Detoxification at the spa

Lyudmila Vorontsova, cosmetologist, spa technologist, physiotherapist, head of the Alliance spa technology center, author of the textbook “Spa. Guide for cosmetologists" (Russia, Moscow)

Exogenous intoxication

Environmental pollution is an acute problem in the modern world. Emissions from industrial enterprises, vehicle exhaust gases, as well as economic, professional and personal human activities lead to pollution of air, water, and soil with numerous toxic substances that enter our bodies every day.

The source of the most dangerous toxic substances is the air of city streets, saturated with dust and smoke. Dust is finely dispersed soil particles suspended in the air, resulting from weathering. Such particles themselves are not allergens, but they adsorb toxic substances on their surface - for example, lead, which is formed during the combustion of leaded gasoline and, along with exhaust gases, settles on the soil surface, or reagents that were sprinkled on snow in winter. In the spring, after the snow melts and before grass appears, the soil easily erodes, resulting in many toxic substances accumulated on its surface rising into the air.

An equally dangerous air pollutant is smoke - fine particles suspended in the air, resulting from incomplete combustion of fuel (smoke from industrial enterprises, car exhaust fumes), smoking (tobacco smoke), recycling of household waste, etc.

The depth of their penetration depends on the size of dust and smoke particles. Thus, particles with a diameter of up to 10 microns are retained in the upper respiratory tract and excreted with the secretions of the mucous membranes, particles of 5–10 microns pass into the bronchi, and less than 5 microns into the alveoli. The result of exposure to such air is the occurrence of dermatitis, dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, and lung cancer.

In addition to dust and smoke particles, various gases enter the air, the molecules of which are extremely active free radicals. Sulfur dioxide, or sulfur dioxide (SO2), is formed during the combustion of fuel oil, diesel fuel and coal, that is, its formation is associated with heating and industrial processes. If we take industrial cities, large amounts of nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are found in the air, which are formed during the combustion of automobile fuel and enter the atmosphere from vehicle exhaust gases. Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide, or carbon dioxide (CO2), are formed when fuel is incompletely burned.

Compounds from the group of polycyclic hydrocarbons, such as dioxin, benzoprene, chlorobenzene, formed in industrial areas and as a result of human economic and personal activities, are extremely dangerous for the body. For example, dioxins are formed when burning municipal solid waste of synthetic origin. The presence of ubiquitous polyvinyl chloride and other polymers and various chlorine compounds in destroyed waste contributes to the formation of dioxins. They have a general toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effect. The abnormally high toxic properties of dioxins are due to their structure: the molecules of these substances combine with the receptors of living cells and suppress or distort their functions. Once dioxins enter the human body, they accumulate because they very slowly decompose and are excreted from the body. Their half-life ranges from 10 to 20 years.

Pesticides, chemical compounds used to control plant pests and diseases, pose a major threat to human health. In the human body, they accumulate in adipose tissue and have a general toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effect. Many pesticides have a hormone-like structure; they disrupt the endocrine system because cell receptors mistake them for hormones.

Nitrates, salts of nitric acid, used as fertilizers in agriculture, enter our bodies with water and food. In the human body, nitrates are converted into nitrites and nitrosamines. The former bind to hemoglobin, forming methemoglobin and disrupting oxygen metabolism, the latter have a carcinogenic effect.

The list of toxins can be continued, however, based on the above, it is already clear that inhaled air, ingested food and water become sources of contamination of the body. Therefore, detoxification is a necessary measure for promoting health and a measure for the prevention of numerous diseases.

Endogenous intoxication

Endogenous intoxication occurs as a result of disruption of organs and systems or excessive formation of toxins in the body. For example, in chronic renal failure, the elimination of metabolic end products is difficult due to impaired filtration function of the kidneys. In diabetes mellitus and gout, intermediate metabolic products accumulate in the body. In case of malignant tumors, tissue breakdown products become endogenous toxins, and in case of infectious diseases, poisoning with microbial toxins occurs. The same mechanism of endogenous intoxication develops with acne, intestinal dysbiosis, and helminthiasis. When conducting detoxification programs, it is necessary to take into account the sources of endogenous intoxication.

Wellness detoxification

Our body has a natural detoxification system to cleanse endogenous and exogenous toxins - these are the intestines, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, lymphatic system. However, in a polluted environment, it cannot cope with the huge amount of toxins that enter our body every day with air, water and food, so help is required in the form of special detoxification programs, both therapeutic and health-improving. Therapeutic detoxification is carried out for medical reasons as part of the treatment of the disease (hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, intravenous drips with solutions of hemodez, glucose with ascorbic acid, with saline, etc.). Wellness detoxification is used for preventive purposes. It is aimed at preventing diseases and increasing mental and physical performance. After all, the first manifestations of intoxication of the body are rapid fatigue, weakness, frequent colds against the background of decreased body resistance, and the development of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The wellness detoxification program consists of a course of detoxifying spa treatments in the salon and detoxifying activities at home. Detox courses in spas are usually carried out every three months, during the changing seasons. To build such a course, natural and safe detoxification methods are used, aimed at binding and removing toxins and improving the functioning of the natural detoxification system.

Healthy detoxification methods

Algodetoxification
Seaweed contains a lot of dietary fiber, which is not broken down in the gastrointestinal tract. They have high sorbing properties against bacterial and viral toxins, heavy metal salts, and radionuclides. Dietary fiber from algae also functions as prebiotics - they provide a habitat for normal intestinal microflora. In detoxification programs, algae teas are used, for example from fucus or kelp (dry crushed algae is poured with boiling water and infused for 20–30 minutes). For detoxification purposes, an intensive course lasting 21 days is optimal: you need to drink 1–1.5 liters of algae tea daily. This course is an excellent addition to the salon detox program.

