The liver and the kidneys are your main organs of detoxification. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy liver breaks down toxins and removes waste from the blood. The kidneys filter out water and toxins from more than 180 quarts of blood per day, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. These toxins are sent to the bladder as urine. A detoxification program that cleanses the liver and the kidneys will help to maintain optimal health in your body as they will perform their regular cleansing activities with less risk of disease. Always consult your doctor before engaging in a detoxification program if you are under medical treatment.
Step 1
Fill a large pot with filtered water and bring it to a boil.
Step 2
Add 1/4 cup each of organic and coarsely chopped dandelion root, organic and dry gravel root and organic burdock root. Both dandelion and gravel root are diuretic herbs, which will promote urination, says Simon Mills in his book "The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism." This will help to flush out toxins from the kidneys and remove any existing kidney stones. Additionally, dandelion is a cholagogue, which, according to Richo Cech in his book "Making Plant Medicine," is due to its bitter taste, and it helps to cleanse the liver. Burdock root is also a cholagogue and an alterative or "blood cleanser" that will help to detoxify both the liver and the kidneys, says herbalist David Hoffmann in his book "The New Holistic Herbal."
Step 3
Simmer the herbs for 15 to 20 minutes and strain them using a colander. You can sweeten your tea with honey, but make sure you don't completely mask the bitter taste, which is needed for the cholagogue properties of the herbs.
Step 4
Drink your tea through out the day for seven to 10 days and avoid greasy and hard-to-digest foods during this time of cleansing as it will allow your body to take full advantage of the medicinal properties of the herbs you are taking.
Step 5
Try drinking at least eight cups of filtered water in addition to your detox tea in order to assist your body in the elimination of toxins.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep your herbal tea in the refrigerator and serve yourself one cup at a time to keep it fresh throughout the day. Make only one day's worth of tea at a time.
- Stop your detox program if you experience any signs of discomfort.
Things You'll Need
- Organic dandelion
- Organic gravel root
- Organic burdock root
- Pot
- Filtered water
- Colander
- Honey (optional)
References
- Mayo Clinic: Liver Disease
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: The Kidneys and How They Work
- "The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism"; Simon Y. Mills M.A., M.N.I.M.H.;1988
- "Making Plant Medicine"; Richo Cech; 2000
- "The New Holistic Herbal"; David Hoffmann; 1995
