As a dusty mirror shines bright when cleansed, so does the body. - The Upanishads

What if I told you that you can wash away a lifetime of poor eating habits and excessive alcohol consumption in 30 days just by drinking my special detox tea?

I'd assume you'd be delighted by my lie, and I would probably grow rich selling you a clever way to drink a massive amount of water in 30 days - proven to provide immediately noticeable yet mostly superficial positive effects. While the regular and long-term utilization of certain teas and herbs does promote healthy  well-functioning kidneys, lungs, liver and skin which are your body's natural defenders against toxins, the idea of the quick fix is a scam. “Let’s be clear,” says Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, “there are two types of detox: one is respectable and the other isn't.” The respectable one, he says, is the medical treatment of people with life-threatening drug addictions. “The other is the word being hijacked by entrepreneurs, quacks and charlatans to sell a bogus treatment that allegedly detoxifies your body of toxins you’re supposed to have accumulated.”

Teas and herbs that support detoxification

Green Tea

According to a study by University of Maryland Medical Center, men who consume more than 10 cups of green tea daily have less risk of developing liver disorders as evidenced in various clinical studies. Studies involving both animals and humans have also indicated that a polyphenol in green tea, specifically catechins, may offer benefits in treating viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver. Green tea contains six primary catechin compounds: catechin, gallaogatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and apigallocatechin gallate (also known as EGCG).

Dandelion Tea

Dandelions are considered yard weeds in the United States; however, these herbs may offer healing benefits. Herbalists around the world use Dandelion to treat loss of appetite, upset stomach, intestinal gas, gallstones, joint pain, muscle aches, eczema, and bruises. The chemical compounds in dandelion tea enhance your liver's ability to regenerate itself thereby increasing the effectiveness of your immune system.

Milk Thistle Tea

Milk thistle is a flowering herb related to the daisy and ragweed family. The active ingredient in milk thistle is called sylmarin, which is actually a combination of three powerful antioxidants: silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin. Sylmarin is believed to be responsible for protecting and repairing liver cells, as well as reducing inflammation in the liver. Milk thistle is also used to protect the kidneys, treat inflammatory bowel disorders, psoriasis and a weakened immune system.

Cerassie Tea (Cerasee)

Cerassie tea is made from the leaves of the bitter melon plant, which is grown throughout Africa and Asia. The phenol content of cerassie is dominated by gallic acid, a polyphenol that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Although the tea isn't widely known in the west, bitter melon is used for treating various ailments including diabetes, kidney stones, fever, psoriasis, liver disease, and as supportive treatment for people with HIV/AIDS. Cerassie tea is most commonly sold dried in tea bags, as the fresh leaves are found only in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Ginger Tea

Medicinal ginger use dates back at least 2,000 years, according to the experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center. A study published in the September 2006 issue of “Phytotherapy Research”  confirms that ginger does reduce inflammation, soothe pain and help regulate blood sugar. Researchers believe its compounds stimulate digestive secretions, improve intestinal muscle tone, and help move food through the gastrointestinal tract, thereby limiting the body's exposure to harmful toxins.

Don't think of tea as immediately removing something bad; Think of it as moderately adding something good.