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Search Search for: Go. What is a Diuretic? How Diuretics Work If we limit herbal diuretics to the strict sense of the word, there appears to be three broad groups, those that increase kidney blood flow stimulating , those that reduce the water resorption in the nephrons of the kidney o smotic , and those that work by increasing cardiac output.

Agropyron repens Couch Grass Zea mays Corn silk Althea officinalis Marshmallow Taraxacum officinalis folia Dandelion leaf 3 Cardiac or peripheral circulatory stimulants work b y increasing renal blood flow and hence the glomerular filtration rate. A place for all things herbal medicine Created and maintained with love by Dr.

Marisa Marciano, ND. Donations Donations. Get my new book here! The 2nd Edition of my herbal reference is here! Subscribe Subscribed. Sign me up. Many natural health advocates claim that they rid the body of toxins and promote weight loss.

Meanwhile, medical experts are skeptical of their purported benefits and point to the potential harm they may cause. This article tells you all you need to know about herbal detoxes, whether they work, and any potential risks.

Herbal detoxes are usually beverages or teas containing various herbs. While the durations of these detoxes vary, most are used short term, usually 3—14 days. Most herbal detox products contain natural ingredients that promise to promote weight loss and liver health, improve blood sugar levels, and remove toxins from the body.

The most popular ingredients include valerian root , licorice, cilantro, coriander, chlorella, milk thistle, dandelion root, skullcap root, rhubarb root, ginger, juniper berry, and burdock root. Herbal detoxes have many health claims, such as ridding your body of toxins, promoting weight loss, and aiding blood sugar management.

Although herbal detoxes are a popular health trend, most of their claims are overblown and have little scientific backing. Most detox product labels feature long lists of natural ingredients. Yet, they fail to mention which toxins will be removed from the body or provide any proof of their effectiveness.

Your body is already equipped with a natural detoxification system. Your liver, kidneys, intestines, and skin work nonstop to remove waste from your body via feces, urine, and to a minor extent, sweat 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Though you may experience some weight loss, you will likely regain the weight once you stop the detox.

This is because most herbal detoxes contain diuretic ingredients that cause your body to expel water through urine and feces, leading to a rapid drop in water weight 6 , 7. This type of weight cycling can lead to disordered eating thoughts and behaviors, as you may feel discouraged when you regain weight once the detox is over 7.

However, the prolonged use of herbal detoxes may lead to muscle and fat loss. This is very unsafe and should be avoided 7.

Rather than relying on a detox to lose weight, opt for healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as following a balanced diet, exercising regularly , managing your stress levels, and getting enough sleep each night 8 , 9.

Many herbal detox products boast a variety of claims, such as that they regulate blood sugar levels, decrease bloating and acne, and increase energy levels. However, no research supports these claims. Your body already has a natural detoxification system to remove waste through your urine, feces, and sweat.

Most herbal detoxes are not regulated and may contain ingredients that are either not listed on the package or present in significantly higher quantities than indicated. This can lead to you to overdose on certain ingredients, which may result in serious side effects or even death The United States Department of Agriculture USDA has taken action on many herbal detox products for their false claims, content of harmful ingredients, and improper labeling Herbal detoxes that contain diuretics can increase your risk of becoming dehydrated and experiencing low electrolyte levels, which can be life threatening 1 , For example, a year-old man reported nausea, trembling, and weakness after taking an herbal detox beverage containing uva ursi leaves, juniper berries, and many other ingredients for 5 days.

He was treated at an intensive care unit for severely low electrolyte levels The tea contained 18 herbs that were believed to be responsible for the decline in her liver function In another case, a year-old woman died from multiple organ failure after ingesting an herbal Epsom salt detox, resulting in manganese toxicity While herbal detoxes are generally not recommended, certain at-risk populations should particularly avoid them, including:.

Many herbs interfere with medication clearance in the liver, potentially decreasing or increasing the effects of your medications and posing serious health risks 15 , 16 , 17 , Herbal detoxes are not regulated and may contain unsafe ingredients that can lead to serious side effects and, in rare cases, even death.

Herbal detoxes are popular due to their long lists of health claims, although they remain unproven. Though it may be tempting to try an herbal detox, no evidence suggests that it will help clear toxins from your body or support long-term weight loss. Detox water is claimed to have all sorts of health benefits, including weight loss.

But does it really work? This article looks at the science.

You do not need to create these processes because a healthy body already has the most efficient detox systems available.

Our main detox organs are our liver and kidneys, but we also use our lungs, our digestive system, and our skin to push toxicants out of our bodies.

Detoxifying is one of the most miraculous things that we do and it is quite complex. Phase one is the activation of detoxification in the body. This happens in your liver, and differentiates between fat soluble and water soluble toxicants.

