HOMOTOXICOSIS & SICKNESS

The Theory of Homotoxicosis

One of the fundamental findings of BER medicine is that toxicity (poisoning) is a major cause of illness. These poisons have been designated homotoxins, and poisoning with them as homotoxicosis. A simple theory of the development of chronic illness due to toxins has been elaborated relying largely on ideas borrowed from naturopathy, but also on some conventional medical research. This theory is known as the theory of homotoxicosis.

Natural Defences

The theory of homotoxicosis assumes that illness is the end result of a battle between homotoxins and the body's natural defences. The most important part of the body's defences lies in the immune system, which uses two main methods of dealing with invasion by foreign material:

1. Immunogobulins which are large protein molecules (known as antibodies) manufactured by special white cells against specific foreign bodies (known as antigens);

2. Cell mediated immunity in which specialized white cells actually engulf the foreign material (known as phagocytosis) and digest it. We know a great deal about the immunoglobulin system but relatively little about cell- mediated immunity.

Complex homoeopathy makes use of combinations of herbal and homoeopathic remedies which stimulate the immune system in order to facilitate the body's immune competence.

The theory of homotoxicosis claims that the autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system controlling unconscious internal body functions such as heart rate, intestinal muscle contraction, etc) has a major part to play in balancing the body's natural defences between activity (stimulated by the sympathetic division of theautonomic nervous system) and quiescence (encouraged by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system).

There is increasing evidence from the basic medical sciences that this may well be so. Also many of the natural therapies work through the autonomic nervous system and therefore can be expected to improve the body's natural defences.

The second arm of the body's defences lies in its methods of getting rid of toxins via three main routes of excretion: the colon, the kidneys and the skin. Methods of encouraging elimination via these routes using intestinal stimulants, diuretics (which increase urine flow) and diaphoretics (substances that increase sweating) are the corner-stone of naturopathic and herbal practice. A fundamental feature of complex homoeopathic therapy embodies these principles by including herbal preparations in complex homoeopathic mixtures to encourage elimination.

The third arm of our natural defences is the lymphatic system. This consists of a vast network of tiny capillaries which permeate all the connective tissues of the body. The lymphatics drain tissue fluid away together with toxins into large aggregations of lymphatic tissue known as lymphnodes.

The toxins carried by the lymph are largely excreted into the intestinal lumen via the so-called Peyer's patches of lymphatic tissue situated just below the internal lining of the small intestine. The lymph system acts like an internal connective tissue cleansing system. Anything which impedes its flow or overwhelms it with toxins will soon give rise to a local accumulation of toxins, depending on where the problem is.

Also a slight rise in pressure inside the small intestine may prejudice the fine balance which allows the lymphatics to discharge into the intestine via the Peyer's patches. Many complex homoeopathic medicaments contain effective lymphatic stimulants; this is one of the important mechanisms contributing to the effectiveness of this form of therapy. Habitual constipation can been a major problem as it predisposes to toxins remaining in the lymphatic system. We have a lot to learn from the Victorian obsession with bowels and unfortunately much modern medicine has lost sight of these simple facts.

Natural history of disease due to toxins

The theory of homotoxicosis categorizes disease into three processes:

1. Toxin excretion.

2. Deposition of toxins in the tissues.

3. Tissue degeneration due to toxin deposition.

Toxins

Toxins are defined as any poisonous substances present in the body. The common toxins identified by BER medicine are listed below. They are not placed in any order of toxicity, some are clearly more toxic than others and this depends on many factors besides the toxicity of the substance itself, such as the amount present and thereaction of the tissues to it which may be more or less effective.

As a rule toxins in chronic disease are not acutely poisonous but produce their effects by being present in the tissues in small amounts and continually accumulating there if exposure is continued over along period of time. Unfortunately the body tends to store toxins in the fat cells most commonly and in various organs. Some toxins have a preference for particular organs such as the liver or the nervous system.

List of toxins

1. Industrial chemicals.

2. Pesticides,weed killers and insecticides.

3. Food additives.

4. Bacteria - often the material from the dead bodies of bacteria (which is made of protein), acts as the toxin. Live bacteria themselves are rarely toxic, but can produce chemicals which, in turn, are well recognized poisons. These chemicals, such as streptolysin produced by dividing streptoccoci bacteria, are usually clinically manifest during acute illness such as scarlet fever. Toxins in the sense of homotoxicosis are usually far less poisonous than substances such as streptolysin.

5. Viruses - as in bacterial toxins this usually refers to parts of the dead viral body.

6. Conventional medical drugs - especially antibiotics and mood changing drugs such as anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs (such as Valium).

7. Hydrocarbon based chemicals.

8. Heavy metals - such as lead and mercury. The most common source of mercury toxicity is from dental amalgam (the material out of which most dental fillings are made).

Phases of Homotoxicosis

The first phase (called the humoral phase) is one in which the toxins are present in the extra cellular fluid. Towards the end of this phase the toxins are beginning to move into the cells. This phase is characterized by attempts by the body to excrete these toxins, via the colon, urinary tract and the skin.

The second phase (known as the cellular degeneration phase) starts with the toxins in the cells, progresses with increasing cellular degeneration and ends with cancer. In thecontext of homotoxicosis cancer is viewed as the extreme end of a degenerative process, implying an assumed toxic cause of cancer. During the second phase any attempts by the body to excrete toxins have no effect as the important toxins are locked away inside the cells.

Each phase is sub-divided into three sub-phases, shown diagrammatically below. Underneath each phase are examples from particular diseases which clarify the concept of toxin deposition and degeneration.

Homotoxicology Chart

As shown on this downloadable Homotoxicology chart, progression of disease to the right is the natural history of increasing ill health, to the left is the natural history of recovery. Simple measures to aid toxin excretion will help most situations in the humoral phase (phase1). Nosodes (homoeopathic dilutions of toxins) are essential in the cellular degeneration phase (phase 2).

There is a very important barrier between the two phases which is sometimes known as the biological cesura. Once any disease is over this stage then it is much more difficult to treat as organic cell damage is present. Therefore, the further the progression to the right the more difficult it is to institute effective therapy. This is not so much that the toxins cannot be removed from the cells, but that the body becomes increasingly debilitated the more it moves to the right.

