Detoxification is the process of removing toxins or contaminants from the blood, organs, and fatty tissues. Although detoxification is not a term used by conventional doctors, it's very common among naturopaths and alternative medicine practitioners. Normally, it's the first step in treating any health problem. Detoxification is crucial for the organs and the immune system to function properly.

The liver processes everything you eat and the kidneys filter unwanted toxins before they go into the blood. When medications or chemicals in food damage the liver or kidneys, they cannot perform their job adequately. This results in the build-up of toxins. Overtime, cells in the organ can mutate and become cancerous. An overload of toxins in the blood or fatty tissues can also result in disease. It's important to remove the toxins so that the organ can work properly and perform all of its functions adequately.

Toxin overload also affects the immune system. Its job is to get rid of any harmful agents. When a toxin overload takes place, the immune system works hard to get rid of these toxins instead of concentrating wholly on healing the body. This means that the toxins lead to a compromised immune system. In turn, a compromised immune system can result in the development of serious illness. An overactive immune system is another consequence of too many toxins in the body. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of the body turning against itself when the immune system is overactive.

Fortunately, there are numerous approaches to detoxification. One approach is to use herbs. Some examples of herbs with detoxifying properties are: burdock root, red clover, pau d' arco, dandelion and yarrow. Others are fennel, cascara sagrada, cat's claw, and milk thistle.

Another approach to detoxification is through chelation. Chelation is administered intravenously or orally. An injection consisting of vitamins, minerals, and herbs is administered to help the body rid itself of toxins and metals. An example of an herb used in oral chelation is cilantro. You can eat one tablespoon of fresh cilantro daily to remove heavy metals from the brain and blood. This is a cost-effective method to detoxify the body.

Juicing is another method used to detoxify the body. Fresh, organic fruit or vegetable juice is a great way to give your body the enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals it needs. However, make sure that you use a masticating juicer with a slow RPM. Other juicers destroy too much of the nutrients and much of the juice is left in the pulp. It's also important to drink the juice within 30 minutes of making it to receive the maximum benefits.

As you can see, there are advantages to detoxifying the body. Ridding the organs of toxins allows them to work properly. Additionally, the immune system is able to concentrate fully on ridding the body of disease instead of protecting itself from toxins. Best of all, there are simple and effective methods of detoxing the body that you can do in the comfort of your own home.