Removing heavy metals: Methods, instructions & tips

Ayurveda offers numerous possibilities for a comprehensive cleansing of your body. With the help of healthy treatments, your holistic well-being is sustainably strengthened. An important part of Ayurvedic health teachings is, among other things, the removal of heavy metals.

Removing heavy metals from the body

Due to the advancement of industry, mining and increasing road traffic, the emission of heavy metals has increased drastically. These toxic metals can accumulate in the human body and lead to symptoms. Poisoning and illnesses can be the result.

How can I recognize exposure to heavy metals?

Exposure to heavy metals is initially quite unspecific. Possible symptoms include

• Constant or increased tiredness
• Difficulties with concentration
• Headache
• Increased susceptibility to diseases

Small amounts of potentially toxic substances generally have little effect on the human body. It is primarily the task of the liver and kidneys to excrete the heavy metals.

Whether your body is contaminated with heavy metals can be determined by analyzing your fingernails, hair, urine or blood. The concentration of metals can be determined there.

Heavy metals often remain in your bones and organs for years, causing them to accumulate. The body absorbs the metals faster than it can excrete them, causing them to accumulate over time. As a result, the nerves are damaged and enzymes are blocked.

Long-term exposure to heavy metals can also lead to problems such as cardiovascular disease, kidney damage or neurological disorders. This makes timely treatment with targeted Ayurvedic methods for detoxification and elimination all the more important.

How do heavy metals get into the human body?

Heavy metals enter your body in different ways. Through the use of pesticides in modern agriculture, the toxins enter the human organism via food. 

Heavy metals also enter your body through the air, for example through car or industrial exhaust fumes. In addition, industrial pollution of the oceans contributes to an increased occurrence of mercury in fish and seafood.

Very old houses sometimes still have lead drinking water pipes that contaminate the water. Cosmetics can also contain heavy metals that enter your body through the skin. Finally, paint or batteries are among the possible ways in which heavy metals can enter your body.

Overview of the most common heavy metals in the body

The following list provides an overview of the most common heavy metals that accumulate in the human body:

• Aluminum (e.g. in deodorants)
• Arsenic (e.g. in unwashed rice)
• Lead (e.g. in venison or very old water pipes)
• Cadmium (e.g. in wild mushrooms, linseed, cigarette smoke)
• Chromium (especially at workplaces in metal processing)
• Cobalt (e.g. at workplaces in industry)
• Copper (e.g. in copper drinking vessels)
• Nickel (e.g. in cereals, broccoli and spinach)
• Mercury (e.g. in wild mushrooms, seafood, amalgam dental fillings)
• Zinc (e.g. in acidic foods from zinc containers)

The mining industry, metal processing, waste incineration, power plants and road traffic are the main sources of heavy metal emissions into the environment. Nowadays, the burning of fuels such as coal in large quantities is also one of the biggest sources of heavy metals.

The Ayurvedic view of exposure to heavy metals

According to Ayurvedic teachings, the accumulation of metabolic residues begins with the loss of natural balance. These so-called toxins - called "ama" in Ayurveda - can accumulate anywhere in the body. Long-term damage to the nervous system and internal organs is a consequence of the accumulated toxins.

The holistic view of each person as an individual allows Ayurveda to treat each patient individually. There are various methods and procedures that Ayurvedic medicine can use to help you eliminate heavy metals. The focus is on the mobilization and systematic elimination of toxins.

How are heavy metals removed with Ayurveda?

There are different Ayurvedic approaches to a heavy metal detox. In addition to Ayurvedic cures and special treatments, diet is a particularly important component. A healthy, balanced and Ayurvedic diet strengthens your body, which is helpful when detoxing from heavy metals.

The following ayurvedic herbs and spices are also said to have detoxifying properties. They are said to bind toxins and transport them out of your body. In addition to oral intake, the herbs are also used in Ayurvedic therapies:

• Ashwagandha
• Chlorella algae
• Coriander
• Garlic and wild garlic
• Turmeric
• Neem

The intake of fluids is also a part of the diet and is particularly important during detoxification. By drinking plenty of fluids, you help your kidneys to flush heavy metals out of your body.

