Cleansing Herbs

Things like pesticides, herbicides, radiation and
preservatives leave toxic residues contaminating water,
food, and air. The natural detoxification mechanisms of the
body get damaged with exposure to these contaminants which
creates chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis, chronic
fatigue syndrome, depression, and attention deficit
disorder.

The skin, the kidneys, the bowels, and the liver are the
cleanser organs of the body. Cleansing is facilitated by
daily elimination, plenty of water, skin brushing, regular
physical exercise, and good nutrition.

Cleansing herbs set right the digestive functions of the
body. Common cleansing herbs are: carqueja, fedegosa,
dandelion, burdock, and garlic. Milk thistle, picrorhiza,
carqueja or fedegoso are good for treating liver diseases
while Ayurvedic practitioners use Phyllanthus amarus and
Triphala to keep proper functioning of liver and GI health.

Carqueja, has 400 species including Baccharis
genistelloides, B. triptera, and B. trimera. Carqueja is
found throughout the Amazon rainforest in Peru, Brazil, and
Colombia, as well as in tropical parts of Argentina,
Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Carqueja is used for dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, liver
diseases, diarrhea, strengthening stomach and intestinal
function, and to purge the liver and gallbladder. Carqueja
also treats malaria, diabetes, stomach ulcers, sore throat
and tonsillitis, angina, anemia, diarrhea, indigestion,
hydropsy, urinary inflammation, kidney disorders,
intestinal worms, leprosy, and poor blood circulation.
Carqueja is so effective because of the flavonoids which
contain liver-protective properties.

Fedegoso Senna occidentalis/Cassia occidentalis, has
medicinal properties with its roots used as diuretic
against fevers. The seeds of fedegoso are brewed to treat
asthma, and the flower of fedegoso is used against
bronchitis.

The roots of fedegoso are used for fevers, menstrual
problems, tuberculosis, anemia, liver complaints, and as
tonic for general weakness and illness. The leaves of
fedegoso are used to treat gonorrhea, fevers, urinary tract
disorders, edema, and menstrual problems.

The tea of fresh/dried crushed fedegoso leaves is applied
externally for skin disorders, wounds, skin fungus,
parasitic skin diseases and abscesses. A fresh plant
decoction of fedegoso is used against constipation in
babies. The leaf tea is used for stomach colic; the
crushed fresh leaves of fedegoso are taken to expel
intestinal worms and parasites.

Other cleansing herbs include the dandelion (Taraxacum
officinali) which is yellow and is a member of the
Compositae family. Its root and the leaves are used as
cleansing herbs being rich in bitters, vitamin C,
potassium, and enzymes which stimulate the liver helping
proper fat digestion and the diuretic properties stimulate
kidney function. Arctium lappa, or burdock is another
member of the Composite family, that also acts as cleansing
herbs with dry scaly skin conditions like psoriasis or
eczema. It also is a medicine for pre-mature baldness,
rheumatism, arthritis, and acne. Garlic (Allium sativum)
is bile-stimulating, and one of the blood cleansing herbs.

Milk Thistle or Silybum marianum has a protective effect on
the liver. It increases tissue regeneration in liver. It
treats hepatitis, cirrhosis, and fatty liver. It also is
effective against gallbladder and bile-duct inflammation by
increasing the flow of bile from the gallbladder.
Phyllanthus amarus is remarkably effective against
hepatitis B carrier cells. Triphala, also known as Trifal,
is a combination of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia
bellerica, and Phyllanthus emblica. it improves both
digestion and elimination without irritating the bowels.

----------------------------------------------------
Patricia McDougall B.Sc. is a Chartered Herbalist and
graduate of the Dominion Herbal College, British Columbia,
Canada. Originally from Peru, Patricia is the Director of
Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC of
Newark Delaware.
http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Cleansing_herbs_s/36.htm