Traditional Detox Drinks

Traditional detox drinks have been around for many years - even centuries - and are still used today because they are known to work.  The trick to using them is they must be part of a healthy diet or detox diet. 

They can greatly enhance a body cleanse and may even expedite the process.  Some of these detox drinks may be used while fasting, but proceed with caution.

It is common to get "side-effects" when body cleansing too quickly.  Toxins moving out of the system without enough nutrition coming in can create headaches, nausea and even hair loss if your body is not properly prepared.  Therefore, it is best to proceed slow and easy into your detox diet so you can avoid this.

Traditional Detox Drinks

Intensive Cleanse Drink
4 ounces of organic, unfiltered Apple juice
4 ounces of Spring Water
1 Tablespoons of Psyllium
1 Tablespoons of Bentonite Clay
2-4 ounces of Aloe Vera Juice

Mix all the ingredients except the psyllium and mix. Add psyllium and mix (if you have a container with a lid, then shake it together) then drink it all right away and follow it with a 6 ounce glass of fresh water. Take this drink 1- 2 times a day to help the body remove built up plaque or waste from the small intestine.

Note: This is one of the heaviest of the detox drinks and can be powerful when used wisely. To have a beneficial effect, you must use a cleansing diet such as sticking to three, clean meals a day centered around fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Also you must drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day you drink these.

This is an excellent drink for deep cleansing. However, I believe it is best used after one has prepared with a lighter fiber and healthy diet for at least two weeks. Many people even prefer to have two or three sessions of colon therapy while doing this to help remove the waste it dislodges in the system.

Why this works;  Psyllium is strong fiber that is known to soften built up waste in the digestive tract. It moves slowly through the digestive tract, absorbing water while softening waste.  It may help you feel a little more full than normal, but when taken with a cleansing diet may help the body to more easily remove waste.

Bentonite has been used for centuries to help remove built up waste from the intestinal tract. Many practitioners have claimed that it also has the ability to attract toxins such as chemicals and metals to help remove them from the body. (2)  Bentonite has a property of adsorption – the opposite of absorption. This means that it’s use is mechanical or physical, not biological as it cannot absorb into the body.

Aloe Vera juice helps soothe the intestinal tract and increase the movement of the intestinal tract.  It may also help your body clear waste.  Water and apple juice work together as the carrier of the above ingredients.  They also help hydrate, which supports your body's cleansing ability while taking the psyllium and bentonite.

Lemon Flush

10 ounces of spring water
1 Tablespoon of Grade B maple syrup
Juice from ½ of a lemon
1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or cayenne pepper capsule

Make the water as hot as you can drink it and add the ingredients.  Allow it to cool if you made it too hot.  Sip this detox drink 1-6 times per day to help flush the system.

Why this works; The spring water is the carrier and of course helps hydrate the body.  While many of us neglect drinking enough water throughout the day, we may focus on it more during time we take to do a nutritional body cleanse.

Grade B Maple Syrup is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It also is said to help maintain blood sugar during a fast.  Remember a little goes a long way and organic is best.

Lemon juice is a beneficial ingredient for many detox drinks because it helps break up hardened material in the joints and muscles, helps clear the kidneys and dissolves toxins and congestion all throughout the body. It is great for clearing the lymphatic system.

The cayenne pepper is said to be the most powerful herb in the world. It may help rebuild tissue in the stomach, assist the peristaltic action of the intestines, speeds up metabolism, helps build heart tissue, and has been used to treat diseases of the circulatory system. It is a modern remedy for arthritis and rheumatic pains as it seems to lower inflammation.  A little goes a long way.

The Master Cleanse;  A similar detox drink is used in a program termed “The Master Cleanse” as a ten day fast while some use it as the Lemonade Flush and take it before meals. Although it is my belief that one must be very strong in health to even consider a ten day fast, you can benefit from this drink by using it throughout the day with a healthy cleansing or weight loss program. It may also be beneficial as a one to three day fast to help jump start a program, but again that is dependent upon health.

Health Tea

2 Tablespoons of organic, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
1-2 Tablespoons of Honey
1 cup of hot water

Mix all of the above together to make a tea.  I have included this tea as part of our healthy detox drinks because it is said to be the drink Hippocrates used for its health giving benefits. It is traditionally consumed first thing in the morning while sitting quietly. This can help stimulate a bowel movement and get the lymphatic system moving. Now on to the benefits – and there are many…

Why this works; Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains pectin, a fiber that helps reduce bad cholesterol and helps to regulate blood pressure. (Learn more about Raw ACV) It helps break down fat so the body can easily eliminate it. It also helps extract the calcium from fruits and vegetables making it more accessible for the body to use. It is loaded with potassium that is needed for strong hair, fingernails, and teeth, and it may help your body repair damage from free radicals, fights fungal and bacterial infections, and dissolves uric acid deposits.

Honey has many health benefits while tasting good so it will counter the taste of the apple cider vinegar. Keep in mind the darker the honey is, the healthier it is. Honey is loaded with vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It is also full of antioxidants to help defend against free-radicals. Using local honey to your area may prevent seasonal allergies.

Any time you decide to use detox drinks or any type of body cleanse program, pay attention to your body and use common sense.  If you are on medications, always check with your doctor first because often cleansing herbs or even a cleansing diet may not be compatible with medications.  This may be due to the body clearing waste therefore more easily absorbing any drugs as well as food componenets and nutrients.  After a time, this may cause you to feel more side effects or even absorb more medication.  

 And remember that your body is more powerful than many people give it credit for.  Neither practitioners, herbs nor these drinks can heal us – it is our body that heals us and keeps us well.  It is our job to give our body the tools it needs so that it can do its job of getting or staying healthy.  We can make our healing systems much more powerful by consuming plenty of true, whole, organic nutrition and helping it to clear out the poisons that can be detrimental to our health.