Whether you are discontinuing a strong prescription drug or have an addiction to street drugs, you might need help detoxing your body from the effect of the drug and supporting the life changes you are making. Herbal teas might help relieve symptoms of detox and make it easier to stop taking the drugs. However, no conclusive clinical evidence supports using herbs for detox. Talk to a qualified health care practitioner before taking any herbs for medicinal reasons.
Teas for Addictions
Certain herbal teas might help you overcome addictions or help calm nervous symptoms as you detoxify from the drug. "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies" recommends oats, skullcap and valerian tea to calm nervous tension due to side effects of drug detoxification. Oat infusions may also help build stronger willpower to quit. Large doses of valerian might cause hyperactivity, so avoid prolonged use of valerian. Skullcap and oats are safe for general use.
Liver Detox
Your liver is responsible for cleansing toxins from the blood and might need extra support during the process of detoxification. Dandelion and burdock root tea is a classic combination for liver cleansing. Milk thistle tea might provide special compounds that protect and strengthen the liver, according to "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants." Avoid burdock root in the first trimester of pregnancy. Clinical evidence doesn't support using these herbs to cleanse or protect your liver.
Cramp Bark
Tea made with cramp bark might help relieve physical discomfort experienced while detoxing from drugs. According to "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies," cramp bark is a sedative and relaxant that relieves cramping and muscle spasms, but there is not enough evidence to support using cramp bark to overcome addictions. Large doses of cramp bark might lower your blood pressure.
Making Tea
"The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies" recommends taking up to 3 cups a day of a tea made with dandelion root, burdock root, oats or cramp bark -- either alone or in combination. An infusion of these herbs consists of 2 tbsp. of one or more dried herbs steeped in 1 quart of boiled water for 20 minutes. Valerian is a strong sedative and works best as a cold decoction -- 1 tsp. of valerian soaked in 1 cup of cold water for eight hours.
Precautions
Talk to your doctor before using any herbs medicinally. Herbal teas on their own do not constitute a complete detoxification plan. You might need to make changes to your lifestyle including diet, exercise and sleeping habits. Seek advice from a qualified medical professional to create a detoxification plan and seek psychological support while detoxing from heavy drug use or addictions.
References
- "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies"; Norman Shealy MD, Ph.D.; 1998
- "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants"; Andrew Chevallier; 1996
