As the winter season wanes and the snow begins to melt, many of us will notice that we may have added a few pounds. Between the cold weather and the bountiful feasts of the holiday season, the winter months can annually provoke a fattening up of the body. In addition to the extra pounds, unwanted toxins also become stored in the body. On top of poor diet and overconsumption, toxicity in the body can be caused by lack of exercise, stress and pollutants. Symptoms of toxins in the body can include constipation, bloating, eating irregularities, allergies, colds, poor skin, mood swings and fatigue. To avoid these and other ailments, a natural cleansing and detoxification program might be in order, and there is no better time than in the spring--the season of rejuvenation and rebirth.
"In many cultures, spring is considered the traditional time of the year to cleanse," said Kristin Cook, educator of ZAND Herbal Formulas. "In Chinese medicine, for example, spring is the time when the liver organ predominates. Also, spring is said to be the time when there is a rise of energy in the earth. Correspondingly, there is also more of a rising or opening kind of energy in the body during this time, and cleansing supports that opening of the liver and the rest of the body. By cleansing, you really are assisting the body's own tendency to cleanse and detoxify." Cook added that people can cleanse anytime their system feels sluggish, and she generally recommends cleansing about once every three months.
Fasting, which is the avoidance of solid food, is probably the most effective and extreme method for cleansing the body. For thousands of years, people have fasted as a process of purification, rejuvenation and revitalization. However, fasting does have potential risks if overdone including weakness and depletion of the body's protein and essential nutrients. Another potential and probably more common problem with trying to fast for cleansing and detoxification purposes is that it requires a substantial amount of self-discipline, as well as radical changes in diet and lifestyle. Even if the fasting period is only 48 hours, many Americans would have a very difficult time eating little or no food at all. A more realistic natural cleansing and detoxifying program may be one that, alongside improvements in nutrition and exercise, utilizes the number of herbs that facilitate the removal of toxins from the body.
Toxins are an almost inescapable fact of people's lives in this country. "The majority of the U.S. population is exposed to toxins on a daily basis," said Lindsey Duncan, founder and head nutritionist at the Home Nutrition Clinic in Santa Monica, Calif., and president and chief executive officer of Nature's Secret. "The New York Times came out with a press release that states that in New York City and Los Angeles alone, 5,000 and 4,000 deaths in those cities, respectively, occur each year because of toxic air particles. Last year, the United States dumped a record 2.5 billion tons of herbicides, pesticides and chemicals on our crop lands. When you couple that with the amount of beef, dairy, caffeine and various chemically processed foods that we consume, you realize that we are immersed in a toxic cocktail both internally and externally."
The digestive system, respiratory system, kidneys, liver and blood are the areas of the body that usually are focused upon in a cleansing and detoxification program. The digestive system, particularly the colon, is fundamental to the elimination of toxic substances that settle in the body. Unfortunately, the lack of fiber and fruits and vegetables in the average American diet paired with the high intake of processed foods contribute to a sluggish digestive system. "In all honesty, because of the average diet, people in the United States practically need to use a mild colon-cleansing product every day," said Sunil Kohli, vice president of Health Plus Inc. "Ideally, a person should be having a bowel movement after every meal. Some cleansers like our Colon Cleanse, which are soluble fibers, can be used on a daily and continual basis." Colon Cleanse by Health Plus contains psyllium husk as the active ingredient. Psyllium acts as a bulking agent and is essentially roughage. In the digestive system, it acts like a gentle brush, breaking down and moving along waste matter stuck in the folds and crevices of the colon. Another commonly used herb for colon cleansing is cascara sagrada, a stimulant laxative used for centuries for treating constipation. Health Plus' Super Colon Cleanse contains stronger stimulant laxatives such as senna, buckthorn bark, fennel and Oregon grape root. Rose hips and peppermint are added to ease discomfort and soothe the colon. While a bulking agent like psyllium can be used daily, products with a number of stimulant laxatives are probably more ideal for use during a cleansing period of a few days to two weeks.
As most people know from cereal commercials, fiber can help facilitate healthy and regular bowl movements, and Nature's Plus' PuriFiber synergistically combines rice fiber, prune fiber and beet fiber. Ingredients also include chitosan and patented Peptide FM for optimal purification. The product BotaniCleanse, with ingredients such as milk thistle, aloe vera, uva ursi and hibiscus, is combined with PuriFiber in the Nature Cleanse System for further assistance in the body's detoxification process.
