Functional Medicine And IV Therapy Toronto Tips That Can Enhance Detoxification

POSTED BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE

If you want to eliminate toxins from your body, our IV therapy Toronto lounge can offer help with this!

From handling household cleaners to inhaling pollutants from traffic or second-hand smoke, we’re exposed to toxins daily.  These impurities can gather in the tissues of the human body, potentially instigating health issues such as breathing troubles, cellular damage, brain fog, nasal congestion, oily skin, digestive issues, and chronic fatigue. 

Now did you know that the human body has its own detoxification process? This consists of the kidneys, GI tract, and liver operating in tandem as “pathways” to counteract and remove harmful substances. But this process can be disturbed when your body is already suffering from a poor diet, chronic illness, and lack of physical activity. 

Improving detoxification may not only rid of toxins, but also help prevent them from obstructing long-term health. In our private downtown clinic, this may include practicing tips based on integrative functional medicine and intravenous infusion therapies from our IV Lounge. 

Functional Medicine and IV Therapy Tips for Detoxifying Purposes

At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, we adhere to the functional medicine model. This is a health care form that scrutinizes individualism, especially to isolate triggers behind your health concerns, such as environmental contacts (i.e. BPA), an unwholesome diet, and injurious lifestyles. We offer integrative functional medicine, which combines modalities to help lighten your process of recovery. 

Thus, during your consultation, we might  prescribe  lab tests related to detoxification pathways and your other  health goals. This is to identify your nutritional status and detect toxins, bacteria, etc. A test we might recommend is a urine toxic element profile, which takes a glimpse of harmful elements lurking in your body. We can also conduct a personalized nutritional assessment to see if you require additional nutrients for detoxification, such as major minerals and amino acids. 

After we’ve examined lab results and collected pertinent information, we tailor your treatment plan. We can recommend strategies that help fight impurities, while boosting your body’s rate of antioxidants. Integrative medicine strategies may include (but are not limited to): 

  • Adding natural ingredients to your intravenous therapy: In our IV Lounge, we provide adjunct vitamin drip therapy for tailored treatment plans. If suited for your biology, we may recommend therapeutic doses of acetylcysteine (NAC) as a key ingredient for your IV drip. It’s an amino acid proven in lab studies to fight free radicals. If toxin overloads are impeding immune function, NAC can be taken to help produce a powerful antioxidant in your body called glutathione, which may offer an immune boost.  
  • Consuming liver detoxifying supplements: Some herbal remedies may be ingested as adjunctive oral supplements, such as milk thistle. One of the core components of this plant is silymarin, which may help with the repair of cells and scavenge free radicals. It’s also been shown to act as a hepatoprotectant, which means it assists with protecting liver cells.
  • Eating phytonutrients: Phytonutrients (i.e. cruciferous veggies, turmeric, soy) are foods with nutritional purposes. Consuming them may come with beneficial effects, as they’re known to support liver detoxification. Try swapping them for regular processed foods (i.e. microwavable meals); learn more by reading our post, “5 ways to begin healthy eating”. 
  • Getting chelation therapy for clearing heavy metals: If lab results reveal the presence of harmful metal toxicities (i.e. mercury), chelation therapy may be prescribed. This consists of ingesting a chemical agent. This agent, which may be EDTA, DMSA, or DMPS, can absorb metallic elements from your tissues; these elements are then removed through urination. Note: Please follow up with your functional medicine healthcare provider as you take this treatment. This is because chelating agents may also eliminate the healthy minerals that you need for optimal health, such as zinc and copper. 

For low energy levels, digestive health discomforts or poor wound healing, detoxification tools could provide aid for optimal functioning. Please request your initial consultation in our IV Lounge and clinic today.

Shaping Patient Care at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC)

Sometimes patients feel like they don’t have input in addressing their chief health concerns. We understand this – which is why we provide integrative functional medicine to new and pre-existing patients.

When you have access to a personalized treatment service, such as TFMC health services, you can further support symptom relief and detoxification, while uncovering new ways to improve your wellness. This may be applied to a range of concerns, such as those connected to autoimmune conditions, immune health, brain function, muscle recovery, fatty liver disease, chronic inflammation, mineral deficiencies, collagen production, nail and hair growth, infertility, and more. We recommend you read our recently published article on the link between nutrient deficiencies and skin health.

All of our treatments, especially IV nutrient therapy and our booster shots/vitamin D injections, are uniquely dosed with functional medicine principles. This is how we target your health condition and nutrient deficiencies. 

Intravenous drip sessions are designed to elevate your absorption of nutrients, without using the digestive tract. When administered alongside healthy lifestyle decisions and other functional medicine therapies, IV therapy could help upgrade your wellness. Your vitamin drip treatment is crafted with your needs in mind, and may include a combination of fluids with a medley of amino acids (i.e. glutamic acid), vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, folic acid, glutathione, or other vital nutrients. We also offer the Myers cocktail IV drip, a famous vitamin infusion that houses several key vitamins and minerals.

A personalized service of therapies can help sustain optimal health. Start tackling your wellness barriers now – call us to book your session for functional medicine and IV therapy at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

 

References

Achufusi TGO, Patel RK. Milk Thistle. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541075/

Ditu, L., Grigore, M. E., Camen-Comanescu, P., & Holban, A. M. (2018). Introduction in Nutraceutical and Medicinal Foods. Therapeutic, Probiotic, and Unconventional Foods, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814625-5.00001-7

Gillessen A, Schmidt HH. Silymarin as Supportive Treatment in Liver Diseases: A Narrative Review. Adv Ther. 2020 Apr;37(4):1279-1301. doi: 10.1007/s12325-020-01251-y. Epub 2020 Feb 17. PMID: 32065376; PMCID: PMC7140758.

Grant DM. Detoxification pathways in the liver. J Inherit Metab Dis. 1991;14(4):421-30. doi: 10.1007/BF01797915. PMID: 1749210.

Hodges RE, Minich DM. Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:760689. doi: 10.1155/2015/760689. Epub 2015 Jun 16. PMID: 26167297; PMCID: PMC4488002.

Mulrow C, Lawrence V, Jacobs B, et al. Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects: Summary. 2000. In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 1998-2005. 21. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11896/

Supporting Liver Function With Nutrition” from the Institute for Functional Medicine, viewed on September 12, 2023. 

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