ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS AND POISONS

Almost 800 billion dollars is spent in the U.S. and Canada on environmentally caused disease. Why so much disease, and where are these toxins coming from? Just as humans have the three treasures of jing, qi and shen, the Earth has three treasures as well. These are the oceans, the land and the sky. It is no coincidence that these are exactly the places the toxins that are poisoning us are coming from.

Water

Tap water can be full of toxins such as chlorine, fluoride and radioactive radon. Drinking bottled or filtered water can help (except for the emissions from plastic bottles), but what about absorbing these substances through our skin in the shower, or from the swimming pool, or when brushing our teeth? Fifty percent of America's rivers and lakes are too polluted for fishing, swimming or aquatic life. Lack of potable water is one of the greatest challenges to indigenous cultures around the world.

Air Pollution

The air is full of carbon monoxide, lead, ash, hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur, insecticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. All of these end up in the earth and our lungs. I have a friend who lives in rural New York. He has to keep his windows closed in the spring because the farmers in the area spray pesticides, which develops into a thick layer of poisonous dust on the window sills. This is even more frightening when you consider that he has a small child and a baby. The EPA states that American homes are 70 times more polluted than outdoor air due to the use of household cleaners and vapors leeching out from chemicals such as fire retardants in our furniture, plastics, mattresses, carpets and unhealthy building materials. Other sources are personal products such as dyes, fragrances and chemicals in our shampoo, toothpaste, deodorants and laundry soap.

Acid Rain

An example of how the three treasures of the Earth are connected is acid rain. It comes from emissions from cars and factory smokestacks; pollutes the air; falls on the land, poisoning lakes, rivers and forests; pollutes our agriculture; and runs into the ocean, contaminating fish and the sea floor with toxins and heavy metals such as mercury.

Pesticides and Chemicals

Unless you are eating organic foods, you are regularly ingesting large amounts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Sixty million pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. crops annually. Preservatives, colors, artificial flavors and hydrogenated oils are in almost every prepared food from every major food label in the country. Animals such as cows, pigs and chickens contain not only all of these toxins through the food they eat but are also given growth hormones, steroids, antibiotics and vaccinations. What does ingesting growth hormones and steroids do to our immune system and cancer in the body?

Prescription Medication

Prescription medications are modern chemicals that pollute our internal environment such as the liver and kidneys. The pharmaceutical companies' solution is to keep creating stronger chemicals to combat the results of our unhealthy environment and lifestyle. With 50 percent of the nation being prescription drug addicts, and as the second-largest industry next to big oil, it seems they are marketing their business exceptionally well. I would go one step further to say that the typical chaotic American lifestyle poisons us with stress.

ACUPUNCTURE and TOXINS

Acupuncture reduces physical symptoms of withdrawal, relieves depression, anxiety, and insomnia, profoundly relieves withdrawal symptoms including cravings, body aches, headache, nausea, sweating, muscle cramping, etc.

During detoxification, your body filters out the toxins that you have been storing up. Blood circulation begins to improve. Sometimes during the detoxification period you may feel achy, not sleep well, be cranky, or even have drug dreams.

Please let the acupuncturist know if you have any of these symptoms so that additional acupuncture points can be added to your treatment.