Using plants for detoxification is an ancient holistic approach towards the prevention of many common diseases, not to mention the promotion of overall wellness. Milk thistle for liver detox has been used medicinally to help improve liver function since the late first century, but its use was restricted to only those herbalists who knew the importance of this plant for liver cleansing.

As medical study advanced, along with the need to find alternative methods to promote a better and healthier life, extensive research was carried out to show that milk thistle may help in liver detoxification. Milk thistle for liver detox is being studied extensively as it maybe an essential aid for diseases where the normal liver functions are hampered.

What is Milk Thistle?

Native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, milk thistles are flowering plants of the genus Silybum Adans, and the family Asteraceae. It is called milk thistle because it contains a milky sap, and the leaves are wide with white splash markings. The plant’s height ranges between 4 to 10 feet. It bears red-purple flowers and small hard skinned fruit. The seeds are produced in the flower heads, and are harvested mostly when black in color. One seed head can produce from 100-190 seeds.

It is the milk thistle seed, full of powerful active component, that has caught the attention of many people who slowly began to realize the various milk thistle benefits. These beneficial components of milk thistle can be extracted from its ground seed using hot water at 85°C and 100°C for different components. Milk thistles are very adaptable plants and can grow in most parts of the world.

Functions of the Liver

The liver is the largest internal complex gland in the human body. It is responsible for filtering the blood as all the blood in the body passes through the liver for cleansing.

After cleansing, it neutralizes toxins directly, or converts them into fat or water-soluble forms, and stores it in bile, that the liver secretes and passes to the intestine for elimination. It converts carbohydrates and proteins into fat, and stores it along with vitamins A, D and B12, and copper and iron for later use. It helps to synthesize and control triglycerides and cholesterol, maintains hormone balance, and converts sugar into glycogen and stores it until energy is required.

The liver produces hundreds of vital enzymes needed for digestion and other functions. It prevents the blood from clotting while it is in circulation, and produces clotting effect when we get hurt. Thus, any kind of impairment in the functioning of the liver, as is seen in many liver diseases leads to a need for detoxification. This is where milk thistle for liver detox comes in.

Milk Thistle for Liver Detox

As the seeds of milk thistle ripen, they develop the powerful plant compound called as silymarin. Silymarin is a therapeutic group of flavonoids; silibinin, silidianin and silicristin, that help to protect and thus, are often a part of liver detox recipes. Its property of being an antioxidant controls and inhibits free radicals in the body. Free radicals oxidize the cells leading to many health complications like liver cancer, heart diseases, etc. It helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances, and aids in the treatment of cirrhosis and hepatitis. Milk thistle is a very effective liver cleanser and builder, and speeds liver regeneration after being damaged.

Milk thistle for liver detox comes in different forms; liquid, capsules, tablets and tonics, and most preparations contain a standardized quantity of 70 – 80% of silymarin. People who wish to use this wonder plant, must consult a herbalist as well as your doctor to understand its benefits and to rule out side effects of milk thistle, thus, ensuring its correct usage for maximum health benefit.

Article written by: L. Rajeev

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Flickr Image: ProtoFlux

In this video, Dr. Mercola discusses why you should detox your body, how to detox your body and ways you can prevent yourself from becoming sick and full of toxins. Out of the many videos I’ve seen about detox, this one here is a must-see for everybody.

How to Detox You Body Naturally:

In the video above, Dr. Mercola points out that what is really important is the quality of the food we eat and the water we drink. If we are consuming toxic substances, our body is bound to store some of these toxins. This is why it is important to eat organic foods and drink purified water, if possible.

If you can’t afford to eat organic foods, or just prefer the convenience of fast foods, then it may be wise to take a good probiotic supplement along with your food. This will help provide your body with the necessary bacteria to help break down toxins, so your body doesn’t absorb and store them.

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Cranberry Juice Detox & Marijuana

It must first be stated that doing a cranberry juice detox is definitely not a “cure-all” but more of a method to help get rid of marijuana from your system. The effectiveness of this detox method all depends on how much marijuana you’ve smoked and for how long you’ve been smoking at that rate. Obviously, somebody that hardly ever smokes will be easier to detox, than somebody that smokes all day, everyday.

