Blood cleansing tea is said to remove toxins and so-called “slags” from the blood. But do the teas really work? And what should you consider?
Blood cleansing tea, also known as “detox tea”, is said to rid the blood of harmful substances. If you drink these specific herbal tea mixtures regularly, the body should be “detoxified” and the so-called “slags” should be flushed out – at least that’s what the manufacturers promise.
However, the name “blood cleansing tea” is misleading: We cannot cleanse our blood of harmful substances with teas or other substances. The body gets rid of them all by itself, through the liver and kidneys. Also for this reason you will find it difficult to find a product called “blood cleansing tea”, most are labeled “purification”, “drainage”, “kidney” or “detox tea”.
Our body has its own system for flushing out toxins, the lymphatic system. This is located in the tissue and transports the waste products via the kidneys through the urethra. We can actively stimulate the lymphatic system, for example through sport, cold showers and special nutrition. This is where the blood cleansing tea should start. But what about its prophesied effect?
Ingredients of the blood cleansing tea
Blood cleansing teas contain a mixture of different herbs and plants, which can vary from tea to tea. The following ingredients are particularly popular because they are said to have detoxifying effects:
-
Birch leaves (their secondary plant substances have a particularly draining effect)
-
Nettle (stimulates the metabolism, has a diuretic effect and is anti-inflammatory due to its flavonoids)
-
Fennel seeds (promote intestinal activity and are antispasmodic)
-
Green tea (has an antibacterial and calming effect on the stomach and intestines; is said to stimulate fat burning)
-
Ginger (anti-inflammatory and digestive)
-
Mate leaves (particularly stimulating the circulation)
- Senna leaves (have a particularly laxative effect)
-
Licorice root (has anti-inflammatory and stomach-soothing effects, can increase blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels)
-
Verbena (helpful against flatulence, cramps and diarrhea due to its tannins)
Blood cleansing tea: application
You can drink the blood cleansing tea or detox tea to support a special detox cure, or even if you are constipated. However, if you want to stimulate your digestion from time to time or if you simply like the tea, you should be careful:
-
During a detox: Keep your “detox” relatively short and only drink tea for a few days (three at most). Stick to two cups a day as a precaution, and remember to keep drinking plenty of water.
-
For constipation: Blood cleansing tea can help as it has a diuretic effect and, thanks to ingredients such as senna leaves, has a particularly laxative effect. Again, be careful and stick to 2-3 cups and lots of water.
-
In everyday life: If you drink the tea regularly once a week, there is no risk.
Note: The main effect of the blood cleansing tea is diuretic and draining. This means that water is flushed out of your tissues. Therefore, the body quickly appears slimmer. For this reason, blood cleansing tea is often advertised as slimming tea or “skinny tea”. You should be particularly careful here: If you want to drink the detox tea regularly, for example to lose weight or appear permanently slimmer, there can be severe side effects.
Blood Cleansing Tea: Harmless Ureter or Dangerous Wellness Product?
If you drink too much blood cleansing tea, serious side effects can occur. How much is too much varies from case to case. According to the Apotheken-Umschau, however, you should never take active ingredients such as senna leaves for more than a week. The following side effects can therefore occur:
- severe fluid loss
- frequent diarrhea
- The body can no longer properly absorb or retain nutrients.
- The kidneys get used to the tea and kidney function can be disturbed.
- Excessive amounts of components such as liquorice root and senna in particular can lead to liver and kidney damage.
Always make sure to drink enough water and avoid drinking blood cleansing tea during a fast. Otherwise your electrolyte balance can be disturbed, which in the worst case can lead to liver and kidney damage (which you will notice in muscle cramps, among other things).
Avoid blood cleansing tea especially if:
- you have liver or kidney problems
- in diabetes
- with heart disease
- you are pregnant
- you take medication regularly or acutely, including the pill, as the tea can reduce its effectiveness.
In these cases, talk to a doctor before drinking detox tea.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Drain body: These home remedies should help
- Weight Loss Tea: These varieties can help you lose weight
- Lose weight with sport: suitable types of sport and tips