Herbs have been known for their detox abilities since the dawn of mankind. From the Romans, Greeks, Tribal Amazonians, Native Americans, Inuits, all across the globe our ancestors used herbs to detox and heal. The cultures native to the rainforests often held plant medicine ceremonies for purification of the body, mind and soul. The purification ceremonies were seen as a rebirth, the chance to start again with a body free of toxins (both physical and metaphysical).

We are being bombarded by an unprecedented level of toxins. According to the global healing centre, it is normal for the average human to be exposed to 2,100,000 toxins Every. Single. Day. In today’s toxic world, detox is more important than ever. Click here to learn more about environmental toxins.

The nature of detoxing with herbal teas in the past has always been deeply spiritual, unlike the ‘fit tea’ adverts we see plastered all across social media by the influencers of today. These Instagram “teatoxes” are often just straight laxatives- marked up with ridiculous price tags. Laxatives do nothing to cleanse the blood, kidneys, and liver. Here at Neter Vital, we stock a huge range of natural herbs that actually work – so you can create your own detox tea from the herbs of your choice, and save some cash. Here are our recommendations for the top 5 detox herbs:

Burdock Root

Recent studies have shown that burdock root is a powerful blood cleanser. Not only does it clean up our blood, it also rids toxins from the lymphatic system and skin. A staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), it has been used for thousands of years. In TCM it is used to cool internal heat and is associated with the lung and stomach meridians. Burdock is a powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It promotes blood flow to the skin’s surface, healing skin issues like acne and eczema.

Moringa

Moringa is a miracle herb. Abundant in Africa, India, and Asia, all parts of the moringa tree have healing properties. The seeds of the moringa tree are so powerful they can purify dirty water to be clean enough to drink safely. This technique is being used across Africa right now. Not only does it purify water, but it also purifies our body. Moringa leaves can remove dangerous heavy metals from the body. Moringa is very powerful, and while it is ridding your body of toxins, you may feel nauseous and bloated. Once the toxins have been eradicated, these side effects will cease. Moringa possesses antitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It really is a most remarkable plant, see our moringa article.

Dandelion

Dandelion is famous for its detox capabilities and has been used for hundreds of years. Dandelion is the liver’s best friend. It purifies an overburdened liver and treats the symptoms of liver disease. Research has found that dandelion reduces fat in the liver, which in turn allows the liver to function normally. Active compounds in the dandelion cause an increase in bile production. The increase in bile helps to improve digestion and the absorption of nutrients. One study found that dandelion root protected the live tissue of mice exposed to toxic levels of acetaminophen (Paracetamol). Read more about the dangers of over the counter painkillers here.

Senna

Used in ancient Egypt, senna is one of the best laxatives- and it’s all-natural. In fact, it’s so effective that it’s favoured over pharmaceutical laxatives by doctors for clearing the bowel before colonoscopies. Senna is unrivalled when it comes to cleansing the digestive system, and can be used to treat bouts of constipation and for infrequent cleansing, but shouldn’t be taken for longer than 2 weeks at a time. Frequent use is not recommended as it can cause the digestive system to become ‘lazy’. 

Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla is a majorly underrated herb that detoxes the entire body It removes candida, heals the digestive tract, neutralizes acid and removes mucus, clears the bowels, lungs and skin. It is known for its diuretic properties and protects the kidneys. One of the active compounds, astilbin, decreases uric acid in the body which can treat the symptoms of kidney disease. This herb will make a great addition to any detox tea blend you come up with! Read more about Sarsaparilla here.

Herbal tea detoxes should be accompanied by rest, relaxation, and self-care. The body is undergoing purification, and you can assist it by carrying out spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, burning incense, affirmations, visualization, gratitude exercises, forgiveness and journaling.

We stock all these herbs, as well as our own detox mixture (Blood cleansing tea).  

References

Chan, Y. S., Cheng, L. N., Wu, J. H., Chan, E., Kwan, Y. W., Lee, S. M., Leung, G. P., Yu, P. H., & Chan, S. W. (2011). A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology, 19(5), 245–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4

Jangber ZN,1 Ekwumemgbo PA,2 Okibe FG,2 Oladele SB3 (2018) Detoxificating effects of moringa oleifera leaf and zingiber officinale root powder on cadmium toxicity
http://medcraveonline.com/OAJTMR/OAJTMR-02-00030.pdf

Choi, U. K., Lee, O. H., Yim, J. H., Cho, C. W., Rhee, Y. K., Lim, S. I., & Kim, Y. C. (2010). Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root and leaf on cholesterol-fed rabbits. International journal of molecular sciences, 11(1), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms11010067