Duncan points out that cleansing the colon is only one aspect of a cleansing and detoxification program. "I don't believe in just cleansing the bowel because if the bowel is dirty, then the rest of the body is dirty. A person has to detoxify the whole body and not just one area. It is not simply about having bowel movements with natural laxatives but rather about getting the body to function as nature intended it to function by cleansing all the cells and tissues in the body."
One organ crucial to a full cleansing program is the liver. In its role as a filter that detoxifies the blood from chemicals and bacteria, it can become overburdened by the tremendous number of toxins people digest and inhale. Fortunately, there are a number of herbs that can support the liver in its detoxification functions. Milk thistle, containing the antioxidant component silymarin, both detoxifies and protects the liver. As part of its Quick Cleanse Program, ZAND markets Thistle Cleanse in addition to Cleansing Laxative featuring cascara sagrada and Cleansing Fiber with psyllium seed and husk. Thistle Cleanse, in both capsule and liquid form, contains milk thistle extract standardized to 80 percent silymarin. This active ingredient in milk thistle has been shown to promote the growth of new liver cells.
Maharishi Ayur-Ved also offers a line of products for cleansing and detoxifying the body. Products in the line include Herbal Cleanse, Genitrac with baragokhru fruit for purifying the urinary tract, and Elim-Tox consisting of a blend of 18 herbs for detoxifying the whole body. Nature's Secret markets a two-product Ultimate Cleanse program that also features a synergy of herbs intended to eliminate toxins from every part of the body. Multi-Herb contains 29 different herbs, each of which is intended to target specific areas of the body. For the digestive system, the product contains herbs such as fenugreek, ginger, peppermint, slippery elm and papaya. Herbs like dandelion, yellow dock and skullcap promote liver function, while red clover, red raspberry and burdock are blood tonics and purifiers.
The urinary system also can require an occasional flushing of toxins, and there are a number of products such as teas that act as diuretics. Herbs that act as diuretics include uva ursi, juniper berries, parsley, yarrow, buchu leaf, corn silk, horse tail, cleavers and parsley. Teas are a popular means for cleansing and detoxing, and Yogi Tea Company, for example, markets Ancient Healing Formula De Tox Tea and Peach De-Tox. In addition to containing many of the herbs used for supporting proper kidney function, these two tea products also have ingredients that support liver and blood functions. M.D. Labs offers detoxification products that are available as a tea in addition to being available in capsule or liquid extract. Daily Detox tea is available in original or apple cider cinnamon flavor, while Daily Detox II tea comes in original or passion fruit flavor.
"With the amount of
beef, dairy, caffeine
and various
chemically processed
foods that we consume,
you realize that we
are immersed in
a toxic cocktail both
internally and externally."
--Lindsey Duncan
Chemicals are not the only substances that can toxify the body. Parasites also can lead to many of the ailments associated with a toxic body. As unpleasant as the thought is, there is considerable likelihood that the vast majority of Americans carry parasites in their bodies. "There was a study that showed that more than 90 percent of people in a very affluent community were infected with parasites," said Gregory Young, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Vaxa International Inc. "It is fair to work from the assumption that parasites are out there, and you are likely to be infected and should do something at least once-a-year to treat parasitic infection." Vaxa manufactures and markets the Parasitic Cleansing Program for the safe and effective elimination of parasites from the body. The program contains three products: Parasitin containing phytomedicinals such as papaya, genistein, wormwood, black walnut, kamala and cichona bark that are lethal antagonists to most parasites; Colon-Aid+ for clearing the intestines of parasitic debris; and Reflora for restoring healthy bacterial flora potentially destroyed by parasites. Young explained that Reflora is important to the program because "good" bacteria naturally found in the digestive system can be important guardians against parasites. "When there is not enough good bacteria in the intestinal system, parasites can be especially prone to get out of control and move into other parts of the body like the liver, pancreas, muscles and the brain. When these bacteria are present in a large enough number, however, they not only present a physical barrier against parasites, but along with enzymes, can digest parasites."