With that said, one of the best ways to get marijuana out of your system is to urinate frequently. Because cranberry juice is a diuretic, it will make you do just that. While doing a cranberry juice detox, it is recommended that you drink at least 3–4 glasses of cranberry juice every day, for at least 10-14 days. If possible, try to get fresh, organic cranberry juice with a low-amount of sugar.

It is also recommended that you refrain from smoking marijuana while doing the cranberry juice detox.

Cranberry Juice Detox: Step-by-Step Instructions

Another good thing about doing a cranberry juice detox is that it can actually help you lose a little bit of weight. Of course, this same amount of weightloss can be achieved by eating more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. If you want to lose weight while following this detox method, then it is recommended that you do it for at least 3 weeks.

• Step 1 — First thing every morning, you will dilute your cranberry juice into water, approximately one part juice to three parts water. You also want to add 1 tablespoon of powdered psyllium fiber and one tablespoon of apple pectin. Mix vigirously. Then chug this “cranberry concocjtion” as fast as you can. You want to make sure you drink this BEFORE you eat breakfast. After you drink it, eat a light breakfast consisting of organic fruits and whole grains.
• Step 2 — You will repeat step one before lunch and dinner. Do NOT eat any red meat, milk or alcohol while doing the cranberry juice detox. Try to eat as many fruits as you can. Nuts and seeds are also a easy and healthy snack. Any extra times you want to drink the above mixture, will help, but not necessary.
• Step 3 — To help you with the cranberry juice detox, you will want to take 2 capsules of dandelion leaf three times a day for the first week. Dandelion leaf will help you cleanse the marijuana, and other toxins, out of your system faster than normal.
• Step 4 — Repeat the first two steps everyday for the firt two weeks of the detox.
• Step 5 — Once you enter into the 2nd week of the detox, you can stop taking the capsules of dandelion leaf. Instead, you will want to switch over to taking astragalus capsules, as well as a good chlorella supplement. These will also help the detox, but provide you with necessary nutrients.
• Step 6 — At the beginning of the third week, you can stop taking the psyllium amd apple pectin, but you will want to continue drinking as much cranberry juice as you can handle. In the middle of the 3rd week, you can also stop taking the astragalus and chlorella.

After the Cranberry Juice Detox

Of course, it is recommended that while doing this detox cleanse, you want to follow a regular workout routine that will help burn fat, as the THC is stored in your fat cells. This will help ensure that your detox works. After the cranberry cleanse, it is recommended that you do a liver cleanse, as this will also help get toxins out of your system.

Did the cranberry juice detox work for you? Let us know in the comments below!

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As you may know, it is not uncommon for you to have intestinal parasites. You know, the tiny little organisms that live inside you, leach the nutrients from the food you eat, and cause you to develop serious diseases… yea, those are the parasites I am referring to.

These same parasites will not only live off of the food you eat, but they will actually cause you to become fatigued and tired all the time. It’s likely that you will suffer from many common conditions like diarrhea, nausea, bloating, joint pain, etc. Alot of times, intestinal parasites are to blame for the slow weightloss, when you’ve been exercising and eating right, with no results. So, obviously, you need to get rid of them, to live a healthy life.

How to Get Rid of Intestinal Worms

If you don’t get rid of intestinal parasites, then it’s only a matter of time before the sickness affects your life. You will get sick from intestinal parasites.

Below is a list of ways for you to get rid of parasites the natural way. It’s easy to do, it costs very little money, you just have to know how to do it.

