Herbal Remedies
Herbs to Detoxify and Cleanse the Liver and Blood
Aug
Toxins are present in our environment, so it’s important to support the liver and blood with nourishing foods and herbal remedies. Drinking pure, non-plastic bottled water and taking herbs that help cleanse the liver and blood can be an effective approach. If the liver is overburdened, hormonal imbalances and negative emotions can follow, such as:
Physical signs:
- Digestive issues
- Hormonal imbalances in both females and males, such as:
Skin problems, Low libido, Low energy - Tight jaw or clenching or grinding at night. Tight upper back, shoulders, and neck
- Constant body aches and pains or body pain that comes and goes
Emotional signs:
- Anger and/or rage
- Irritable and/or impatient
- Moody
- Feel uptight
- Feel tense a lot
When nourished with wholesome foods and balanced living, the body regains its natural flow and energy. The five-element chart illustrates how organs support each other to maintain energy and health. Lacking support leads to physical and emotional discomfort.
- The Generating Cycle enables each organ to mutually promote the others.
- The Controlling Cycle enables each organ to maintain stability by being controlled by another, ensuring balance.
When well-nourished, the body naturally supports your health and well-being.
The benefits of food and herbs that support the liver and blood are evident in how they make us feel, both inside and out.
Physically:
- Cleanses toxins from the liver and blood
- Aids in digestion, especially fats
- Relaxes tight muscles and jaw
- Clears skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rashes, and fungus
- Balances hormones
- Keeps parasites from taking over
- Keeps Candida yeast from taking over
Emotionally:
- We feel calm
- We feel focused
- We feel grounded
- We wake up in the morning, feel alert and ready to go.
- We have the will and drive to start and complete projects, classes…
- Digestion is strong
- Elimination is regular, and bowel movements are good.
A significant part of liver health involves choosing foods that support digestion, as this is how we absorb nutrients from our food. While eating, our digestive system breaks down food into micronutrients, which are assimilated into the bloodstream through the small intestines. The type of food we eat depends on how many nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream, which in turn feeds our body’s systems. It is best to focus on food that is grown on nutrient-rich soil and raised on pastures of grasses and wild plants. These foods are rich in nutrients, including antioxidants, minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids. Ruminant animals provide us with both amino acids (proteins) and omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are necessary fats. Without these nutrients, we see the development of arthritis, hormone imbalances, and a decline in brain function. Many people are unaware of the importance of essential nutrients, which we obtain from the food we eat.
Plants and food are incredible; they offer the body a wealth of benefits in combating acute and chronic illnesses. Chronic conditions are addressed by allowing herbs and food to work in harmony with the body, healing the root of the chronic illness in a layered approach.
A healthy liver signifies overall health, encompassing immune, hormonal, and digestive functions. Here is a list of herbs that can be blended for liver, digestion, hormone, and blood health.
Clearing the liver of toxins supports our emotional well-being from negative thoughts.
The herbal dictionary is at the bottom of the page is for you to learn the healing properties of these plants.
| Barberry root | Cinnamon bark | Milk Thistle seed | Pau d’ arco bark |
| Burdock root | Dandelion root | Orange peel | Sage leaf |
| Chamomile fowers | Fennel seeds | Oregon Grape root | Turmeric root |
Clearing the liver of toxins supports our emotional well-being from negative thoughts
The herbs listed in the herbal dictionary can easily be blended into a formula. The carrier/assisting herb is at the bottom with an asterisk.
Herbal Dictionary
| Barberry Root, Berberis vulgaris Part used: root Taste: Bitter Thermal energetic: cold Effective form/Preparation: decoction, capsule, tincture Properties: Alterative, antiseptic, hepatic, laxative, anti-inflammatory, bitter tonic, vermifuge Medicinal use: A bitter tonic which helps purify the blood and bile creation. Has mild laxative properties and is beneficial for skin conditions, psoriasis, eczema, and herpes when undernourishment and constipation are the cause. Prevents parasite infestation, aids in the digestion of fats and proteins, and helps keep the spleen healthy and strong. |
| Burdock Root Arctium lappa. Part used: root, seed (fruit), leaf Taste: bitter Thermal energetic: cooling Effective form/Preparation: decoction, capsule, tincture, tea, compress, poultice Properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, anti-histamine, anti-biotic, alterative, anti-fungal, diuretic, mild laxative, 45% inulin (a prebiotic important for metabolism of carbohydrates), high amount of Vitamin C, A, B complex, bioflavonoids, minerals; iron, sulfur, silicon, copper, iodine, potassium, calcium, and zinc. Medicinal use: Regulates blood sugar, helps with diabetes & hypoglycemia. Blood tonic. It is a blood cleanser and helps with water retention. |