For many Americans, spring is not only an ideal time for a undergoing a cleansing program, but also to make a purposeful effort to lose weight. Uni Key Health Systems has combined these two health goals into one program as part of the Uni Key Fat Flush Kit. In her book, Beyond Pritikin, Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., details a two-week fat flush program that incorporates the kit and that is designed to help a person lose weight while simultaneously removing toxins stored in body fat. Gittleman recommends utilizing the two-week fat flush four times a year right before each seasonal change. The three components of the Uni Key Fat Flush Kit are a weight loss formula, a multivitamin and mineral supplement and a supplement of cold pressed black currant seed oil containing 90 mg of gamma linolenic acid.
With the expansive number of products on the market containing herbs with cleansing and detoxifying properties, retailers have plenty of options available to them for helping their customers overcome the daily and cumulative effects of living in a toxic cocktail.
Detoxing For Tests
When does a controversy stop being controversial? For cleansing and detoxification products used for beating drug tests, the answer appears to be never. These products have been around for over ten years now, but they have remained on the fringe accused by some of giving the dietary supplement industry a bad name. Regardless of the dubious reputation of these products, however, they have proven to be dependable sellers for retailers and are found on the shelves of many health stores.
Probably every retailer is familiar with the line of products used predominately for beating drug tests. These products are specifically designed to flush the system of chemicals in a very short period of time; many brands guarantee a "toxin-free body" within one to five hours. Most of the companies offering products for passing drug tests do not explicitly market their products or make packaging claims for this use, though some companies in their literature make vague promises such as providing their customers with a "portable solution that meets their specific needs" for use "prior to a cleansing deadline." Many of these products found in health stores are also carried by smoke shops and "head shops." Knowing their customers' reading habits, the vast majority of companies marketing these products advertise in magazines such as High Times. Finally, these products usually include vitamin B2 and creatine, both of which are intended to make a urine sample appear as if it had not been compromised. Companies cannot claim ignorance as to what customers may likely be using their products for.
In a sense, it is a no-win situation for representatives of these companies to comment in an article such as the present one, because their company's name is then immediately attached to an issue perceived as hurting the way the dietary supplement industry is viewed. One representative who declined comment explained that these types of articles appear time and again, and they usually imply that these products represent a seedier side of the industry.
The fact remains, however, that these products are not illegal. And given that there is also a strong customer demand for them, some industry insiders argue that it is not up to a manufacturer or retailer to decide what is best for customers and then deny them a certain product based on that belief. As an account executive for a company who manufacturers and markets a number of these types of products said, "I think that I accurately reflect the position of my company and most of the retailers who are our customers when I say that it is not our responsibility to police what people are doing with the product or their personal lives. Most retailers are not on a crusade with this issue one way or the other; they are just responding to a demand from customers."
Many retailers do indeed see the choice to carry these types of products as a business decision and little more. However, there is also a number of retailers who voice a level of ambivalence about their decision to sell products used for beating drug tests. "We really struggled with this, because we did not want to promote products that had anything to do with unhealthy habits," said Tom Ferrante, co-owner of Herbs 'N' More in Orlando, Fla. "Then I began to think that it is not my responsibility to be the moral evaluator of what some people in society do with their personal lives. So we brought on a product called Test Pure, and we have carried it for almost two years. It is a popular product and when people come in and ask for it, I don't moralize or lecture, I just tell them this is what I have." Ferrante added that he does not place the product on the shelves but rather under the counter, largely because it costs $24 and is a high-risk item for theft.
The tendency for these products to be very expensive can translate to high profit margins for companies making these products, as well as for retailers who sell them. However, not all retailers think that the popularity of these products is worth the risk of potentially alienating or angering customers who frown upon their use. "We don't sell those types of products," said an employee at a health store in Marietta, Ga. who requested anonymity. "There are a number of teenagers who live in this neighborhood, and their parents come to our store for help with their health. We do not want to encourage their children to do drugs knowing they can come here for a quick fix to the potential consequences." Other retailers said that they stopped carrying these types of products after they attracted a number of customers who the retailers felt could give their stores a negative image.
