What is a Healing Crisis?

What is a Healing Crisis?

Detoxification is meant to rejuvenate the mind and body and positively impact well being and clarity. However, sometimes the initial reaction to a detoxification programhttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32148 can be anything but pleasant. The process of healing sometimes includes a healing crisis, also known as the detox reaction, the cleansing reaction, and the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. 



During a healing crisis, you can feel even worse than before you started your detox program. The good news is that this reaction is likely a sign that you’re getting better by way of a deep and thorough cleansing.

What is a Healing Crisis?

Environmental toxins accumulate in tissue throughout the body, especially fat tissue. Additionally, the human body has bacterial colonies. When you cleanse your body, the toxins dislodge and the bacteria die off and release endotoxins. When the toxins and waste are dislodged, the body begins to flush them into the bloodstream to be filtered and eliminated. This sudden circulation of toxins can temporarily impact your well being and symptoms of illness (sweating, feverhttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ff/fever.php, discomfort, etc.) may occur.

What are the Indications of a Healing Crisis?

The indications that you’re experiencing a healing crisis can include headache, nausea, and fever — symptoms typically experienced during illness. During the crisis, a recurrence of symptoms from long-forgotten illnesses may also occur. Symptoms of a healing crisis vary from one person to another and may include:

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- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Aches and soreness
- Low-grade fever
- Anxiety
- Mood swings http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=33297
- Nausea
- Skin irritations
- Stuffy nose
- Congestion
- Low blood pressure

How Long Does a Healing Crisis Last?

A healing crisis generally lasts around three days, depending on the individual and the severity of their situation. The more severe the toxicity, the more intense the healing crisis can be. As your body begins to expel toxins, your energy may decrease and you may begin to feel ill. If it happens, take it as a sign that your body is working to flush out toxins and waste.

What Else Can Cause a Healing Crisis?

Sometimes you don’t even need to begin a cleansing protocol to experience a healing crisis. Women who’ve participated in reflexology have reported experiencing the effects. [1] Massage, sauna bathing http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33295, and other therapies may also dislodge toxins and encourage a healing crisis (and healing!).

Conventional medicine has indicated that treatment protocols for many diseases can include a healing crisis. For example, syphilishttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ss/syphilis.php treatments often initiate a Jarisch-Herxheimer response (healing crisis), with headache, fever, chills, worsening of lesions, and malaise. [2] [3] Case studies suggest antibiotics for leptospirosis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection, may prompt a healing crisis, too. [4]



How to Handle a Healing Crisis

For a cleanse- or detox-induced healing crisis, it’s important to stay hydrated with purified water to encourage your body to flush and expel the toxins. Depending on the detox program, lemon juice http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33580 and herbal teas may also help flush out toxins and provide nutrients and antioxidants. Massage http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33520, acupuncture http://bit.ly/acupuncture-benefits, EFT (emotional freedom technique), and meditation may be helpful for relieving the indications of a healing crisis, especially anxiety http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=111&t=33294 and stresshttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=120&t=33642.

Have You Experienced a Healing Crisis?

While a healing crisis may be difficult to endure, rest assured it will pass and you will be better because of it. What are your experiences before, during, and after a cleansehttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33132? Have you ever experienced a healing crisis? What was it like? Share your experience in the comments!

by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. Gunnarsdottir TJ, Jonsdottir H. Healing crisis in reflexology: becoming worse before becoming better http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20920811. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2010 Nov;16(4):239-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.01.005.

2. Meislin HW, Bremer JC. Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Case report http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1018353. JACEP. 1976 Oct;5(10):779-81.

3. Belum GR, Belum VR, Chaitanya Arudra SK, Reddy BS. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction: revisited http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23632012. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2013 Jul-Aug;11(4):231-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.04.001.

4. C. Vaughan, C. C. Cronin, E. K. Walsh, and M. Whelton. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in leptospirosis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2397641/. Postgrad Med J. Feb 1994; 70(820): 118-121.

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BPA-Free Does NOT Mean Safe

BPA-Free Does NOT Mean Safe

If you’ve been practicing a healthy lifestyle for awhile now, you’re probably familiar with the health dangers of BPA. Many manufacturers of plastic products are now coming out with BPA-free alternatives http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33661 to appease the health-conscious consumers, but this may not be enough. Sciences tells us that the chemicals used to replace BPA, namely BPS and BPF, may be just as bad. Fortunately, safer alternatives do exist.



The Dangers of the BPA Substitutes BPS and BPF

Compounds in common plastic products have been linked to disruption in hormone levels http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=122&t=32200 which can lead to weight gain, fertility issues, and even cancer. These dangers have prompted many companies switched to BPA substitutes in effort to provide safer products for the public. The thing is, Bisphenol S and Bisphenol F (the main replacements for BPA) are no better. [1] The replacements are still linked to obesity, cancer, and hyperactivity.