Treatment options in Ayurveda

With an Ayurveda detox cure you give your body the chance to detoxify and achieve more lightness in your life. The goals of detox treatments also include the elimination of toxins and waste products for better regeneration. Gentle fasting also results in natural weight loss for a lighter life.

In addition to the physical cleansing, a spiritual cleansing also takes place during the treatments. By eliminating old burdens, your mind and soul can relax properly again. Strengthening the immune system also boosts your resistance to illness. You feel liberated, healthy and ready for your new life.

The Abhyanga full body massage is an integral part of the Ayurvedic detox. It is a treatment of the whole body with various oils tailored to your doshas. The massage serves to comprehensively purify your body and has a balancing and calming effect.

Eliminate heavy metals from the body: Trace elements, foods & herbs can help

Apart from Ayurvedic cures and treatments, there are other ways to remove heavy metals from your body. In addition to the positive effects of certain trace elements, special foods and herbs also help with detoxification.

5 trace elements for the gentle elimination of heavy metals

Trace elements are minerals that the human body absolutely needs in small quantities. They are important for muscle and bone function and can also help with heavy metal detoxification.

1. Bentonite is a clay mineral with a large, negatively charged surface, which gives it an unusually high absorption capacity for harmful substances. These are bound by the bentonite during digestion and are therefore not stored in the body in the first place.

2. Zeolite also belongs to the mineral earth and, due to its cavity structure, has numerous pores and channels that lead to a large inner surface area. This enables it to bind heavy metals well.

3. Zinc can increase the amount of enzymes blocked by heavy metals. This makes the trace element excellent for removing mercury. Zinc and iron are also ideal for removing cadmium.

4. With ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) you can eliminate aluminum, cadmium and lead in particular. The combination of calcium, sodium and EDTA prevents the deposition of harmful substances in the tissue and helps the kidneys to break them down more quickly.

5. You can effectively bind and excrete arsenic with activated charcoal. Vitamin C, selenium, taurine and folic acid are also helpful in eliminating arsenic.

5 foods and herbs to eliminate heavy metals

Certain foods and herbs also help to remove heavy metals from the body. They support the natural bodily functions that are responsible for the removal of harmful substances.

1. Alfalfa improves the absorption of oxygen, aids digestion and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Horsetail contains a lot of silicic acid on the one hand and a blood-thinning substance on the other. It has a diuretic and connective tissue-strengthening effect, which promotes the elimination of toxins.

3. The many positive effects of the artichoke are well known. It protects the liver, has a diuretic effect, aids digestion and generally protects against toxins. The vegetable also improves your blood values, which in turn has a positive effect on cholesterol levels.

4. Wild garlic contains substances that bind in the body and are able to bind and eliminate heavy metals.

5. Nettles have a strong detoxifying effect, cleanse the blood and stimulate the metabolism. It also promotes the function of the pancreas, which strengthens your immune system. Nettle tea is one of the best-known detoxification cures.

6 tips to reduce heavy metal exposure in everyday life

We have put together 6 tips to help you reduce your intake of toxins. How to reduce your intake of heavy metals in everyday life. With the right diet, you can also set an important milestone for eliminating harmful substances.

1. Make a conscious effort to wash your fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating them, especially herbs, spinach and lettuce. This will help you reduce your intake of heavy metals through food.

2. Avoid excessive consumption of wild mushrooms, as these are particularly frequently affected by heavy metals. Mushrooms are an exception here - they are usually cultivated and are virtually free of heavy metals.

3. If you like to eat linseed or eat it regularly, it is better to buy finely crushed rather than ground. Crushing makes it easier for your body to absorb the cadmium often contained in the seeds.

4. Rice contains relatively high levels of arsenic, which is why excessive consumption of rice porridge, rice milk and rice cakes should be avoided. Also make sure to wash the rice before cooking.

5. If game is shot with leaded ammunition, the meat contains an increased amount of lead. So if you eat a lot of game, it doesn't hurt to have your lead levels checked.

6. Moderate your consumption of mercury-containing sea fish such as tuna, halibut or eel.

Caution: Pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children in particular should only eat foods with an increased heavy metal load in moderation. Children are particularly sensitive to toxins such as lead and mercury.