Heavy, swollen stomach… Need lightness? A natural boost is sometimes necessary to restart the machine. Arzu Guler, naturopath, explains to us how to stimulate our elimination organs and reveals the essential plant to infuse.
Feeling of heaviness, swollen stomach, dull complexion… What if your body simply needed a helping hand to get rid of the excess that weighs you down? Drainage allows this internal cleaning and the more often we do it, the better we feel. “To drain means to eliminate” immediately reminds us of Arzu Guler, naturopath with the Médoucine network. The principle: we help the body to evacuate excess water, toxins (our natural waste) and toxins (external pollutants such as pesticides). To do this, we use our natural filters: the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin and intestines. Herbal tea plants are ideal for draining and “stimulate the elimination functions of these organs”. If we already know that milk thistle helps detoxify the liver or that other plants help to deflate after a hearty meal, our expert reveals to us her ideal draining plant to lighten the body as a whole.
To drain, infusion is the gentlest method, provided you know which plants to choose. Among draining plants, juniper has a great diuretic action and is proven “very useful in cases of edema, urinary problems or slow digestion” the expert explains to us. For a balanced spring mix, she also recommends combining seasonal plants such as “meadowsweet, rosemary or artichoke”. These plants work synergistically to stimulate the urinary tract and the liver and provide real relief to the digestive system.
But “If I had to keep only one, it would be the birch”Arzu Guler slices. “Birch will stimulate the elimination of water and toxins through the urinary tract. It will fight against water retention and help eliminate acids.” It is also a particularly effective solution for cases of gout or “associated joint pain” to an excess of acids. Birch is also “very good for the skin” and can be consumed as a fresh sap cure, both “remineralizing and extremely detoxifying”. Herbal tea is the ideal form because “we take less risk when it comes to use”. Unlike essential oils or food supplements, very “loaded with active substances”the infusion allows gradual drainage. For real efficiency without exhausting yourself, “a treatment should not exceed two to three weeks”to be renewed two to four times a year maximum.
The specialist’s tip? “I make a large herbal tea that I drink throughout the day.” Here is his recipe for a liter of water: a tablespoon of dried birch leaves, a tablespoon of crushed juniper berries, three to four sprigs of parsley and the zest of half a lemon. “Bring the water to a boil, add the ingredients, turn off the heat and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes.” Drink 2 to 3 cups per day “without exceeding 500 ml per day” recommends the naturopath, because juniper berries are powerful. Birch leaves and other dried plants are available in organic stores or herbalists.
Keep in mind that draining your body is not a trivial action. Too rough cleaning “can tire the body” or cause nausea and “laxative effect”. Vigilance is required in the event of kidney failure: “You have to go very slowly and in small quantities”. For Arzu Guler, the plant is not everything: “The most important thing is the global approach”. This happens through simple reflexes like “breathe well and hydrate well”. Deep breathing is “first pulmonary elimination”. For lasting results, stay active to stimulate circulation and favor a raw diet, “avoiding ultra-processed products”.
