Dandelion root is a bitter herb that is highly effective as a blood cleanser that strains and filters toxins from the blood.
Dandelion root is a superb diuretic that improves the function of the pancreas, spleen, stomach, and kidneys (reduces kidney inflammation) without depleting potassium from the body.
But primarily, dandelion root is one of the great liver herbs. It is the best lipotropic known, flushing excess fat from the liver, thereby helping to relieve chronic liver congestion. In addition, it increases the production of bile. And studies have proven that it actually has "liver healing" properties.
Burdock root is probably the most famous detoxifying agent in the herbal arsenal. Burdock root cleanses the blood by increasing the effectiveness of all of the body's elimination systems. Its diuretic effect helps the kidneys filter the blood. Burdock root helps push toxins out, and it also boosts the ability of the liver to remove toxins. The bottom line is that by addressing toxins through a variety of pathways, burdock root acts as a blood purifier with minimal side effects and with minimal stress to the body.
Cinnamon contains compounds called catechins, which help ease nausea and make it beneficial when doing a liver detox. In addition, the plant's essential oil has been found to stimulate movement in the gastrointestinal tract. And cinnamon's pleasing scent stimulates saliva production, which aids in digestion.
In addition, both test-tube and animal studies have found that cinnamon functions as a carminative, and as such can help ease flatulence and bloating. It can also ease mild abdominal discomfort caused by excess gas.
Famous for its expectorant action, cardamon seed is also used to address various types of cough, conditions involving respiratory allergies, phlegmatic conditions and sore throats. Cardamon is also used to control various digestive problems like excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and flatulence.
Cardamon seed also has a wonderful smell and flavor.
Licorice Root stimulates the production of digestive fluids and bile, soothes ulcers, helps reduce intestinal inflammation, and supports the healthy function of the kidneys, liver and bladder—allowing one to experience a soothing, healing effect while undergoing natural colon cleansing. Its action in soothing ulcers is unique. Rather than inhibit the release of acid, licorice root stimulates the normal defense mechanisms that ward off ulcer formation. Specifically, licorice root improves both the quality and quantity of the protective substances that line the intestinal tract; increases the life span of the intestinal cell; and improves blood supply to the intestinal lining.
Licorice Root has been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. By enhancing cortisol activity, glycyrrhizin helps to increase energy, ease stress, and reduce the symptoms of ailments sensitive to cortisol levels, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. In the 1800s, licorice extract was a common remedy for a type of persistent fatigue known as neurasthenia, the condition now known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
The phytoestrogens in Licorice Root have a mild estrogenic effect, making the herb potentially useful in easing certain symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), such as irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness. Although the glycyrrhizin in Licorice Root actually inhibits the effect of the body's own estrogens, the mild estrogenic effect produced by licorice's phytoestrogens manages to override this inhibiting action. In addition, the phytoestrogens in licorice root may help to minimize menopausal symptoms by compensating somewhat for the natural decline in a woman's estrogen levels following menopause.
Fennel is a carminative herb that helps reduce colic, gas, indigestion, digestive disorders, assimilation, nausea, and flatulence. It also can help break up kidney stones and uric acid in the tissues and is therefore used in dealing with gout.
Fennel will help assist in the removal of mucus and phlegm from the lungs and it will also help rid the intestinal tract of mucus. Its natural colon cleansing properties also have a cleansing effect on the gall bladder and liver.
Fennel will help improve digestive health and quiet hiccups. This herb is useful in reducing intestinal and stomach gas—a key necessity for colon cleansing products.
Uva Ursi contains a compound called arbutin which has the ability to drain excess water from cells, promoting an antiseptic effect on the kidneys. In the urinary tract, the arbutin in Uva Ursi is chemically transformed into an antiseptic chemical, hydroquinone. Uva Ursi also contains diuretic chemicals, including ursolic acid, powerful astringents, and a chemical, Allantoin, that helps promote the growth of healthy new cells. Uva Ursi may help the bladder, cystitis, nephritis, water retention, liver ailments and chronic diarrhea.
During its excretion arbutin produces an antiseptic effect on the urinary mucous membrane and can therefore help assist with the urinary tract. Tannic acid is also contained in the leaves. This herb also helps to keep the pH balance of urine from being too acid. It actually strengthens the lining of the urinary tract and helps to ease any inflammation in the system. It has a direct sedative effect on the bladder walls. Allantoin, also found in Uva Ursi spurs the healing of wounds. For chronic inflammation of the bladder or kidneys Uva Ursi has no equal. Two studies report that urine from individuals given Uva Ursi are active against the most commonly involved microorganisms in bladder and urinary tract ailments.
This study supports the results of a double blind study of 57 women with recurrent cystitis. After one year, the placebo group had 20% incidence of recurring cystitis, whereas the Uva Ursi group had no reoccurrence.