This is characterized by depletion of increasing numbers of essential enzymes, minerals and vitamins. The emerging science of nutritional medicine has something valuable to offer here by re-stoking the body's essential supplies of these substances. Often the only effective way of enabling an exhausted debilitated patient to respond to causally directed therapy is to prescribe intensive nutritional medical therapy specifically aimed at the deficiencies found. This sort of therapy may have to be continued for many months before a useful improvement occurs.

Any therapy which suppresses any of the phases of homotoxicosis will encourage toxins to move intracellularly, and therefore increase the risk of chronic degenerative illness or cancer. In the sense of homotoxicosis, causal treatment is based on helping the cells to excrete the toxins out into the extra-cellular fluid which bathes the cells, and from there to expel them from the system. Therefore, nosode therapy and drainage remedies are considered an essential part of treatment.

The Role of Bacteria

Bacteria are popularly regarded as being universally harmful, yet they are essential to life. It is interesting to note that most bacteria found in inflammed tissue are also found performing essential functions in the gall bladder, intestines or on the skin. The theory of homotoxicosis suggests that bacteria mop up homotoxins present in the extracellular fluid by engulfing and digesting them. In other words the bacteria perform a useful function and once the homotoxins have been removed then the bacteria will die and disappear. Furthermore the bacterial infection would not have occurred in the first place if toxins had not been present in the tissues. This implies that it is the terrain and not the bacteria which is most important. For example, one common and interesting finding is that cholera bacteria, when taken into the body, do not always cause cholera in all those who ingest them. Only those people who have the necessary toxins present, and are by implication 'under par' as far as their health is concerned, will succumb. Similar findings have been made in other bacterial and viral infections.

Other Mechanisms of Toxicity, Free Oxidizing Radicals Oxygen is essential to life and it has an ability to react with many substances, particularly when it is present as a free oxidizing radical such as in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as opposed to water (H2O). White blood cells produce peroxides when they attack invading bacteria in the blood or tissues.

The levels of free oxidizing radicals have to be kept within certain limits otherwise they can wreak havoc by causing extensive biochemical damage to the tissues. Smog (air pollution), exhaust fumes, pesticides, insecticides and weed-killers all produce adverse effects on all of us, partly by producing an excess of free oxidizing radicals in the body. Some people respond to an excess of free oxidizing radicals with running eyes and nose, but those who get no such symptoms may well be storing up long term problems for themselves by free oxidizing radical (FOR) exposure.

Foods such as coffee are also major sources. Because FORs are primarily electron donors they are particularly good at splitting double bonds and this is responsible for many of their damaging effects on the body. An important area where double bonds are essentialis the double helix of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), out ofwhich chromosomes are made consisting of two parallel strands of nucleotides which are held together by sulphur-sulphur double bonds.

The nucleotides themselves also contain double bonds, all ofwhich are vulnerable to oxidation and splitting by the FORs. If DNA becomes disturbed as a result of this mechanism it cannot provide correct information for cell replication, resulting in a deterioration in the efficiency of protein synthesis, with a consequent depletion of vital enzyme systems. Also disruption of the DNA may lead to abnormal cells which in some cases may develop into cancer.

All our cells contain, and are surrounded by, complex membrane systems which are made up of specialized fats called phospho-lipids. They are arranged in specific ways due to the electrical forces in their double bonds. These are particularly vulnerable to attack by FORs, which can consequently lead to cellular destruction. Luckily we have anti-oxidant systems in the body which limit the formation of FORs. These are vitamins A and E (fat-soluble vitamins), and vitamin C (water-soluble).

Unfortunately, the average British and American diet is deficient in all these vitamins, particularly vitamins A and D. Coupled with our increasing exposure to chemicals and air pollution this means that the health risks of these toxins are multiplied. Clearly a healthy nutritional approach would diminish the risks with a diet high in vegetables (especially raw vegetables as cooking destroys many essential nutrients). Surprisingly enough it is only recently that a major epidemiological study has been published which shows that people who have a diet high in vegetables are less at risk from cancer than those with a low vegetable intake. Clearly the FORs and the anti-oxidant vitamins A, E and C could explain this finding.

Illness is a Toxicity Crisis

A toxicity crisis, or toxemia, reflects a disease state caused by the presence of bacterial toxins or other harmful substances in the blood or tissues. It only occurs when the body has a pressing need to return to the state of balance, or homeostasis. The body has a built-in mechanism that allows it to remove toxic substances in a much shorter time than it takes to accumulate them. By interfering with this process, we disrupt the body’s vital cleansing efforts and become vulnerable to external destabilizing agents. A vaccine or an infectious bacterium, for example, can readily become a trigger for damaging an organ or a system in the body. The weakest, most congested organ in the body is mostly likely to be the first one to malfunction. Any attempts to treat the diseased organ without removing the underlying causes will not only fail to fully restore the organ’s health and vitality, but may actually contribute to further complications.

Symptoms of ill health can occur in a variety of intensities and modifications. Trying to locate the cause of an illness in its effect or symptom is nearly impossible. Stomach ulcers, appendicitis, tonsillitis, arthritis, congested arteries, cancer and most other illnesses merely reflect various sources and degrees of toxicity. It is becoming more and more evident that congestion and acidity buildup in the body’s fluids and tissue starves cells of basic nutrients, thus weakening and damaging them. The above so-called “diseases” all share one common element - an inflammatory response induced by the body itself. An inflammation is not something that just happens out of the blue, and it certainly is not a disease. It occurs only if and when the body decides that it is necessary to destroy weak or damaged cells. The body does not opt for an inflammatory response in order to destroy itself, but to save itself from acid death or septic shock leading to death. The poisons generated by rotting cells (flesh) inside the body would end one’s life quickly. We blame the body for making the “mistake” (inflammation) of interfering with and preventing the uncontrolled decomposition of the body as a result of acidosis (extreme toxicity). Inflammation is the body’s genuine effort of self-preservation and calling it a disease reflects the lack of understanding of how the human body functions.

