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Maharishi Detoxification
Program cleanses blood of dangerous chemicals
by Jocelyne Comtois
Our bodies were not meant to be toxic dumps. Yet improper digestion, high levels
of stress and pollutants --chemicals in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and
the foods we eat -- continuously create toxins in the body. If not flushed out on
a regular basis, this toxic buildup can eventually manifest as disorders. Toxins
have been associated with hormone disruption, immune system suppression, reproductive
disorders, several types of cancer, and other diseases, such as allergies.
The Maharishi Detoxification Program at The Raj removes dangerous environmental toxins
and toxins accumulated by improper digestion and stress.
Recipient of SpaFinder's "Best Healing Treatments" award, The Raj offers
authentic Detox Ayurvedic treatments from the world's most ancient tradition of natural
medicine. The detox treatments, menus, daily routine, everything, is prescribed by
medical doctors and consulting Ayurvedic physicians. Each day, the guests at The
Raj spend two to three hours being nurtured in the spa, followed by health education
lectures, Ayurvedic cooking and yoga classes. The treatments are luxurious and a
3 to 1 staff/guest ratio ensures maximum individual care and attention. As stress,
fatigue, and toxins are removed, balance is restored, and the body's natural healing
abilities are re-enlivened. The Maharishi Detox program offered at The Raj has been
scientifically proven to reduce levels of certain fat-soluble toxicants by about
50 percent.
Reducing toxins in the body
A study done by Robert Herron, Ph.D., and published in Alternative Therapies in Health
and Medicine in 2002 demonstrated that Maharishi Ayurveda Detox program can significantly
reduce levels of lipophilic toxicants in the blood that are known to be associated
with disease. The results of the two-month longitudinal study showed that polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB) and Beta-HCH (a compound in the pesticide lindane) levels were reduced
by 46 percent and 58 percent respectively in the Maharishi Ayurveda detoxification
group. Without this detox program, the expected drop in PCB and Beta-HCH over two
months would be only a fraction of one percent.
Previously, no method had been scientifically verified to reduce levels of these
lipid-soluble toxicants in the human body without causing negative side effects.
Lipophilic toxicants are stored in fats in the body and are fat-soluble in nature.
Several modalities in the Maharishi Detox program use non-toxic, lipophilic materials,
such as clarified butter, in the oleation phase, and herbalized sesame oil in the
massage and enema treatments. These traditional methods are believed to sequentially
loosen and remove lipid-soluble toxicants from their deposited sites and stimulate
their excretion.
"Our findings were quite striking, given that the half-lives of these toxicants
are all several years in duration, and that this comprehensive detoxification procedure
removed them in just a few days," Dr. Herron says.
He says an alarming finding of the study was that PCB and DDE (a by-product of DDT)
levels appear to be unexpectedly high in the general population, and may actually
be increasing. These toxicants were banned decades ago and were assumed to be declining
to negligible levels in the U.S. population.
"Our findings, however, suggest that they are still entering the food chain
and appear to be increasing in humans. One possible explanation is that produce imported
to the U.S. from Mexico and Latin America may contain banned toxicants, because these
hazardous chemicals are still widely used for agriculture in those countries,"
he says.
Other detox techniques
There are two general categories of toxicants found in the human body: Water-soluble
and fat-soluble. Most of the chemicals that have been linked with cancer, and many
other disorders, are fat-soluble toxicants, such as PCBs, PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl
ether, a common flame retardant used in a wide variety of products) and numerous
pesticides.
Many people think they are getting rid of toxins from their bodies using other techniques,
however, it is difficult for the fat-soluble toxins to be "sweated out."
Water-soluble toxins can be reduced substantially through steam baths, saunas, aerobic
exercise, and other activities that cause massive perspiration, if the person also
continues to drink large amounts of water. Unfortunately, these strategies do little
to remove the fat-soluble toxicants that are sequestered in adipose tissues throughout
the body and have been associated with a wide range of health problems from reproductive
disorders to several types of cancer, including breast cancer. The Maharishi Detox
program is comprised of a series of sequential steps that are especially effective
in removing the fat-soluble toxicants.
It is tricky to rid the body of these toxins and at the same time not cause any side
effects. Great care must be taken with all types of detoxification. Any procedure
that is able to loosen toxins from the fat tissues must also be able to safely eliminate
these chemicals from the blood stream and body. Many people actually hurt themselves
with misguided "detoxification" programs that have not been scientifically
verified. For instance, some people fast for extended periods to reduce toxins in
their body. However, as they reduce their adipose tissue through fasting, they also
push the fat-soluble toxins into the blood stream, which can cause damage to various
organs. That is why the Maharishi Detox program has distinctive steps for removing
the toxicants from the blood stream.
We live in a toxic world, and we are constantly exposed to a wide range of toxicants
through air, water, food, household, and occupational exposure. As we grow older,
the body's built-in mechanisms for eliminating impurities tend to be less efficient,
thus stressing the need for periodic detoxification. It has been found that two 5-day
treatments per year and eating organic foods will keep the levels of environmental
toxins at negligible levels.
Luxurious and effective
The Maharishi Detox Treatments at The Raj are extraordinarily luxurious, and a three-to-one
staff/guest ratio ensures maximum individual care. As stress, fatigue, and toxins
are removed, and as balance is restored, the body's natural healing abilities are
re-enlivened. Each guest receives an individually prescribed combination of treatments
designed to bring about balance and rejuvenation.
The Maharishi Detox treatment program is safe medically. No harmful side effects
have been reported over two decades of use of the detoxification procedure in the
U.S., while beneficial health outcomes are commonly reported. The materials used
in the detoxification procedure, such as sesame oil and herbs, are recognized as
safe, bio-compatible substances, and approved by the FDA for human use.
Because the body is naturally in the mode of eliminating toxins in the spring, this
is the optimal time to detoxify, supporting the body's own cycle of cleansing and
renewal. The Raj Detox program provides profound detoxification and healing in a
gentle, refined and nourishing environment that will allow you to rediscover the
best of yourself.
Jocelyne Comtois is the director of Marketing and Expansion at The Raj Ayurveda
Health Spa, Vedic City, Iowa. For the past 25 years, she has been enjoying the benefits
of Ayurveda in her life. The article was written in collaboration with Bob Herron,
Ph.D., author of the research on the reduction of toxicants by an Ayurvedic detoxification
procedure. For more information, visit www.theraj.com or call 1 (800) 248-9050.
Copyright © 2005 The Raj Ayurveda Health Spa |
| April 2005 |
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