Herbal Detox Supplements

Modern life brings us into close contact with various toxic substances on a daily basis. The air we breath, the water we drink and the food we eat often have small amounts of chemicals that are toxic to our body to some degree. Whether these toxins are stored in our body and lead to disease is a topic of controversy. Companies which make herbal detox supplements claim that their products help to clean the toxins from our organs. Health practitioners claim there is no evidence that supports these claims.

Types

• Three main types of herbal detoxifying cleanses are for the liver, the colon and the kidney. Manufacturers of supplement products designed to cleanse these organs where the majority of toxic substances are filtered and stored claim their products may lead to better overall health, more energy and improved mood.

Liver Detox

• One of the main responsibilities of the liver is removing toxins from the bloodstream and binding them to fat and bile so that they can be eliminated from the body. Herbs such as dandelion, bupleurum, and milk thistle promote healthy liver function by stimulating bile production and protecting the liver from damage. However, their use for detoxification is still disputed.

Colon Detox

• The colon is the last section of the human digestive tract and there are many claims that fecal matter that contains toxic substances can become stuck there. Many herbal supplements that are designed to cleanse the colon of unwanted substances utilize the herbs like psyllium and flaxseed that contain fiber combined with herbs that are high in digestive enzymes like papaya.

Kidney detox

• The kidneys play an important role in the elimination of toxins through the urinary tract. Herbs used in supplements designed to detox the kidney and improve its functioning include uva ursi, nettles and horsetail. These diuretic herbs can stimulate urination. Manufacturers of herbal detox products claim they can flush out toxic substances that may be stored in kidney tissue.

Considerations

• The use of herbal supplements to detox the body remains controversial. While many alternative health practitioners, websites and manufacturers of herbal supplements claim that toxic buildup in the body is a cause of disease, many physicians--including doctors who specialize in natural medicine--dispute this theory and say detox benefits are unfounded. According to the website of Dr. Andrew Weil, consumers should be wary of the claims of herbal cleansing products.