To diagnose and treat any of the above as a separate disease may not only mislead the patient, but also cause further complications. Over eighty percent of the people who fall ill recover on their own and without any medical intervention. Accordingly, it is most likely that disease is nothing but a toxicity crisis that most people’s bodies are able to resolve naturally. Once the amount of toxic waste has reached a peak level of tolerance or point of saturation, an appropriate immune response (inflammation) begins to occur. This healing process (falsely labeled disease) helps to decrease the degree of toxicity to below the point of tolerance, simply by neutralizing and removing the toxins, metabolic waste and cellular debris, as well as the microbes that feed on them. And so, the symptoms of illness begin to vanish by themselves. Thus, a headache, cold, tonsil infection, gastritis or stiffness in the neck and shoulders, all appear and disappear again in their own time. The occurrences of illness and recovery follow the same cycles of building up and breaking down the underlying congestion and toxicity.

Health is the spontaneous occurrence of balance, which is sustained by completely removing the body’s daily-generated waste products and cellular debris, and by giving it the nourishment it requires. Creating health is but an ongoing, daily process of regeneration because the elimination of waste materials and the uptake of nutrients will never stop for as long as we are alive. There may be nothing more mysterious about health and healing than maintaining the fine line of balance that exists between these two basic processes.

Most of us were brought up with the belief that disease is caused by external things. Few people know that germs can only “germinate” in a toxic environment. Parents who see their children catch one infectious disease after another are especially concerned about giving their offspring every possible protection against infectious diseases. Immunization seems to be one way of safeguarding their children’s lives. In case a child has "caught" an infection, antibacterial or anti-viral drugs are considered to be the best option.

Being so used to blaming external pathogens (disease-causing factors) such as bacteria or viruses for an infection, not many people even consider the possibility that their health problems may have something to do with the food they eat. Could it really be possible that children (and also adults) who suffer from repeated infections are, in fact, only suffering from the consequences of being of poisoned by soft drinks, ice cream, chips, chocolate, candy, “light foods, “fast” foods, processed breakfast cereals, frozen meals, canned foods, bottled salad dressings, etc.

There are now over 40,000 different food types on the shelves of the modern grocery stores, 98% of which have nothing to do with what nature had intended the human body to eat. The human digestive system has no way of making use of foods that have been robbed of their natural life energy or manipulated and processed to a point of uselessness, regardless of how wonderful the ingredients list may appear to be. If food has been made in the laboratory, as most foods are, it is no longer considered to be food. It has become a poison. With their immune systems impaired by large amounts of these or similar acid-forming foods and the chemical additives they contain, children barely stand a chance to fight off the normally harmless microbes that are part of our natural environment.

The situation is worsened if children haven’t been breast-fed long enough to build up their immunity. Many babies are still being fed with milk formula foods that contain rancid (oxidized) cholesterol (a result of milk-drying procedures), or foods that are sterilized, resulting in total degradation of their original life force. Rancid fat or rancid cholesterol is a cancer-producing substance and the cause of many diseases, including allergies. Several years ago, the British government discovered that nine brands of commonly used milk formula foods for babies contained potentially harmful chemicals. To give formula milk to babies can be considered a major health risk, particularly because immunity may not yet be fully developed.

In addition, there may be an entire cocktail of contaminants and noxious substances present in the drinking water, as well as the indoor and outdoor environment, that may easily suppress the just developing immune system of the child, making it susceptible to a whole range of illnesses. All of this has a great influence on how well a growing or grown person will be able to go through the physical, mental and emotional challenges of his life.

The consumption of foods that are of no use to our body is a major cause of disease, including infection. Meat or other flesh foods belong in that same category. When you eat meat, your body can only extract a fraction of the meat's constituents and the rest has to be disposed of differently. A large portion of the undigested meat protein is broken down by the meat's own cellular enzymes, and also by bacteria present within the intestinal tract. Since the decomposing meat cells are made of degenerate and coagulated (due to heat) protein, their putrefaction results in the release of putrescin and cadaverin, which are deadly and highly irritating cadaver poisons. Such powerful poisons are already enough to leave the body vulnerable to any kind of infection.

Summary of the Basic Disease Process

The body is made up of cells that are turned over at regular intervals, at a rate of about 30 billion a day. Each day, cellular enzymes break down 30 billion old, worn-out cells that can no longer properly absorb and utilize oxygen and other nutrients. This results in the generation of large amounts of cell debris. Moreover, each one of the 60-100 trillions cells that make up the body generates metabolic waste products that need to be disposed of without delay. Under normal conditions, the lymph and blood swiftly remove these waste materials from the tissue that surrounds the living cells (connective tissue). If this naturally occurring waste matter is not removed promptly, it begins to accumulate in areas of the body that are not suited for such a purpose. Eventually, congestion occurs and the body needs to employ more drastic measures of self-preservation. Once stored waste has reached a certain limit or threshold, it might seriously impair the functions of these parts of the body – intestines, the liver bile ducts, gallbladder, the appendix, and tonsils. To avoid the danger of damage to healthy cells, or even organ or system failure, the body begins to employ oxygen free radicals, enzymes and destructive bacteria (putrefaction-causing) to help break down the mixture of dead cells and metabolic waste. Toxins are an unavoidable by-product of this healing attempt by the body. At this stage, the immune system becomes engaged in trying to remove both the waste matter and the toxins, as well as any weak and damaged cells. This response is commonly known as “inflammatory disease.” Inflammation is now increasingly recognized as the common, most immediate cause of every acute and chronic disease process. But, as described above, inflammation or infection it is not a disease as such, but a simple survival attempt of the body. There are various organs and systems in the body that are designed to efficiently deal with the daily-generated waste products.

The liver breaks down cellular components, detoxifies drugs, alcohol and noxious substances.

The lungs remove the highly acidic metabolic waste product carbon dioxide and other gases.

The kidneys and bladder remove excessive blood plasma, as well as uric acid, urea, ammonia and other waste matter coming from the liver.

The colon excretes fecal matter, mucus, dead bacteria and parasites.

The hair and nails remove proteins, mineral salts, pigments, and oil.

The skin, being the second largest organ of elimination, eliminates sweat and 40-60% of all the waste in the body.

The lymphatic system, which has to circulate and purify 18 liters (19 quarts) of waste-loaded lymph fluid, plays a major role in the detoxification process.

