Detoxification is a widely used treatment in alternative medicine for removing harmful toxins from our bodies. Although this method of healing has been around for thousands of years and is very popular in Europe, it is only recently becoming a popular treatment in North America.

Our body is designed to function and maintain itself at a high level of health. If this is true, why are so many of us unhealthy?

The answer to this question is modern society has created an environment full of preservatives, processed foods, drugs & medication which are very toxic to our bodies. In addition, industry produces many by products that are toxic not only to our bodies but also the environment.

These man made toxins are entering our bodies faster than our body’s natural detoxification system can cope with. As a result, they start to build up and accumulate throughout the body. If left unattended, these toxins will cause our body systems to malfunction and eventually lead to conditions such as premature aging, cancers, auto-immune diseases, skin disorders, hormone imbalances, anxiety, headaches, emotional disorders, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and chronic fatigue.

To overcome this build up of toxins, we need to detoxify our body to the point where our body systems start functioning properly again.

How will I know if my body needs to be detoxed? There are a myriad of symptoms that are strong indicators that our body may need help. Some of these include unexplained fatigue, increased allergies, hypersensitivity to common materials, intolerance to certain foods, indigestion, aches and pains, low grade fever, headaches, insomnia, depression, sore throats, sudden weight loss or gain, lowered resistance to infection, …. A proper detoxification program will remove harmful toxins from the body. With the toxins gone, the symptoms go away.

Detoxification is extremely beneficial for people suffering from chronic diseases and conditions such as allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, chronic infections, cancer, depression, diabetes, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar levels, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity. Detoxing can often minimize the effects of many of these diseases and in some cases cure them all together.

As our bodies and our environment become more polluted, we are starting to understand the significance of this on our health and wellness. As a result, detoxification therapies are increasing in importance and popularity. Some of these proven therapies include fasting, chelation therapy, massage therapy, acupressure, shiatsu, manual lymph drainage, and polarity therapy.

Another very successful detoxification therapy is sweating. Sweating therapies such as saunas and exercise, detoxify the body because the skin is a major organ for elimination.

A far infrared sauna is especially effective at eliminating toxins from your body and is up to three times more effective than a regular sauna. Infrared heat penetrates the body over one and a half inches. This causes a deep heating effect in the muscle tissues and internal organs, stimulating the cells. When the cellular metabolism is stimulated, the water molecules that hold the toxins break up and release the toxins. These toxins are removed from the body through the skin as perspiration.

During the detoxification process, you may have side effects such as fatigue, aches and pains, acne, headaches, allergies and symptoms of colds and flu. These negative side effects are part of the healing process and are caused by a temporary increase in toxin levels due to elimination and cleansing.

Although environmental medicine is gaining more respect within conventional medicine, it is not there yet. In the alternative medical community however, detoxification is an essential and widely accepted treatment for many illnesses and chronic conditions.

Sandy Hovey is a founding partner of TheFarInfraredStore.com. She can be reached at www.TheFarInfraredStore.com.