BPA Substitute Dangers

You may think that choosing products with a BPA-free label is doing your body good, but think again. This over zealous yet misguided marketing term is doing more harm than good, and the science is showing it. Recent evidence suggests that BPA substitutes, like BPS and BPF, also interfere with the endocrine system, potentially reducing serum testosterone http://bit.ly/testosterone-support concentration in males. [2] [3] Others have suggested that the BPA substitutes are linked with irregular heartbeats, too. [4]

How Can I Avoid BPA, BPS, and BPF?

Fortunately, by avoiding BPA or any of its many alternative, you can limit your exposure to this harmful ingredient. By avoiding things like food wrap, plastic containers, plastic bags, hard plastic water bottles, and cleaning products that contain plastic you will certainly limit your exposure. You can instead use stainless steel water bottles, plastic-free cleaning supplies, glass containers, and ceramic cookware.

How have you eliminated BPA and its substitutes from your life? Leave a comment below and share a tip.

by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. Reuters. Replacement for BPA in plastics also suspect: study http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/13/us-canada-study-bisphenol-idUSKBN0KM02G20150113. Reuters.

2. Eladak S, Grisin T, Moison D, et al. A new chapter in the bisphenol A story: bisphenol S and bisphenol F are not safe alternatives to this compoundhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25475787. Fertil Steril. 2015 Jan;103(1):11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.11.005.

3. Rochester JR, Bolden AL. Bisphenol S and F: A Systematic Review and Comparison of the Hormonal Activity of Bisphenol A Substituteshttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25775505. Environ Health Perspect. 2015 Jul;123(7):643-50. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1408989.

4. Thaddeus Schug. BPA exposure traced to abnormal heart rhythms http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/science-bpa/. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Environmental Factor. May 2012.

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Plastics chemicals cause genital malformation in male infants

Plastics chemicals cause genital malformation in male infants

A new study has added more evidence that prenatal exposure to the ubiquitous plastic-softening chemicals known as phthalates can produce genital malformation in male children. The study was conducted by researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and published in the journal Human Reproduction on February 19.



Numerous other studies have suggested that phthalates may damage the development of the male reproductive tract. In addition to plastics, the chemicals are widely used in lotions, perfumes and other cosmetics, as well as food packaging and medical supplies. They have been conclusively established as endocrine disruptors, meaning that they disrupt the normal function of the body's hormonal system.

Phthalates have also been linked with damage to the nervous system.

Changes linked with adult reproductive problems

The study was conducted on more than 700 pregnant women and their children, from four U.S. cities. The researchers took samples of the women's urine during the first trimester of pregnancy -- the time period when the fetal reproductive tract is starting to develop -- and measured levels of 11 different phthalate metabolites. They found that newborn boys who had been exposed in utero to the highest levels of the phthalate known as diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) had an anogenital distance 4 percent shorter than boys exposed to the lowest DEHP levels.

Anogenital distance (the length between the anus and the genitals) is a marker of reproductive health. Because anogenital distance tends to be 50 to 100 percent longer in males than in females, researchers believe that a shorter anogenital distance in males might be a sign of incomplete masculinization -- an effect consistent with phthalates' proven ability to mimic estrogen in the body. Prior studies have also shown that phthalates including DEHP may block the testes from producing male sex hormones.

No connection was found between anogenital distance and exposure to the 10 other phthalates http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31783. No connection was found in newborn girls.

It is still unknown whether the shortened anogenital distance seen in the current study could lead to other health problems, or whether it is a non-causative marker of such changes. It is also unclear whether the change was permanent or the boys' anogenital distance would normalize as they matured.

Studies in animals have, however, connected shortened anogenital distance at birth with later reproductive problems, and human studies have linked it to eventual semen problems and testicular abnormalities.

Phthalates are everywhere, but you can still reduce exposure

Though, three phthalates, including DEHP, were banned from U.S. children's products in 2008, the chemicals are still ubiquitous. Lead author Shanna Swan noted that, based on the new study and studies she conducted in 2000-2002, 2005 and 2008, DEHP exposure has consistently been dropping. Yet even the lesser exposure now found still seems to produce health effects.

"We are finding a significant association between male anogenital distance and phthalates at lower and lower levels, which suggests that there may be no safe level of exposure," she said.

In addition, many other phthalates are still used in consumer and industrial products at high levels. A June 2014 study in the journal Environmental Health showed that a young child eating a typical U.S. diet is exposed to twice the phthalate levels considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency from food and food packaging sources alone.