All of this activity, of course, requires copious quantities of water. When the body becomes dehydrated, the blood becomes too concentrated (thick) and subsequently draws water from nearby cells. Although the blood is made thinner through this maneuver, the connective tissue surrounding the cells and the cells loose precious water required to excrete and remove metabolic waste. The result is congestion, that hinders the waste matter from leaving the body. By contrast, a well-hydrated body is capable of both nourishing itself and detoxifying its cells tissues. This ensures that the body’s equilibrium, or balance, is maintained at all times. During a well-hydrated state, all the various activities in the body can be conducted in a flawless manner because there is no congestion or hold-up anywhere.

In their naturally occurring amounts, waste materials have a slightly stimulating effect. This helps maintain the functions of elimination. However, if the body’s energy is depleted and immunity is subdued due to an excessively stimulating diet and lifestyle, or insufficient water intake, the continuously necessary process of detoxification and waste removal is disturbed or obstructed.

All disease is caused by obstruction. If an obstruction, for example, shows up in the liver, it is most likely due to gallstones in the bile ducts. This affects the nutrient supply, metabolism and energy distribution throughout the body. A constipated colon leads to back-flushing of waste, thereby flooding the body with toxins. A kidney stone can lead to retention of urine and raise the pressure of the blood against the arteries. Lymphatic blockage leads to lymph edema, heart congestion, cancer, obesity, and almost every chronic illness. The various types and intensities of toxicity crisis (diseases) result from the various forms and locations of congestion in the body. In truth, though, if one part of the body is sick, the entire body is sick. It is simply not possible to divide such systems as the cardiovascular, immune, lymphatic and nervous systems into segments that don’t influence one another in a profound way. The severity of disease is largely determined by the amount of toxins, gallstones, kidney stones, fecal matter, metabolic and cellular waste the body has accumulated.

The basic remedy for the most common diseases is to stop all unnecessary "energy leaks," clear up the blocked bile ducts of the liver, remove kidney stones/sand, clean the passages of the gastro- intestinal tract and provide enough fresh air, clean water and nutrient-rich food to sustain all bodily functions, including the elimination of the daily-generated metabolic and cellular waste products. The following list provides you with an overview of possible factors that have congesting effects on the liver, produce kidney stones, dehydrate the body and sap its energy.

Not drinking enough water

Drinking cold beverages, especially when the body is hot

Overeating

Insufficient nourishment

Highly processed and refined foods

Ill-combined foods

Coffee, tea, alcohol, other stimulants

All carbonated beverages

Tobacco, narcotics

Medical drugs, such as statins, steroids, antibiotics, etc.

Irregular daily routine

Insufficient sleep

Watching too much television

Exhaustion, strain, stress

Environmental hazards

Pollution, both indoor and outdoor

Anger, rage, envy, greed, fear, jealousy, egotism, anxiety, etc.

Lack of harmony and happiness

Extreme and excessive habits

Sedentary lifestyle

Over-stimulation of the senses

Injuries

Any of these or similar causes of depleting energy in body and mind cause a build-up of toxicity in the body fluids and lead to a toxicity crisis (acute illness). The crisis is necessary to mobilize the immune system, find an outlet for the toxins and return the body to a state of equilibrium or balance. If the causes remain intact, however, and continue to weaken the body even further, it is left with no other choice than to develop a continual toxicity crisis, which is known as chronic disease.

Most Diseases Start in the Digestive System

To comprehend the next, even more fundamental reasons we become weak, age or fall ill, we will need to take an in-depth look at our digestive system. The digestive system represents not only the physical “engine” of the body, but also the center of emotions and the seat of the subconscious. If you wish to understand and deal with the most influential, yet least tangible basis of a physical illness, you have to include its mental and emotional counterparts. Although the body and mind appear as separate entities with completely different purposes, they are intrinsically one and they function as one. All events on the physical level, like eating food, cell metabolism, removal of waste or exercising the body, occur at the same time on the mental and emotional planes as well. Consequently, no emotional or mental event can be kept secret from the body.

The mechanisms behind the disease process are obscure to most, even to the majority of medical practitioners. Very little is known about the origins of most chronic diseases prevalent today. You may know of the risks that can contribute to an illness you are suffering from, but how diseases manifest from its cause to its effect (symptom) remains elusive unless you begin to see the body and mind from a more holistic view. By learning how our digestive system works, and in what way it can lead to illness in the body and mind, will be of tremendous help in our journey of healing. [Whenever I am referring to disease or illness I actually mean "toxicity crisis"] To provide you with a clearer and more comprehensive picture of the disease process, I have included some of the basic insights of Ayurvedic Medicine which is the most ancient and complete system of natural health care. Once you know how to “create” illness, you will also know how to reverse it.

Whenever food enters your mouth and touches the taste buds located on the surface of your tongue, your salivary glands begin secreting saliva. Saliva is needed to lubricate the food and to pre-digest cooked starches. At the same time, your pancreas and small intestine receive instructions to prepare for the release of the appropriate kinds and amounts of digestive enzymes and minerals required to help break down the food into the smallest nutrient components.

The first most common cause of digestive trouble is swallowing food too quickly. This eating habit indicates anxiety, impatience and nervousness. Eating too quickly reduces saliva production in the mouth cavity, which is a major cause of tooth decay. One of the functions of saliva is to keep the mouth and teeth free from harmful substances and microbes.

There are other reasons why chewing food properly is actually essential for our wellbeing. According to fascinating research conducted at the Gifu University in Japan, chewing could actually improve memory by reducing the release of stress hormones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated that the hippocampus, which helps control blood levels of stress hormones, is stimulated by the act of chewing. As a result, the simple act of chewing properly lowers both stress and stress hormones. So chewing your food well can actually reduce anxiety levels.

The Japanese researchers also found that when teeth were missing or in a state of disrepair, older people tended to chew less. Subsequently, this led to increased stress hormone levels. The conclusion from this study is that good dental health and the ability to chew properly appear to be important factors in preserving our memory as we age and in protecting ourselves against the harmful effects of stress.

After passing through the esophagus, the food enters the stomach and mixes with gastric juices. Gastric juice is composed of hydrochloric acid, enzymes, mineral salts, mucus and water. The action of the acid kills most of the harmful microbes and parasites that are naturally present in fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy products and other foods. The hydrochloric acid also breaks down some of the noxious substances that may accompany the food. Special enzymes begin to act upon proteins that may be present in the food. Once saturated with enough acid, the food is forced in small jets into the duodenum.

