Is detoxing good for you?

What’s Really Happening to Your Body During a Detox — and How to Support It Naturally

Let’s get real—when most people hear the word “detox,” they think of juice cleanses, quick fixes, or social media trends. But detoxification isn’t something you do for a few days and forget about. It’s something your body is doing every single minute of every single day. It’s an ongoing process.

So what’s actually happening inside your body when you support detoxification intentionally—and how can you make sure you’re not overloading your system while trying to heal it?

Let’s break it down.

What Is Detoxification, Really?

Detoxification is your body’s natural way of filtering, neutralizing, and eliminating toxins. This includes everything from chemicals in food and air to hormones, heavy metals, medications, and waste byproducts.

Your detox pathways run through several systems:

  • Liver (main filtration center)

  • Kidneys (flush through urine)

  • Lymphatic system (moves waste through lymph fluid)

  • Colon (eliminates through bowel movements)

  • Skin (sweats it out)

  • Lungs (exhale toxins)

  • Blood (transports and helps remove toxins)

All of these systems need gentle support, not harsh purging.

Which is why you can cause your body harm if you aren’t taking advice from a health professional that knows how to support all these systems to get the best and safest results.

Common Detox Symptoms

When your body starts releasing stored toxins, you might feel worse before you feel better. Some symptoms include:

  • Headaches

  • Brain fog

  • Fatigue

  • Irritability

  • Breakouts

  • Digestive upset

  • Body odor or unusual sweat (ever tried to switch to a toxin free deo and found you stank more? It’s because your body is now releasing those toxins that you have been putting on it for so long)

These are signs your systems are trying to process more than they’re used to.

Herbal Support: A Whole-Body Approach

Let’s support all the detox pathways, not just the liver! Here are some gentle, effective herbs that work together:

  1. Liver Support:
  • Milk Thistle – Regenerates liver cells, protects against toxins

  • Dandelion Root – Encourages bile flow, aids digestion

  • Schisandra – Adaptogenic, supports both liver + stress response

  1. Lymphatic + Skin Support:
  • Cleavers – Clears lymph congestion

  • Red Clover – Blood purifier, supports skin health

  1. Kidney Support:
  • Nettle Leaf – Nourishing, mild diuretic, mineral-rich

  • Parsley – Flushes kidneys gently

  1. Colon + Digestive Support:
  • Slippery Elm or Marshmallow Root – Soothing to gut lining

  • Ginger – Stimulates digestion, reduces inflammation

  • Senna (short-term only!) – Natural laxative, but not for long-term use

  1. Lungs + Blood:
  • Mullein – Clears mucus, supports lung function

Burdock Root – Blood purifier, skin-friendly, and liver-supportive

Easy Detox Recipes You Can Make at Home

  1. Gentle Daily Detox Tea (Great for sipping daily)
  • 1 tsp dandelion root
  • 1 tsp nettle leaf
  • 1 tsp milk thistle seed (crushed)
  • 1/2 tsp ginger root
  • Optional: lemon or honey

Simmer roots for 10 mins, add leaves, steep 10 more. Strain and drink 1–2 cups daily.

This is the exact tea that I take almost daily. (sipping it while I write this post!)

  1. Herbal Detox Bath Soak
  • 1 cup Epsom salts
  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp dried cleavers or calendula
  • 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Soak for 20 minutes to open pores, calm the nervous system, and support skin detox.

Put herbs into a cloth tea bag and hang from the tap as the water fills the tub.

Amplify your bath with a filter to remove potentially harmful toxins in the water! Check out these water filters for bath and shower

  1. Detox Smoothie
  • 1 cup water or coconut water (organic pure coconut water with no added sugar, check ingredients!)
  • Handful parsley
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1/2 lemon (peeled)
  • 1/4 cucumber
  • 1/2 green apple
  • 1 tsp spirulina or chlorella or moringa powder (optional)

Blend and sip to support liver, kidneys, and digestion. Take this for at least a week and access the results.

Support vs. Full Detox: What’s the Difference?

Not everyone needs to dive into a full detox protocol. In fact, for many people, simply supporting your body’s natural detox pathways daily can be just as—if not more—effective in the long term.

Here’s how to understand the difference:

Supporting Daily Detox (Gentle, Ongoing Approach)

This is about working with your body to keep your detox systems running smoothly every day. Think of it like regular maintenance—like brushing your teeth or drinking water.

Ways to support gentle daily detox:

  • Drinking warm lemon water in the morning

     

  • Eating fiber-rich whole foods (veggies, chia, lentils etc.)

