. We do not know what is in each person’s box, what their genetic make-up is and how fast their metabolism runs. For example, 15-17% of people have a slow metabolism and therefore tend to be less able to detoxify. A further complexity is that the individual phases can proceed differently well or poorly. In particular, a weak phase II (with a strong phase I at the same time) can lead to massive problems. As is so often the case, this is once again about balance. All processes must interlock.

The basic requirements: Intestine, liver and lymphatic system

If the liver is overloaded due to the high level of toxins and waste products, the harmful substances are not eliminated but are instead preferentially stored in fat cells. And if the fat cells no longer have any storage capacity, then the toxins are inevitably stored in other tissues (e.g. in the muscles, in endocrine organs such as the prostate or, unfortunately, in some cases also in the brain).

Many natural herbs can gently support the liver and gall bladder. Prominent examples are milk thistle, artichoke, dandelion and yarrow.

If our gut is not healthy or our diet is inadequate, the toxins that are secreted by the liver via the bile are not excreted, but are reabsorbed instead. They return to the bloodstream (=re-intoxication). In addition, metabolic toxins are produced in the diseased intestine through fermentation processes and harmful bacteria and fungi (=dysbiosis), which place an additional burden on the organism.

If our lymphatic system is blocked, toxic metabolites can no longer be removed from the intercellular space and can attack the tissue. And finally, a balanced acid-base balance with intact kidney function is also an important basic requirement for effective detoxification.

So there is a lot to consider in order to detoxify properly and effectively and it is very important that all the organs and systems mentioned work well together.

How important is a good supply of nutrients to be able to detox properly?

In principle, it is quite simple: if the body lacks vital substances, it can no longer do its job. This is particularly true when it comes to detoxification. THERA Praxis therefore always pays particular attention to an adequate supply of micronutrients. Minerals, trace elements and vitamins should be “replenished” before starting a detoxification journey, as all enzymatic processes (see biochemistry of detoxification above) can only run correctly if the corresponding vital substances are available as “co-factors”. Secondary plant substances and antioxidants also help the cell with its detoxification function and at the same time increase the body’s own glutathione levels (e.g. resveratrol or quercetin). Important to know in this context: Toxins such as mercury or aluminum also directly cause a nutrient deficiency by irreversibly binding trace elements, among other things. In addition, many detoxification measures lead to a loss of vital minerals and trace elements in addition to the elimination of toxins. This should always be taken into account and compensated for in every detoxification treatment.

What can we do?

1. Measure
2. Eat a diet rich in nutrients and chlorophyll-containing foods (as natural as possible) and substitute micronutrients if necessary

Fig.: Various plant substances promote detoxification and also have an antioxidant effect

Heavy metal elimination and chelation

Another focus of the THERA Praxisklinik is the targeted elimination of heavy metals. We first carry out a heavy metal test to determine the level of contamination. This involves administering so-called chelators via an infusion, which bind the heavy metals in the body and cause them to be excreted. The amount of heavy metals is then determined in the urine. Subsequently, chelation therapy can be carried out regularly to detoxify the body and remove heavy metals.

Further information can be found here:

• Diagnosis of heavy metal exposure
• Chelation Therapy

Support the detoxification process

Supporting measures can be, for example, an ion foot bath or colon hydrotherapy. We offer both therapies to our patients on the premises of the THERA practice in Berlin.

Many other substances can accompany and promote detoxification (orally or intravenously): DMSO, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, coriander; wild garlic, alkalizing agents or infusions, MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) or even melatonin.

To prevent re-intoxication in the intestine, it makes sense to use special toxin-binding agents. These include, for example, healing earth or zeolite, algae such as chlorella or simply an increase in fiber intake.

What can I do at home to promote detoxification?

• Alternating showers, regular sauna sessions, body brushing, sport and exercise (circulation-promoting measures, sweating)
• Breathe consciously (exhalation of acidic carbon dioxide, regulation of acid-base balance and autonomic nervous system)
• Avoid harmful foods: Sugar, alcohol, extracted flours, pork, smoked foods, refined vegetable oils, etc.
• Take alkaline baths and eat an alkaline diet (regulation of acid-alkaline balance)
• Fasting cures or intermittent fasting (stimulates so-called “autophagy”, i.e. the cleansing of individual cells)

Fig.: Regular sauna sessions can stimulate the lymph and metabolism and increase the amount of toxins sweated out through the skin.