and safe. The majority of ADHD patients I see go through a mild detox and their hyperactivity calms down, they feel bet- ter, and do better in school. Our body is constantly in the process
of removing toxins. In with the good, out with the bad! Our liver and kidneys are the primary organs of toxin removal, known as emunctories. They excrete water and fat-soluble toxins through the urine and stool. The first part of detoxi- fication is to make sure those things are moving. Drinking plenty of water, espe- cially on hot, summer days will ensure good urine flow, and of course making sure your children have daily bowel movements is the first and most essen- tial part of toxin removal. You wouldn’t want to spring clean with the windows closed! Where would all the dust go? The next part of detoxification is
adding substances that will actively re- move the offender. You don’t wash your clothes in just water; you add soap, and other spray on detergents to remove the stain from your clothes. We do the same with detoxification, but there are many different strengths of detoxification, and with increasing strengths come increas- ing risks. The mildest detoxification is add-
ing detox foods, especially broccoli and cauliflower that contain substances called DIM and I3C that help process
toxins. Infrared saunas, clay baths, and Epsom salt baths are also mild detoxi- fiers that help remove offenders. More moderate detoxifiers include natural substances such as NAC, calcium-d- glucarate, MSM, and silymarin. They are more aggressive substances that work faster to detoxify. The most aggressive of the bunch are chelators, substances that are injected IV (intravenously) to quickly remove toxins: DMSA, DMPS, EDTA to name a few. While quick and effective, they carry the most risk, especially caus- ing depletions of electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper.
What’s Your Naturopathic Answer?
While all detoxification protocols
are effective, and all have scientific research to prove their effectiveness, which way is best for your child? That answer lies in the combination of the level of toxicity, and your comfort level of protocol. We test every child for toxins through heavy metal panels, but more importantly, porphyrin panels. Mercury and lead are not the only toxins in the world. Microwaved plastics, pesticides, dioxins, are a few of the tens of thou- sands of substances that can cause dam- age to the brain and cause ADHD.
Joseph came back into my office
yesterday, amazed that his teachers are so happy with him at school. His grades are A’s again, and he’s not getting into trouble. Joe’s mom was ecstatic that he was so much healthier, and more impor- tantly, so much happier. We found the cause of what was causing his problems. No more drugs for him, and no more treatment. Detoxification is usually a permanent solution. We found his natur- opathic answer and can find yours too.
Dr. Jared Skowron is a national expert on natural medicine for children. Au- thor of Fundamentals of Naturopathic Pediatrics, the most up-to-date book on scientifically proven natural remedies for children’s health conditions, he is also founder of the Pediatric & Autism Clinic at the University of Bridgeport. Dr. Skowron has appeared on Animal Planet, Dogs 101, and lectures nation- ally on natural medicine for children. He and his wife practice at Harvest Park in Wallingford, CT. See ad on page 36.
www.naturalnutmeg.com
August 2010
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