On blood cleansing ...

When building a spring detox support program, it's important to start by reducing sources of chemicals, and optimizing your diet.  Layering in herbs that are supportive of detoxification can take your plan to the next level.

While it's not helpful to think of our bodies as unclean, many traditions have honoured the value of "blood-cleansing" herbs for routine health maintenance, as well as treatment of conditions associated with "toxicity" (think skin conditions like eczema, or inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis).  Whether from Ayurvedic, Chinese, or Western botanical tradition, these medicines tend to be bitter or pungent in flavour, cooling and invigorating in nature.  Pharmacologically they support the actions of the liver, kidneys, colon and lymphatic tissues, precisely the organs primarily responsible for the critical functions of detoxification and elimination.  

Three of my favourite blood-cleansing herbs are burdock, dandelion and stinging nettles.  Let me tell you why!

Arctium lappa (burdock) - this is the giant thistle plant with the beautiful purple flowers which become the stubborn burrs that are so fun to pull off of kids' sweaters and dogs' coats; the root of this plant supports lymphatic circulation, and is a gentle diuretic (encourages filtration of blood by the kidneys).

Arctium lappa (burdock, thistle)

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) - this is such an incredibly useful (and happy!) plant; the root of the common dandelion encourages optimal liver function, while the leaves support the kidneys; other parts of the dandelion are useful as well, including for both wine and wish-making ... and how smart they are to stay closed when it's cloudy and open in the sunlight!  Malign no  more!

Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)

Urtica dioca (stinging nettles) - among other redeeming qualities, stinging nettle leaves are mineral-rich and diuretic, gently supporting kidney function and tonifying the body overall; nettle leaf tea is anti-histaminic, and exceptionally helpful to reduce symptoms of spring allergies.  Just be careful harvesting them!

Urtica dioca (stinging nettles)

Notice a theme?  These are all local North American plants that are typically seen as troublesome weeds.  Amazing how our perspective shifts when we consider their value! They were all used by First Nations people, whose practices greatly influenced the evolution of herbal medicine in colonial North America.  The preparation of herbs for medicinal use requires some practice and awareness of sustainability principles, but harvesting your own burdock, dandelion and nettles is certainly a viable option, and a good reason to not spray them!  In the meantime, preparations of these plants are available at most herbal dispensaries and natural health product stores.

A combination of these three herbs is very supportive of a routine spring detox plan.  Make a strong tea with equal parts of each plant, aiming for 3 cups per day (warm or cold) for the duration of the plan, and beyond if you like!  Roots are best prepared as a decoction, while aerial portions of plants are best made as infusions, so getting the most from this formula requires a two step process:

1. Place 1 Tbsp each of prepared dried burdock and dandelion root in a pot with 1 litre of water.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  

2. Bring mixture to a boil again and pour the entire contents into a glass pitcher containing 1 Tbsp each of prepared dried nettles and dandelion leaf.  Let steep until the tea is at your desired temperature.  (I prefer my teas cold, so I let this steep until cool, then poor the tea through a mesh strainer into my water bottle and drink over the course of a day.)

In addition to teas, herbs can be delivered as capsules or tablets (often combined with nutrients that are also supportive of detoxification processes), or as alcohol-based extractions (tinctures or solid extracts).  All three of these herbs can even be eaten as food!  There are pros and cons to each method, related to price, convenience, tolerance to flavour, and the method that is best at getting the most value from the plant.  I can help you navigate what form/brand/method might be best suited to your goals, and advise whether there are other plants that might be a better fit for you!  Let's chat!