“I don’t understand; I am working with a homeopath, but my child’s skin is getting worse. What is going on?”
This is a common issue when using homeopathy in complex cases like PANS/PANDAS, especially for skin related issues.
There are several things that can cause the above scenario (that’s a topic for another blog post), but what is often the case is that the body’s normal detox pathways are blocked, causing the symptoms to increase in intensity.
But before we jump in, let’s define what detox pathways are.
What are detox pathways?
The human body has multiple detox pathways that work together to remove harmful substances, waste products, and toxins from the body. These systems include the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and the gastrointestinal tract, all of which play vital roles in maintaining internal balance and health.
- Liver: The liver is the primary detox organ. It filters blood coming from the digestive tract, neutralizing harmful substances, and breaking down toxins through enzymatic reactions. The liver transforms fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble compounds, which can then be excreted through urine or bile. It also produces bile, which aids in the digestion and elimination of fats, including fat-soluble toxins.
- Kidneys: The kidneys filter blood to remove excess waste, fluids, and toxins. They regulate fluid balance and electrolytes, and their filtration process results in urine formation, which carries waste products out of the body. The kidneys also help maintain acid-base balance, another crucial component of detoxification.
- Skin: The skin serves as a barrier and excretes toxins through sweat. Sweat glands release water, salts, and small amounts of metabolic waste.
- Lungs: The lungs expel volatile toxins, including carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of cellular metabolism. Breathing also helps eliminate certain chemicals and particulate matter, particularly in response to inhaled pollutants.
- Gastrointestinal Tract: The digestive system plays an essential role in detoxification through digestion and elimination. The intestines process food, and fiber helps bind to waste products, which are eventually excreted. The gut microbiome also contributes by metabolizing toxins and supporting immune function.
Together, these detox pathways form a sophisticated system that supports the body’s health. But when one of these pathways is blocked, it can lead to the body trying to forcefully eliminate toxics a different way.
What blocks the detox pathways?
There are many factors that can hinder the body’s detox pathways.
- Too much processed foods
- A lack of key vitamins
- Chronic stress
- Environmental toxins
- Endocrine Disruptors
- Dehydration
- Long term use of certain medications or drugs
- Chronic loss of sleep
- MTHFR Gene Mutations
- Mold
- Sedentary Lifestyle
And there are more, but there are the most common.
Tips for Opening Pathways
These are some ways that I have found helpful and have learned over the years from different health professionals. Note: I’m just a homeopath, so use your discretion in following these tips.
Drink Plenty of Water: Staying hydrated supports kidney function, which is crucial for filtering toxins and waste products. A good goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces throughout the day to ensure that the kidneys can effectively excrete toxins through urine. Adding some lemon or a pinch of himalayan salt can further stimulate detoxification by promoting bile production and increasing the body’s ability to flush out waste.
Include Fiber in diet: Eating fiber-rich foods (like whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables) helps promote healthy digestion and regular bowel movements. This aids in the elimination of toxins through the gastrointestinal system and reduces the risk of reabsorption of waste products.
Increase Lymphatic Drainage via gentle movement: Activities like yoga, rebounding (trampoline exercise), and gentle movement stimulate lymphatic flow, helping to eliminate toxins through the lymphatic system. Human Garage on youtube is a great place to get simple gentle movements, while Gonoodle (also on youtube) provides fun engaging exercises for children.
Spend Time in Nature: Fresh air and time outdoors, especially in green spaces, can support lung detoxification. The increased exposure to oxygen helps the body eliminate waste more efficiently. I have noticed even in my own life that spending time outside also helps boosts my mood when I’m feeling down.
Minimize Chemical Exposure: Reducing exposure to environmental toxins (such as pesticides, plastics, and industrial chemicals) is critical for maintaining open detox pathways. Choose natural cleaning products, avoid plastic containers for food storage, and use organic personal care products when possible.
I have found that having these in my life along with doing homeopathic treatment, increases the body’s ability to heal.
Word of caution: Don’t try to implement all these tips at once; its better to pick one area to work with, make it part of your routine, before adding another one in, espeically if doing this to help a complex child. Your mental health is important too.
Now onto to homeopathy.
How Homeopathy helps open detox pathways
Homeopathy is a good tool to use, as it plays a role in stimulating the body’s natural detoxification processes, especially by addressing the root causes of toxin buildup and supporting the function of organs involved in detoxing.
Homeopathy can help open detox pathways by:
- Supporting Liver Detoxing
- Supporting the Kidneys
- Help the Lymphatic system function
- Help restore balance to the gut
- Clearing suppressed emotions
- Detoxing after chemical, environmental or inherited toxin exposure
Homeopathic Remedies to help Support the Pathways
There are so many homeopathic remedies out there that help support & detox the pathways. It was a challenge to narrow down my favorites, but here they are:
- Lycopodium clavatum: This remedy is useful when there are digestive and liver issues, particularly when there is a sluggish liver that’s not efficiently processing toxins. It is often indicated when there is bloating, gas, or indigestion that may suggest liver-related dysfunction.
- Calcarea carbonica: This remedy is used for general detoxification and immune system support. It can help with sluggish lymphatic function, improving the body’s ability to clear out waste and toxins, especially when there are signs of congestion or fluid retention.
- Natrum muriaticum: This remedy is often used when emotional blockages or unresolved grief seem to be contributing to physical ailments or toxin buildup in the body. By addressing emotional detoxification, it can indirectly support physical detox processes, as emotional stress can place a significant burden on organs like the liver.
- Thuja occidentalis: This remedy is often recommended for detoxing from exposure to chemicals, including vaccines, and other environmental toxins. It helps the body release toxins that have been stored in the tissues.
- Sulphur is one of the most commonly used remedies for skin detoxing, particularly for individuals with chronic skin conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis. It is useful for skin that is inflamed, itchy, and covered in red or scaly patches. But be careful using this remedy self-prescribed for skin conditions, as at times it can causes a flare of symptoms.
- Giving a organ support remedy I have found to be especially helpful in skin conditions and with sensitive individuals. These remedies give a booster to the targeted organ, helping the healing process not be so rough.
To be continued..
There are so many amazing remedies out there to help support the different detox pathways. I will have to write more blogposts on each detox pathway as it will make this post be too long
Just be aware that homeopathy is individualized, so the best remedy for you or your child will depend on the specific symptoms, constitution, and overall health of the individual. This are simple suggestions to be used at your own discretion.
Consulting with a homeopath is the easiet way, as you don’t have to become the expert. If you are interested in working with us, you can connect with us here.