iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll cdt heHerbs
A variety of herbs has been reported to be helpful with cleansing, and many
commercial “liver detox support” products may have one or more of the fol-
lowing ingredients, sometimes in combination with the vitamins and supple-
ments listed above.
Table 16: Substances That Support Liver DetoxArtichoke Barberry Boldo FringetreeDandelion Alfalfa Beet LecithinMilk Thistle Licorice Capsicum CelluloseSchisandra Turmeric PhosphatidylcholineChlorella/Spirulina
Chlorella and spirulina are sometimes recommended as detox supple-
ments, but they may have immune-stimulating properties that can induce
or exacerbate autoimmune conditions through the upregulation of TNF-A
(the Th1 branch). This same reaction has also been reported with echi-
nacea. There have been a few cases of new onset autoimmune conditions
following the use of these supplements!
Activities to Support Detox
In addition to diet and supplements, a variety of activities may also help
with the detox process, including Epsom salt baths, enemas, colon cleans-
ing, massage therapy, and oil pulling.
Skin
The skin is a major elimination organ for toxins. Sweating especially
helps eliminate toxins. Low sweat production is a symptom of hypo-
thyroidism (although not one many people complain about!). As people
with hypothyroidism usually have a lower body temperature, they often
need to make themselves sweat. This can be done by exercise, the use of