3 Unexpected Weeds You Didn’t Know About!
When you feel tired and weighed down by stress, a lack of exercise, and poor food choices, give your body and mind a reboot with a DETOX.
There are many ways to detox with juice cleanses and diet. However heres some unassuming humble herb teas you didn’t expect!
Lucy Blunden medical herb expert explains her top tips on detox plants:
Did you know that the true process of detoxification is being carried out by your liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and lymphatic system all the time?
They're working all the time to remove things which are not of the body. It’s fascinating and true! I could bang on about the marvel that is the human body for pages.
Supporting those organs, and those processes can be done with herbs which are found outside your door all year round.
It's as simple as it sounds.
Dandelion leaves ( Taraxacum officinale) are diuretic and support the urinary system
Nettles ( Urtica dioica ) help to ‘clean’ the blood and therefore, support the skin
Cleavers ( Galium aparine aka sticky willy, goose grass, clivers) uses its fine hooks to gently scour the lymphatic system (well, not actually but it's a nice bit of imagery once imparted by a more poetic herbalist and the concept’s spot on)
For your liver? Eat your greens! Greens stimulate phase 1 of the liver’s detox and, getting dark fruits and veg (think berries and red peppers) gives you the antioxidants you need for phase 2.
How to prepare:
Placing a handful of these herbs in cold water overnight produces a cold infusion which is tasty and gently supportive.
Strain and store in the fridge and mindfully drink a cupful in the morning.
When we detox in a wider sense, we really start to change our health and our lives. Take a look under your kitchen sink. What are those chemicals doing to your health? What about cosmetics, sanitary products and toiletries? They're full of unpleasant things that don't belong on our skins, hair or in our mouths.
Remove many of these things and you’re starting your life detox.
Without wanting to sound preachy, from a herbalist’s perspective, detox isn't a 2-week programme, a holiday from excesses. It's a way of living, respectfully. To yourself.
Safety first: if you're ill, have long term conditions, are pregnant, breastfeeding or are on medication, it's not a good idea to undertake a programme of detox.
The herbs mentioned are generally suitable for most but must be correctly identified. Make sure you're sure before you take anything. We're all different and if you don't feel good after something, it may not be for you. Consult a professional herbalist for support.
Lucy Blunden is a medical herbalist living and practising in Hemel Hempstead. She loves working with people to improve their digestive health.
To maximise your detox join me with a yoga practice that’ll leave you feeling cleaner on the inside and more energetic on the outside.
Book your 75 min DETOX + RESTORE spot