- The bark of the prickly ash, or Zanthoxylum americanum, and also called toothache tree, can be taken as a tea and operates as an effective herbal cleanse. Prickly ash comes in the form of a powder (available at any herbal store or natural products store), and the recommended dosage is 1 tsp. added to 1 cup of hot water and ingested two to three times a day. This herb helps cleanse the arteries, in particular. Prickly ash is not recommended during pregnancy.
- Consider taking coptis, also available as a tea. Coptis is an herb with known liver-cleansing properties, available from any herbal store or natural products store. Since the liver is what rids your body of toxins, this herb is invaluable in any internal cleanse. Coptis may be obtained as a tincture, which can be added to hot water and ingested as tea.
- Milk thistle has long been considered an effective liver tonic--exactly what you need if you are attempting an herbal internal cleanse. The silymarin in milk thistle works to bind the membranes of the cells in the liver, shielding the organ and its cells from toxin attack. Additionally, the milk thistle's silymarin stimulates the liver to produce proteins and enzymes faster, thus enabling it to battle the toxins in your body at a faster rate. Milk thistle, available at any natural medicine store, is available as an extract which can be added to hot water to make tea.
- Cayenne, also known as African bird pepper, typically comes in ointment, capsule, powder and tincture form. The powder can be added to hot water to make tea. Cayenne is known primarily for its blood-movement stimulation properties--and also for removing toxins in the blood. Side effects may include some gastrointestinal irritation, though this is not common. Cayenne powder for tea is available, again, in any herbal store or natural products store.
- Ginger comes in many forms, including as a powder, tablet, capsule and tincture. The powder can be mixed with hot water to make ginger tea. This herb is well known worldwide for its powerful circulation-stimulating properties, making it an effective herbal tea for internal cleansing. If you are pregnant, avoid large doses of ginger. Also avoid the herb if you have gallstones.