The duodenum is the portion of the small intestine just beyond the stomach. The first part is called the cap because on x-ray it looks a bit like a cap. Thereafter, the duodenum makes a C-turn going from the right to the left side of the abdomen. There is an opening in the duodenum connecting with the bile and pancreatic duct. It is through this opening – the ampulla of Vater – that pancreatic and bile juices enter the intestine where they are necessary for normal digestion. The pancreatic juices contain digestive enzymes, minerals and water to help break down starches. The bile which is squeezed into duodenum via the common bile duct aids in the digestion of fats and protein foods. The duodenum participates in this very important step of the digestive process by releasing specific hormones and digestive juices. Ayurveda calls the entire activity that takes place in this part of the digestive system AGNI or, "digestive fire." AGNI “cooks” the food further in order to make its nutrients available for the cells and tissues at a later stage (see illustration 3).

The small intestine has a total length of approximately 6 meters (18 feet). It is responsible for absorption of nutrients, salt, and water. On average, approximately 9 liters of fluid enters the jejunum (upper part of the small intestine) each day, a major portion of which are secreted digestive fluids. The small intestine absorbs approximately 7 liters, leaving only 1.5 to 2 liters to move on to the large intestine. The absorptive function of the small intestine is brought about by an intricate array of cells within its lining (intestinal folds and villi) that will absorb and secrete salts and nutrients as well as water in order to maintain normal salt and water balance within the body. In a healthy person the absorptive function is so efficient that with a normal diet over 95% of ingested carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed.

Illustration 3: The Digestive System

Specific regions of the small intestine are adapted to perform specific functions. For example, the duodenum plays an important role in coordinating how the stomach empties and at what rate bile needs to be secreted into the intestine to optimize the digestive process. The duodenum is also a major site for absorption of iron. The jejunum is a major site for absorption of the vitamin folic acid, and the end of the ileum (lower part of the intestine) is the most important site for absorption of vitamin B12 and bile salts. The blood takes up all the nutrients and moves them to the liver for further processing. The ingested food can only be broken down into its basic nutrient components and made available for the basic metabolic processes in the body if AGNI, the digestive fire, is strong. AGNI is fueled by bile,without which none of the other digestive juices would be sufficiently effective to break down food into its nutrient components. Bile is alkaline. When food that is saturated with hydrochloric acid enters the small intestine, it first needs to be mixed with bile before digestive enzymes can act on the food. An intestinal pH-value of high acidity would block enzyme secretion and become a major stumbling block for proper digestion of food. And in order for them to become activated, pancreatic enzymes must combine with bile before passing through the ampulla of Vater. To allow for that, the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct merge together before leading into the duodenum. When bile secretion in the liver is unimpeded by stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts of the liver, good digestion is almost guaranteed, provided food is fresh and wholesome. The combination of a nutritious diet and a strong AGNI is the ideal partnership to make sufficient amounts of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, glucose, fructose, trace elements, etc., available throughout the body. This, in turn, produces healthy blood, vital tissues and a youthful body. The quality of the blood and the tissues of the body, including those that make up the skin, mostly reflect the

condition of the liver and small intestine.

Toxic Body, Toxic Mind

If AGNI is depleted due to various reasons, which are explained below, even the most wholesome of foods can become harmful for the body. Much of the ingested food will remain undigested. In that form, it is not able to pass through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream. The food becomes a target for destructive bacteria and starts fermenting and putrifying. These bacteria produce toxins and gases that can be strongly irritating to the intestinal lining. Since less and less food is absorbed and utilized in the body, more and more waste is generated, increasingly congesting the gastrointestinal tract. At this stage, food starts turning into poison. Today, one third of the Western civilization is diagnosed as suffering from intestinal problems, yet the real figure is much higher. It is estimated that over two thirds are afflicted with all kinds of intestinal trouble. The small intestine, having the diameter of a large toe, is the most hidden organ in the body and has no direct contact with the outside world. The mental counterpart of this “unseen” part of our body is what we may refer to as the seat of the "unconscious.” Its stored memories and hidden beliefs exert a strong influence over our thoughts, emotions, desires and behavior. It is not surprising that traditional medicine considers the origin of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is the general term used for most intestinal diseases, to be psychosomatic, i.e., caused by the mind. In other words, if you feel frequently upset, angry, worried or simply unhappy, you are not only prone to suffering from “mental indigestion” but also from physical indigestion. Imbalances of the small intestines are characterized by holding on to things in our insides, regardless whether these relate to undigested food or unresolved problems. Nothing from the outside has direct access to this most hidden part of the body. The cerebral cortex of the brain, which controls thought, is intimately connected with the digestive process. Hence, not only foods, but also thoughts need to be properly “digested” or processed in order to become useful for us, and to not cause us any harm. Undigested thoughts have a poisonous effect on the body as a whole and, particularly, on the digestive system. Fear, anger, shock, trauma, anxiety, etc., may be locked up in the cellular memory of the intestines for a long time and without any obvious indications of their presence. Once they have reached a certain point of concentration they may suddenly erupt and alter one’s personality in a negative sense.

The mind/body connection also works in the reversed order. When you eat highly processed, refined and denatured foods and/or when you eat while your AGNI is low, you begin to accumulate toxic waste in your intestines. The presence of toxins in the intestinal tract may give rise to nervousness, hypertension, nervous laughter or an emotionally volatile condition. As a generalization it can be said that toxins in the intestines are the physical counterparts of negative thoughts. Through the mind/body connection, negative

thoughts and feelings translate into poisons and vice versa. Normally, the immune system, two thirds of which are located in the intestines, takes care of both physical toxins and mental toxins (negative thoughts and feelings). The immune system acts as both our physical and mental healing system. However, the immune system can easily become overtaxed by overexposing it to non-nutritious foods and negative thoughts (often called stress). This may make someone susceptible to disease, ranging from a simple cold to cancer.