So what is a concerned parent or consumer to do? Swan suggests avoiding processed foods, which are more likely to come into contact with phthalates. In addition, a 2010 study found that eating a vegetarian diet for just five days led to an immediate and dramatic drop in phthalate levels in the urine.

Sources for this article include: 

http://www.livescience.com/49870-phthalates-chemical-plastics-boys-genital-development.html

http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31783

http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32313

http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=31497

http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=34862

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3 Foods That Help Cleanse Your Lungs

3 Foods That Help Cleanse Your Lungs

Pistachios

Pistachios don’t provide the same direct lung cleansing benefits the way many herbs do. But they’re still important to anyone interested in improving their lung health. Studies suggest that pistachios may help prevent lung cancer [1]. They contain a special type of Vitamin E http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=32131, known as gamma-tocopherol that can possibly offer a certain level of protection against some forms of lung cancer http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/cc/lungcancer.php. 



More research is needed to prove this conclusively, but, either way, these delicious nuts still provide a spectrum of benefits.. Pistachios are also thought to help lower cholesterolhttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/hh/highbloodcholesterol.php. Raw pistachios are the best choice and make a great, regular snack. It’s easy to snack on raw nuts and experience satisfaction without empty calories or the weight gain that comes with them.



Plantain Leaf

Plantain is another food that can help cleanse your lungs. Plantain Leaf http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=33693, which is a popular food wrap in Cuba and other Latin American countries, is not seen in the mainstream in North American. However, you can find it, and I would recommend using plantain leaf makes as a very tasty wrap around a number of foods. A quick online search for “plantain leaf recipes” will bring up items you should try. As always, avoid recipes that call for processed sugar or flour, use organic or locally grown, vegetables and hormone free foods as ingredients.

Cayenne Pepper

Eaten both as a foodstuff and used as a seasoning, these popular peppers can contribute as many as 17 health and wellness benefitshttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=34115 to the body. They have been known to help suppress irritating coughs and sore throats, and help with indications of cold and flu. Cayenne pepper helps break up and move congested mucus, making it a recommended food for anyone who is suffering from bronchial congestion or respiratory ailments.



The Best Lung Support Supplement: AllerTrex®

In addition to these effective foods, you can also supplement with AllerTrex® http://bit.ly/LungCleanse. This powerful lung cleansing formula consists of a blend of all natural herbs that have been used to help lung related symptoms for centuries. AllerTrex® is alcohol-free and the first product of its kind on the market.

by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

American Association for Cancer Research. Pistachios may reduce lung cancer risk http://www.aacr.org/home/public--media/aacr-press-releases.aspx?d=1673. Press Releases:2009. 2009 December 8.

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6 Reasons BPA is a Toxic Poison

6 Reasons BPA is a Toxic Poison

I’m sure just about everyone has heard of BPA, but many people are still confused about its presence and safety risk. Simply put, bisphenol-Ahttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32616 is a synthetic compound used in plastic and epoxy resins. What does that really mean to you? Think about everyday items like water bottles, sports equipment, CDs, and DVDs. On the epoxy side, you might have BPA lining the inside of food cans and water pipes, or in thermal paper (the kind used in receipts). Studies indicate the majority of Americans test positive for BPA. [1] Why is this a problem? Well for one thing, BPA can lead to endocrine disorders or other health problems. I’m going to run through 6 reasons why you’re much better off without this compound and some simple advice for how you can avoid BPA.



1. BPA is Especially Dangerous to Women

Recent evidence suggests that BPA is toxic to a woman’s ovaries http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32639. [2] One study found that after exposure, follicle production was fewer and smaller as the production of estradiol, a hormone necessary for normal reproductive development, had become stunted. [3] There’s even evidence suggesting that BPA exposure can shorten the reproductive lifespan and lead to infertility http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ii/infertility.php. [4]


2. BPA Causes Lung Problems in Kids

In addition to being harmful to a woman’s reproductive system, there’s evidence suggesting that exposure can also cause issues for the unborn child during pregnancy. [5] In a study of mothers and infants, the mothers with higher levels of BPA had children with decreased lung function. According to the study, each tenfold increase in the average BPA concentration corresponded to a 14.2 decrease in lung function. [6] The study also noted that the children were more likely to develop persistent wheezing by age 5, suggesting the very scary idea that an expectant mother’s BPA exposure can actually affect her child’s lung development.

