Detox Dangers

Doctors have warned against undertaking a radical new year detox.

18:11 05 January 2017

Doctors have issued a warning against radical new year detox citing the case of a woman who was placed under intensive care last year after drinking too much water and taking herbal remedies including molkosan, milk thistle, glutamine, valerian root and vitamin B compound.

 

Her partner revealed that the woman had also been drinking lots of water, green tea and sage tea before she collapsed and had a seizure. The 47-year-old recovered with treatment but her story is a reminder of the dangers of drastic detoxing, medics have said.

 

In their report in the British Medical Journal Case Reports, they wrote:

 

"The complementary medicine market is very popular in the UK and the concept of the new-year 'detox' with all-natural products is appealing to those less concerned with evidence-based medicine and more with complementary medicine,"

 

"Excessive water intake as a way of 'purifying and cleansing' the body is also a popular regime with the belief that harmful waste products can thus be washed from the body."

 

The British Dietetic Association echoed their concerns.

 

"There are no pills or specific drinks, patches or lotions that can do a magic job," a representative said.

 

"The body has numerous organs, such as the skin, gut, liver and kidney, that continually 'detoxify' the body from head to toe.

 

"Being well-hydrated is a sensible strategy, but drinking too much water can be as dangerous as not drinking enough.

 

"It sounds predictable, but for the vast majority of people, a sensible diet and regular physical activity really are the only ways to properly maintain and maximise your health."