The “Useless” Appendix and Its Amazing Role

In a general sense, those parts of the immune system and lymphatic system that are located in the intestinal tract help to detoxify anything harmful that may come along with the food you eat. Through highly sophisticated processes, these systems are able to separate useful nutrients from unusable waste matter. Some potentially harmful waste products or natural food toxins enter the lymphatic ducts for detoxification and elimination. Most of the nutrient elements are passed through the walls of the small intestine into the blood stream which carries them to the liver for further processing, distribution, and cell metabolism. There are other more specific nutrients, though, that can only be absorbed through the walls of the large intestine. These nutrients are meant for nourishing and maintaining the nervous system. Any nutrients, minerals, water and waste products that are not removed by the small intestines now enter the ascending colon, just above the appendix. In traditional Indian and Chinese medicine, the appendix plays a vitally important role. It breeds large quantities of friendly, probiotic bacteria and supplies them to the colon and other parts of the gut in order to neutralize any harmful substances. The strategic location of the appendix allows these useful microorganisms to blend with the still fluid fecal matter as it begins its passage through the large intestine. There are more than 400 strands of beneficial bacteria living in the human gastrointestinal tract. By attaching themselves to the lining of the gut, they can elbow out troublesome bacteria, such as Candida Albicans. Balanced populations of the friendly, probiotic bacteria in the gut effectively prevent vaginal and urinary tract infections. They also discourage tumors, particularly cancerous growths in the colon, either by emitting protective chemicals or by inhibiting production of compounds that nurture cancers. A diminished population, as caused for example by antibiotics, alcohol or junk foods, has been shown to lead to an overactive immune system and, thereby, cause asthma, allergies and eczema. For all practical purposes, and supported by the cleansing action of the bile from the liver, the appendix's job is to keep the colon “neat and clean.” If large quantities of undigested and decomposed foods reach this part of the intestines, congestion occurs. The intestinal congestion is followed by microbial infestation (destructive bacteria), which can lead to thickening of the protective mucus membrane and ulceration of the intestinal wall. If microbial growth increases further, the appendix may

become inflamed and even burst, and undermine proper performance of the colon (illustration 4).

Illustration 4: Inflamed and Burst Appendix

Under normal conditions, through a powerful wave called peristalsis, fecal matter is forced into the ascending side of the colon and then passes via the transverse and descending colon into the rectum for excretion. Once it has reached the rectum, the feces stretch the nerve endings in the rectum walls and cause a reflex urge for a bowel movement.

The whole digestive and eliminative process – from the ingestion of food to the bowel movement – should take approximately 20-24 hours, depending on the types of food eaten and also on the time of day when the food is consumed However, in the majority of the population the passage of food through the intestinal tract takes much longer than is healthy. On the other hand, many people have bowel movements 3-4 times per day, and in some extreme cases, there may be up to 16 evacuations; these individuals cannot keep the food in the body longer than from 3 to12 hours. Since most of the ingested food is not digested properly, it decomposes through the help of destructive bacteria. Consequently, waste eliminations are far too excessive and frequent.

Having regular bowel movements once or twice a day by itself does not necessarily indicate good digestion either. The following are descriptions of the main problems that arise from poor digestion and inadequate elimination.

Internal Pollution

The following foods or products have a strongly irritating effect on the protective mucus lining present throughout the alimentary tract, from the mouth to the anus: Devitalized, processed, refined, microwave- cooked, canned and such highly acid-forming foods as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, refined sugar, table salt, chocolate, candy, commercial fruit juices, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, hallucinogenic and pharmaceutical drugs, etc. As these foods or beverages pass through the digestive system, parts of them undergo chemical transformations, known as fermentation and putrefaction. While acting on these ingested things, the naturally present destructive microorganisms produce toxic substances that may injure the intestinal lining which, acting as an internal skin, is designed to protect the blood from becoming poisoned.

Regular exposure of our “internal skin” to such acidifying and irritating components as the phosphoric acid and other chemical additives contained in colas, for example, can lead to suppurating wounds and perforation of the intestinal walls. As a natural side-effect of repairing such internal wounds, pus is formed. Pus is decayed cell-matter containing plenty of bacterial organisms. Toxins released by the bacteria or fungus may cause further tissue damage and lead to poor organ function. These toxins also trigger a vigorous inflammatory response from the body, which can cause pain and obstruction, as commonly found in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. If removal of the pus from the wound is obstructed, it may turn septic and seep into the bloodstream, causing septic shock and, possibly, death.

Blaming bacteria for causing an infection reflects great ignorance about the workings of natural processes both in the body and in the environment. Infection is not caused by bacteria, but by the presence of harmful substances and the resulting cell damage that attracts them.

The so-called deadly bacteria, which are involved in the most serious infections, can be found almost everywhere. They live on your hands, lips, hair, cups, cutlery, door handles, toilet bowls, etc. These germs are totally harmless for us unless unhealthy habits or suppression of the symptoms of disease turns them into deadly weapons. Immunization serums, for example, contain highly toxic substances that are meant to heighten your immune response. But instead, the ever-present deadly bacteria in our environment may mingle with the serum and cause such side effects as shock, convulsions, brain damage and death. The bacteria are totally innocent unless they are given something spoiled to “eat.” Dogs and cats lick them from their wounds and once in contact with their mouth and stomach secretions, they are digested and rendered harmless. We are also equipped with more weapons than we normally need to effectively deal with any kind of deadly bacteria. Healthy people kill off all bacteria and parasites before they even have a remote chance to do them any harm.

But the story is very different when waste products from undigested food linger in the intestinal tract longer than necessary, sometimes as long as weeks, months and years. Food that is eaten either too quickly, in between meals, late at night, or wrongly combined, lowers AGNI, the digestive fire. Anger and fear also lower AGNI. The deadly microbes, normally neutralized and kept in check by the probiotic bacteria and the immune system in the gut, are given the green light to spread freely throughout the digestive tract. After having found a fertile breeding ground in the waste deposits plastering the intestinal walls, the harmful bacteria vastly increase in population in order to deal with the waste. While attacking the waste, these microbes produce large amounts of toxins. They literally turn everything they find into poison. Among the poisons generated are “cadaverine” and “putrescine.” These result from putrefying proteins, the same as those produced from decomposing cadavers.

A colourless, viscous, toxic ptomaine, C5H14N2, having an offensive odor, formed by the action of bacilli on meat, fish, and other protein, including breakdown of living and dead organisms.

