Detox: myth or miracle?

'If the liver becomes overloaded, is not functioning 100 per cent or encounters chemicals it cannot deal with, then there will be a general build-up of toxic load,' she warns. 'These toxins are stored in body tissues including the liver, brain, thyroid, fatty tissue, heart, lungs, intestines and prostate and can lead to health problems. The process of detoxing helps to remove these toxins from the body with the result that you feel healthier.'

The case against detox

Chemical scientist Dr John Emsley has a very different view on detox kits. He says: 'They're a waste of time. There may be various minerals in them that help, but you can get them all from your diet. The body has a wonderful detoxing tool and it's called the liver. What the body needs is time and lots of water.'

So why do we sometimes feel better when we try a detox kit? 'People experience the placebo effect,' Dr Emsley explains. 'This amounts to about a third of its benefit. If you get up and convince yourself that taking something will make you feel better then it probably will.'

Taking myself as a case in point, I think a little psychological help wouldn't go a miss, especially when the wine bottle calls, but should we discount all alternative health as complete mumbo-jumbo?

Dr Emsley says: 'I'm not writing off alternative medicine altogether, I know of some very potent natural medicines such as penicillin. Nature is much better at knowing new chemicals than man could ever be, but the detox industry is a multi-million pound one - you don't need to waste your money, all you need is plain, ordinary tap water.'

To detox or not to detox?

Ultimately, it's up to you. If you're a bit tight for cash, then a week of sensible eating and abstaining from alcohol will probably do the trick. However, if you believe a detoxing kit will help your body repair itself, you've been partying hard, and you have the budget, then go for it. It's not going to do you any harm and if you want to go the whole hog you can always opt for a spot of colonic irrigation. For a less invasive approach, try turning your home into a spa.

The Ultimate Detox Kit is available from Farmacia Urban Healing stores, online at www.farmacia4u.com and via mail order (tel: 0870 111 8123).

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