(also referred to as...) Poisoning
Description Chemical poisoning can result from direct or indirect exposure to a number of chemicals found in our daily environment. Children are at greatest risk of accidental poisoning as they can unknowingly consume liquids found in bottles below the sink or play on grass that has been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides. Harmful chemicals often enter the body through either inhalation or via skin absorption. Direct exposure usually occurs in a working environment involving the use of chemical sprays or solvents, such as factory workers or mainstream farmers. Indirect exposure can be the result of anything from the use of household chemical cleaners to the pesticides sprayed on your lawn or local park. Occasionally, low-level exposure leads to a lack of awareness of poisoning until symptoms and signs become apparent.
Symptoms and Signs: Signs of chemical poisoning can appear in seconds or hours, depending on the type of poison, exposure quantity, and individual genetic makeup and resistance. Symptoms include asthma, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, choking, coughing, delirium, diarrhea, digestive problems, dizziness, dry mouth, faintness, fatigue, headache, itching, nausea, nervous system disorders, skin rashes, stomach pain, sweating, and vomiting.
Causes: Chemical poisoning can be caused by exposure or ingestion of ammonia, antifreeze, art supplies, batteries, chemical cleaning products, chlorine, cosmetics, dicholorodiphenyltricholoroethane (DDT), disinfectants, drain cleaners, fungicides, gasoline, some glues, heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, and lead), herbicides, some house plants, insecticides, mothballs, mouthwashes, some mushrooms, nail adhesive or polish, paints, pesticides, petroleum products, recreational drugs, solvents, toilet cleaners, and purposeful ingestion of toxic substances. Local proximity to landfills or industrial complexes can also statistically increase the probability of exposure. The improper or excess use of one or more medications can also cause chemical poisoning.
What to Expect: Chemical poisoning can be a life-threatening situation. You are strongly advised to seek medical attention. See the opening remark under Remedies, below. If you have consumed a toxic level of a substance, shock can quickly develop. Abnormal heart rhythms, breathing difficulties, coma, and severe agitation can also occur. Corrosive liquids can cause burning in the throat and esophagus upon ingestion. Generally, do not induce vomiting unless advised by your poison control centre, naturopath, or other health practitioner. Poisoning can lead to decreased and/or cessation of function of one or more internal organs. Again, medical attention is strongly recommended. The liver and kidneys are particularly at risk when chemical poisoning occurs and measures must be taken to restore these organs to full health. Pneumonia may also be experienced.
Remedies NOTE: If you or the person suffering from chemical poisoning has ingested any chemical or liquid from a bottle containing a poison symbol, seek immediate medical attention from your local poison control centre or hospital. Check the label for actions you can take until the ambulance arrives or hospitalization services become available. And take the container with you (if applicable). Typical acute responses include inducing vomiting (for non-corrosive substances), and drinking water or milk, but do not take these measures unless advised by your poison control centre or explicitly stated on the container.
Antioxidants Antioxidants are essential to help deal with free radical damage caused by toxins and chemical exposure. They can be used in combination for greater effect. Alpha-lipoic acid is known as the "antioxidant's antioxidant" or the "universal antioxidant". In addition to being a powerful coenzyme, this antioxidant enhances the effectiveness of several antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10. Alpha-Lipoic acid regenerates and recycles these antioxidants so they continuously neutralize free radical damage in the body. Take 60 to 100mg daily. Grape seed extract is a nutrient primarily derived from the seeds of grapes but is also found in the skin and stems. It has powerful antioxidant properties and has protective compounds known as flavonoids. These include oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), anthocyananins, quercetin, catechin, ellagic acid and reveratrol, which is also found in red wine. If supplementing, take 25 to 100mg daily, in divided doses. The beneficial compounds are also found in red wine, purple grape juice, and red grapes. NOTE: Discuss with your nutritionist, naturopath, or other health practitioner the appropriateness of consuming red wine, where the alcohol content may interfere with certain medications. Green tea can be taken daily to help cleanse toxins from the body. Place 2 teaspoons of green tea leaves in one cup hot (not boiling) water and steep for 3 to 4 minutes. The longer the infusion, the more bitter green tea becomes. Boiling water destroys some of the beneficial elements of green tea. Allow the water to stop boiling before adding the leaves. Use a ceramic, glass, or earthenware mug. Drink 1 to 2 cups daily Pycnogenol is extracted from the bark of French maritime pine trees grown in the south of France. The resulting extract contains approximately forty antioxidants and a number of flavonoid compounds, making pycnogenol one of the most potent antioxidant preparations currently available. One particular flavonoid of note is OPC, which may be as much as fifty times more potent than vitamin E and twenty times more potent than vitamin C in terms of its bioavailable antioxidant ability. OPCs are also found in grape seed extract (see above). Pycnogenol is exceptionally bioavailable and absorbed in the body. Take 25 to 100mg daily, in divided doses. NOTE: Some people may experience allergic reactions to pine bark extract. Consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner to determine the appropriateness of supplementation with this antioxidant. See also selenium under Minerals and vitamins Co-Q10, C, and E under Vitamins, below. For more information, see the dedicated section on Antioxidants.
Foods Once the initial danger of exposure has passed and you have been seen by your naturopath or other health practitioner, drink at least eight large glasses of water daily to keep yourself hydrated and promote the flushing of toxins from the body. If you are not accustomed to drinking this quantity of water, start with four or five glasses and work your way up.