An organic chemical compound NH2 (CHH2)4NH2 (1,4-diaminobutane or butanediamine) formed by and having the smell of rotting flesh. Other foul-smelling chemical compounds include methyl mercaptan and butyric acid.

Illustration 9: Bowel Reflex Points

Other vital centers of the medulla include the Cardiac center which controls the rate and force of cardiac contraction; the Respiratory center which controls rate and depth of respiration; and the Reflex center which initiates the reflex actions of vomiting, coughing and sneezing. Congestion of the colon can lead to disorders in any of these vital areas.

If toxic waste is collected underneath the lung reflex point in the first part of the descending colon, heart problems may begin to occur. Accumulation of toxic waste in the lower part of the ascending colon irritates the reflex points of the liver and gallbladder, and can lead to contraction of the bile ducts and the formation of gallstones.

A stiff neck on the right side indicates that the movement of fecal matter in the ascending colon is very sluggish, leading to toxic overload and irritation of the bowel. Stiffness on the left side of the neck shows that you suffer from a similar problem in the descending colon. If you also experience stiffness or pain in the top parts of the left and right shoulder, it shows that your transverse colon is affected, too. A thorough colon cleanse can rectify the situation and bring relief to these areas

The Spreading of Symptoms

Through excessive stimulation or irritation of the bowel neural reflex points, symptoms of discomfort and disease start spreading to other parts of the body, and intestinal toxins begin seeping into the blood stream. As a result, other organs of elimination and detoxification, such as the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and the lymphatic system, may now also become congested and overtaxed, which causes further debilitation and weakness.

The blood and lymph fluids are meant to eliminate the body’s own “natural” waste products, generated through the constant metabolic activity of 60 trillion cells and the daily turnover of more than 30 billion cells. To break down, detoxify and remove such an astronomical number of old, worn-out cells every day is an enormous feat the body is challenged to perform without ever getting a break. But when the intestinal tract is increasingly congested and harmful waste begins to overload the eliminative organs, the body is left with no other choice but to develop a toxicity crisis to save itself.

The liver is the first organ that receives the flood of toxins from the intestines. When exposed to these toxins, the bile flora, which consists of beneficial bacteria, begins to alter and intrahepatic stones are formed in the bile ducts. The stones trap the toxins to prevent them from doing further harm. But the stones hinder bile secretions and subsequently render AGNI, the digestive power, weak and inefficient.

Now, the vicious cycle is closed. Low AGNI leads to further intestinal congestion and ever-increasing toxicity in the liver. Since the liver is the body’s primary blood-detoxifying organ, its ducts providing the outlets for toxins, waste products, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, etc., are blocked by stones. Hence these substances remain in the blood, thereby forcing some of them to accumulate in the connective tissues of organs and systems in the body, including the brain and nervous system. It is not difficult to imagine that this will not only weaken and prematurely age these organs and systems, but eventually cause them to be chronically diseased or even fail. Medical intervention, which usually doesn’t include any cleansing procedures, can greatly interfere with the body’s waste-eliminating efforts. Pain-reducing medication often leads to further pain and even death. The “alleviation” of the cough in pneumonia through drugs can be fatal, too. Removing a gallbladder that is filled with gallstones does not resolve the problem because the major bile ducts of the liver remain blocked. Is it at all surprising that medical intervention is not very successful in the treatment of chronic diseases? The reputable medical journal New Scientist announced on the cover page of one of its more recent issues that 80 percent of the medical procedures used today have never been properly tested. Nobody really knows what effects they really have on the patients. There are so many factors contributing to disease that cannot be treated away simply by taking a few drugs or having surgery

Moreover, the stress, tension and exertion that are so often an integral part of man’s incessant drive for success, money and power, can deplete the vital energy of the body and lower the effectiveness of all the organs and cells to such a degree that they begin to suffocate in their own waste. Added to this dilemma, external influences such as drastic weather conditions, a change of season, traveling to other countries, mid-life transition, etc., can sap the remaining energy in the body in its constant effort to adapt to these changes. When under emotional duress, all of these factors combined may suddenly become a trigger for a health crisis. It is for these or similar reasons that so many people have respiratory trouble in polluted cities during the summer periods or catch colds during the change of seasons. They may be suffering from low physical energy and a depleted immune system long before they actually fall ill.

Once the cells and tissues in the body are no longer supplied with adequate nourishment, water and oxygen, the aging process accelerates very rapidly. Cancer and all other forms of continuous toxicity are, in most cases, a culmination of many years of overuse or "under use" of body, mind and senses, as well as an incomplete elimination of waste matter from the body. What we need most in today's health care is a balanced lifestyle that helps maintain the vital energy of the body on a continual basis. Vital energy is made available throughout the body by Vata – the principal power of movement in the body.

Vata – The Power of Movement

Ayurvedic medicine has always had a very thorough understanding of the human body and its intricate functions. Thousands of years ago, Ayurveda proclaimed that the main cause of ill health and premature death is located in the bowel. The Ancient Healers considered the large intestine to be an extremely important part of the body due to its vital roles, that is, synthesis and absorption of essential nutrients for the nervous system, and elimination of waste matter. When you think of it, without the internal motion (Vata) of fluids, waste and nutrients, the body would be dead.

Vata translates as “air” or movement and as such is present throughout the body. Think of your body as a network of different canals, tubes or vessels through which it transports food, air, water, blood, lymph and waste. The nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, digestive tract, bronchi and lungs, hormonal pathways and cellular ducts are all part of this enormously complex network, sustained by the movement and power of Vata. Diminished or excessive motion in the body makes it ill, whereas balanced motion keeps it healthy and strong. So you can easily imagine that the most commonly found symptoms of “disease,” such as pain, nervousness or fatigue, naturally start occurring when the movement of Vata is either excessive, as in hyperactivity and hypertension, or slows down and comes to a halt, as in constipation or bile duct blockage. Congestion of coronary arteries, blood vessel walls, lymph nodes, urinary ducts, prostate gland, uterus, sinuses, thyroid gland, etc., is behind the disturbed Vata activity and is responsible for the hundreds of diseases that conventional medicine tries to treat away with drugs or medicine, but without giving due attention to what causes the congestion.

