Even though spring is shy this year many people talk about
“spring cleaning” after the long, cold and wet winter. As it is important to
spring clean your home it is equally important to spring clean your body as
well.
Herbs provide an effective and safe way to assist the body in
detoxification. It is important to
remember that detoxification is a normal and natural process in the body which
happens all the time – in various degrees of efficacy. Stress, a sedentary lifestyle, infections,
preservatives and exposure to metabolic and environmental pollutants all
increase the toxicity in the body and challenge the organs of elimination.
When embarking on a detoxification program it is essential to
consult a qualified Health Care Professional to ensure that both phases of
detoxification is adequately addressed in the protocol you choose to follow.
Nature almost always provides us with what we need if we just
look a bit deeper. Even an obnoxious
weed can have valuable properties if used correctly.
Everybody is familiar with Dandelion. The name interestingly means “teeth of a
lion” as the shape of the edges of the leaf literally resembles the tooth marks
of a lion – may be this is even a metaphoric indication of the potency of the
plant!
In Herbal Medicine/ Phytotherapy the leaves, flowers, seeds
and roots of this plant has been used for its therapeutic actions in the body
for many centuries and by many different cultures. It contains an abundance of potassium –
making it an ideal and safe diuretic. It also has specialized actions to
support both the liver and kidneys which are essential organs of
elimination. It is also an effective
digestive tonic but has quite a bitter taste!
It is important not to just pick and chew any plant which
looks like a dandelion as there are many species which grows abundantly. Taraxacum
officinale is the botanical name for the specific species used for its
therapeutic properties.
The next time you go for a walk, pick a dandelion seed head to
blow it and make a wish….remember that you are also spreading good health and
happiness in the form of potential healing plants …
For more information on the use of herbs and plants as
medicine contact Dr Sanien de Beer – the Mayfair “in house” Phytotherapist /
Practitioner of Clinical Herbal Medicine.
