Environmental Pollution: Make Your Own Protective Herbal Formula
March 2, 2010 by Becki Baumgartner
Filed under Aging & Longevity, Boosting The Immune System, Herbology
The Effects of Environmental Pollution and Detoxification
Environmental pollution is one of the biggest challenges we are faced with today. Toxic chemicals are polluting our environment daily. People and wildlife are dying from exposure to them. We often hear words “environmental carcinogens” because many of those pollutants are being linked to causes of various types of cancer. Environmental pollution affects everything and everyone – it is in our air, soil and water. Along with being linked to cancer, it really affects all aspects of our health: reproductive, immune, nervous, respiratory, etc. Toxins we are faced with range from heavy metals, chemical vapors, and plastics all the way to radioactive materials. All of them impair normal processes within our organism. An example of what happens when we are exposed to a toxic substance is the way Strontium-90 endangers our health. Strontium-90 is dangerous because of its affinity for calcium that helps it bond with foods rich in calcium. Once contaminated calcium is ingested through food, it takes Strontium-90 directly to our bones where it damages bone marrow (Mowrey, 1986, p. 88).
Common signs that we are being exposed to harmful environmental pollution are: frequent headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness, memory loss, poor immunity, skin rashes, frequent colds, etc. We need to re-evaluate things we are (not) doing to relieve toxic pressure of the environment on our bodies.
Role of Detoxification
In our modern lifestyle, it is impossible to avoid environmental pollutants. Toxicity of our environment keeps increasing and it would be foolish to think that we can simply devise a plan of eliminating exposure. We should not be wondering if we are being exposed to toxins, but rather what we can do to relive their effects. Detoxification is critical for maintenance of good health and vitality. Often we hear of cleanse/detox protocols which helped people heal or overcome various symptoms. Reasons for such effects most likely lie in the causes of the relieved symptoms coming from different toxic pollutants person was exposed to. Our bodies have natural systems in place for detoxification, but they are not able to effectively remove all of the modern world toxins without help. Including regular detoxification in our lifestyle will help us improve efficiency of toxin elimination by our body, increase level of immunity, boost efficiency of processes that liver, kidneys and intestines are in charge of, and help prevention of many degenerative and cancerous diseases.
Make Your Own Protective Herbal Formula
Herbal Formula to Help Combat Environmental Pollution Effects
Formulation: Capsules
Recipe: Combine powdered herbs per below quantities (part refers to measurement by volume). Fill “00” size capsules.
3-parts Apple Fruit Pectin; 2-parts Alfalfa; 2-parts Kelp; 2-parts Echinacea root; 1-part Reishi mushroom; 1-part Prickly Ash bark; 1-part Mullein; 1-part Red Clover; 1-part Yellow Dock root; 1-part Dandelion root; 1-part Burdock root; 1-part Boldo leaves; 1-part Milk Thistle; 1-part Celandine.
To help minimize effects of environmental pollution on our bodies it would be helpful to use 2 to 4 capsules daily as you feel is needed.
Properties and Actions
Apple Fruit Pectin helps body excrete heavy metals (i.e. lead and mercury) much more efficiently (Morey, 1986, p. 91).
Alfalfa helps regenerate strength and vitality by slow and deep action of its superlative restorative functions (Tierra, 1998, p. 84). It has antitumor activity as it can neutralize various chemical carcinogens in the liver and colon (Tierra, 1998, p. 91).
Kelp helps prevent cancer and reduce the risk of poisoning from environmental pollution (Mowrey, 1986, p. 88).
Echinacea is the best herb for blood and lymph purification (Tierra, 1998, p. 13). It increases cellular resistance and activates macrophages that destroy cancerous cells (Green, 2000, p. 31).
Reishi mushroom supports immune system, stimulates macrophages protecting against cancer, and protects liver and body overall against free radicals (Green, 2000, p. 37).
Prickly Ash bark stimulates blood and lymph circulation and acts as a blood purifier (Tierra, 1998, p. 183).
Mullein helps remove excess fat where toxins are retained (Tierra, 1998, p. 13).
