Detoxing between seasons

Detox treatments, also known as purifying and drainage treatments, are aimed at eliminating waste, toxins, and excess fluids that have accumulated in our body, especially as a result of food, atmospheric, and pharmaceutical pollution. They also serve to eliminate products released as a result of cellular turnover. Detox and drainage are implemented by gently and consistently stimulating the excretory organs (skin, lungs, liver, kidneys, bowel). Detoxing is achieved using medicinal plants that act mainly on the liver, while fluid drainage exploits the diuretic properties of certain phytocomplexes that act predominantly on the kidneys.

General measures

There are several helpful tips to encourage detox and drainage: minimise the body’s toxic load (medicines, smoking, excess alcohol and coffee, food additives, environmental pollutants); reduce simple carbohydrates in favour of complex ones, preferably whole grains; limit saturated fats (cheeses, fatty meats); eat fruit at least 3 times a day and vegetables at least twice a day; exercise or play sports regularly; expose yourself to the sun, possibly for fifteen minutes every day.

Dandelion for purification

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) is one of the best known herbs in our popular culture. The name – derived from the Greek taraxis, disorder, and axos, remedy – suggests the wide culinary, preventive, and therapeutic application of this Composite. Spring sprouts are used for dietary purposes thanks to their purifying action, essential for the liver fatigued by an over-abundance of winter foods, or intoxicated by the use of medicines. Their markedly positive nutritional and phytotherapeutic properties are due to the content of complex sugars, calcium iron, potassium, manganese, Vitamins A and C. Their purifying action is highly regarded in phytotherapy, particularly in treating spring ailments and between seasons.

Java tea for draining fluids

To treat the tendency for water retention, diuretic plants are used such as Java Tea from the Lamiaceae family (Orthosiphon stamineus Bentham), which grows in the swampy locations of the island of Java, India, and Australia. Its most important property is its diuretic action, increasing the quantity of urine and therefore speeding up the elimination of waste and toxins. This effect is due to the presence of diterpenes and triterpenes. It is therefore used in numerous conditions resulting from the build-up of toxins in the tissue, such as eczema, joint pain, fluid retention, cellulite, obesity, and functional renal failure. Preparations are available on the market combining Java tea with other plants (pilosella, European goldenrod, melilot, papaya).