#DruglessDetox-Healing with Herbs

So far we have discussed symptoms that encourage a purification program, certain systems and body organs that aid in the detoxification process, and this week we are going to look at herbs (legal ones) which are known to assist in detoxification. (This week’s content, comes from my “Herbs for Life” chapter).

There are three major functions of herbs, and a variety of herbal therapies that we will look at. Herb’s major functions include:

Eliminating & Detoxifying: Using eliminative herbs that act as laxatives, diuretics, diaphoretics, and blood purifiers.

Maintaining: Using herbs that counteract the physical symptoms, allowing your body to heal itself.

Building: Using herbs that tone your organs.

Herbal Therapies (In which we will look at four in detail, include)

-Stimulation

-Tranquilization

-Blood Purification

-Tonification

-Control of Fluid Balance

-Sweating

-Vomiting

-Purging

Stimulation

This approach is to stimulate the vitality of the body to “throw off” sickness. Herbal stimulants, when combined with other herbs, promote their functions of eliminating, maintaining or building. Effective stimulants are ginger, cayenne, garlic, black pepper, and cloves.

Tranquilization

This therapy is best used when there is unrest, nervousness, or irritation that comes with overcoming the disease condition. I often see patients who are under extreme amounts of stress and consume too much sugar. Herbs that can assist in this circumstance include slippery elm bark, marshmallow and comfrey root.

Blood Purification

These are the most significant of all herbs. Many herbalists would agree that if you can purify the blood and eliminate acid, then your body would function optimally and all diseases would eventually subside. The best herb for blood and lymph purification is echinacea. You can take echinacea daily, which I do. Other blood purifiers include burdock root, dandelion, red clover, sarsaparilla, and sassafras.

Control of Fluid Balance

Our emotions are strongly linked to the balance of fluids in our bodies and thus can also change very quickly. In fact, emotional changes are frequently related to changes in your water balance.

If you retain too much water in your body, it can lead to feelings of weakness, paranoia and depression. If you have too little water retention, it can result in explosive anger. Excessive water, when taken with meals, can disrupt normal digestion by diluting the stomach’s acids and enzymes. Herbs that help with this condition are horsetail, uva ursi leaves, and juniper berries. Using these herbs helps the flow of urine, decreases blood pressure, and helps purify the blood.

If you have questions about what herbs to take, consider a nutritional consultation.

Here are additional herb resources from our website.

Dr. Bob “Approved” Winter Herb Protocol

“Get to Know” Peppermint Leaf

“Get to Know” Gaia Herbs

Video:

The Drugless Doctor: Detoxification

Pictures of Herbs (Garden): 

From Previous Weeks:

Toxicity Questionnaire

Detox Protocol

Send us your herb garden photos on our Facebook page!

Dr. Bob