• Coconut Water — Try drinking coconut water throughout the day. You can also mix in coconut milk, coconut oil and eat fresh coconut during this same time period. This is also a great way to help kill off intestinal worms.
• Grated Carrots — Get two organic carrots, perferably at least 6-8 inches long. Grate both carrots and eat first thing in the morning. Do not consume anything before the grated carrots. After you eat both carrots, you can mix in water or some of the juices listed below.
• Spearmint Juice — Try drinking spearmint juice. Maybe add fresh-squeezed lemon juice and/or fresly-crushed black pepper. It’s important to just crush the peppercorn, as this can help kill off parasitic intestinal worms.
• Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey — Mix a pint of water, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and as much raw honey as you want. Drink this mixture three times a day. This is another home remedy that will help with most intestinal parasites
• Castor Oil & Milk — One remedy that could work, is to drink a pint of milk, and mix in two teaspoons of castor oil along with 2 teaspoonsful of castor oil. You can take the caster oil seperately if you prefer. This will also help kill off intestinal worms.
• Sprague Powder — Mix a small amount of sprague powder, approximately half a gram, with a small amount of molasses. Consume this mixture and it will help kill of most types of parasite worms. Do this a couple of days in a row.

Parasite Cleanse: The Best Alternative to Kill Intestinal Worms

If the above options don’t work, there are many different kinds of diets and cleanses you can do that will help. Doing a parasite cleanse is rather easy to do. All it really takes, is to follow a specific diet and take an herbal mixture that is designed to help kill of intestinal worms.

Herbs that Kill Intestinal Worms

It’s recommended to just buy the pre-made herbal cleanser, but if you want to attempt to make your own, the following herbs are known to help kill off intestinal worms.

Combining these herbs with some of the suggestions above, is going to give you the assurance that you have no parasites living in your colon, but also give you the best chance at fighting off the development of many serious diseases. Protect yourself. It’s the right thing to do.

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Of course, while he believes that colon hydrotherapy is an effective method for colon cleansing, he does point out that we need to take a closer look at what we are putting into our body in the first place. If you are uncomfortable doing a colon hydrotherapy session, there are many other methods of colon cleansing you can explore.

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You’ve probably heard of the master cleanse diet, also referred to as the lemonade diet or maple syrup diet. The master cleanse diet aims at flushing out all the toxins that may have accumulated in our intestinal tract over the years. The master cleanse diet was developed by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940’s. Burroughs believed that this special cleansing diet would restore your health to optimal levels by detoxing the body of toxins.

Nowadays, the master cleanse diet seems to be used more as a means of weight loss and has become increasingly popular among celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles and Jared Leto. Because of various celebrities touting the benefits of the master cleanse, average people have begun to try it for weightloss.

The Master Cleanse Diet Recipe

Ingredients Needed for Master Cleanse Diet

• 8 oz. purified water
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (grade B)
• 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all of the above ingredients together in a glass, and stir vigourously. That’s it. It’s that simple!

Master Cleanse Instructions

If you are planning on following the master cleanse diet, be prepared to fast on only liquids for at least 10-15 days.

The master cleanse instructions clearly dictate that you should not eat any solid foods while drinking the lemon water. The diet only allows you to drink the lemonade, and maybe some water. Roughly, the diet would require you to drink at least 6-8 glasses throughout the day.

The night before you begin the cleansing diet, it is recommended to drink a cup of laxative tea. It is also recommended to start the day by drinking another laxative tea or a salt water flush. To make the cleansing salt water flush, all you need to do is add 1 to 1½ teaspoons of epsom salt or himalayan salt with a small amount warm water. Stir the salt and water vigorously to help the salt dissolve in the water. Then, you drink the salt water mixture. If you have any trouble drinking the salt water, try drinking it in small portions, but it still needs to be warm.

Try to get all of the master cleanse ingredients as organic, if possible. If not organic, besure to avoid buying lemon juice that have preservatives or artificial sweeteners. The best way to get lemon juice, is to squeeze it yourself. This would ensure that it’s fresh and pure. Another tip, is to not use the commonly sold maple syrup, instead, you need to use a grade B maple syrup. This is a common mistake.

Ending the Master Cleanse Diet

At the end of the dieting period, it is recommended to slowly introduce the “normal diet” consisting of solid foods. It is not recommended to go on a binge eating spree.

