I’ve been interested in herbs as a natural way to better my health for quite some time. I’ve used cinnamon for blood sugar control, and turmeric powder is a daily staple for anti-inflammatory use. I recently attended a lecture about detoxing the body using herbs and roots to detox the body (detox seems to be a hot topic these days), and I learned a whole lot more. I’d like to share with you some of what I learned. 1). Herbs and roots are whole foods. Our bodies really like them. Their roots reach deep into the soil to grab vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals; nutrients that are not as available in the more surface crops like most plants that we eat. Todays soil is not as nutrient-rich as the soil in years past due to modern farming and fertilizer use. 2). Herbs and roots are alkalizing. Most Americans eat an acidic diet, and we are meant to be slightly alkaline. Herbs and roots are great for getting us back to our natural state. They are rich in all natural/food source vitamins, minerals, trace elements, free radical scavengers, antioxidants, amino acids, and enzyme precursors. Yum Yum. These are some signs that you may need to detox: Headaches, Back pain, Chronic respiratory, sinus, or allergy problems, Abnormal body odor, bad breath or coated tongue (a white film), Food allergies, poor digestion, chronic constipation, chronic intestinal bloating or gas, Brittle nails and hair, psoriasis, acne, weight gain, Joint pain, Depression, Poor memory, chronic insomnia (I think that covers most of us). Some of the benefits of detox include: Strong digestion, Mental clarity, Reduced dependency on sugar, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and drugs, Strong immune system, and a high energy level. I’m not talking about some of the crazy detox programs on the market. A detox program needs to be nutritionally supported and eased into. Start slowly, and see how your body reacts to it. The main organs you want to boost are the liver and kidneys. The liver cleanses the blood, which is the river of live for the body. It is the main neutralizing agent for bacteria and other toxic wastes. Most diseases are the result of blood toxins, because the liver is overwhelmed by the toxins air we breathe, the foods we eat, and the water/liquids we drink. For more information on whether a detox program of herbs and roots (available in teas or powders), is right for you, contact me, or, better yet, Kathleen Gould, master herbalist, at Kathy@swherb.com
Stay well, John R Blilie, M.S.