ARTICLES

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Skin Deep - a natural approach to skin complaints (Summer 2008)

Spring cleaning for the mind and body (Mar 2007)

Why not to detox in January (Jan 2007)

SKIN DEEP - A NATURAL APPROACH TO SKIN COMPLAINTS

Our skin is our interface with the world: through our skin we receive impressions and sensations, and we express our internal state. We receive nutrients and expel waste. It protects us from harmful aspects of our environment, and helps us keep our inner balance.

Beauty, as well as health, is described in terms of clarity and luminescence of the skin. In a world where this is judged rather than just observed, it’s easy to see why our first impulse upon seeing a rash, boil, wart or dry patch, is to get rid of it as quickly as possible. So that expression and response to our current state is suppressed.

Any such “blemish” can be a real clue as to what’s going on internally. An overwhelmed or stagnant liver will encourage the body to eliminate toxins through other exits, and the skin is the largest of these. So any outburst on the skin would suggest that the liver needs a bit of extra support.

A blister on the heel might just be about the new shoes, but persistent mouth ulcers would tell me that there are high levels of sodium in the tissue cells. As would cold sores, or anywhere where there is inflammation or irritation, such as with psoriasis.

A meridian chart may tell us more – for example, a wart on the index finger, along which the colon meridian runs, may well point to intestinal problems. A rash on the knee may relate to a bladder irritation. Put together with information gleaned from a carefully taken case history, we might well gain a good idea of what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

Generally speaking, it will be about the body’s need to eliminate toxins and waste that have been released from the cells, either during the body’s nightly cleanse or during a detox. These toxins and waste, such as excess sodium and calcium, heavy metals and so on, are then carried through the lymph and blood, arrive at the liver for processing, ideally get squeezed out with the bile into the intestines, and finally leave the body when we empty our bowels.

Quite often, though, this route of elimination is stagnant, dehydrated and overworked, especially the liver, and so the body provides alternative routes out. The skin, as the largest of these, is a common next step. We can release toxins and waste directly from the blood and lymph into the skin, then out of the body, whether through sweat, rashes, boils, warts or eczema.

So to suppress this activity through creams, steroids and antibiotics may give us instant relief, but it also means that:
a) we no longer have clues as to what’s really going on and what stage we are at with this;
b) those toxins and excess materials are then pushed deeper into the body.
The irritation and unsightliness may be gone, but where have we pushed it to?

Skin is one of the organs that relates to the Chinese metal element, alongside colon, lungs and mind. The metal element is one of five states that help us to understand where we’re at and what’s going on. Metal element often has a sense of protection, setting boundaries and putting our barriers up, just as the skin provides that boundary between us and our environment. Metal element is also about purity – seeking utmost cleanliness and perfection. To do that, the organs involved can help us rid ourselves of whatever is getting in the way of health and wholeness. When out of balance, they can, however, be very adept at holding on, rather than letting go of what we no longer need.

Colon is at the lowest level of metal element, so an imbalance will show itself there first of all, perhaps with something like constipation, reflecting that need to let go. If you imagine the body as a doughnut, with the digestive tract as the hole in the middle, we can see an instant connection between the colon and the skin. They both act as border control to decide what may or may not enter or leave the body.

If the colon imbalance is pushed deeper, through suppression or further stress, it will move to skin level, from there to lungs. The lungs are another opportunity to release, through breathing or coughing for example, and are also another place where we can hold on for longer than is sometimes healthy. Grief and sadness are held in the lungs.

If the imbalance is allowed to go further, the next step is from lungs to mind. When we develop in the womb, the skin and brain are formed from the same layer of ectoderm cells, so the connection is there from before we are born.

Whichever level we have reached, we can use the skin as a route out to alleviate the stress and toxicity on those deeper organs. Suddenly, a rash or boil may not seem such a bad alternative. In fact, we may even welcome these expressions with gratitude for cleansing our inner organs.

