| Colon For cleansing the colon, try the following herbs. | | | | powerful in its effects. Senna contains anthraquinones, |
| -Prune juice - Okay, so prunes are not generally | | | | a very effective laxative. Other herbs with |
| considered herbs per se - but, like all medicinal herbs, | | | | anthraquinones are aloe, cascara sagrada, and |
| they are the fruits (plums) of a plant (the plum tree), | | | | buckthorn (to name a few). |
| and their cleansing ability is very good. Drinking prune | | | | -Rhubarb - Once again crossing the herb-food line is |
| juice and/or eating prunes relieves constipation and | | | | this laxative plant. Rhubarb has fiber, and it also |
| can be very cleansing to the colon. | | | | contains a laxative chemical similar to anthraquinones. |
| -Flax seeds - A tablespoon of flax seed three times a | | | | Liver |
| day, ground or whole, will cleanse the colon. If you've | | | | -Milk thistle is an excellent liver cleansing herb. The best |
| ever mixed flax seeds with hot water, you know how | | | | way to use milk thistle is by taking capsules, since the |
| this works - the water in which flax seeds are | | | | most effective part of the plant are the seeds. Milk |
| steeped becomes a thick, mucilagenous mass. If you | | | | thistle helps protect the liver from damaging toxins, and |
| tend to have intestinal irritation, use ground flax seed. | | | | also helps the liver to remove toxins from the body. |
| Note, though, that you must drink a lot of water for this | | | | Kidneys |
| to work - flax is so effective at creating bulk in the | | | | -Dandelion root and leaves are very effective diuretics, |
| intestines that it can create a blockage without proper | | | | thus helping to flush out the kidneys and the system in |
| water intake. | | | | general. Try cooking young dandelion leaves as a |
| -Psyllium - Like flax seeds, psyllium seeds need a lot of | | | | potherb or taking capsules of the dried root. Dandelion |
| water to work. Those wishing to benefit from psyllium | | | | root that has been roasted and ground can be drunk |
| may take 3-10 tablespoons of the tiny seeds each | | | | as a cleansing coffee substitute. |
| day. Psyllium also creates bulk in the intestine, moving | | | | -Cranberry is a well-known bladder infection fighter. |
| toxins and waste out. | | | | Because it prevents bacteria from adhering to the |
| -Senna - The leaves and seedpods of senna are used | | | | walls of the bladder, it has a cleansing effect (the |
| for internal cleansing. A popular remedy for | | | | bacteria get flushed out). Blueberries work well for |
| constipation, be aware that senna can be unpleasantly | | | | cleansing, too. |