by Tyler Dahm
Owner of Pathways Natural Wellness Center
Peetox. What the heck is that?! Some parents know the term well and others have never heard of it. Peetox may happen when a child begins a new protocol or detox regimen and suddenly starts having increased urine output and accidents in their pants. It can happen once a day or several times a day, depending on the level of detox and what kind of supports are in place during the detox. Here is some great information and, hopefully, helpful resources for you to manage peetox in your child so that they can continue to detoxify successfully and comfortably. Not to mention saving on parental frustration!
Why does peetox happen? While more research needs to be done in this area, we feel that we have a fairly clear understanding of why peetox occurs. We are dealing with children on the spectrum and it is safe to assume given what we know about MTHFR, CYP and CBS mutations, that these children have some form of compromised or closed pathways. Some children cannot methylate, some children cannot transport, and some children cannot detox. In severely compromised children, like my son, they may not be able to do any of the three. This is important because the body is a wonderfully amazing organic system that will automatically look for a way to override or supplement a process that becomes hindered. If the standard pathways of elimination become blocked in one area, the body will attempt to eliminate from another area. If multiple pathways in the body are blocked, the body will be forced to eliminate from whatever pathways are the most open and available. We believe that in the case of children with peetox, the only available system for them to eliminate from are the kidneys. This would account for the massive increase in urine output that may or may not result in urinary accidents. It is entirely possible that the IonCleanse has communicated to open pathways but the pathway to the feet is so blocked that the body will then reroute to the kidneys in an effort to detoxify as it was made to do.
How do we manage peetox? The first line of defense against peetox is to make sure that we are supporting the liver. The liver is the primary organ for eliminating toxins in the body. When it is not functioning at optimum level due to congestion, damage, or exit pathways being blocked, the kidneys may be the next best route. Therefore, when we care for the liver and support it, we can help take some of the burden off of the kidneys and share the load of primary detox. Liver support should ultimately help stop peetox accidents. One of the safest ways to support the liver is to utilize liver cleansing herbs that are safe for children. We encourages all families to work with their practitioner to create an individualized liver support plan.
The second line of defense against peetox is water intake. It may seem counterintuitive to increase fluid intake while combating massive urine output, but the kidneys need those fluids to clear toxins effectively and the liver relies on adequate amounts of water as well to do the difficult work of detoxing our bodies. Make sure that your child is getting lots of clean water throughout the day. Lemon water will also encourage detoxification of the kidneys and liver.
Another critical line of defense against peetox is to make sure that the bowels are moving regularly and as naturally as possible. Enemas are great, but they should be used only when necessary to ensure that the bowels are being properly trained to absorb and utilize nutrition and water through newly opened pathways. The more the bowels move on their own and the more times daily, (this does not refer to children having several loose stools daily) the more likely it is that the bowels are doing their job properly. This is how we monitor whether the digestive system is functioning properly. If your child absolutely cannot poop without enemas, please do not stop using them. Your child may require more time using their IonCleanse machine for detox before the bowels are healed enough to take over their job properly. If you have any questions regarding whether or not your child’s bowels are moving appropriately, please ask your practitioner or call Pathways Natural Wellness Center to make an appointment with Dr. Kara Goyette.
Following these guidelines should help the body receive the support that it needs and decrease or eliminate peetox incidents. If you have found that after 2-4 weeks of trying these suggestions your child is still having significant or unmanaged peetox, please contact your child’s care provider so that you can work together to create a more comprehensive and supportive plan. Some children have clear indications of compromised organ systems that need more help than these suggestions can provide. You are the expert on your child so it is up to you to decide when you feel your child needs extra care. Above all else, trust your Mommy and Daddy guts!