While in the east the skin is known as the “third lung”, in the west we sometimes refer to it as the “third kidney”. Both are referring to its ability to eliminate waste, and both make sense. Our kidneys excrete excess materials through urine, which is largely made up of blood plasma, tissue salts and urea (a byproduct of breaking down protein that is so healing, incidentally, that it is used in many dermatitis and mastitis creams as well as beauty products). Sweat is made of a similar concoction. Night sweats and some rashes can point to overloaded kidneys needing some support.

So the key things here with most forms of skin complaint are:

Hydration: to help the toxins flow from cellular level, through the lymph and blood to the liver, and then right out of the body, preferably through the intestines. In my practice, I also work with naturopathic techniques to help keep these routes clear and energised. These can vary according to each person, as they are not always appropriate, but may involve dry skin brushing, castor oil packing and enemas. Hydration will also help the flow of nutrients to the skin to make it vibrant, elastic and healthy.

Oils: a spectrum of good quality oils will also assist in keeping the body hydrated at all levels. Omega 6 is very good for the skin, but if there is not enough omega 3 as well, this may result in the production of prostaglandins that cause inflammation. Avoid damaged fats by choosing only the highest quality cold pressed unsaturated oils (olive, flax, hemp etc.) for dressings, and cooking only with saturated fats (such as coconut oil and butter ghee).
Reducing toxins: to take the pressure off our liver and kidneys, eat fresh, organic food to avoid pesticides and other chemicals, and avoid alcohol and cigarettes.

Reducing stress in the diet: this might involve temporarily reducing or avoiding wheat, all gluten, dairy, caffeine and/or sugar. All these will dehydrate and encourage stagnation more than flow and release of toxins, in some people more than others. In cases of psoriasis, avoid all members of the nightshade family: potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and aubergines. Make dietary changes gradually to avoid overwhelming the liver.

See a professional: such as a natural nutritionist who can help you understand what’s lying beneath your skin condition, and suggest ways to support your whole body so that your skin no longer needs to works so hard at keeping us healthy and clear.

Published in Healthwise magazine, summer 2008

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SPRING CLEANING FOR THE MIND AND BODY

Shrove Tuesday is traditionally a time to use up the last of our winter stores (which making pancakes fulfils rather nicely) before embarking on a spring fast for Lent. A lot of religious practices have practical implications, and this is no exception.

You may remember me writing a couple of months ago that January is not an ideal time to detox – we were in semi-hibernation mode, which is all about storing, holding on, and curling up by the fire. The time to start running about and releasing the toxins that have built up over the winter is spring, when the whole of nature starts to unfurl and raise itself up from the blanket of winter. The spring equinox on March 21st marks that change in energy, and that’s what the traditional Lent fast – whether we give up everything or just the chocolate and stodge – is so good at preparing us for and seeing us through.

As we yawn and stretch out way into springtime, our bodies start to open up on very deep level, at the level of our cells – where we hold toxins, excess sodium and calcium, and unresolved emotions and memories – and we go into a natural detox to throw off the accumulations of winter. This can be quite overwhelming, as our lymph, blood, liver and consciousness are hit with this sudden onslaught, and a fast around this time would help clear a way and create a space for all of this to come out and wipe the slate clean, so we can happily run about and be active in the livelier, warmer months.

Fasting comes with a caveat though, be it a juice fast, a rice fast, or whatever level you take it to. We’re not the same creatures we were a few hundred years ago. Our world is more chemical and we have more to offload. We don’t seem to be that good at letting go of things, either, and instead, push things deeper into our cells, or bury things in protective layers of fat.

Some of us may need a lot of fat to quarantine all our toxicity in. Some of us may dump toxins, including excess sodium and calcium, into non-life threatening places such as joints (which then become achy and inflamed) or as kidney and gallstones. Sometimes the load gets pushed onto skin, lungs or reproductive organs. Eventually it may move deeper and manifest as more life-threatening conditions. This is all going to need a helping hand to come out, and some special support for whichever organs are most strained.

