Staying healthy on a polluted planet

by Yarrow Willard

• We live in an age where environmental pollutants and synthetic chemicals surround us and innumerable websites and documentaries document the severity of the trajectory and ramifications of our current actions. Toxicity of the planet is by far the major issue of our time, eclipsing that of economic downturns and other such issues, all of which points to a call to action.

There are many solutions on the horizon and new innovations pop up daily yet many of us still feel powerless and overwhelmed. It is important to direct our passion to something we can control and easily influence: ourselves. When we are actively fortifying our bodies and cleansing them of environmental toxins, we are engaging in the solution. Let’s take a look at how we can get resilient on a polluted planet.

Essentially, our bodies and everything in the universe are created in polar cycles of ebb and flow, wax and wane, yin and yang. Just like breathing, everything cycles back into itself as a form of rise and decline. This means we have a great ability to build, though, inevitably, the cycle of destruction will come. On a societal level, after years of growth, we are now seeing aspects of our socio-economic structures declining. On other levels, this cycle is happening in every second, every day and every year. We have to learn how to maximize these cycles to find effective ways to fortify our bodies and eliminate what doesn’t serve us. Getting our intentions and actions in flow with the grand design – just like the Karate Kid – we need a little bit of “wax on, wax off.” Or as we say in herbal medicine, «Cleanse a little, build a little.»

Cleansing

The first thing I often suggest is a spring and fall cleanse. These are nature’s transition seasons and are ideal for maximizing the cleansing process. A cleanse should include a dietary protocol without foods that feed pathogens – simple carbs, sugars, flours, tropical fruit, juices, etc. – mostly consisting of alkaline or neutral whole foods, coupled with herbs or supplements to help tone the internal organs and move toxins out of the body. The idea is to create a heath reset for about two to four weeks. This will help us shed the toxic load we have built up over the year.

Eliminatory channels

To protect ourselves when faced with toxins and pollution, we must eliminate them upon exposure. Elimination is done through four major channels in the body: the colon, kidneys, skin and lungs. If one of these becomes congested, the others must work harder. A good example of this is when we see people with what looks like bad skin; in actuality, their skin may be the best organ they have for elimination. The holistic approach in this case would be to work on the liver, kidneys and colon in order to get them taking some of the load. In order for the body to be truly effective when a real threat comes along, we need to have all four channels working well. Let’s take a deeper look at ways to do this.

The colon

The colon and digestive tract are the most bio-diverse regions of the body, with all sorts of organisms hanging out there. Humans have untold more organisms living within and on the body than they have cells. Essentially, we are built like a rainforest of biodiversity. Many of these help us digest our food and protect us, working as our immune system’s primary defensive strategy and helping us be more adaptable to extreme conditions. However, many organisms can steal our nutrients, cause inflammation, fermentation, membrane permeability and more. Pathogenic imbalances of such organisms create major imbalances in the body, leading to a cascade of health issues. Shifting to a cleansing diet can help change the internal ecology, making it harder for these types of organisms to survive. Strengthening the bio-diversity of the good organisms with a healthy dose of pre and pro-biotic foods can also help keep the ecological balance in check.

Sometimes, a little supplementation is helpful. For the colon, clays and minerals can be used to pull out toxins and pathogens. Some examples are bentonite and zeolite clay, diatomaceous earth, shilajit or activated charcoal. Insoluble fibres such as ground flax and seaweeds, fermented foods and aloe vera juice can be incorporated as well. Some colon cleansing and good laxative herbs are cascara, yellow dock, buckthorn and Oregon grape. Some upper digestive system inflammation and gas-reducing herbs are fennel, fenugreek, meadowsweet, marshmallow and slippery elm. If there are parasites or major pathogens, a more rigorous and specific regime may be called for to get the system back into balance and functioning optimally.