However, as long as companies and government agencies continue to test employees for drugs, a demand for these products will always exist. With no indication that the federal government has the inclination nor the legal basis to prohibit them, retailers are likely the only potential regulators of products used for beating drug tests. While some retailers have determined that these products are contrary to their business and personal philosophy, many others see no legitimate reason not to carry them. And the matter will likely stay this way. "It is simply another part of the market," said Tim Nadiak, president of Quick Caps Inc.
The Chomper Incident
As a result of the inability of laboratory tests and other safeguards to catch an error, a number of companies that process, manufacture and/or distribute certain natural cleansing products found themselves scrambling during the late spring and early summer of 1997 to recall ingredients or products discovered to be potentially dangerous.
The episode became public May 16, 1997 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer-warning press release after learning of a case in which a young woman in Massachusetts was hospitalized after experiencing an abnormal heart rate with the potentially life-threatening condition, heart block, after consuming Chomper, a part of Arise & Shine's The Cleanse Thyself line of products. Arise & Shine had previously stopped shipping the product on May 5 due to customer complaints, and it began a telephone recall of Chomper products May 6. After hearing of more complaints, the company issued certified recall letters on May 9.
The mystery initially was why the product was indicated to potentially cause an irregular heart beat and other health problems? After laboratory analyses of raw material samples labeled as "plantain," the FDA issued on June 12 a warning to consumers, cautioning them not to purchase or consume certain dietary supplements labeled as containing plantain because they may, in fact, contain digitalis, a plant allegedly associated with heart attacks. The FDA confirmed that there were lanatosides, which are constituents of digitalis lanata, in the samples.
According to Arise & Shine, digitalis lanata is unlike anything that would normally contaminate any of the herbs used in the Chomper formulation, thus none of the routine laboratory testing conducted by the company identified the problem. Digitalis lanata, a species of the genus digitalis, is one source of an active ingredient found in some prescription heart medications. Side effects of ingestion of digitalis can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, low blood pressure, vision disturbance and abnormal heart rate and rhythm.
Although Arise & Shine was first signaled out by many media reports for the "Chomper incident," the FDA identified a number of other companies that were also involved in the importation, processing, manufacture and distribution of contaminated plantain. And alongside Arise & Shine, manufacturers and/or distributors such as Herbarium Inc., Nature's Cathedral Inc., Pacific Botanicals, Wise Woman Herbals, Trinity Enterprises Inc., Ameriherb Inc., Natural Organics Inc., Good Herbs Inc., Blessed Herbs and Jean's Greens initiated recalls of plantain leaves, plantain extracts or finished products containing contaminated plantain. An FDA Enforcement Report released Oct. 29 stated that the company recalls were complete.
What some in the industry find disquieting is that so many companies failed to realize that the plantain was contaminated. In the case of the Chomper products alone, numerous companies appeared to have been associated at one point or another with the contaminated plantain. Included in this list are: Herbarium Inc., which imported the plantain from an undisclosed supplier(s); Nature's Cathedral Inc., which purchased the plantain associated with the contamination from Herbarium and then widely distributed it throughout the United States; Physicians Botanicals, a shipper and distributor that purchased the plantain, shipped it to a custom miller, and then sold it as an ingredient for use in Chomper products; Great Basin Botanical and Processing, a processing company that completed custom milling of the plantain into plantain powder; and ABCO Laboratories Inc., which manufactured Chomper tablets and Chomper bulk powder. The role of Arise & Shine was as a label distributor which provided the contaminated plantain it had purchased to contract manufacturers for use in the manufacture of multiple lots of Chomper tablets, Chomper bulk powder and Chomper with Cayenne capsules.
In follow-up warning letters issued Oct. 6 and 7 to the companies involved in the manufacture and distribution of Chomper products, the FDA did not contend that any of these companies were originally culpable for digitalis being in place of plantain; however, the letters did state that all of the companies involved were responsible for ensuring that ingredients or finished products that they imported, processed, manufactured or distributed were safe for human consumption. The FDA continues to investigate into what company or individual was the initial source of the contaminated plantain. "We were able to trace the contaminated plantain back to Hamburg, Germany to a company by the name of and owned by Paul Muggenburg," said Arthur Whitmore, a media relations spokesperson for the FDA. "We don't know how far beyond that it went, but we could not go over and investigate inside of Europe." Whitmore added that it was not the agency's impression that Paul Muggenburg was the company certified as making the misidentification.