Given the high level of environmental toxins that can exacerbate chronic illness and Sickness Syndrome depression, it is clear that taking a holistic approach to treating Sickness Syndrome depression involves addressing environmental toxicity. This addresses the root cause, reducing or disabling the environmental triggers that set off the inflammatory response while strengthening the immune system.

One of the methods that has achieved scientific substantiation is Clinical Purification, whereby toxin exposure is reduced and the body’s own detoxification system is supported and enhanced to function to its best ability. Not only has it demonstrated considerable success as a foundational approach, it is also not disease-specific, which means it can be successfully utilized to treat Sickness Syndrome depression symptoms resulting from a wide range of chronic conditions, without the side effects that are part and parcel of many conventional treatments.

An effective Purification Program includes the following key actions:

• Minimizing exposure to identified and suspected toxins
• Incorporating specific foods and nutrients that have demonstrated or suggested beneficial metabolic effects
• Altering lifestyle behaviors, following the best epidemiologic and physiologic evidence available

Reducing toxin exposure and increasing ingestion of beneficial foods and nutrients combined with lifestyle changes such as adequate exercise, adequate sleep, and effective stress management techniques is a viable three-part approach to addressing the fundamental commonalities of all chronic conditions - deleterious behavior of the immune/inflammatory mechanisms - and combating the effects of environmental toxins - without further weakening the patient’s health.

Although the level of environmental toxins will continue to increase, continuing research into the area of holistic methods of detoxification will provide us with multiple methods of combating their effects, specifically in the area of reducing the inflammatory response and supporting immune function.

Purifying the Body with Foods, Herbs and Nutrients

Each day, your system is exposed to a variety of toxins and environmental attacks. By incorporating certain activities such as yoga (for deep cleansing and breathing), colon hydrotherapy, enjoying a regular sauna experience (to “sweat out” the toxins) and ingesting certain beneficial foods and nutrients (see partial list below), you can help support the overall functioning of your system, combat the adverse effects of modern life and take a proactive step towards healing the cause of the depression you are challenged with.

Foods and Herbs

Beet Root

Benefits: Contains significant levels of glucosinolate compounds and the amino acid glutamine, important in supporting the detoxification system and maintaining optimal intestinal health

Broccoli

Benefits: Contains key detoxifying compounds including sulfurophane (induces a range of detoxifying enzymes and in particular those involved with the liver detoxification pathways) and indole-carbinol (shifts the type of estrogen that predisposes one to cancer (16-hydroxy-estrone) to the 2-hydroxy-estrone which is a biologically less powerful estrogen metabolite)

Brussels sprouts

Benefits: Contains key detoxifying compounds including sulfurophane (induces a range of detoxifying enzymes and in particular those involved with the liver detoxification pathways) and indole-carbinol (shifts the type of estrogen that predisposes one to cancer (16-hydroxy-estrone) to the 2-hydroxy-estrone which is a biologically less powerful estrogen metabolite)

Burdock Root

Benefits: Traditionally been used for a wide variety of conditions, including chronic skin ailments, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and cancer prevention. Inulin (a carbohydrate that is a major constituent of burdock) possesses strong hypoglycemic (sugar-lowering) properties and also has mild anti-inflammatory properties and can stimulate the immune system, activating particular immune cells that may help alleviate skin conditions such as eczema while promoting the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

Cayenne

Benefits: Taken in any of its various oral forms, cayenne helps digestion, improves intestinal transit time, stimulates circulation, and relieves sore throats and colds.

Dandelion

Benefits: Contains high concentrations of vitamin A, as well as choline, a member of the B vitamin family that stimulates the liver and protects cellular DNA from oxidative damage, and its roots and leaves are often used to treat liver conditions such as jaundice and hepatitis, and to encourage normal digestion.

Kale

Benefits: A highly nutritive green vegetable that is an excellent source of vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene, and is rich in phytochemicals, including sulforaphane and indoles, that support health liver function and overall cellular detoxification.

Milk Thistle

Benefits: Protect liver cells and acts on biochemical pathways to aid in detoxification

Radish

Benefits: An excellent food for supporting the liver detoxification pathways and also offers cancer-protecting potential and is a good source of vitamin C.

Green vegetable juices

Benefits: Support the liver detoxification pathways and contain high doses of fresh chlorophyll which bind to toxins-including heavy metals.

Nutrients

Calcium-d-glucarate

Benefits: A combination of calcium and glucaric acid which is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. This is a potent detoxifying agent that specifically supports phase two detoxification pathways in the liver and throughout the body, and helps to prevent excess levels of estrogen to build up in the body and promote abnormal cell growth.

Chlorella

Benefits: Contains phytochemicals that support the complex network of enzymatic reactions that drive the human detoxification system. Chlorella is a high quality source of chlorophyll which binds to toxins and clears them from the body.

Glutamine

Benefits: The most abundant amino acid in the blood stream, it is the main metabolic fuel for enterocytes of the small intestine, lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts and plays a major role in the first line of immune defense in the intestine, as well as in the body as a whole. It is found most abundantly in high protein foods such as meat, fish, legumes, and dairy, with raw (uncooked) cabbage and beets representing two particularly high vegetable sources.