There is a plant that is at once the most reviled of all lawn weeds and also revered as perhaps one of the best herbs for improving liver function. It is native to Europe and Asia but is now widespread in this country. Arabs promoted its use in the eleventh century and it is still retained in the national pharmacopeias of Hungary, Poland, Russia and Switzerland. The French called it "dents de lion"(lion's teeth, after the shape of the leaf). We know it as the humble dandelion. Dandelion is an excellent general tonic and perhaps the best widely used diuretic and liver tonic. It is a superb herb to use in any detoxification program.
The best approach to assure a safe and effective detoxification program is to use those herbs that will support and encourage the body's wonderfully effective and amazingly complex system for ridding itself of waste and toxins. Herbs should be chosen that will support all the different organ systems that are involved in elimination of toxins. These systems include the intestinal tract, the urinary tract (kidneys), the circulatory system (liver), the lymphatic system, the skin, and the respiratory system (lungs).
Always use herbs that will gently prod these systems into doing their job. Using herbs that can cause an intense action can be unpleasant and uncomfortable and of no great therapeutic benefit - perhaps even dangerous. Overuse of powerful stimulant laxatives such as aloe can cause intestinal bleeding and perforation. Too strong of a diuretic action can deplete the body of important minerals, weakening the body.
Good herbs for the intestinal tract include psyllium seed, licorice, cascara, gentian and yellow dock. Herbs that will support kidney function include dandelion, corn silk, parsley, gravel root and nettles. Herbs for the liver include dandelion, milk thistle, burdock root, red clover and goldenseal. For the lymphatic system use echinacea, cleavers, garlic and dandelion. For the skin use herbs that will increase perspiration (diaphoretics) such as ginger, yarrow, horseradish, burdock, angelica and cayenne. And to support respiratory tract, use expectorants such as mullein, fenugreek, lobelia, nettles, horehound and pleurisy root.
It may also be useful to use some herbs that have an overall systemic support function - herbs generally classified as tonics or adaptogens. These include ginseng, eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng), dong quai and astragalus.
Effective detoxification does not require violent purging and puking. It should be done safely and effectively over a period of 3-6 weeks by using herbs that will gently encourage the body to do its job. Take your cue from the lowly dandelion. How often have you tried to "eliminate" it (perhaps you could say detoxify your lawn?) only to see the dandelion return in a few weeks stronger than before? Slow and sure always wins out over fast and violent. Long live the dandelion!
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