Fat soluble toxicants are identified by the liver and broken down by its enzymes. In phase two, the toxins found in the bloodstream undergo a complicated enzymatic process to become water soluble.

In this form, they can act as independent toxic agents and can cause internal damage. Good thing it only takes about five minutes for our kidneys to filter all of the blood in our bodies. Phase three is all about excretion. Water soluble toxicants are removed from the bloodstream predominantly via the bladder, lungs, and digestive tract — ie, anywhere water leaves our body.

As urban herbalists , we and our clients are surrounded by toxicity, from the traffic we get stuck in on the way to work to the added preservatives in every packaged product out there.

Everyone is different, but the most common indication that someone needs detox support is feeling sluggish, especially after eating. Besides being an indication for overeating, sluggishness could be your body telling you that your liver needs some love. Other common symptoms include constipation, headaches, depression, and anxiety.

If there is not a clear underlying cause for the issue, consider offering support to the organs of elimination with plant allies. Elecampane is an amazing plant ally for folks that need some herbal detox support.

It is a tonic herb that supports and stimulates every organ of elimination — especially the lungs and liver. Yellow Dock is specific for the liver and the digestive system. We use it in our herbal iron tonic to stimulate the blood because this plant stimulates the liver, helps to move stagnation within the digestive system, and improves fat digestion.

While this plant ally is technically a tonic herb, taking too much can be overstimulating and have a laxative effect and working with yellow dock for longer than a few weeks can be habit forming, making it great for a short term, powerful detox support.

The whole plant of our famed friend, the Dandelion , is fantastic support throughout your entire detox. Eating the leaves in your salads adds a bitter flavor to stimulate your digestive system, and acts as a diuretic for stimulating your urinary system.

Using the root in your tea protects and supports your liver, while adding a healthy prebiotic to your diet. Cleavers, Galium aparine , is a nutritive diuretic that feels restorative rather than depleting you during a detox.

This plant is different from the other herbs on the list because it only hangs around for a few weeks each year, and it is only truly viable when it is fresh. The best way to use Cleavers to detox is by picking it fresh in the morning sun and using it to make a sun tea to sip all afternoon.

Milk thistle is very hepatoprotective and increases the production of bile, so using it protects the liver while stimulating it. The United States Department of Agriculture USDA has taken action on many herbal detox products for their false claims, content of harmful ingredients, and improper labeling Herbal detoxes that contain diuretics can increase your risk of becoming dehydrated and experiencing low electrolyte levels, which can be life threatening 1 , For example, a year-old man reported nausea, trembling, and weakness after taking an herbal detox beverage containing uva ursi leaves, juniper berries, and many other ingredients for 5 days.

He was treated at an intensive care unit for severely low electrolyte levels The tea contained 18 herbs that were believed to be responsible for the decline in her liver function In another case, a year-old woman died from multiple organ failure after ingesting an herbal Epsom salt detox, resulting in manganese toxicity While herbal detoxes are generally not recommended, certain at-risk populations should particularly avoid them, including:.

Many herbs interfere with medication clearance in the liver, potentially decreasing or increasing the effects of your medications and posing serious health risks 15 , 16 , 17 , Herbal detoxes are not regulated and may contain unsafe ingredients that can lead to serious side effects and, in rare cases, even death.

Herbal detoxes are popular due to their long lists of health claims, although they remain unproven. Though it may be tempting to try an herbal detox, no evidence suggests that it will help clear toxins from your body or support long-term weight loss.

Detox water is claimed to have all sorts of health benefits, including weight loss. But does it really work? This article looks at the science. Tea generally does have many health benefits, but detox teas aren't a proven weight loss method.

Find out why and learn about their many health risks. Detoxification detox diets and cleanses are more popular then ever before.

They are claimed to improve health by removing toxins from the body. You can cleanse your skin as much as you want or leave it alone for extended periods of time. But this "detoxing" won't actually remove any toxins…. Previously known as the Clean 9, the Forever Living C9 diet is a 9-day detox diet that claims to cause fast weight loss.

It is based on meal…. Vitamin IV therapy infuses vitamins directly into the bloodstream. It can also offer the body some extra hydration. Dry needling is a type of alternative medicine that uses tiny needles to stimulate nerve endings to promote muscle relaxation and pain relief.

Homeopathy involves diluted substances to prompt your body's natural healing process. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based Herbal Detoxes: Myths, Facts, and What to Know. Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.

The basics Do they work? Risks Bottom line Herbal detoxes are one of the most controversial health remedies. Share on Pinterest. What are herbal detoxes? Do detoxes work? Potential risks. The bottom line.