Have you signed up for The Green Smoothie Cleanse yet? Come on… no time like the present. Perhaps you need to sit with a cup of herbal tea and ponder all the amazing benefits of a good cleanse.
Now on to the herb. I start and end my day, and usually interrupt it with a cup of tea. In the morning it is often an organic Jasmine and the rest of the day’s teas are up in the air depending on what I’m feeling. If I am feeling low energy I have something that picks me up like a lemon or peppermint, if I feel off balance I go with some sweet ginger tea, and if I need to calm down, I usually have a warming cup of my home simmered yogi blend with ginger root, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom.
Different herbs have different actions on the body and so should be selected keeping these actions in mind. Herbs and herbal teas have amazing healing benefits… when brewed correctly.
Making tea seems simple enough- pop a tea bag in a mug, cover it in boiling water and once it turns the colour we like, we discard the tea bag and drink up. However, in order to gain therapeutic benefit from herbal teas, ideally the herbs will have been stored in glass containers to contain the volatile oils. Additionally, when brewing, we should allow herbs to seep for about ten minutes, while the cup or pot is covered. This contains the therapeutic properties of the volatile oils so that they can get into our body and do their thing, instead of into the air.
For medicinal purposes, it is always good to use herbs in combination rather than on their own. They tend to have synergistic properties- meaning they can work together.
A great herbal liver cleansing blend would include the following:
- Milk Thistle
- Dandelion Root
- Licorice Root
- Fenugreek
- Yellow Dock Root
- Burdock Root
- Oregon Grape Root
- Turmeric (ground)
If you are participating in the Green Smoothie Cleanse, you will receive a complete list of cleansing herbs to consider adding in to your cleanse. Here are some to consider:
Laxatives and Diuretics
Alfalfa
- rich source of vitamins and minerals which helps to prevent fatigue
- contains dozens of amino acids and has been shown to decrease intestinal absorption of cholesterol
- cleanse the digestive system and to rid the bladder of stones.
Yucca Root
- treats a variety of conditions that cause pain and inflammation in the body such as PMS, arthritis and headaches
- promote healthy digestion and liver function,
Herbs that Soothe the Digestive Tract
Irish Moss
- a form of seaweed rich in vitamins and minerals
- forms a gel internally which coats the gastrointestinal tract and inhibits the release or formation of stomach acids
- aids in the healing of gastric ulcers and helps to flush out harmful bacteria and parasites
Slippery Elm Bark
- combats intestinal inflammation poor digestion and colon disorders
Fennel Seed
- treat digestive ailments having shown to relieve intestinal spasms and cramping in the smooth muscle lining of the intestinal tract
- a good treatment for indigestion, upset stomachs, gas pains and IBS.
Herbs for Liver Support
Milk Thistle Seed
- proven to protect the liver against many harmful substances such as alcohol and acetaminophens (used in pain relievers)
- presence of silymarinhelps repair damaged liver cells and protects them from the penetration of toxins.
Dandelion Root
- used to treat kidney disease, indigestion and heartburn
- helps to purify the bloodstream and liver, as well as stimulate bile production.
Multipurpose Herbs
Licorice Root
- ability to heal ulcers
- lowers stomach acid levels, relieves heartburn and indigestion and even acts as a mild laxative
- combat irritation, inflammation and spasm in the digestive tract.
- helps the liver function by increasing bile flow and lowers cholesterol levels
Fenugreek
- help lower blood glucose levels
- helps to lower cholesterol
- treats and prevents stomach inflammation, loss of appetite and gastritis
Burdock Root
- one of the best blood purifiers
- helps reduce swelling around joints, rid calcification deposits, and clear blood of harmful acids
- many nutrients like iron, inulin (a carbohydrate), and beneficial oils.
Herbal information inspired by: http://www.detox.org/herbs-for-detoxing
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Very interesting post. I’m going to print this one up for reference and so I can try some for myself. I love dandelion in my salad (used to eat it all the time growing up – the young tender ones are the best-est!) Thanks Meghan ;o)
When I was growing up my dad used to go to the local reservoir, minutes from our house in New Jersey, and cut fresh watercress! He used to also pick fresh wild mushrooms when in season – and did so for years and years. I miss that so much about him and his vast knowledge of what was safe to pick and eat! I read on another blog about stinging nettle, how to cook it, etc. Gosh, there is such a wonderful and amazing abundance from this wonderful place called Earth, and Mother Nature!
I love teas. They are my favourite kind of drink! Is it possible to drink too much tea? I usually drink jasmine green tea, green rooibos, peppermint, and sometimes I boil some burdock root as well.
Just wondering, which brand(s) are the best? I always buy organic…but there are so many brands!
Great post. I’ve come to love herbal teas (or tisanes, I guess) and have them very much as you do–morning, daytime, evening. I can go through an entire pot of green tea on my own!
Leesie- The greatest things are those that come right from the earth!
Sharon L- I rarely if ever will recommend a brand on my blog. Going organic is a great start and making sure the teas are properly sealed with a foil of somesort is also helpful as the volatile oils can seep through paper and plastic and loose their potency. So buying herbal tea out of bulk bins is definitely not ideal.
Lovely informative post!
Im a committed herbie myself and love to drink herbal teas! I am always delighted to find more and more answers and cures within our beautiful earth!
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