Homotoxicology is a theory of medicine developed by Dr. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg that views the symptoms of disease as evidence of the body's defence mechanisms at work against toxic substances within the physical body (heavy metals, bacteria, fungus, virus, pesticides, fungicides, etc...). Lifestyle changes and natural medicine is used to assist the body in eliminating these obstacles to cure.

 

The Six Phases

According to homotoxicology theory, there are six stages or phases to the body's ability to cope with toxins. These are represented in the Six-Phase Table:

1 Excretion: In this phase, the body is able to adequately cope with and excrete toxins efficiently for example a runny nose, vomiting or diarrhoea are examples of the excretion phase.

 

2 Inflammation: A fever is an example of the inflammation phase of toxicity. A fever is the body's natural attempt to neutralise toxins that it cannot adequately remove by excretion.

 

3 Deposition: If the toxins still cannot be removed, the body stores them. This phase is usually asymptomatic. However, when the proper treatment is administered, one of the first signs that it is working is the Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction. This is said to be due to the mobilization of toxins from the extracellular matrix.

 

4 Impregnation: After a period of time, the body becomes “impregnated” by the toxins. They become part of the connective tissue itself and cause cellular and tissue damage. Severe symptoms can occur at this stage.

 

5 Degeneration: Organ degeneration occurs during this phase as the built up toxins destroy large cellular groups within the organ/s.

 

6 Differentiation: At this stage, toxic cellular groups “differentiate” or distinguish themselves as distinct cell forms. Malignancies such as tumours form at the extreme end of this phase.