We can also no longer rely on our climate to match the seasons we’re in. If we’re still quite cold in March, then however much our cells open up and release, our lymph and blood will be too thick and sluggish to cope with it. In actual fact, average core body temperatures have dropped so significantly over the years that many people are permanently in that winter mode of contracting, slowing and holding on. So a fast or modern-style detox regime may be all too much for us. Overwhelming the lymph, blood and liver can lead to headaches, rashes, irritability, craving, lethargy, bloating and more. In this time where our bodies are going into detox, whether we like it or not, what we most need is a programme that helps to support our routes of elimination, as everything released from our cells tries to find a way out.

This programme will be individual to you, as we are all different, and one man’s meat is another man’s poison. So that detox in a box, or book, or magazine, may need to be adapted to suit you. To really surf that equinox wave, get a tailor-made programme from a natural nutritionist or naturopath who takes the time to understand where you’re at, and can help you get to where you want to be.

DETOX DOs AND DON'Ts

Foods to avoid: The obvious ones like chocolate, sweets, biscuits, cakes, alcohol, fried foods, and damaged fats including many processed vegetable oils and margarine (a little bit of unsalted organic butter is much better, and contains butyric acid, which actually helps declog our cells of damaged transfats.)

Breakfast: Detoxing can play havoc with our blood sugar levels. To avoid blood sugar related headaches, dizziness, nausea, cravings, irritability, lack of energy and dehydration, we need regular protein, alongside a good balance of oils. This is particularly important at breakfast, so start the day with something like fish, eggs, soaked nuts and seeds, or a good, hearty soup. Quinoa porridge is also great, quinoa being a “complete” protein containing all the essential amino acids (see www.naturalrecipes.co.uk for recipe).

Green Juicing: Juicing green vegetables is fantastic, as these help clear and revitalise our weary, overloaded livers. Green juices also provide a fantastic array of nutrients, including potassium and magnesium, which help push toxins out of the cells and maintain hydration throughout the body.

Fruit juices: Fruit juices and smoothies are tasty and nutritious, and will give you that sugar buzz you may be craving after giving up your chocolate – but may also give you that sugar crash, leading to those blood sugar problems listed earlier and a loss of all that beneficial magnesium and potassium.

Eating seasonally and organic: This will put less strain on the body’s digestion process and so is especially important when trying to clear and refresh the body.

Raw vs. cooked: If the weather’s still cold, then a 100% salad or raw food diet may not be ideal either. Start meals with something raw for their amazing enzyme value – sprouted seeds and pulses are great for this – but make sure you still include warming and cooked foods if the weather dictates or if your digestion is weak.

Go veggie?: Some people thrive on a balanced diet of grains, pulses and vegetables, and if that’s you, then go for it. Others will feel terrible on the same diet and it won’t be conducive to health and vitality at all. Blood group theory points to the Os as being more inclined to need some animal protein in their diets and less able to deal with grains, but this seems to be true of some As and Bs as well.

Gluten-free: There’s a lot of undiagnosed gluten sensitivity out there, so wholemeal pasta, cous cous and rye bread may not be the way forward. Instead, try quinoa, millet, rice, polenta and buckwheat pancakes, If you’re not sure, see a good nutritionist for specialist advice.

Naturopathic techniques: A programme of techniques, such as skin brushing, packing and enemas, will help clear and support the organs of limination that may be struggling. A natural nutritionist or naturopath will be able to suggest what’s right for you.

Published in Insight City News, March 2007

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WHY NOT TO DETOX IN JANUARY

After an indulgent season of rich, festive food, flowing drinks and chocolaty treats, many of us are feeling the need for an overhaul. We’ve had a great time, but it’s left our livers feeling battered, our digestive systems challenged and our kidneys and adrenals stressed. In all likelihood, we are more toxic, more dehydrated and generally clogged up.

It’s no wonder, that in January our new year’s resolutions see us running on the seafront, sweating in the gym, and detox programmes advertised everywhere you look. Christmas pud and turkey roast are out, salad and fruit juice are in; those snug winceyette pyjamas are cast aside for lycra and trainers. We want to feel healthier, fitter, lighter – and so the season of deprivation and detox begins…

But is this really a good idea?

When we detox, we are encouraging the body to shift things on a very deep level. Toxicity then has to find its way out of the body. Its most preferred route is from the cells, via then lymph and blood into the liver, then into the intestines and out when we go to the loo. We can also bypass the liver by detoxing through the skin.

