The practice of regular physical activity combined with a balanced diet is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of the body. It is generally recommended to consume between 1 L and 1.5 L of water daily, it’s the queen of cleansing drinks!
Body cleansing is one of the pillars of naturopathy. It should support the action of our organs specialized in eliminating waste present in our body, whether related to our body’s metabolism or coming from our diet.
They are called emunctory organs: the liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. The kidneys, for example, eliminate waste via urine.
Many detox drinks can be found in stores. But it is very easy to concoct your own homemade detox drink. Here is the top 5. Check out the list to understand everything about body cleansing and how to do it.
1. Dandelion Infusion
Its name hints at its diuretic action! Also known as “lion’s tooth,” dandelion is a purifying and diuretic plant. It has a protective action on the liver, as suggested by this study conducted on mice. It is also sometimes used as a laxative to relieve constipation.
How to prepare it: you can find preparations in stores using all parts of the plant, including leaves and roots, or just roots. The leaves are usually infused for about ten minutes in water, and the roots are prepared first as a decoction and then as an infusion.
2. Matcha
Matcha is obtained by grinding green tea leaves. A unique feature: the tea tree leaves are covered several weeks before harvesting. Matcha stimulates the liver and helps it eliminate toxins. It’s a flagship detox drink that can be sipped to cleanse the body! This study shows its protective action for the liver and kidneys.
How to prepare it: prefer organic matcha. To prepare it, pour water heated to 80 °C into a bowl and add a teaspoon of matcha. Whisk with a special bamboo whisk if you have one, or with a basic fork otherwise, and you’ll have a cleansing and stimulating drink.
3. Birch Sap
Birch sap comes from the bark of the European birch. Its composition gives it a purifying and diuretic action. The phenolic acids it contains are compounds that act on cleansing. And betuloside, another of its compounds, has a diuretic effect.
How to consume it: fresh birch sap can be found in spring. Stabilized birch sap keeps longer. Preferably choose 100% pure organic sap. It can be enhanced with ginger or turmeric, two detoxifying plants.
4. Bissap
A delicious cleansing drink. Bissap is a drink made from hibiscus flowers. With a high water content, this drink promotes the body’s drainage. The pectin it contains is responsible for its purgative action. This study shows its impact on the weight loss of mice.
How to prepare it: bissap juice has a slightly tangy flavor. It is notably found in organic stores. You can also prepare your own drink by boiling water, dried hibiscus flowers, and optionally a sweetener and flavors.
5. Burdock Decoction
Burdock is also nicknamed “ringworm tree” due to its use against ringworm, a scalp disease. Burdock root purifies the blood and rids it of toxins. It also promotes better blood circulation, as demonstrated by this study.
How to prepare it: the benefits of the plant are concentrated in its roots. It’s best to use fresh root. To prepare the decoction, boil the roots in water and filter the preparation.
What is body cleansing?
According to the Larousse Médical, the term cleansing refers to the process of evacuating, particularly liquids or gases that are retained in the body.
In naturopathy, emunctories are organs that filter waste present in our body. This waste can originate from cellular activity (endogenous waste). It can also come from our diet, such as from alcohol consumption or pesticides present on plants that we consume, for example (exogenous waste).
The liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin are the four emunctories that enable waste elimination. Draining the body helps support the waste elimination action of these emunctories.
How do draining drinks work?
Detoxifying the liver with hepatostimulating plants
One of the major functions of the liver is waste filtration. For instance, it filters substances produced during poor digestion or heavy metals that may be present in the food we ingest.
Also read 20 foods to protect and cleanse your liver
The liver is therefore capable of detoxification; however, excess waste in the body can lead to liver congestion and require appropriate drainage.
For this, we can use plants with proven hepatostimulating properties like dandelion, in a draining drink.
Supporting kidney function by using diuretics
Like the liver, the kidneys also act as true filters. By secreting urine, they purify the blood and rid it of certain substances considered waste. Among these wastes is uric acid, which in excess can be a symptom of renal insufficiency.
Also read Natural diuretics, our best detox friends
Drinks known as diuretics are beverages that stimulate urine production and thus promote the elimination of waste from the body. Green tea is one of the most effective!
Fighting aqueous cellulite with draining drinks
Cellulite affects most women. It is due to an imbalance in the hypodermis, a deep skin layer rich in fats. There are several types of cellulite, including aqueous cellulite. It is primarily linked to water retention and can cause a sensation of heavy legs.
To combat water retention, specific plants such as birch sap can be consumed.