Red Clover is a very useful blood purifier and helps build body’s resistance to allergies (http://www.herbreference.com).
Yellow Dock is hepatic liver stimulant and laxative used for liver congestion (Tierra, 1998, p. 212). By working through liver and bowel it assists the body in dealing with metabolic wastes (Green, 2000, p. 35).
Dandelion root is good blood purifier mainly affecting liver functions. It has ability to clear obstructions and aid liver in eliminating toxins from the blood (Tierra, 1998, p. 127). It may also help clear obstructions of gallbladder, spleen, bladder, and kidneys.
Burdock root has abundance of minerals valuable for blood, but also promotes kidney function helping them filter the blood and eliminate harmful acids (Tierra, 1998, p. 105). Green (2000) calls it “deep food” because it helps move body into a state of well-nourished health protecting against build up of waste products (p. 35)
Boldo is known for its use to help liver and gallbladder (Tierra, 1998, p. 102).
Milk Thistle helps protect and regenerate liver (Tierra, 1998, p. 157).
Celandine is primarily used as liver detoxifying agent and has been used in treatment of hepatitis, jaundice, cancer, and skin problems (Tierra, 1998, p. 116).
A Few notes about the role of liver in process of detoxification:
Our body detoxifies naturally through functions of the liver, kidneys, intestines, lymphatic system, lungs, and skin. Largest part of this process occurs in the liver where, in order to be eliminated safely, many toxic substances are converted to less- or non-toxic molecules.
Toxins go through two detoxification pathways in the liver. First pathway breaks the toxic compound into intermediate compounds, while the second pathway works more efficiently at removing those bio-transformed products. The more effective second pathway is the less tissue damage will occur. Problems with either of these pathways will result in toxins being re-circulated in our body causing tissue damage and being stored in fat, bone, brain, and other organ tissue (Hoo, 2008). This puts tremendous stress on our liver, especially when we do not provide our body help in form of nourishment and detoxification on regular basis.
Finally, please note that this homemade formula does not replace our need for implementation of yearly thorough detox protocols in our lifestyle, but is meant to offer strong support and protection to our bodies in our day-to-day life and minimize the stress environmental pollution places on our whole being.
It is my hope that this above recipe will inspire you to try preparing your own herbal formula – weather using this specific recipe or creating your own.
As always, please feel free to email any of the questions we may be of assistance with.
In Health, Abundance, Love, and Light,
Daniela Sales
daniela@bodyandmindstl.com
Reiki Master Teacher and Wellness Consultant
The Avokado Studio of Arts for Creative Living
FREE Herbal Remedy Recipe every month! Sign up for our email newsletter at
223 S Kirkwood, Suite C
St Louis, MO 63122
P: 314 599 3649
Walk In Hours:
Mon – Fri 9am to Noon
Mon, Wed, Fri 5pm to 8pm
Sat 10am to 1pm
Other times by appointment only. Please email or call to schedule.
Disclaimer: The statements in this article are for educational purposes only and have not been evaluated by or sanctioned by the FDA. Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The remedies discussed herein are not meant to treat or cure any type of disease. The user understands that the above information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist.
References:
Green, J. (2002). The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook – A Home Manual. Berkley: Crossing Press
Hoo, A. C. (2008). The Role of Detoxification in Chronic Illness [Electronic version]. Doctor’s Choice Nutrition, 2. Retrieved June 17, 2008, from http://www.doctorschoicenutrition.ca
Mike Adams’ Natural News web site provides listing and herb properties with references (http://herbreference.com).
Mowrey, D. B. (1986). The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. Lincolnwood: Keats Publishing
Shillington, I. (2005). Data Pack for Cleanses and More. Clearwater: Organic Solutions
Tierra, M. (1998). The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books
Our World, Illuminated
www.luminearth.com
Disclaimer: The statements in this article are for educational purposes only and have not been evaluated by or sanctioned by the FDA. Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The remedies discussed herein are not meant to treat or cure any type of disease. The user understands that the above information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist.
Wonderful article. This is a must read. Congratulations!