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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Now, it’s hard for me to speculate on the success of these types of foot pads, because, I’ve never used them. I know a few family friends that have used them, and the results tend to vary from they loved them to they don’t work. I think it all depends on the person. Some people may go into it thinking that they won’t work, and then whether or not they got health benefits, they still believe it’s a scam. Like any detox, the success depends on the individual person, so it’s always best to go into it with an open mind.

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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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Probiotics are widely known as bacteria that is beneficial to your health, specifically your digestive tract. Many people don’t put it together that probiotics are a live food that contains massive amounts of microorganisms that have the ability to stimulate growth.

This beneficial bacteria can be found naturally in many foods you probably already have in your house, and has also been added in food and and alcoholic fermentation for centuries.

When it comes to knowing what is good bacteria and bad bacteria, you must first understand that there are over a million microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and yeast currently present in your intestinal tract. The friendly bacteria will help protect the body from the bad bacteria by reducing their presence. Three of the most common probiotic strains are Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bacillus laterosporus and Bifidobacterium which are used widely to promote good health.

Probiotics: List of Health Benefits

Nutritionists and scientists alike, still don’t completely understand how probiotics work, but many clinical studies have proven that they do. Some people believe that the beneficial bacteria replaces the bad bacteria in the digestive system, while others believe that the good bacteria creates an acidic environment inside the digestive system that doesn’t allow the bad bacteria to survive.

The bottom line is that we all have approximately 400 types of beneficial microorganisms inside our bodies, that can help us fight-off infection and the development of many diseases. Here is a short list of the health benefits of probiotics:

• Assist with essential nutrients like zinc, calcium, iron, etc.
• They have the ability to help reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
• Help decrease the rate of diarrhea in young children.
• Helps reduce diaper rash among toddlers, if probiotics is included in the formula.
• Improves overall transit time, which in turn helps with everyday digestion and improves the symptoms of constipation.
• Srengthen your immunity by helping to regulate antibodies and lymphocytes.
• Prevents you from getting food and skin allergies.
• May help prevent premature labor if you’re pregnant. You may want to discuss this with your doctor, prior to using any probiotic supplement.
• May help reduce how often you get bladder infections.
• In women, probiotics have shown to have the ability to help reduce vaginal infections.
• Promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.

How to get more Probiotics in your system

There are many foods that have probiotics in them. If you consume these foods, not only will they help regulate your colon, but give you a boost in nutrients and, in some cases, fiber. The most common and widely known food that contains probiotics, would be yogurt. But, butermilk, powdered milk, and cottage cheese also have a natural probiotic effect.

Besides the dairy products listed above, there are many other foods and herbs that will help. These include green leafy vegetables, spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass, green tea, garlic, ginseng, soy sauce and sauerkraut, just to name a few.

If you don’t like any of the above foods, or for some reason can’t consume them, you can always look into getting a probiotic supplement. Make sure you get a good one, that is not tablets, but capsules. There are many cheaply made probiotic supplements on the market, and these are going to be a waste of time. So make sure to do the proper research on each product, prior to buying them.

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When it comes to intestinal parasites, there are literally hundreds of different types you should be aware of. While parasites can live anywhere in your body, they are usually found in the intestinal tract.

Many of these intestinal parasites will release massive amounts of toxins in your body, which will ultimately lead to you becoming sick. If you are already sick or suffering from a disease, intestinal parasites will only make it worse, as they leach the nutrients and vitamins that you consume on a daily basis.

Types of Intestinal Parasites in Humans

Protozoa: Protozoa are categorized as a single cell parasite. It has the ability of multiplying dramatically inside your body. You usually pick them up through contaminated food and water.

The common protozoic parasites would be amoebae, giardia, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidium, etc.

Helminths: Helminths are parasites that posses multiple cells and are usually large enough to be seen by the naked eye, especially in adult stage. Helminths can multiple inside the human body, but they lose this ability once they enter the adult stage. But, at this point, the damage is done.

The common helminthic worms would be tapeworms, pinworms, hookworms, roundworms, etc.

Causes of Intestinal Parasites

There are many ways you can become infected with intestinal parasites. Many of these parasites are commonly found in our everyday environment, therefore increasing the chances for them to enter your body.

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The most common types of people to become infected are children and the elderly, but this doesn’t mean that the average, healthy person can’t become infected. Poor sanitation and hygiene are the most common cause for intestinal parasites.

If you just had a bowel movement, but didn’t wash your hands, you are putting yourself at risk. Not to mention, risking your family, friends and coworkers.

Living in areas that are dirty and not suitable for living, are common places for you to pick up intestinal parasites. Daycare centers, elementary schools and nursing homes are known to be breeding grounds for many parasites. People whom suffer from immune-compromised infections, like AIDS, where the body has little to none resistance, are prime candidates to becoming infected with parasites.