Phytodetoxification

There are many medicinal plants that can be used in detoxification programs. First of all, these are plants rich in dietary fiber, which are necessary to improve the detoxifying function of the intestines. Most often, a decoction or infusion of flax and plantain seeds is used for this purpose: they are rich in mucus, so they absorb toxins well and improve intestinal motor function. Infusions of fennel, oregano, thyme, mint, and chamomile will be useful. In addition to binding toxins, they improve the digestion process, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and reduce gas formation.

To stimulate the detoxifying function of the liver, plants with choleretic properties are used - St. John's wort, immortelle, tansy, yarrow. Infusions of these herbs should be taken daily for 3-6 months; they are especially useful for patients with impaired liver function, gallbladder diseases and for lovers of fatty foods.
We should also talk about milk thistle, also known as thistle. This plant not only has a choleretic effect, but is also a hepatoprotector. Milk thistle seeds contain silymarin, a mixture of glycosides that have an antioxidant effect, strengthen the membranes of hepatocytes, and improve their regeneration. In detox programs, infusion and decoction of milk thistle seeds are used.

To improve the detoxifying function of the kidneys, kidney teas are recommended - herbal collections that have a beneficial effect on the kidneys, have an antiseptic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. These are bearberry, lingonberry, cranberry, juniper.

A course of herbal teas should be selected individually, taking into account concomitant diseases and the characteristics of the patient’s lifestyle.

Aromadetoxication
Natural essential oils can be actively used both in home and salon detox programs. First of all, esters with lymphatic drainage properties are needed - lemongrass, petitgrain, palmarosa, fennel, anise, juniper. They can be used in the form of aroma massages, aroma baths, aroma inhalations, and the latter will be especially useful in detoxification programs for smokers, people who often suffer from colds, and residents of megacities who inhale polluted air every day. For this purpose, it is advisable to use eucalyptus essential oil, the main component of which – eucalyptol – enters the body and is released from it through the lungs. To improve the detoxifying function of the lungs, inhalations with essential oils of sage, oregano, thyme, and hyssop are suitable. Aroma massages using a lymphatic drainage mixture of essential oils should be actively used in the course of detoxifying spa treatments in the salon.

Clay detoxification

Since ancient times, natural clay has been used in various cultures to neutralize toxins, treat poisoning and cleanse the body. Currently, the high sorbing properties of clay have been confirmed by scientific research. Healing clays absorb toxins not only on the surface (adsorption), but also on the entire mass (absorption). These properties are due to their layered structure. Among the various types of medicinal clays, bentonite has the highest sorbing properties.

In detoxification programs, clay is prescribed orally. This method is especially indicated for patients with dysbiosis, food allergies, problem skin with acne, and after a course of drug therapy. Of the many ways to take clay, drinking clay water is the best. To prepare it, 1 teaspoon of bentonite is diluted in a glass of water. Drink clay water once a day, strictly on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals or 3-4 hours after. It is also recommended to drink at least 2 liters of regular, clean water during the day.

The detoxification course is 21 days. Medications should not be taken during this time.

Breathing detoxification

This group includes procedures that improve the detoxifying function of the lungs, promoting the elimination of toxins that accumulate on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. For respiratory detoxification, you must first stop smoking and also practice breathing exercises. In spa salons, you can use halotherapy - treatment in special rooms (halochamber, halopalat, salt room), the air of which is saturated with salt aerosol. A halotherapy session lasts 60 minutes, the course is 10–20 sessions performed daily.

Hydrodetoxification

Many hydrotherapy treatments can be used in detoxification courses. These are hydro- and aeromassage baths, a steam bath, Charcot's shower, hand-held underwater shower-massage, and bath procedures. The mechanism of detoxifying action will be different. Thus, hydromassage baths and jet showers have a predominantly lymphatic drainage effect, while steam baths and saunas increase perspiration and the removal of toxins through the skin. Among the bath procedures in the detoxification course, Russian and Finnish baths are used, as well as a hammam, primarily Arabic. During the Arab hammam procedure, Moroccan volcanic clay ghassoul is used, which enhances the detoxifying effect of the bath itself.

Lymphatic drainage massage

The lymphatic system is a fine cleaning system of the body. It neutralizes and removes many types of toxins. Lymphatic drainage massage, aimed at improving lymph outflow, is widely used in detoxification programs. There are hardware and manual methods of lymphatic drainage. The most commonly used equipment is pressotherapy and vacuum roller massage. Manual methods include classic lymphatic drainage massage of the face and body, as well as some ethnic massage techniques, such as Chinese bamboo massage.

General recommendations

During the detoxification course, you must drink at least 2 liters of water daily, regardless of the type of procedure. Since water is a universal solvent, it is necessary for the normal functioning of metabolic processes and the removal of toxins. Also during this period, it is important to avoid significant mental and physical stress, smoking, drinking alcohol and overeating. You should limit the amount of heavy, difficult to digest and fatty foods in your diet. It is useful to arrange fasting days once a week. And of course, the specialist must maintain the patient’s positive attitude and promote the development of healthy lifestyle skills.

First published: KOSMETIK international journal, No. 2 (56) / 2014, pp. 78-81