Spotted knapweed and dandelion are nature’s gifts for spring cleansing

Today, we use the term “spring cleaning” not only to clean our homes or houses, but also in relation to our bodies and our health. Just as we cleaned and tidied up the clutter that accumulated in our homes over the winter, we also want to clean our body systems. After a winter full of festivities and lots of food and drink, the best time to cleanse and refresh our bodies is in the spring, when all of nature is awakening and the good weather invites us to be more active in nature.

So how do we start when we feel “weighed down” by food after the holidays and want to do something for a healthier body and a better well-being.

Of course, the first and most important thing is to eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. It is important to drink as much fluid as possible, especially water. Have a smoothie from time to time, either fruit or vegetable, and above all try to get as much exercise as possible in the fresh air. Medicinal herbs can also be a great help as an important supplement for cleansing the body, as they have a wide range of uses, they have a beneficial effect on the body’s function or, if used externally, they can also make the skin look better.

When added to our diet, medicinal herbs offer us an effective and natural way to feel better.

Our body has a well-established cleansing system, mainly through the renal and liver systems. Good liver health is essential for our body because many liver functions are important. The liver is a centre for cleansing, production and storage and performs many different functions:

• The liver makes 95% of blood proteins,
• the most important metabolic organ, accounting for 60% of all metabolic processes
• the liver processes the food it absorbs from the gut before it enters the bloodstream,
• help regulate blood sugar,
• together with the spleen, they are important blood reservoirs, and in the event of heavy bleeding, the blood reserves are incorporated into the bloodstream,
• produce almost a litre of bile a day,
• purify the blood and remove, deactivate or recycle waste, poisons and bacteria, toxins.
• liver cells detoxify toxic waste substances, e.g. ammonia, nicotine, and process them into urea
• The liver, bile, gallbladder and bile duct together form an extremely important system for fat metabolism,
• the liver stores fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K,
• secrete digestive juices,
• The liver, because of its size, contributes greatly to maintaining body heat.

A condition called fatty liver can adversely affect many liver functions. Fatty liver is most often caused by metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders that manifest as insulin resistance, accumulation of fatty tissue in the abdominal area, high levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood, and high blood pressure. It is caused by too much food, too little exercise and heredity. Alcohol, hepatitis B or C, which cause serious liver problems, and certain genetic defects also damage the liver.

PEGASTI BADELJ

In addition to a healthy lifestyle, we can also use milk thistle to help regenerate our liver. The active ingredient in the liverwort is silymarin, a traditional phytotherapeutic agent that has been known for a very long time and has also been studied in modern medicine. Evidence suggests that it is thought to prevent inflammation and help liver regeneration. Silymarin is the name given to various flavonoids found in the fruits of the milk thistle, which are beneficial for liver function and bile secretion. Studies have shown that consuming silymarin can have a significant effect on liver enzyme levels, or that silymarin activates, amplifies the production of enzymes that break down harmful substances. Experts also recommend silymarin as an important dietary supplement in the treatment of hepatitis due to its beneficial effect on the levels of specific liver enzymes or on the metabolic activity of the liver itself.

REGRAT

Dandelion can also be a wonderful aid for our digestion and for cleansing the body. Dandelion is a very nutritious plant and by eating it we can boost our health. Its leaves and roots are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Fresh dandelion leaves can be enjoyed in a tasty spring salad, while dried dandelion roots can be enjoyed as a tea. Dandelion stimulates the secretion of bile from the liver in the gall bladder, and bile is essential for the proper digestion of fats and for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K into the small intestine. Most toxins and waste products are excreted in the bile and out of the body through the digestive tract. Dandelion is also known for its diuretic action, i.e. it stimulates the excretion of urine and thus also promotes the cleansing of the body via the renal system. Tea containing dandelion root is excellent for detoxifying the body, supporting weight loss and helping to reduce cellulite by stimulating the metabolism and elimination of water from the body. As it is high in potassium, there is no worry of a potassium deficiency due to increased water excretion in the body. Dandelion root is high in vitamin A and also stimulates the pancreas, so it is recommended for diabetics.

Zlatko Serdt, M.Pharm.