We all need three things to survive: air, water, and food. When consumed, these three elements are taken to required sites (organs and tissues) by the blood for absorption, and utilization. Therefore, any unwanted substance in these three elements, in form of poisons and toxins, gets to the blood and is ultimately transported to organs and tissues.
The body is smart enough and often equipped to handle such harmful substances by way of immune defenses and other purification processes.
For example, the liver purifies toxic blood with bile salts released by the gallbladder. Like the bi-products of the body’s metabolic processes, other substances that enter the body need to be eliminated via various channels: the skin, kidneys, colon, lungs and liver.
How & Why
Elimination channels can impinge on fitness
All channels of elimination serve a system in the body (see chart). When any channel is clogged or backed-up, the body finds an alternate route to supplement waste elimination. For example, unwanted materials that cannot be eliminated via the colon and kidneys show up on the skin.
Other channels may also be affected, like excessive mucus production resulting from poor digestion. Everyone has strong and weak channels. For some people, whenever they ingest poisons their first reaction is vomiting. Some rush to the john, while others tend to experience runny noses or sweat profusely.
The strongest channel is the first to go to work whenever there is an interference. When the channel is blocked other channels are sought. If all channels are blocked, poisons and toxins are stored in fatty tissues in the body. Some people crave fatty foods for this reason. It is like the body sends a message to the brain saying it needs fat to store poisons and toxins before they hurt other organs. Watch out when you crave greasy foods suddenly!
Weight gained through this process is hard to lose, as the body clings on to the fat tissues to store harmful substances. When the fat is burned the toxins are released and negative effects result. This is why sometimes, people get sick after exercise, or sudden weight loss.
Herb of the month of March, Lobelia, is a powerful decongestant that can help unclog body systems to function properly, especially the respiratory and nervous systems. It is also used as a laxative and to induce vomiting to rid the body of toxins. Renowned nineteenth-century herbalist-physician, Samuel Thomas relied on Lobelia to cleanse the body and rid it of toxins.