     

  • Moving your body daily (walks, stretching, lymphatic massage)

     

  • Staying hydrated

     

  • Herbal teas like nettle, dandelion, or cleavers

     

  • Dry brushing and warm baths

     

  • Reducing toxin exposure (fragrance-free, natural products, etc.)

     

Pros:

  • Gentle and sustainable

     

  • Safe for most people including those with chronic illness or sensitivity

     

  • Doesn’t disrupt your routine

     

  • Supports long-term wellness

     

  • Less likely to cause detox “symptoms” or discomfort

     

Cons:

  • Slower results

     

  • May not be enough if you’re dealing with a heavy toxic load, mold exposure, or after intense medication use

     

  • Requires consistency and lifestyle awareness

     

Full Detox Regimes (Short-Term, Intensive Protocols)

These are structured periods (often 3–30 days) where you’re actively trying to flush out toxins and reduce your body’s burden. It could include dietary changes, herbs, teas, supplements, fasting, or protocols like parasite or liver cleanses.

Pros:

  • More noticeable results in a shorter time

     

  • Can be helpful seasonally (spring/fall) or after toxin exposure

     

  • Can “reset” digestion, energy, and skin when done right

     

  • Motivating for people who want to feel a change quickly

     

Cons:

  • Can cause strong detox symptoms (fatigue, headaches, breakouts)

     

  • May be too intense for sensitive individuals, especially those with adrenal fatigue or chronic illness

     

  • Risk of depleting minerals, energy, or overburdening the liver if not supported properly

     

  • Not always necessary

     

Which One Is Right for You?

If you’re new to herbal wellness or have health concerns, start by supporting your natural detox pathways gently every day. You don’t have to go all in to make a big difference.

But if you’ve been supporting your system for a while and still feel stuck—bloated, fatigued, sluggish—it may be time to try a short, guided detox with the right support and after checking with your healthcare provider or herbalist.

Also consider other treatments such as these:

Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle technique used to stimulate the lymphatic system, which helps the body remove waste and toxins. It involves applying light pressure and rhythmic movements to encourage the flow of lymph fluid toward lymph nodes, where it’s filtered and re-enters the bloodstream. This massage can support detoxification by aiding in the removal of waste products and excess fluid, potentially reducing swelling and improving overall health. 

Body Wraps involve applying a mixture of natural ingredients (like clay, seaweed, or herbs) to the body, followed by wrapping it to encourage sweating and toxin elimination. Examples include the Green Coffee Slimming Body Wrap, Lymphatic Detox Body Wrap, and Australian Eucalyptus Body Wrap.

Dry or Wet Brushing. Gently brushing the skin with a natural bristle brush can stimulate the lymphatic system and improve circulation. Do this dry or in the shower.

Saunas and Steam rooms can induce sweat to help flush out toxins.

Why Do People Detox?

Let’s face it—life is full of toxins. From processed food and environmental pollutants to stress and lack of sleep, our bodies are constantly working overtime. That’s why so many people feel the pull to detox, especially when they’re experiencing:

  • Low energy or brain fog
  • Bloating, sluggish digestion, or skin breakouts
  • Hormonal imbalances or irregular periods
  • Sleep issues or irritability
  • Frequent colds or infections
  • Unexplained aches, pains, or inflammation
  • Desire for a “fresh start” physically or emotionally

People often feel like their body is holding onto something—weight, fatigue, fog—and a detox can feel like a reset button. It’s a way to clear out the buildup and come back into alignment, both physically and mentally.

 

Common Motivations for Detoxing:

  • Post-holiday reset (after indulgent eating or drinking)
  • Seasonal transitions (especially spring and fall)
  • Coming off medications or antibiotics
  • After illness to help the body bounce back
  • Before or during a big life change (new job, healing journey, pregnancy prep)
  • Desire to feel more in control of health
  • Environmental toxins exposure
  • Vaccine concerns

Some people are also looking for clarity—not just in their skin or digestion, but in their minds. Detoxing can often lead to better mental focus, improved mood, and feeling more connected to your body.

Detox isn’t about deprivation or extremes. It’s about nourishing your body and supporting the organs that are already working so hard to keep you balanced. By gently aiding your liver, kidneys, gut, skin, and lymph, you’re encouraging long-term wellness—not a temporary cleanse.

Whether you’re doing a seasonal reset or just trying to clean things up from the inside out, herbs are powerful allies. Choose a few that work with your body, stay hydrated, rest, and remember: slow and steady wins the detox race.

Work with me for your health needs

Thinking your body needs some help and need more guidance? We can start with a scan and go from there and cater to your bodies exact needs.

Email Stef at theglamherbalist@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.