Vata, which is one of the three principle forces (doshas) that control all the functions in the body, is especially and most directly in charge of proper bowel activity. Vata’s primary seat is in the colon. If the large intestine is clear of obstructions, Vata is able to perform its important activities throughout the rest of the body. This guarantees that all the systems function at their best. On the other hand, a build-up of fecal matter and hardened layers of mucus (AMA) in the large intestine drastically slows down Vata’s eliminative functions in the colon, and also in the rest of the body. Similarly, the accumulation of gallstones in the liver and gallbladder hinder Vata’s transportation of bile and thus impairs AGNI, the digestive fire. Congestion in both of these important parts of the body directly and indirectly increase the retention of harmful substances in the intestinal tract. Consequently, healthy cells making up the intestinal tract no longer have enough “space” to breathe. Cut off from their life support system, many of them simply die off and are replaced with residues of toxic, undigested food. In more severe cases, cancer develops.

When the “River” Takes a U-Turn

While digesting a major meal, beneficial bacteria generates 10 liters or more of different kinds of harmless gases (Vata). These gases help to stimulate and facilitate the peristaltic movement necessary to transport food and waste. Once this task has been accomplished, these gases are being absorbed by the blood which takes them to the lungs for elimination. But if the colon is filled with undigested foods, these gases become trapped. Hence, the natural “downward” movement of Vata slows down, comes to a halt, and is reversed eventually. Instead of eliminating all the waste matter via rectum and anus, Vata quite literally takes a U-turn and moves parts of the toxic mass of fermented or putrefied food in the upward direction.

Any impediment in any section of the intestinal tract acts like a dam that hinders the flow of food, waste, and gases, as well as blood and lymph. To understand this, you may imagine a river that is held up by a dam. As the water begins to backup it causes extensive flooding.

The most severe form of obstruction is known as constipation. Constipation causes backup of the intestinal contents, and stagnation of lymph fluid that is flooded with intestinal toxins. Through the reversed Vata pressure, minute toxins, harmful bacteria, mucoid fecal matter and toxic gases are forced all the way into the upper parts of the digestive tract, which causes something of a “traffic jam.” This chaos can be felt as flatulence or intestinal bloating, cramps or feeling full. Flatus is comprised of over 250 gases, of which hydrogen is the most common. It results when bacteria feed off undigested carbohydrates, especially those found in grains and beans.

As the internal pressure extends further upward, more and more toxins end up in the lymphatic ducts draining the gastro-intestinal tract. This generates lymph edema in the relatively large Cysterna Chyli vessels located in the navel area, noticeable by a further extension or ballooning out of the abdomen.

The continuous upward stream of waste particles, toxins, and microbes now passes into the duodenum, and sometimes evening through the ampulla of Vater into the gallbladder and pancreas. Some of this AMA material may actually seep into the pancreatic duct and, from there, into different parts of the pancreas. Subsequent blockage of the pancreatic duct, apart from inhibiting the release of digestive enzymes by pancreas cells, may cause pancreatic infection and even diabetes. All this further aggravates AGNI, the digestive fire. Lymph drainage from these organs becomes more and more difficult, and the digestive system is heavily stressed and burdened with the task of keeping itself functional. This further weakens digestion and increases the amount of fecal matter in the colon, as well as toxins in the blood and lymph. As a direct consequence of raised blood toxins, even more stones are being formed in the liver and gallbladder. Food, instead of providing the body with energy and nutrients, is now increasingly converted into fat and toxins-filled waste.”

The Dynamic Force of Pitta

The area between the duodenum and the beginning of the colon is mainly controlled by the energy of Pitta – the second dosha. Pitta, which in Sanskrit means "bile," controls AGNI and, therefore, digestion and metabolism. Pitta ensures that food is properly digested, absorbed and converted into the basic building compounds needed for the growth of new cells and tissues. Once Pitta dosha becomes disturbed at its main seat, located where the gallbladder and pancreas connect with the duodenum, all metabolic processes in the body are subsequently disrupted. Consequently, the assimilation and metabolism of nutrients is insufficient and the body suffers the effects of malnourishment, even if the person eats well. Being overweight indicates that the body has reached this stage of intestinal dysfunction.

If Vata continues to act in its reversed mode, intestinal toxins and waste fragments, as well parts of the bile released by the gallbladder are further discharged toward the stomach. A continued reduced secretion of bile and digestive enzymes can lead to obesity, heart disease and cancer.

Kapha – Cohesion, Structure and Stamina

The third principle force that controls the human body is Kapha. Kapha stands for cohesion, structure, stamina and strength. Its main seat is in the stomach and chest. Kapha governs the digestive fluids and forms the connective tissue (the interstitial fluid surrounding cells), muscles, fat, bones and sinew. It also lubricates the joints, generates the mucus lining in the mouth, throat, lungs, stomach and intestines, and it holds the body together. Without the cohesive properties of Kapha, the body would be a pool of disconnected cells spread on the ground.

Kapha becomes aggravated when the reversed movement of the Vata force reaches the pyloric sphincter – the valve that connects the stomach with the duodenum. Reflux of bile from the gallbladder, as well as toxins and microbes from the intestines, and in some rare cases, even feces, may be forced through the pyloric sphincter and enter the stomach. Occasionally, this may trigger spasmodic constrictions and pain. The backup of the bile and AMA material may lead to various types of stomach disorders. The stomach problems may differ from each other due to the different types of toxins and microbes involved. There may also be other factors present, such as stress and the types and quantities of food being consumed. To protect the blood and it s walls against the influx of these irritating substances, the stomach secretes large quantities of mucus. Mucus is one of the body's most effective means to absorb and “digest” AMA.

If the situation continues, the stomach lining may become injured and dehydrated in places, exposing it to the destructive action of hydrochloric acid. The stomach cells begin to absorb toxic hydrogen ions. This, in turn, increases their internal acidity, disrupts their metabolic processes, and triggers inflammatory reactions. This is known as acute gastritis, which may become chronic and lead to peptic ulcers and formation of cancerous tumors. The disruption of Kapha in this part of the body can greatly undermine psychological balance and happiness. It is usually accompanied by a "strange" feeling in the gut and by emotions of insecurity and anxiousness.