Herbal Body Cleanse

The herbal body cleanse is an approach to detoxification based upon the perception that the human body is a self-healing and homeostatic organism.

The body has a wonderfully effective and astoundingly complex mechanism for ridding the body of waste and poisons. Using simple and safe herbs will support this natural process, as long as the eliminative processes are addressed as a whole, and not just the colon, as is often the case.

You mustensure that all organs of elimination are being helped at the same time when undertaking an herbal body cleanse program. In addition, always help the specific area of the body that has been under the most toxic pressure. Examples of this would be a tobacco smoker cleansing the lungs and an alcohol drinker cleansing the liver. The herbal body cleanse approach todetoxification can be summarized as such:

* Support for the whole process of elimination

* Specific support for overly taxed organs

* Alleviation of symptoms and addressing any pathologies that may also be present

Herbal Actions and Elimination:

There are herbal actions whose impact makes them especially important for the support of the different pathways of elimination in the body:

* For the digestive system and colon - laxative

* For the kidneys and urinary system - diuretic

* For the liver and blood - hepatic, alterative

* For the lymphatic system - alterative, lymphatic, tonic

* For skin - diaphoretic, alterative

* For the respiratory system - expectorant, anti-catarrhal

* For systemic support in general - tonic, alterative, adaptive, anti-microbial

There are potentially many appropriate plants for the herbal body cleanse that might be chosen.

Gentle Cleansers:

There are many ways in which the medical herbalist would go about the task of selecting the appropriate remedy for any particular individual. However, there is a simple basic guideline to follow.

Always use gentle remedies when stimulating elimination (herbal body cleanse). If overly active plants are used, then the effect may be one of intense elimination. This can be unpleasant and uncomfortable and of no therapeutic benefit.

Here are some suggestions for herbs that effectively supply the relevant actions while also being safe and mild. This is not a comprehensive list but simply gives examples to point the way.

Laxative: An aid to opening the bowels.

Yellow Dock, Dandelion Root

Diuretic: An aid to promoting the flow of urine.

Dandelion Leaf

Hepatic: Used in the treatment of disorders of the liver.

Dandelion Root, beetroot (as an example of a vegetable that will fulfill the same role)

Alterative: Promotes the restoration of the general well-being.

Nettles, Cleavers

Lymphatic tonic: Promotes the health of the lymphatic system carrying tissue fluid.

Cleavers, Echinacea, Marigold

Diaphoretic: Used to treat the skin and promote perspiration.

Yellow Dock, Lime Blossom

Expectorant: Aids the removal of excess mucus from the lungs and facilitates coughing.

Mullein, Coltsfoot

Tonic: any tonic remedy that has an affinity for the parts of the body under pressure from toxic build-up. Used to promote the health of the whole body.

Adaptogen: A substance that regulates the production of hormones.

Siberian Ginseng

Anti-microbial: Helps the body fight off the organisms that cause disease.

Echinacea, Garlic

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