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Time for a Spring Liver Cleanse
It’s spring!
Chickweed
Time for renewal;
perhaps time for a cleansing.
A few year’s ago I was interviewed by
Nancy Allison, a writer for the Herbs for Health magazine. She
was doing an article entitled "Springtime is Cleanse Time,
detoxify your body naturally."
We chatted
about some great herbs that are cleansing to the body as well
as alternative practices that are used
to cleanse and refresh the body after a winter season has
passed. As I walk through the garden, I love
to harvest and nibble fresh herbs including: cleavers, yellow
dock, dandelion and chickweed. I also love to drink a blended
tea, EZ Liver Tea, to
maintain and benefit the health of my liver.
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| Milk Thistle |
Cleavers |
Yellow Dock |
Dandelion |
The herbs in my tea
blend are detailed below
in the interview. I have included my
interview below.
Check out this
informative, interesting magazine if you are not familiar with
it.
Happy Cleansing! Ellen
An
Herbalist’s Perspective
Ellen Zimmerman studied herbalism in 1994 with Rosemary
Gladstar. Zimmerman, a certified marriage and family
counselor, developed a special interest and expertise in
women’s health and went on to found the Austin (Texas)
School of Herbal Studies in 1995. She gives individual
consultations and holds workshops throughout the year,
and also blends her own herbal teas, tinctures and
salves from herbs grown on her 5-acre homestead near
Austin. One of Zimmerman’s specialties is her
Spring/Fall Liver Cleansing Tea. For more information or
to purchase the tea, visit Zimmerman’s website at
www.EZHerbs.net
or call (512) 301-5838.
Nancy Allison: When most people hear the word “detox,”
they probably think of fasting. What’s your notion of
“detox” — and how can we accomplish it with herbs?
Ellen Zimmerman: I think of “detoxing” as cleansing,
supporting and nourishing your body. A gentle detox can
be accomplished with herbs by drinking a cleansing tea;
by eliminating sugar, alcohol, processed foods, white
flour and preservatives from your diet — which should be
done ordinarily; and by eating light, nutritious meals
for one week’s time. This can assist the body,
particularly the liver, in eliminating toxins from the
body and replenishing and rejuvenating your blood.
N.A.: What are the best herbs for cleansing the body’s
systems?
E.Z.: I believe the best herbs for cleansing the body
and supporting the liver are dandelion root, Echinacea
root, burdock root, wild yam root, milk thistle seeds,
licorice root, sassafras and gingerroot.
N.A.: Do these herbs have a long history of use as
detoxifiers?
E.Z.: Yes, all of these herbs have a history of being
used as detoxifiers.
N.A.: How long a process is it? Some detox programs go
on for weeks!
E.Z.: I recommend a cleansing regime for one week in the
fall and one week in the spring. Hence the name of my
Spring/Fall Liver Cleansing Tea. You also can drink the
tea at other times when you are ill or whenever liver
support is needed.
N.A.: Will I feel any different during or after the
detox? What benefits will I gain?
E.Z.: There might be a laxative effect during the detox,
which is one of the body’s natural ways of eliminating
toxins. The benefits gained would be a nourished,
healthier liver, gallbladder, spleen and pancreas. You
also will need to breathe fresh air, get a lot of rest
and exercise appropriately. The great benefit of better
health is the greatest gain.
N.A.: Will I lose weight?
E.Z.: There may be a slight weight loss during the detox
but that is not the aim of the cleanse.
N.A.: Are there any health risks to detoxing with herbs?
E.Z.: Anyone can be allergic to anything. Take
responsibility for yourself and make sure all of these
herbs are agreeable to you. In most situations, the
herbs I have mentioned are used safely and effectively
by the majority of people. |
Nancy Allison is a
freelance writer living in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a frequent
contributor to Herbs for Health.
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Know Your
Herbs!
Use the
THE
HERBAL INFORMATION
INDEX
to research any herb
contained in an EZ Herbs product.
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