It’s not uncommon for people that just got a new puppy to become infected with some sort of intestinal parasite. Even something as simple as walking barefoot in a public or unclean place can cause you to become infected with hookworms.

Symptoms of Intestinal Parasites

If you think you have become infected with intestinal paratsites, there are many symptoms for you to be on the lookout for. Your immune system will detect when you have become infected, and attempt to attack it. Unfortunately, studies have shown that many intestinal parasites have the ability to fight that off and still multiply in dramatic numbers.

If you’ve become infected with intestinal parasites, the first symptom you will notice is diarrhea and constant itching of your anus. Other common symptoms to be on the look out for is nausea, joint pain, migraines, chronic fatigue, blisters upon the mouth and autoimmune deficiencies. If you have a severe case, then you may suffer from symptoms such as, stools with extreme odor, excessive mucous and/or blood. It’s also possible for you to have flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps and excessive amounts of gas.

Diagnosis & Treatment of Intestinal Parasites

Detecting intestinal parasites isn’t always easy. You can try testing your fecal matter, urine, blood or skin, to help you determine if you are infected with parasites. Usually these types of tests will not only tell you if you’re infected, but also but also the type of parasite — protozoa or helminths.

There are many ways for you to treat intestinal parasites. You can go to your doctor and ask for a prescription for medications such as mebendazole, thiabendazole, metronidazole, etc. These medications will help kill off the parasite, so you can pass gently pass it. Colon cleansing can also help you pass colon parasites. You can also do a parasite cleanse that consist of many natural herbs, like garlic, wormwood, black walnut, male fern root, clove, barberry, calamus, kamala, pomegranate, etc.

Intestinal parasites can be treated easily, once you know they are there. If you want to avoid becoming sick or developing some sort of disease, then finding them early is key. Your best bet at avoiding them all together is to have good hygiene and wash your hands after going to the bathroom.

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As discussed in a recent video we posted, colon hydrotherapy is another method of cleansing the colon of toxins. For this detox method, you flush out toxins with the use of streams of water sprayed inside the colon.

When the water is sprayed inside your colon, the fecal matter will become soft and is eventually pushed out due to peristalsis.

This method works great for removing toxins that may have accumulated over the years. Colon Hydrotherapy is also commonly referred to as “colonics” or “colonic irrigation”.

Reasons for Doing Colon Hydrotherapy

• Preventive measure to flush out toxins
• Help improve metabolic efficiency
• Help with abdominal pain, continuous headaches, migraines, etc.
• Assist with pre- and post-surgery, barium x-ray, stool samples, etc./li>
• Help your digestive system with issues like constipation, diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, colitis, diverticulitis, bloating, nausea, etc.
• Help inspire a lifestyle change

Effects of Colon Hydrotherapy

• Colon Cleansing — Colon hydrotherapy is another form of colon cleansing. It will help break down and flush out any toxins that may have accumulated over your lifetime. Read more about the benefits of colon cleansing.
• Exercising the Intestinal Tract — Colon hydrotherapy helps keep your intestinal tract strong, as accumulating toxins can actually weaken the colon walls leaving you more susceptible to developing disease. Colon hydrotherapy also improves peristalsis, which will help you pass impacted fecal matter on a daily basis.
• Hydrating the Intestinal Tract — Since water is absorbed into your body through the colon, hydrotherapy will increase the amount you absorb, while softening the fecal matter. The outcome can lead to improvements in circulatory and cardiovascular systems.

Advantages of Colon Hydrotherapy

• You may notice weightloss and a metabolism boost
• You will notice a reduction of intestinal parasites
• Relief of Gynecological disorders, like cystitis and dysmenorrhea.
• Natural boost to your immunity
• Digestive issues, like constipation and diarrhea, are relieved without the use of laxatives
• You will not become dependent on colon hydrotherapy, unlike laxatives

Alternatives to Colon Hydrotherapy

If the process of colon hydrotherapy has you nervous, there are numerous alternatives that can accomplish the same thing. The best alternative method, would be to take an oxygen colon cleaner. This type of cleanser will help melt away any impacted fecal matter, and gently push it out. An herbal colon cleanser are another alternative method, but it is not recommended, as it can take weeks to acheive the same results. Not to mention, herbal colon cleansers will bulk up inside your colon, possibly causing you to suffer from more constipation symptoms.

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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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Of course, the answer to this all depends on what kind of colon cleanse you do. For example, an herbal colon cleanse will take much longer to remove any compacted fecal matter, than an oxygen colon cleanse. But once you have completed a colon cleansing program, you will notice that your body has an improved ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients.

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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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