Side Effects of Detox Tea

Detox teas are meant to cleanse your body of toxins and promote healthy kidney and liver function. Detox teas combine ingredients to produce such effects. Always consult a health care professional before drinking a detox tea. Also know that the ingredients commonly found in these teas can cause side effects.

Dandelion Effects

Dandelion often is used in detox teas because it is a natural diuretic that increases your urine production, boosts immunity, provides antioxidants and aids digestion. It also helps clear your gallbladder and liver of congestion that may be caused by alcohol, acetaminophen or cholesterol-lowering medicines, says nationally known nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman of Idaho in "The Fat Flush Cookbook." You may develop an allergic reaction, however, especially if you react to ragweed, chamomile or daisies, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have gallstones or gall bladder problems you need to consult a doctor prior to using dandelion because it may worsen your condition. Dandelion can interact with antacids, quinolone antibiotics and lithium.

Milk Thistle Effects

Milk thistle is added to such teas because it supports liver detoxification. Its active component, silymarin, may help protect liver cells and promote their growth, inhibit inflammation and fight oxidation, a chemical process within your body believed to damage cells, according to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Milk thistle can cause an allergic reaction and is in the same plant family as dandelion. It also can lower your blood sugar levels, so if you have diabetes or hypoglycemia, or take supplements or drugs that affect blood sugar, you need to use caution, advise the experts at NCCAM.

Licorice Effects

Licorice often is included in detox teas. It is a demulcent, or soothing agent, and an expectorant that can help clear phlegm from your respiratory tract, according to UMMC. It's a sweetening agent as well, and has anti-inflammatory and estrogenic activities, according to "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide," by George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox. It may help you detoxify from heavy metal and chemical contamination that can harm your immune system as well. Side effects from licorice can include headache, lethargy, low blood potassium levels, elevated blood pressure and water and sodium retention. It is not safe to use licorice if you have kidney disease, cirrhosis or other liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or fluid retention. Also avoid it if you are pregnant.

It's not safe to use licorice if you take digoxin, ACE inhibitors, or any diuretics to treat high blood pressure, advises UMMC. It's also unsafe to take with loratadine and choline magnesium trysalicylate, according to Grossberg and Fox. Licorice also can interact with corticosteroids, diabetes drugs, laxatives, antidepressants and oral contraceptives.