For the first couple of days, it is recommended that you drink at least three 8oz. glasses of orange juice, pulp or no pulp. The orange juice will help the digestive system to break down solid foods that your body may not be used to.

Try to stay away from heavy foods like meat and bread for at least 2-3 days after completing the master cleanse diet. Also avoid fried, processed and fast foods, as these will only introduce the same toxins you just finished flushing out. Fruits and vegetables are always great additions to your diet. So are nuts and seeds.

Exercise & The Master Cleanse Diet

There is never an excuse to avoid exercising. Just because you are doing the master cleanse diet, doesn’t provide you with any sort of excuse. Maintaining a regular exercise routine will actually help with the diet and provide a deeper detox. In fact, the master cleanse diet has all the ingredients you need to maintain your usual routine, which includes exercising.

That’s it. That’s the master cleanse diet explained. Now it’s time for you to try to implement it into your life. Just remember to discuss it with your doctor before starting.

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She does, however, give a disclaimer that she has never done the master cleanse, so it’s up to you to form an educated opinion from what she says.

One thing she touches on that is important, is to discuss the master cleanse diet or lemon detox with your doctor or nutritionist, prior to starting it. If you have diabetes or currently take medications, the master cleanse can interfere with that.

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Besides from doing the master cleanse, you can also drink warm water in the morning mixed with lemon juice. This is another great way to help your body detox naturally. You can also add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your morning drink, for an added boost.

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Of course, remember before you do any of these cleanses, you should try to follow a detox diet, consisting of high fiber foods and plenty of water. This is the safest, and most effective way to detoxify yourself.

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Coming up with your own personalized detox program can be a rather difficult task, especially if it is your first time to detox. Below are six simple methods you can follow to help you with a natural body detox.

1. Following a Healthy Diet

The best way to stay healthy, is to follow a balanced diet consisting of alot of fruits and veggies. If you always feel fatigued and tired, it is very possible that you just need to improve your diet, adding in more protein, vitamins and nutrients.

Following a detox diet is a great way to get the required nutrients, as well as the necessary fiber you need for a healthy digestive tract. Following a detox diet is another great way to drop a few pounds. Here is a great list of detox foods to help you get started.

2. Exercise Frequently, Especially Cardio

We all know that exercising regularly is the best way to stay fit, but did you know it’s also a great way to detox the body? Exercise has many benefits, it will stimulate sweating, increase your metabolism and helps with detoxification. Exercising leads to sweat, and sweating is another great way for the body to flush out toxins. Remember to always drink plenty of water while exercising, as well as increasing your intake of antioxidants, electrolytes, minerals and vitamins.

3. Getting a Massage

Massage therapy is another great method to help with your detox program. Getting a massage will help stimulate many functions of your body, as well as help with the elimination process of any excessive toxins. Massage therapy will also help you feel more relaxed and help ease your stresses we all experience in life.

4. Natural Herbs

There are many herbs can help with your detox program. Your intestinal tract, for example, is one of the main places that toxins can accumulate, which will result in sluggish functioning.

Fiber supplements, oxygen cleansers and cleansing diets are great ways for cleaning and detoxing your colon. Some of the herbal remedies for colon cleansing include herbs like psyllium husks, betonite clay, cascara sagrada and Aloe Vera juice. It must be noted that there are many side effects of Cascara Sagrada, so only use that herb sparingly, and with the proper permission from your doctor.

5. Bath Yourself Regularly

While it may seem odd that we have to even mention this, it is essential to clean your skin from the toxins that may accumulate on a daily basis. Saunas are often used to assist your body in the detoxification process, via sweating. It is also possible to use a skin brush to brush off your dead skin cells. If you do use a skin brush, it is always best to use it BEFORE you jump in the shower, as this helps remove them.

6. Recharge, Relax & Get Plenty of Rest

Relaxing is one of the most important aspects of a detoxification and rejuvenation process. When you relax your stresses away, not only does it help your body and mind, it will give your detox program the best chance at succeeding. Yoga and meditation are two of the best techniques at relieving stress.

With the right procedure, you can incorporate them to clean your body from toxins in the proper way.

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