In addition it has anti-lithic properties that help in dissolving crystals not just in the kidneys, but throughout the body as well. It has, therefore, been used for arthritis and other joint problems.
Juniper Berries are a prime herb for eliminating congestion of the kidneys and for removing waste products from the system via the kidneys. It also strengthens and builds the tract, the urinary passages and the bladder as well as the kidneys.
Juniper Berries have also been recommended to strengthen the pancreas and the adrenal glands, thus being of importance for people with diabetes.
Juniper Berries are beneficial in reducing congestion. Juniper Berries make an excellent antiseptic in conditions such as cystitis. But the essential oil present in this herb is quite stimulating to the kidney nephrons. Some texts warn that Juniper oil may be a kidney irritant at higher doses, but there is no real evidence that this is the case, and the dosage in this detox tea is quite low. Nonetheless, people with serious kidney disease probably shouldn't take Juniper Berries.
Contemporary herbalists primarily use Juniper Berries as a diuretic ("water pill") component of health supplements designed to address bladder ailments. The volatile oils of Juniper reportedly increase the rate of kidney filtration, thereby increasing urine flow and perhaps helping to "wash out" offending microorganisms. The volatile oils, particularly terpinen-4-ol, may cause an increase in urine volume. According to some sources, Juniper Berries increase urine volume without a loss of electrolytes such as potassium. It is recommended by the German Commission E for kidney ailments.
Fresh ginger root has a long history of use in herbal medicine. Ginger root helps control temporary nausea, which makes it useful in morning sickness during pregnancy, as well as in intestinal activating and detoxing formulas, and in liver cleansing programs. Ginger root is also a strong COX 2 inhibitor. In the Far East and India, ginger root is renowned for its aphrodisiac properties.
The active ingredient in cloves is eugenol. Clove is used as a food preservative. In the same way cloves keep food fresh by riding it of microorganisms, they also help aid with upset stomach and diarrhea.
One other important note on cloves is that it is one of the few things known to actually wipe out most parasite eggs.
Black peppercorns are whole immature berries that are harvested while still green and dried in the sun till they turn black. The berries contain a white inner kernel - the hottest part of the berry, which is quite fiery when used on its own - and a black outer husk, which has all the aromatic fragrance that enhances the flavor of food.
The use of black pepper, or piper nigrum, goes back 4000 years in the East. The Chinese used pepper to address malaria, cholera, dysentery, diarrhea and stomach complaints.
And, like cayenne, piper nigrum serves to drive other herbs into the blood, thereby making them more effective.
Horsetail has not been extensively studied in people, but professional herbalists recognize that the herb has diuretic (promotes the excretion of urine) properties that may be useful for the following health problems:
Horsetail has been shown to possess hemolytic (blood clotting) and antibiotic activity, properties that contribute to the healing process. Horsetail also supplies calcium to the body, and is rich in several other minerals that the body uses to rebuild injured tissue.
In addition, Horsetail's high silica content helps reduce the risk of excessive bleeding and contributes to the building of healthy blood cells. Research has shown that horsetail increases the number of phagocytes that get rid of microorganisms and other foreign substances, which improves the functioning of the entire immune system.
The roots of erva tostao have held an important place in herbal medicine in both Brazil and India for many years. G. L. Cruz, one of Brazil's leading medical herbalists, reports erva tostao is "a plant medicine of great importance, extraordinarily beneficial in the treatment of liver disorders." It is employed in Brazilian herbal medicine as a cholagogue and diuretic, for all types of liver disorders (including jaundice and hepatitis), gallbladder aches and stones, urinary tract disorders, renal disorders and calculi, cystitis, and nephritis. Erva tostao is called punarnava in India, where it has a long history of use by indigenous and tribal people and in Ayurvedic herbal medicine systems. There, the roots are employed as a diuretic, stomachic, laxative, and emmenagogue to address gonorrhea, internal inflammation of all kinds, dropsy, jaundice, menstrual problems, anemia, and liver, gallbladder, and kidney disorders.
It is traditionally used as an expectorant and therapy for bronchial cough, as well as addressing bone and joint complaints.
It restores digestion, supports the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands, purifies blood and body fluids, helps the body's defensive mechanisms and chokes negative microorganisms. It is also great for immune system support.
It enriches the spleen, stomach, and liver and benefits the kidneys, uterus, and adrenal glands.
An important diuretic, Parsley Root also helps aid in the removal of uric acid from the urinary tract and helps dissolve and expel gallstones and gravel and put a stop to their future formation. It also inhibits the secretion of histamine and is therefore useful in addressing hives and reducing other allergy symptoms. A decoction of Parsley Root can help with bloating and reduce weight by eliminating excess water gain.
Historically, fenugreek has been used to treat both respiratory and stomach ailments. Specifically it is used for allergies, bronchitis, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, digestive ailments, emphysema, intestinal gas, gastrointestinal spasms, headaches, lung ailments, mucous congestion and skin eruptions.