In the spring/summer there’s naturally a lot more freedom of movement, fire and fluidity in the body to help this all along. But in winter we are in semi-hibernation mode. Things move more slowly in our bodies – the blood and lymph thicken, everything slows down, we’re in curl-up-by-the-fire mode, not run-about-and-release-loads-of-stuff mode.

So by putting ourselves into detox midwinter, we’re not really doing ourselves any favours. Anything we release from the cells will more than likely just get stuck in the blood/lymph and overwhelm the liver. It may feel great to begin with, but how many January detoxes have you done where after a few days you feel spotty, headachey, run down, irritable and crave “rubbish” all the time? Well this is the reason why. (And if you have experienced this while detoxing in warmer seasons as well, then you probably need to clear and energise your routes of elimination).

And don’t forget those poor kidneys busy filtering away, managing your sodium levels and getting rid of metabolic waste. Rehydration and looking after those kidneys is particularly relevant now as winter is kidney/bladder time in Chinese medicine. There a five seasons in the Chinese year, each corresponding to an element, and all the qualities relating to that element. Winter is water element time, which relates to coldness, kidney and bladder energy and the emotion of fear. It’s about holding on, contracting, looking inward – not an ideal time to be asking your body to open up and let go. To nourish the water element, we really want to be looking at a warming, hydrating and reassuring programme.

So what to do? The key words here are gentle, warming and nurturing. So soups and stews rather than salad and fruit juices (which are more matched to summer energy). Rather than push yourself at the gym or dusting off your running shoes, join a t’ai chi or gentle yoga class. Wrap up warm and take the dog for a walk, or take the kids to school on foot. Ease those toxins out gently!

Cut out all those Christmas treats, but don’t starve yourself, especially not at breakfast time. A good start to the day might be a gluten free porridge made with millet, rice or quinoa - flavour with spices, dates, figs and seeds soaked overnight in water (- to access the nourishment in nuts and seeds, always soak them overnight). Or even a hearty soup.

Nourish the water element (kidneys and bladder) with black beans, walnuts, chestnuts, seaweed and steamed winter greens. Support the metal element (the “mother of the water element”) with pungent foods sunch as garlic, leeks and onions. So a nice walnut, garlic and watercress soup. Or black beans mashed up with garlic, onions and coconut oil wrapped in a corn tortilla, or served with shortgrain brown rice and steamed greens. Or a chestnut and leek stew topped with mashed root vegetables.

This will all be excellent preparation for springtime, when your body goes into natural detox to throw off the winter’s accumulation. As the blood and lymph warm up in springtime and flow more freely, and the body starts to naturally open up, spring is a far more appropriate time to follow a supported detox programme and increase physical activity.

Local, seasonal, organic

Eating local, seasonal and organic/biodynamic food is about more than the environment. It’s important that we don’t damage the planet further with chemical pesticides and fertilisers, GM and Terminator technology, and carbon emissions from long-distance transportation. It’s also important that we eat food that’s free from chemicals and unnatural modifications, grown in soil that contains crucial minerals. According to annual research presented by McCance and Widdowson, mineral levels in fruit, vegetable and meat have dropped considerably since they started measuring them in 1940 – carrots from the 1991 sample, for example, contained 75% less magnesium than those tested in 1940. If you’re growing your own organic vegetables, then make sure you are enriching the soil with any nutrients that are missing.

The food that naturally grows in our vicinity, right now, has evolved synergistically with us, so that it is the best food to nourish those of us who live in this climate, in this area, in this season. And we have evolved to thrive best on these foods, just as a cactus thrives best in the arid desert, and an olive tree in Mediterranean soil.

Equally, fresh strawberries are matched to the summer heat, and work best with digestions fired up by the warmth of that season. Eaten midwinter, however, or by someone whose digestion is generally colder and weaker even in summer, those delicious strawberries will cause problems.

To really live healthily, we have to acknowledge where we are at, and what’s most appropriate for us right now. So be kind to yourself this winter, match your January programme to your January body, and save the big detox for spring.

Published in Insight City News, January 2007

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