3. BPA Leaches Into Bottled Water

Years ago, there was a concern that drinking from water bottles left in hot cars increased cancer risk. That was never proven, but what is certain is that toxic levels of BPA seep into water from plastic. For over four weeks, scientists studied plastic water bottles left in three different temperature conditions. The highest temperature — 158 degrees Fahrenheit — was chosen because car interiors can easily reach that on a hot day. In the hottest bottles, there was an increase in levels of BPA, suggesting that the levels of this poison steadily increase over time. [7]

4. BPA Pollutes the Air

It’s bad enough that BPA is in so many items, but recent evidence even suggests it’s polluting the environment. Chemical companies often use BPA as a plasticizer to make plastic stronger and, in 2013, over 26 tons of the stuff was released into the air. What does that mean for us? Well, not only do we have to worry about ingesting BPA or absorbing it through the skin, inhalation is also a concern. In fact, one study found that BPA is everywhere. [8] To give you some more perspective, another study found BPA in everyday household dust. [9]

5. BPA Raises Blood Pressure

Here’s another reason to avoid BPA: a study suggests that it can cause a small spike in blood pressure, something that could cause problems for those with hypertensionhttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/hh/highbloodpressure.php. The Korean study followed 60 individuals as they drank the same brand of soy milk from BPA-free glass bottles and BPA-lined cans. Each individual was studied three times: as they drank from the bottles, as they drank from the cans, and as they drank from each. Not only was there an increase in systolic blood pressure when drinking from the cans, urinary concentration of BPA increased following consumption of the canned beverages by more than 1,600 percent compared with the consumption of the glass bottles. [10]


6. BPA is Confusing the Government

While it’s bad enough that it’s wrecking our health, it also seems to have a firm hold on the minds of our officials. Although the EPA recognizes that BPA is dangerous, the FDA says it’s safe. The EPA just recognized BPA, along with 22 other toxins, as a health risk; however, the FDA takes a markedly different approach. [11] While the agency recognizes that BPA is normally ingested, exposure levels are negligible and not a concern. [12] The FDA even claims that there is no risk to the unborn child. They cling to the belief that BPA is safe despite the number of studies suggesting otherwise.

Avoiding BPA

Avoiding BPA is a must, but be careful — a product with the BPA-free label doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe. Bisphenol-S (BPS) is a common replacement for BPA. Initially used because it was thought to be more resistant to leaching, BPS is just as bad. Once it gets into the body, it parallels the actions of BPA. [13] It seems as if BPA-free plastic might be just as harmful. So what can you do for your health? Make the smartest choice available to you and choose glass containers.

What do you do to keep BPA and alternatives out of your life? Let us know in the comments below.

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. Vanderberg, L, et al. Human exposures to bisphenol A: mismatches between data and assumptions http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23612528. Reviews on Environmental Health. 28 (1).

2. Peretz, J. et al. Bisphenol A and Reproductive Health: Update of Experimental and Human Evidence, 2007–2013 http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/122/8/ehp.1307728.pdf. Environmental Health Perspectives. 122 (8).

3. Peretz, J. et al. Bisphenol A Impairs Follicle Growth, Inhibits Steroidogenesis, and Downregulates Rate-Limiting Enzymes in the Estradiol Biosynthesis Pathwayhttp://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/119/1/209.full. Toxicological Sciences. 119 (1).

4. Wang, W. et al. In utero Bisphenol A exposure disrupts germ cell nest breakdown and reduces fertility with age in the mouse http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/In-utero-bisphenol-exposure-disrupts/24576723.html. Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology. 276 (2).

5. Boxe-Blaszczak, A. BPA Exposure During Pregnancy Linked to Lung Problems in Children http://www.livescience.com/48168-bpa-pregnancy-lung-problems-children.html. Live Science.

6. Spanier, A. et al. Bisphenol A Exposure and the Development of Wheeze and Lung Function in Children Through Age 5 Years http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1913573. JAMA Pediatrics. 168 (12).

7. Fan et al. Effects of storage temperature and duration on release of antimony and bisphenol A from polyethylene terephthalate drinking water bottles of Chinahttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24907857. Environmental Pollution 192.

8. Fu, P. Ubiquity of bisphenol A in the atmosphere http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20678833. Environmental Pollution. 158 (10).

9. Bienkowski, B. BPA in the air: Manufacturing plants in Ohio, Indiana, Texas are top emitters http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/oct/bpa-emissions. Environmental Health News.

10. Fox, M. Could the Chemical BPA Raise Your Blood Pressure? http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/could-chemical-bpa-raise-your-blood-pressure-n264151 NBC News.

11. Rizzuto, P. EPA Adds 23 Chemicals, Including BPA, to Key List for Scrutiny, Possible Action http://www.bna.com/epa-adds-23-n17179910646/. Bloomberg BNA.

12. Rizzuto, P. Bisphenol A Is Safe for Approved Uses In Food Containers http://www.bna.com/bisphenol-safe-approved-n17179918114/, Packaging, FDA Says. Bloomberg BNA.

13. Bilbrey, J. BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Hazardous http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bpa-free-plastic-containers-may-be-just-as-hazardous/. Scientific American.

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