| Dandelion Root Taraxacum officinale, Part used: entire plant (leaf, root, flower). Taste: Bitter Thermal energetic: cooling Effective form/Preparation: decoction, capsule, tincture, roasted, tea, compress. Properties: Anti-inflammatory, a good source of potassium. High in inulin, a prebiotic, it encourages and enhances the growth of beneficial intestinal flora, cleanses the liver, and serves as a tonic herb. Medicinal use: Used in formulas for cleansing the liver and stimulating bile secretion in the gallbladder and production of enzymes from the stomach lining. |
| Chamomile Flower Maticara recutita Part used: flowers Taste: bitter Thermal energetic: neutral Effective form/Preparation: infusion, tincture, capsules, tea, compress Properties: nervine, tonic, sedative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, anti-fungal, high in calcium and magnesium. It contains potassium, iron, manganese, zinc, and some beta carotene. Medicinal use: Helps with sleep. This remedy soothes a nervous stomach caused by stress and relieves indigestion, gas, and flatulence. Aromatherapy: German Chamomile – Matricaria chamomilla – antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, supports the liver, sedative. Roman Chamomile – Anthemis nobillis – analgesic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive, supports the liver, supports the immune system, sedative. |
| Milk Thistle Seeds Silybum marianum Part used: seed Taste: bitter Thermal energetic: cooling Effective form/Preparation: ground, tincture, capsules, tea Properties: hepatic tonic, bitter tonic,demulcent, antidepressant Medicinal use: A specific in liver regenerating formulas. It helps with jaundice and cirrhosis by increasing the secretion and flow of bile from the gallbladder, supports lactation for breastfeeding, and aids in liver detoxification. |
| Oregon Grape Root Berberis aquifolium Part used: root Taste: bitter Thermal energetic: cooling Effective form/Preparation: decoction, tincture, capsules, tea Properties: alterative; strong blood cleanser, liver detoxification, can release stored iron in the liver, used for chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis. Medicinal use: Used in many liver detoxification formulas. Helps improve blood conditions; eczema, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, hepatitis, jaundice, and mononucleosis. |
| Pau d’ Arco Bark tabebuia impetiginosa Part used: bark Taste: bitter Thermal energetic: cooling Effective form/Preparation: decoction, tincture, capsules, tea, cream, ointment Properties: antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal. Medicinal use: Enhances the immune system and is anti-fungal for thrush, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, candida albicans yeast overgrowth, and ringworm. Helps with digestive issues, colitis, gastritis, and stomach ulcers, and is a blood purifier. |
| Turmeric: Curcumae longa or c. aromatic; Zingiberaceae – In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Jiang Huang, Pian Jiang Hugan Part used: rhizome Taste: bitter/pungent Thermal energetic: warm (rhizome) Preparation/Effective form: decoction, extract, powdered, whole root Properties: alterative analgesic, antiseptic, astringent,carminative, cholagogue, emmenagogue stimulant, vulnerary Primary use: Liver, digestion, spleen, musculoskeletal system. Turmeric is one of those herbs that can be used internally for liver and digestive stress and externally for tumors, joint pain, and more. |
| Orange Peel Citrus aurantium Part used: peel Taste: bitter Thermal energetic: cool Effective form/Preparation: decoction, extract, oil, tea, Properties: astringent, carminative, expectorant, rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids Medicinal use: Abdominal pain with bloating. Indigestion and gas Aromatherapy: anti-depressant, antispasmodic, lymph stimulator, mildly sedative, stomachic. |
| Sage Leaf Salvia officinalis Part used: leaf Taste: pungent/spicy Thermal energetic: warm Effective form/Preparation: infusion, tincture, tea, poultice Properties: anti-infective, astringent, diaphoretic, carminative, antispasmodic, antidiarrheic, nervine, promotes natural healthy estrogen, anti-depressant, important herb for blood cleansing formulas, anti-galactagogue; helps stop lactation during weaning. Medicinal use: Emmenagogue; promotes regular menstrual flow, used in formulas for chronic cystitis and as a poultice for tumors. |
| Fennel Seed: faeniculum vulgare Part used: seed Taste: pungent/sweet Thermal energetic: warm Effective form/Preparation: decoction, extract, oil, tea Properties: carminative, expectorant, anti-inflammatory Medicinal use: Helps relieve gas. Assists and improves digestion. It helps with bladder or prostate infections and is used as a tea for eye washes to relieve conjunctivitis and inflammation of the eyelids, as well as pain and mucus expulsion. |
| Cinnamon Bark: cinnamomum verum Part used: bark, twig Taste: pungent/spicy Thermal energetic: hot Effective form/Preparation: powder, tincture, oil, capsules Properties: stimulant, astringent, diaphoretic, carminative, antiseptic, antispasmodic, expectorant Medicinal use: Helps strengthen digestion. It increases circulation and is a tonic and uterine stimulant. Oil is antibacterial and fungal. Aromatherapy: Cinnamon leaf is used and has antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, digestive, insecticidal, stimulant, stomachic |
Excellent reference books on learning how to make your own herbal blends are by
- Linda Page, N.D. Ph.D How to Be Your Own Herbal Pharmacist
- Leslie Tierra, L.Ac, Herbalist The Herbs of Life
- Michaela Tierra, C.A., N.D., L.Ac, O.M.D. The Way of Herbs
- Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac, Ph.D. Natural Therapy for Your Liver
- Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac, Ph.D. Medicinal Mushrooms and Exploration of Tradition, Healing and Culture