Echo Health – Detox for Lent

By Barry Nelson

Q I’m just about to start a detox.Can you tell me what herbs can help me?A ACTUALLY, I’m in the middle of my annual detox. I always feel so much better afterwards.I always use milk thistle, which is a firm favourite when it comes to cleansing the system, due largely to its protective action on the liver. Its active ingredient, a substance called silymarin, appears to raise the liver’s ability to help the detoxification process, enabling it to cope with a wider range of toxins. Silymarin also helps to stimulate the growth of new liver cells.There are, though, a number of other herbs that many people like to use. Frangula, for example, encourages the bowels to work more efficiently so that rich, ‘hard-to-digest’ foods do not stagnate in the colon. It has a gentle laxative effect similar to senna, so if constipation is a problem, I recommend you try frangula for a few days before starting the detox.The A.Vogel Frangula Complex combines frangula, milk thistle and nettle.Nettle has a cleansing, diuretic action, which can help to speed along the clean- out.Another popular herb which has a cleansing action is solidago. A traditional kidney tonic, it helps to cleanse and strengthen the kidneys, enabling them to remove toxins more effectively.Finally, calendula, or marigold, has an excellent cleansing and restorative effect on the lymphatic system, which is where toxins tend to settle when your system becomes overloaded.I try to detox for at least two or three weeks, hopefully longer. I make sure I eat healthily – plenty of fruit, vegetables and natural wholefoods, and I drink plenty of water.Remember, your aim is to gently open up and improve your eliminatory pathways, so that the body can flush out unwanted toxins. I get into it gradually, then it’s less of a shock to the system.If you have liver or kidney complaints or are in any doubt as to the state of your health, consult your GP. For further advice ask at your local health shop.Mike Barker, The Health Warehouse, Darlington

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