Our body is made up of natural exit routes called emunctories, or elimination organs. Their role is essential to our body because, as their name suggests, they eliminate waste and toxins to maintain internal balance and boost your immune system. They can be compared to a large detoxification plant.
A marvel of nature, your body does everything it can to take out your trash, known as toxins! Provided, however, that the valves are fully open; otherwise, the garbage collectors struggle, leading to buildup and overflowing bins: chronic fatigue, eczema, fever, spots, colds, diarrhea, poor digestion, etc.
So wouldn’t you welcome a little help to support them in cleaning up and adopting healthy habits? Let’s take a closer look at these essentials and how to support them so they can perform their function as effectively as possible.
The body’s different types of waste
In naturopathy, the primary cause of illness is considered to be the buildup of waste in the body fluids (blood, lymph, serum) from several types of waste: food waste (resulting from digestion), metabolic waste (resulting from cellular activity), and waste from chemical substances (pesticides, medications, birth control pills, etc.).
They are classified into two categories:
- Mucous substances or glues: resulting from poor management of sugars, starches (cereals and starchy foods), lipids, as well as chemicals (medications, pesticides), alcohol, and stress.
How does the elimination of excess waste manifest in my body? It’s simple: it can be summed up as “everything that flows”: mucus, nasal discharge, vaginal discharge, sweat, urine, eczema, and acne.
Which emunctories specialize in managing this waste? The liver, intestines, and respiratory system (which can result in a phlegmy cough), as well as the skin with oozing eczema.
Allies that help redirect waste when the organs are overwhelmed: liver-supporting plants (black radish, artichoke, rosemary, dandelion), steam baths, physical exercise
- Toxic acids: resulting from an excess of meat, deli meats, cheese, stimulants (tea, coffee), and chocolate, as well as stress and brooding.
How does the elimination of excess waste manifest in my body? It can be summed up as “everything that becomes inflamed, stings, and itches”: dry eczema, tonsillitis, cystitis, kidney stones, etc.
Which emunctories specialize in managing this waste? The kidneys, intestines, and skin.
Allies that help redirect waste when the organs are overwhelmed: physical exercise, sauna, avoiding acidic and acidifying foods.
The fantastic five
The 5 organs responsible for elimination are also called detox organs, emunctories, or filter organs. They are responsible for processing our glues and crystals and removing them from our bodies. To do this, they first filter them from the blood flowing through them, transform them via specific enzymes, and then expel them from the body. That is why they are also called the body’s “exit routes.” Each detox organ can be stimulated, or “boosted,” in its purification work. Here is a brief presentation of our emunctories:
The liver: our detoxification plant.
The liver is located on the right side of the upper abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm. It is our most important emunctory and is credited with more than 300 functions: it filters and eliminates waste from digestion with the help of the gallbladder and neutralizes many toxic and carcinogenic substances (pesticides, pollution, preservatives, medications). The liver kills microbes and viruses and neutralizes their toxins; it also removes dead cells, spent minerals, bacterial remains, cholesterol, etc...
Its function is disrupted by excessive consumption of sugar, ultra-processed foods, and saturated fats (deli meats, cheese, meat). Emotionally, suppressed anger and frustrations knock it out.
Its allies: milk thistle, artichoke, black radish, lime sapwood.
The intestines: our second brain!
The intestines measure approximately 7 m and consist of the small intestine and the colon. They play an important role in digestion and nutrient absorption, as well as in maintaining good immunity.
Their function is disrupted by excessive consumption of sugar, ultra-processed foods, saturated fats (deli meats, cheese, meat), and a lack of fiber.
Their allies: the fiber in vegetables and fruit, which is the preferred food of the friendly microorganisms in our microbiome and offers numerous benefits; herbal teas; and detox juices and infusions rich in lemon and grapefruit.
The kidneys: the purifier
The kidneys are located on either side of the spine at the level of the lowest ribs. They play a vital role in purifying the blood. If they do not function properly, fluids are retained. All acidic waste passes through them.
Their function is disrupted by excess meat, salt, stimulants, and certain medications.
Their allies: drinking lightly mineralized water, dandelion, Java tea, meadowsweet.
The lungs: an emunctory that is never short of air!
The air we breathe reaches the lungs through their alveoli, which it passes through to enter the bloodstream. Waste products (carbon dioxide and other volatile waste) travel in the opposite direction to be expelled during exhalation. The lungs therefore purify gaseous waste, mainly carbon dioxide, but not only that: they also expel semi-solid waste.
They supply us with oxygen, remove our carbon dioxide, and eliminate certain volatile acids. Beware of buildup if physical activity is insufficient.
Their allies: physical exercise, controlled breathing, oxygenation.
The skin: a reflection of our inner state.
In adults, the skin covers 1.8 m2 and weighs 4.5 kg. It consists of 3 layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the deepest layer, the hypodermis. The epidermis is the skin’s protective layer. It is in its deepest layer, the basal layer, that cells renew the skin and repair lesions. The dermis contains the sebaceous glands, which specialize in eliminating glues through sebum, and the sweat glands, which specialize in eliminating crystals through sweat. Finally, the hypodermis is the deepest layer of the skin.
The skin is your first immune barrier: it protects you from the outside environment. But did you know that the skin has the same embryonic origin as the nervous system? That is why it also reflects your inner weather.
Its function is disrupted by poor nutrition (excess white sugar and dairy products, unhealthy fats, alcohol, stimulants (coffee, tobacco), excessive sun exposure and pollution, hormonal imbalance, certain cosmetic products, and stress).
Its allies: good-quality water, omega-3s, zinc and selenium (Brazil nuts), vitamins, a magnesium course, physical activity to eliminate toxins, burdock and wild pansy, and above all, good emotional management.
You now understand why taking care of our filters is essential for optimizing our health!
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