The 6 Pathways Of Elimination:
A Functional Medicine Key to True Healing
In functional medicine, true healing goes far beyond the disappearance of symptoms. Wellness is achieved when the body can efficiently process and eliminate toxins and waste. If these waste products build up, the body becomes overloaded, leading to fatigue, pain, inflammation, and other chronic symptoms. This is why elimination is considered just as essential as nutrition and lifestyle interventions, because healing cannot occur if the body is bogged down by toxins.
Functional medicine practitioners emphasize addressing root causes rather than suppressing symptoms. For example, supporting someone with a cold requires not just herbs or supplements, but also ensuring that their digestion and elimination are functioning properly. The body has six main organs of elimination: the bowel, lungs, skin, kidneys, liver, and lymphatic system, and optimizing their function is foundational to restoring health.
The Bowel: The Foundation of Detoxification
The bowel’s primary job is elimination. When waste stagnates, toxins can leak back into the bloodstream and affect other systems, even contributing to brain fog and migraines. Ideally, bowel movements should occur daily, not just a few times per week. Functional medicine often addresses bowel health through hydration, dietary fiber (about 35-40 grams daily), physical activity, and sometimes targeted supplementation. Practices like drinking warm lemon water in the morning and eating fiber-rich foods such as berries can support long-term bowel health.
The Lungs: Detox Through Breath
The lungs help the body eliminate carbon dioxide while supplying oxygen for cellular energy. Without efficient lung function, fatigue sets in quickly. Functional medicine approaches lung support through practices like deep breathing, regular aerobic exercise, good posture, and ensuring nutrient sufficiency (iron, vitamins C and A). Avoiding environmental toxins, such as cigarette smoke and air pollutants, is equally important for maintaining respiratory health.
The Skin: A Vital Organ of Elimination
The skin is often called the “third kidney” because it helps eliminate waste through sweat. When this pathway is blocked, toxins remain in the body. Supporting the skin includes encouraging healthy sweating through exercise, saunas, or alternating hot and cold showers. Functional medicine also emphasizes reducing toxin exposure from skincare and personal products. Minerals like sulfur and silica further nourish the skin and support its eliminative function.
The Kidneys and Liver: Filters and Converters
The kidneys filter waste from the blood, while the liver plays a central role in detoxification, converting toxins into forms the body can excrete. If either organ is sluggish, symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or fluid retention may appear. Functional medicine supports these organs with hydration (at least eight glasses of water daily), nutrient-rich foods, and targeted botanicals like dandelion, parsley, and cleavers. Optimizing protein intake and liver detox pathways is also a focus in many individualized protocols.
The Lymphatic System: The Body’s Drainage Network
The lymphatic system removes toxins, pathogens, and cellular waste, but unlike the cardiovascular system, it has no pump. Movement is essential to keep lymph flowing. Functional medicine strategies include exercise, dry brushing, massage, sauna therapy, and herbal support from plants like red clover, burdock, and echinacea. When the lymphatic system is supported, the body is better able to regulate inflammation and immune responses.
Final Thoughts: Functional Healing Through Elimination
In functional medicine, symptoms are seen as signals rather than problems to suppress. By focusing on the body’s six elimination pathways, we create the foundation for long-term healing and resilience. Migraines, fatigue, digestive discomfort, and even skin conditions often improve naturally once these systems are optimized.
Supporting elimination is not just about detoxification; it’s about restoring the body’s innate ability to heal, bringing balance to both body and mind.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/emtala
Institute for Functional Medicine. (2024). What is functional medicine? https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine
