In Nature cure system of medicine, the main cause of disease is the accumulation of toxic/foreign matter in the body and if kept unchecked, the toxins will be absorbed and circulated in the system in different forms causing a complete toxicity – The Toxemia. These toxins can be:
- Internal: Biogenic Toxins (due to indigestion, incomplete elimination etc.)
- External: Ingestion of poison, chemical poisoning, drugs, environmental pollutants etc.
- Psychological: (due to mental disturbances)
The body warns us of the toxicity by generating alarms that can be generally termed as symptoms. If we suppress these symptoms/diseased conditions by drugs or by any other means, then we are laying foundation for the chronic diseases.
According to Louis Kunhe
- Foreign matter are those substances which are either present in body or enter the body via various routes due to faulty habits, improper digestion and improper elimination of morbid end products.
- These are unabsorbed, uneliminated and unassimilated inside the organ and organ system and hamper the functioning of particular system.
Examples: (Clinical correlation of Foreign Matter Theory):
- GOUT (Deposition of Uric Acid)
- Diabetes Mellitus (increase in blood sugar level)
- Jaundice (Increase in bilirubin level)
- Hypercholesterolemia (increase cholesterol level in blood)
- Constipation ( accumulation of waste matter)
- Hay fever ( due to pollen grain)
- Sinusitis ( accumulation of fluid)
The waste that are need to be eliminated are:
- Catabolic waste Matter
- Waste of undigested & unassimilated food.
- Waste matter due to foreign bodies like germs & parasite.
- Waste due to any chemical or drugs.
According to J.H Tilden
- Toxemia is a condition in which the toxins are present in blood, it is also known as blood poisoning.
- When the metabolic end products exceed their level, it results in toxemia.
- Toxemia results if more toxins are put into or forced inside the body and/or if fewer toxins are eliminated
- Disease is a crises of toxemia which indicates that toxins are accumulated in the blood above the toleration levels.
Cause of foreign matter accumulation
EXTERNAL:
- Wrong eating habits like fat, oily foods, spicy etc.
- Addictions like drugs, alcohol, smoking etc.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
INTERNAL:
Any end products for many physiological process, like; GIT- Bilirubin, GUT- Urea, Uric acid, Creatinine, Respiratory- Mucus, Muscle- lactic acid and change in pH. When there is decreased Elimination of these end products, it leads to the production of free radicals which are unstable ion that obstructs the normal body functions.
This leads to the manifestation of some symptoms of acute disease like, pain, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, swelling etc. When these are further suppressed by drugs and chemicals, leads to chronic diseases. Examples of these chronic diseases are renal failure, liver failure etc.
Toxic or noxious materials or chemicals must be eliminated from the body in order to maintain homeostasis and body purity.
These toxins come from our own metabolism (CO2), undigested foods containing toxins and absorbed toxins from the intestinal bacteria (from fermentation of our undigested foods).
The Additional toxic components come from all the chemicals that are present in our food, air and water. As a consequence of the rising toxemia, the vitality of the body drops as energy is drained to combat the inflow of these toxic or waste matter. All of these processes sets the stage for disease.
In an effort to maintain body purity and homeostasis, the body can conduct the internal house cleaning through its eliminative channels.
But, when there is improper functioning of the eliminative channels of the body (Skin, Lungs, Bowel & Kidneys), there is deposition of foreign matter into the body system and changes the form of the body. Then, there may be deposition of waste matter in the abdomen, limbs and neck. When this happens, it is called Encumbrance.
Stages leading to chronic diseases
According to Dr. J.H. Tildon has 7 stage progression that lead to chornic disease:
Stage 1 : Enervation
Stage 2 : Toxemia
Stage 3: Irritation
Stage 4: Inflammation
Stage 5: Ulceration
Stage 6: Induration
Stage 7: Fungation
Now lets us discuss the stages one by one
Stage 1: Enervation
- Source of vital energy includes living foods as well as sunshine, fresh air and pure water.
- Vital energy in our body is used for digestion, thinking, metabolism, movement and elimination.
- When there is lack of vital energy, the body often chooses to reduce elimination. The process of toxins building up now starts in the body.
- This state is known as enervation.
Stage 2: Toxemia
- This results in accumulation of toxins.
- This is the start point of disease.
Stage 3: Irritation
- When body is still in an enervated state, accumulation of toxins continues and more of these wastes are deposited in the extra cellular space.
- The body tries to dilute the effects of the toxins by flooding the area with water.
- As a result, there is poor oxygenation, lack of nutrition and accumulation of excess water in the tissues.
- This gives rise to the symptom of pain.
- Pain is a signal by the body to tell us that it is irritated because of the lack of nutrition and accumulation of excess water in the tissues.
Stage 4: Inflammation
- Conventional medicines often refer to this with a suffix of “–itis”.
- In conventional medicine, inflammation is often associated with bacteria.
- However, it is this inflammation that allowed bacteria to infect and grow.
Stage 5: Ulceration
- After inflammation, the body continues to degenerate leading to ulceration.
- Ulceration can occur to any body tissue and it is usually painful and serious.
- The modern surgeon’s solution is often to remove this pain …. Cut it out! So when we cut it out, that bag of toxins along with the tissue is being removed, hence, the pain disappears, at least temporarily.
- Alternatively, the ulcer may present as a wound opening through the skin where the toxin are transported and eliminated to the outside until the level of toxemia is acceptable.
- Nevertheless, we often unhealthily suppress this by applying antibiotic creams and lotions.
- Hence, the toxins are prevented from being eliminated.
Stage 6: Induration
- Thickening and hardening of the tissues in an effort to protect themselves.
- Typically seen as callous.
- For example, if we frequently walk barefoot, the skin on our foot will thicken and harden where by walking barefoot will not be uncomfortable anymore.
Stage 7: Fungation
- Also commonly known as cancer.
- As the cells in the tissues get deprived of oxygen and nutrients as well as working under pressure, they modify to working anaerobically(without oxygen).
- When this happens, the cells main function changes to just to prolong and extend it’s life and it does not carry out its normal duties.
Conclusion
These unhealthy practices have a detrimental effect on the digestive and eliminative processes. When the removal of toxins from the body is disturbed, it falls into a toxemic state.
Theory of Toxemia is an important concept in Naturopathic medicine. Toxins come from our own metabolism as well as from chemicals we ingest through our food and water. The body has a duty to keep our internal environment free from these toxins.
Our body possess inherent vital energy which helps in elimination of these waste materials. Nevertheless, when there is lack of vital energy, the body often chooses to reduce elimination. This will lead to accumulation of toxins which gradually leads to toxemia and further manifest as deadly diseases.
Naturopathic Medicine thus stress more on “detoxification” as a preventive and curative strategy. This is achieved through fasting, sun bath, hydrotherapy etc.