Skin
In many ways the skin personifies the approach a medical herbalist takes to a body system. The symptoms of a skin complaint manifest overtly externally yet the causes of those symptoms are internal and may be the result of imbalance between a number of internal organs or systems.
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Detoxification Explained
The term detoxification is now much overused and yet also much misunderstood, yet the term detoxification can be quite appropriate when looking at skin problems. The liver is a key, fundamental organ within the body, and is strangely ignored as one potential root cause for skin problems. The liver is the key detoxification organ in the body, but to say stimulate the liver is a gross oversimplification.
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The Three Stages
There are three key stages to detoxification, not surprisingly known as phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3.
Phase 1 comprises a complex series of enzyme systems in the liver, the P450 series being the most well known. These enzyme systems are responsible for the breakdown of many substances, including toxic metabolites and drugs.
Phase 2 involves the binding of these breakdown products, rendering them less toxic, and suitable for transport and removal.
Phase 3 works at the cellular level through a substance called P Glycoprotein. This is in effect a pump that removes unwanted substances from a cell.
From this simplified description, it is easy to see that there needs to be a flow of activity between these three phases.
It is no good stimulating the enzyme systems to break down more chemicals if phase 2 is not working well enough to bind them as this may simply lead to a further build up of toxic metabolites. And yet, if phase 1 is not working optimally, then unwanted substances may continue to have detrimental effect upon the body, often shown as a reaction in the skin.
A medical herbalist will evaluate during the consultation process each of the phases and has knowledge of herbs which affect each phase, either increasing or decreasing each activity. A herbalist may then stimulate bile production and flow, as this is often the route the body uses to finally remove waste products, and assist bowel function in their final removal, thus creating a complete circuit of waste removal.
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Too Complex for any Single over-the-counter product
This is true detoxification and far too complex for any single over the counter product to handle, simply because of the number of variables within each individual. If one were to compare the body to the environment, and assume that one cares for the environment as a whole, a good analogy would be to say that there is no point in putting your rubbish out in front of your door if the rubbish is not due to be collected for a week. You simply end up with smelly trash at your front door. The truck needs to bind and transport the rubbish away.
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Not the Only Approach
Naturally this is only one potential approach, as this is not the cause for all skin conditions. For example, allergic eczema will require a totally different approach, primarily utilising herbs having an action on specific areas of the immune system. Hormone imbalances may lead to oily skin and spots. In each case the medical herbalist will assess, liver function, lymph flow, hormone balance and immune health, nervous state, in order to create that individualised prescription. This is healthcare as it should be practiced
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