Detoxification, purification, detox cure - whatever you call it, everyone benefits from an occasional cleansing of the liver and kidneys. However, most people are unsure how to detoxify the body: How can the toxins really be eliminated and why can simple home remedies already serve this purpose? In our article you will learn how you can carry out a small detoxification cure at home, how you can best detoxify your liver and which home remedies help.
Is detoxing healthy? Advantages of a detox cure
When it comes to detoxification, sceptics are quick to ask what the point is. "Slags" is not a term used in orthodox medicine, which is why criticism is justified at this point. Anyone who has already been through a detox phase knows that such a purification can certainly do no harm.
This is because detoxification is intended to remove biochemical waste products that have accumulated in the body - sometimes over years. In Ayurveda, these slags are called ama, which literally means "undigested".
In other words: When the digestive fire has too much to do because we eat the wrong food, waste products accumulate in the body. These can harm the body in the long run, so they should be gotten rid of again.
In a purification cure, we can also counteract those toxins that enter our body from outside. These can be hormones, medicines or even pollutants in the air and drinking water.
Theoretically, a healthy body can cope with this stress to some extent, but as a preventive measure and for lasting well-being, regular detoxification is highly recommended. Waiting until it is already too late is always the wrong way to go when it comes to health.
In the end, a detox cure brings you significantly more energy, simply because your Agni, i.e. the digestive fire, is given new impetus again. As a side effect, many people also lose weight, but this should not be the main goal of detoxification.
After all, you don't want to chase after some ideal of beauty, but do something good for your body of your own accord.
Detoxify the body - but how?
There are many methods for det oxification and just as many detox plans. Whether you want to detox at home or do a detox cure under professional guidance is, of course, entirely up to you.
First and foremost, it is important for the success of your detox days to detoxify your liver and intestines by stimulating the digestive fire. Effective detoxification also involves regular exercise, as this boosts the metabolism.
You may have less energy during the detox phase, so don't overdo it athletically. A little walking, swimming or a Relaxing yoga session are absolutely sufficient.
Detoxing works better the less stress you have. You may be able to take a few days off for the detox, but of course not everyone has this option. So the more on your schedule in the near future, the more important are relaxing yoga exercises and a detox period that is not disproportionately long.
A detox plan is usually helpful for detoxification. Because sometimes a bit of discipline is needed to stick to the entire detox phase, and a fixed daily routine helps with this. Whether you set this plan for 3, 5, 10 or 14 days is entirely up to you.
However, if you would like to detoxify and cleanse your body under professional guidance, we would like to recommend the queen of Ayurvedic cures: The Pancha-Karma cure.
The role of the liver in detoxification
The liver is known as the detoxification organ par excellence. Especially the cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes are involved in the detoxification process. The values of the liver enzymes can be determined during a blood test. Then the doctor can detect, for example, if there is alcohol poisoning, liver inflammation or other diseases.
In biology, the process is called biotransformation of metabolism. Without it, a living being would die, because the pollutants and substances supplied would damage the body too much.
Detoxifying the body: Home remedies that are suitable
Not only in the Ayurvedic country of origin, but also in this country, people are increasingly advised to detoxify the body. In this section we want to explain to you which home remedies can actually help to detoxify your body. But which of them are also a useful detoxification method in the Ayurvedic diet?
- Water and tea made from various herbs and spices.
- Dandelion leaves
- Pepper: Black pepper in particular cleanses the stomach well and helps to cleanse the intestines. Important: It should be freshly ground and added to the food.
- Turmeric: The yellowish powder can be ideally mixed with any food or consumed with warm milk. It stimulates the flow of bile and thus helps to detoxify the liver.
- Ginger: Especially when consumed fresh, it has a detoxifying effect.
- Pippali: Metabolic waste products are reduced andcravings are curbed at the same time.
- Manjistha: Supports the lymphatic system in a natural way and can thus help to purify naturally.
- Sariva: purifies the blood and thus, in a broader sense, also has a purifying effect.
