Cellular detoxification of the liver

When the body has been overburdened with exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) toxic substances for a prolonged period of time, it loses its capacity to detoxify efficiently. It is under these unnatural conditions that we begin to manifest symptoms of toxicity and our organs are weakened. The presence of unwanted substances in the body is a very common root of illness.

The process of eliminating these unwanted substances at the cellular level addresses and corrects this imbalance. Detoxification has a beneficial effect on most chronic illnesses, because it has an impact on almost all systems of the body: cardiovascular, nervous, immune, respiratory, reproductive, gastrointestinal, urinary, skin, musculoskeletal and endocrine.

“Detoxification” refers to the body‘s ability to neutralise and safely eliminate harmful chemicals within the body. This detoxification guide is designed to enhance the body‘s innate ability to handle toxins so that the body can re-establish its natural function of detoxification. This results, in greater function of all of the body’s systems so that it is better able to cope with the daily stresses of modern life and thereby establish a higher level of health and vitality.

Detoxification

Current medical research has determined that the liver detoxifies in two phases, and in order to eliminate toxins from the body, both phases need to be supported. If either phase is compromised, it may result in incomplete toxic breakdown. Consequently, toxins re-enter the bloodstream from the liver and travel to various organs instead of being eliminated.

Phase I – is considered to occur predominantly during the first 3 days as toxins are initially mobilised and made more reactive. (This is when you feel tired and grumpy!)

Phase II – is the actual detoxification process where the mobilised toxic substances are neutralised and metabolised to be removed from the body through eliminatory pathways (intestines, lungs, kidneys, Lymphatic system & skin).

Food Matters

Foods that support detoxification are amino acids, dark leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, artichokes, seaweeds, and sea algaes such as spirulina and chlorella. Nutrient dense foods support detoxification, these include wheatgrass, alfalfa, and living sprouts, especially mung bean & broccoli seed sprouts.

Detox Tea

Name	Latin name	Part	Contra indications	Constituents	Summary
Burdock	Articum lappa	Root		Sulphur	Bowel, kidneys
Dandelion	Taraxicum officinalis	Root		Potassium	Upper GIT, sluggish GIT, skin
Globe artichoke	Cyanara scolymus	Leaf		Flavonoids	Gall Bladder, cholesterol, skin, allergies, restores,
Licorice	Glychrrhiza glabra	Root		Sweet	Adaptogen
Schisandra	Schisandra chinesis	Fruit	Contra indicated in pregnancy except to assist childbirth. May enhance the clearance of prescribed drugs	Ligans, essential oils (3%)	P1 P 11, CNS, Endocrine, adaptogen, mild stimulant, protects
Spearmint		Leaf		Flavour/cooling
St Marys Thistle / Milk Thistle	Silybum marianum	Seed		flavanolignans	Protects, restores, gall bladder, sluggish GIT, allergies

 

Name	Major actions	Key Indications	Other Indications
Burdock	Depurative, diuretic depurative	Chronic skin disorders incl dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, rosacea, furunculosis	Gout, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis
Dandelion	Bitter tonic, choleretic, mild laxative, antirheumatic, cholagogue, mild diuretic	Digestive liver insufficiency, dyspepsia, flatulent colic, anorexia, constipation, gall stones, cholecystitis, gall bladder dysfunction	Rheumatism, chronic skin disorders
Artichoke	Choleretic, hepatoprotective, hepatic trophorestorative, cholagogue, hypocholesterolaemic, hypolipidaemic, antiemetic, diuretic, depurative	Digestive liver insufficiency, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, gall stones, cholecystitis, gall bladder dysfunction	Gout, chronic skin conditions, food allergies / sensitivities, liver damage
Schisandra	Hepatoprotective, antioxidant, adaptogenic, nervine tonic, antitussive, oxytocic, mild antidepressant	Enhance phase 1/11 detoxification by the liver, chronic hepatitis, chronic liver damage, fatigue, physical stress, debility. To improve physical exercise & mental performance & concentration	Night sweats, enuresis nocturia, menopause (hot flashes, heart palpitations), SNS tone, insomnia, delays muscle fatigue
Milk Thistle	Hepatoprotective, hepatic trophorestorative, antioxidant, choleretic	Liver damage, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis A, B, C; fatty liver, chronic active hepatitis, gall stones, digestive liver insufficiency, dyspepsia, nausea, flatulent colic, constipation, flatulence, abdominal bloating, Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome X, haemochromatosis, to reduce heavy metal burden	Food allergies / sensitivities. During chemotherapy for cancer, to reduce anaesthesia toxicity

 

Glossary:

Adaptogenic – increases the body’s resistance to stressors and promotes normal physiological function

Antiemetic – reduces nausea, vomiting

Antirheumatic – prevents or relieves rheumatic symptoms

Antitussive – reduces the amount or severity of coughing

Bitter tonic – stimulates upper gastrointestinal tract

Cholagogue – increases the release of stored bile from the gallbladder

Choleretic – increases the production of bile by the liver

Cholecystitis – inflammation of the gall bladder

Depurative – improves detoxification and aids elimination to reduce the accumulation of metabolic waste products within the body. (Chronic skin and muscular-skeletal disorders)

Diuretic – increases urinary output

Diuretic depurative – assists detoxification by the kidneys

Hepatoprotective – protects the hepatocytes (liver cells) against toxic damage

Hepatotrophorestorative – restores the integrity of liver tissue

Hypocholesterolaemia reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood

Hypolipidemic reduces the lipid level (cholesterol & triglycerides) of blood

Mild laxative – facilitates evacuation of the bowel

Oxytocic – causes contraction of the uterine muscle in association with giving birth

Self prescription is not recommended without consulting your Doctor or Natural Health practitioner.

Reference:

The Ultimate Herbal Compendium, A Desktop Guide for Herbal Prescription, Kerry Bone, first edition, July 2007, Phytotherapy Press, Queensland.

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