Kidneys

Our kidneys are the main filtration centres of the body and are constantly being called to action – especially when a pollutant enters the body. As they sit right bellow the adrenals, they are quite sensitive to stress. Reducing an over-firing stress response will help with kidney health. This can prove hard in the modern era as many of us see stress as a precursor to our success. However, with a little meditation, grounding, and clear focused energy, stress urgency can be overcome. When it comes to our resilience, the stress response can systemically weaken every system in the body, including the kidneys – it can be a major issue. Kidney support protocols include the reduction of stimulating diuretics like caffeine and alcohol and the addition of PH neutral to alkaline foods and herbals that strengthen these pathways. Some good kidney herbs are juniper, uva-ursi, dandelion, corn silk, cleavers, marshmallow, gravel root and cranberry. It can also be a good idea to work on the liver at the same time to increase effective elimination.

Skin

The skin is our largest eliminatory organ and one of the most effective ways of moving toxic loads out of the body. We absorb much of what we touch so the skin can be one of the chinks in our protective armour. One of the most effective ways to get the skin working for us is through regular sweating, although repeated hot then cold therapy is even better, giving the skin a real work out. A shower is an easy way to do this, ideally finishing on cold, closing down the pores. It may seem like a shock to the system, but I can promise you it will feel better afterward.

Detox baths are another great way to pull out toxins. A favourite at our house is to use 1/2 cup mineral salts, 1/4 cup bentonite and 1/4 cup baking soda mixed in water and added to the bath. We also like to add essential oils and seaweeds or kelp powder to these baths. As seaweeds are mostly alginates, they are ideal for pulling out toxin load. Many are great used directly on the skin or internally. Regular dry skin brushing to invigorate the tissues and remove dead cells can also be very supportive. To help strengthen the skin, apply good oils after bathing. Some examples are avocado, vitamin E, jojoba and coconut oil. Powerful, protective oils like sea buckthorn, argan and tamanu may be added as well.

Lungs

The lungs are similar to the skin in that they are a way in and out of the body for toxins so they need both cleansing and building. Other than CO2, the main way they eliminate toxins from the body is through mucous production. This means the common cold can actually be a very effective way to push deep-seated toxins to the surface for elimination, provided we encourage it to run its course rather than pushing it away with antibiotics and painkillers. To strengthen and tone the lungs, we need to create deep breathing practices. Both regular aerobic activity and purposeful breathing meditations can help achieve this. Eating spicy foods also strengthens the lungs as does reducing mucous forming foods such as dairy and flour. Herbal protocols are helpful as well; elecampane is my herb of choice for deep lung toning, but there are many others such as cherry bark, horehound, osha, usnea, coltsfoot, mullein and reishi.

Other dietary supplements and suggestions to help build resilience:

• Reducing the use of additives, preservatives, colourings, synthetic compounds and plastic packaging.
• Sea vegetables are helpful in protecting the thyroid and endocrine system and other mineral needs. They also contain large amounts of alginates that draw radiation and other toxins out of the body.
• Medicinal mushrooms are helpful in educating the immune system and assist in whole body system harmony.
• Tonic herbs: Ginseng, eleuthro, goji, ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, nettles, dandelion, burdock, pine pollen and others are helpful in stress management and optimal body functioning.
• Super greens such as spirulina, chlorella, moringa, alfalfa and wheatgrass help to pull out toxic load and alkalize the PH.

Finally, if we are to take a real stance in being resilient against pollution, we must acknowledge its many levels. This means protecting ourselves from mental, emotional and spiritual pollution as well. Much of the new edge science is proving that what we think and feel are as important to our overall immunity as what we ingest physically. Stress, fear and dis-empowerment lead to many modern day health issues. Those who maintain loving relationships and a strong community and create time for self-care are more successful and adaptable when major issues arise.

From a place of intentional action, it is quite possible to be healthy, vital and protected in an increasingly toxic world. When we gather the right tools and allies and learn how to maximize the waves of the natural cycles, we become active in creating good health – both internally and externally. In this way, our healthy lifestyle choices empower those around us as well as future generations to take up the call to action as well.

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Yarrow Willard is a clinical/master herbalist and co-owner/formulator of Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary based in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. Raised with a strong connection to herbs and natural health by two herbalist parents, he is a passionate promoter of plant-based medicine and nutrition. www.harmonicarts.ca

photo © Marilyn Barbone

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