Food Supplements Acidophilus and Bifidus supplementation will restore beneficial bacteria counts in the digestive tract and promote proper function. Look for a dairy-free formulation with at least 2.5 billion viable cultures per capsule and keep refrigerated. Take 2 or 3 capsules daily before meals, preferably in the morning. Supplements with Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) provide a beneficial "bed" and initial food source for the bacteria. If dairy allergies have been ruled out, you can also eat yogurt that has had either bacterial culture added.
Herbs Cat's claw has antioxidant properties and boosts immune system function. However, the majority of reports on this herb are anecdotal and findings are only preliminary. More research needs to be conducted on this plant and, as a result, no dosage information is provided at this time. In the mean time, consult with your herbalist, naturopath, or other health practitioner to determine the appropriateness of this herb as part of your healing protocol. Licorice root is a very good liver botanical and promotes the elimination of toxins from the body. It works as well as milk thistle (see below) in protecting and repairing the liver and both herbs often have improved results when used together. Licorice tea is rather sweet tasting. Gently boil 1/2 tsp. powdered root with 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups daily. Milk thistle promotes liver function and helps cleanse the body of toxins. It is most effective if taken at night and works very well if taken with licorice root (see above). Take 2 tablespoons ground powder daily, sprinkled on food. If using capsules, take 280 to 420mg daily. Look for supplements containing silymarin, considered the active ingredient. Milk thistle takes time to act and, being nontoxic, is safe to use over the long-term. Sarsaparilla is an excellent blood purifier and is used to remedy the toxic effects of many poisons. To prepare a decoction, bring three teaspoons of root and three and one half cups water to a boil and simmer 15 minutes. Cool, strain, and divide into three doses for the day. If using in tincture form, add 30 to 50 drops of tincture to half a glass of water. Drink slowly.
Lifestyle If you are at risk of chemical poisoning at your workplace, take active steps to reduce and/or eliminate exposure. This will likely require discussions with your supervisor or union to achieve this goal. Though the process may be difficult and not entirely pleasant, the end result of improved worker / workplace safety should be considered a desirable goal by all parties involved. Reduce your exposure to pesticides, which can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin, causing potential poisoning if a hypersensitivity exists. Long term exposure also leads to excess free radical damage in your body. Along these lines, keep all chemicals out of the reach of children, who may not be aware of the dangers they hold. This includes commercial dish soaps, window cleaners, and other seemingly benign substances. Avoid and eliminate all sources of chemical exposure to reduce the possibility of additional poisoning. Common household cleaners containing poison symbols should be eliminated. If you cannot drink it, why would you expose yourself to it? Long term toxic exposure is a silent and potentially deadly threat. And viable alternatives are readily available. Natural alternatives are available in health food stores, while vinegar or baking soda and water clean just about anything. Companies such as Nature Clean, Simply Clean, and Ecover sell viable alternatives that work just as well, if not better, than their toxin equivalents. Do not spray your lawn with toxic chemicals. Lawn spraying is an acutely North American habit whose consequences are far greater than the trivial, aesthetic gains. Think about it. You are poisoning your lawn, pets, children, and yourself to satisfy a social norm. Again, follow the above rule of if you cannot drink, why would you exposure yourself to it? Instead, welcome the diversity of life a natural lawn brings. Your children will be able to enjoy the outdoors while playing on the grass. You could even tear up the lawn and plant a natural garden with native plant species. This is a welcome trend in humanizing our urban areas. Butterflies, birds and beautiful planted bulbs make for a welcome replacement to a toxic expanse of empty space... Keep the telephone number of your local poison control centre in a readily accessible location, such as on the fridge or near the phone. There is often no time to hunt for this number during an emergency. The number can be found on one of the opening pages of your telephone directory.
Minerals Selenium is a powerful antioxidant. One Brazil nut contains enough selenium to satisfy your daily requirement. However, you may wish to have a few more. If supplementing, take 100 to 200mcg twice daily.
Miscellaneous Activated charcoal will adsorb (attach to) foreign molecules and aid in their elimination from the body. Take 3 to 6 capsules at the first sign of poisoning.
Therapies, Healing Aids, and More Coffee enemas stimulate the liver and gallbladder to release toxins, where they are then flushed from the body. Consider fasting to help rid the body of residual toxins. A fast should only be performed once the initial danger of exposure has passed and only under the supervision of your naturopath or other health practitioner.
Vitamins Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that also helps rebuild the immune system and increases tissue oxygenation. Broccoli and spinach are two non-protein-based foods that contain this vitamin. If supplementing, take 50 to 100mg daily. Vitamin C supports the immune system, has antioxidant properties, and promotes the elimination of toxins. Take 1,000 to 10,000mg (or more) daily, in divided doses. Start at the lower dosage and increase up to bowel tolerance. Dosages greater than 5,000mg should only be consumed under the supervision of your naturopath or other health practitioner. Vitamin E has antioxidant properties. Take 400 to 800 IU daily.
Actions and Remedy Listings
See also Chemical Allergies.
In addition, see also Asthma, Diarrhea, Digestive Problems, Fatigue, Headache, Liver Toxification, Pneumonia, Skin Problems, and Weakened Immune System
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