- Guduchi can help get rid of the waste products and toxins accumulated during the winter. Therefore, the sacred guduchi plant can be taken especially in spring.
- Trikatu and fenugreek manes as spices for all dishes.
The purification cure for at home
You can carry out your detoxification cure under guidance, but it is also possible to simply take a few detox days at home. A tea det ox or detox foot baths can already make a big difference.
Detox with Detox Tea
Herbal teas are an optimal way to stimulate the digestive organs. Particularly helpful are bitter substances, such as those contained in nettle, dandelion or burdock root tea. You can also purify wonderfully with lime blossom tea, and the well-tried ginger water or ginger tea is a classic in Ayurveda anyway, which simply always works!
However, detoxifying with tea should not be about drinking just any tea. Black and green tea, for example, are better avoided because these varieties contain caffeine. Chamomile tea is also better left in the cupboard during your detox days, because it slows down your digestion.
It is important to drink plenty of fluids during every detoxification treatment. Drink at least 3 litres a day, preferably warm water or herbal teas. You can also kick-start your metabolism by drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of freshly squeezed water right after getting up. Warm water with 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey in small sips. Then nothing stands in the way of an energetic start.
Detox recipes for the detox cure
Sticking to a detox plan is a good idea because it gives you a good orientation. On the other hand, it does not necessarily make sense to set up a strict detox plan with very specific recipes. Detox is also always something individual: there is therefore no universal method, as toxins accumulate for different reasons in every person and everyone has a different dosha.
We would therefore like to give you just two basic recipes for delicious soups that you can try out at any time and that also taste very good in modified form. For a first variation you will need:
- 250 g carrots
- 1 courgette
- 1 leek
- 1 tbsp olive oil or ghee
- 1 litre vegetable stock
Sauté the vegetables briefly and then let them simmer in the broth for about ten minutes. You will then have a fortifying soup that usefully supports the process of detoxification. Alternatively, you can make a rice dal soup from the following ingredients:
- 100 g basmati rice
- 50 g mung beans
- 1 tsp ghee
- 2-3 thin slices of ginger
- Half a teaspoon each of garam masala, sea salt and cumins seeds
Be careful not to overload the Agni during the first days of the detox cure. In concrete terms, this means: On the first day of detoxification, only eat a maximum of a quarter of the usual amount and only then slowly increase in the following days.
If you get too hungry in between meals, you can resort to rice water or freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.
Diet is one of the main reasons why toxins or waste products accumulate in the body in the first place. This happens when we eat too rich, sugary, one-sided and fatty diets.
When toxins in the form of alcohol and nicotine are regularly added to the mix, the digestive organs are completely overwhelmed.
So especially when detoxing, try to avoid alcohol, nicotine, sugar, meat, white flour products and caffeine. Instead, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables such as kale, apples, beetroot and spices such as coriander or cinnamon.
Overall, foods should be as alkaline as possible to counteract hyperacidity.
Detoxify the body with a foot bath
The skin is the largest organ in our body. Conveniently, we can also excrete ama through it, via the soles of our feet. These are often even called the "second kidneys". Daily foot baths with the following ingredients or properties help to successfully eliminate toxins from the body:
- 1 tablespoon alkaline bath salt
- Water with a temperature of 37-40°C
- 30-60 minutes bath time
Don't be surprised: The initially clear footbath water will be dark coloured at the end. This is because the electrically charged ions in the water oxidise. Some even suspect that the dark colour is caused by the toxins. You can of course extend the foot bath to a full bath. Only during pregnancy or with open wounds and skin diseases such as neurodermatitis should you rather refrain from the bathing method.
As you can see, there are many simple methods to successfully detoxify the body. Plenty of hot water and herbal teas, alkaline foods that suit your dosha, exercise and relaxation: if you regularly treat your body to such a detox cure, it will quickly thank you!
Cover image: © Елена Нихотина - stock.adobe.com
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