Springtime – the ultimate time of year to detox – or is it? As a Naturopathic Doctor, nature is the foundation of how I help patients heal. Nature cure is all around us! Nature nourishes us and relaxes our nervous system. We should treasure mother nature and understand how her resources
can actually help us year-round.
A true detox is drinking clean water for a specific period of time. Most importantly, you need to be
relaxing, which means no work – physically nor mentally exertive. You have to truly let your body rest and purge.
Herbs are the answer, as we can add them in daily. Herbs can cleanse our body of toxins by supporting our liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system. The liver filters blood daily, metabolizes nutrients, produces bile for digestion, and removes toxins. The kidneys filter blood constantly, maintain electrolyte balance, plus remove toxins, excess water, and waste products via urine. Our lymphatic system is our body’s drainage, which filters pathogens and waste products through our lymph nodes and produces immune cells to fight infection.
First and foremost, the most important factor in detoxing is proper bowel movements. So, make sure that’s happening properly and regularly. If you are constipated, make it a priority to remedy it. Consider: dehydration, lack of fiber, lack of probiotic diversity in your gut, sedentary lifestyle, or inflammation. Warm teas can help stubborn bowels. Seek medical advice if constipation persists.
Let’s talk about some of my favorite detoxifying herbs. The liver has an important job of detoxing, and milk thistle reigns supreme by helping to repair liver cells and enhancing the liver’s ability to filter toxins. Dandelion also supports the liver by stimulating bile, plus acts as a diuretic to stimulate the kidneys. Burdock root cleanses the blood and supports the lymphatic system, which can get clogged if there’s any inflammation and/or stagnation in your body.
Nettle is a diuretic to help flush out excess water. Ginger stimulates circulation and optimizes digestion. Ginger and turmeric both support liver functioning by decreasing inflammation, fat accumulation, and oxidative stress. Cleavers is a lymphatic tonic by supporting the removal of waste products from body tissues.
You can consume herbs in a variety of ways. The best part is that you can combine the herbs. Teas are simple because you simply steep in warm water and enjoy. Tinctures are herbal extractions in either alcohol or glycerin. They tend to be strong, so depending on your palate, this can be a pro or con. Herbal tinctures can be taken straight or added to water. You can blend a variety of tinctures into one bottle on the go, so it’s easy to consume at any time. Then there is, of course, a most delicious way of consuming herbs, which is adding fresh or dried herbs to your meal.
Consider adding herbs to your daily routine. If you need help, that’s what we do here at Wellness Matters: medical visits include meal planning and bloodwork analysis to make sure your body systems are working optimally. Sign up for a plant-based cooking class and get inspired to add detox herbs to your meals!
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