Even if the prospect of a New Year's Eve meal delights gourmets, these end-of-year feasts put our liver and our entire digestive system to a severe test. If you want to prepare a homemade detox infusion to cure the difficult aftermath of the holidays, here are 5 essential plants for a post holiday detox.
1- Fennel seeds for better digestion
To prepare a homemade detox infusion, the first of the 5 must-have herbs in a post-holiday detox is fennel. The fennel seeds are well known in herbal medicine for their digestive properties.
A tea of these aniseed-flavored seeds can particularly help you in case of dyspepsia with the feeling of having a weight on your stomach.
Count a teaspoon of seeds for 15 cl of water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 2 minutes before turning off the heat. Infuse for 10 minutes covered before straining.
2- Angelica root against spasms
Angelica root is the second of the 5 must-have plants for a post-holiday detox. This plant is in the same family as anise, fennel and caraway and also has digestive properties.
In particular, it is known to stimulate the appetite, facilitate digestion and soothe gastrointestinal spasms, as well as bloating and flatulence.
You can prepare a detox infusion by infusing 5g of dried angelica root in 20cl of boiling water for 10 minutes.
This tea can moreover be served as a preventive measure at the end of a hearty, well-watered meal to avoid the formation of alcohol-related gas.
3- Black radish for the liver
If you're not a fan of detox infusions, you can also do a post-holiday cleanse with black radish taken as ampoules or juice.
This radish is known for its detoxifying properties for the body. It is very effective in curing bloating and nausea when your liver and gallbladder are overwhelmed by excess.
You can buy it in the form of ampoules or prepare black radish juice yourself in a juicer and then take 1 milliliter 3 times a day for several days.
Caution: this cure is contraindicated in cases of bile duct obstruction. It can also cause heartburn and allergies in sensitive individuals.
4- Artichoke for the liver and gallbladder
As a supplement or replacement for black radish, one can also turn to artichoke to support liver work and bile secretion. It is easy to make a cure in the form of ampoules or capsules.
Artichoke is one of the 5 must-have plants for a post-holiday cure because it contains cynarin, an antioxidant found in the leaves of its stem.
To prepare a detox infusion, simply put 4 g of dried leaves in a liter of water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 7 minutes before straining.
You can consume 2 to 3 cups per day of this herbal tea which is a powerful hepato-biliary stimulant.
5- Rosemary for a complete detox
Often used as an aromatic herb in cooking, rosemary is one of the 5 must-have plants for a post-holiday detox.
Even if it is less known than black radish or artichoke, it is also very beneficial for the liver and gallbladder. It stimulates the work of the liver, protects the liver cells and promotes the production of bile acids.
Thanks to its richness in flavonoids, this beneficial plant also has diuretic virtues. It promotes elimination at the level of the kidneys.
To make a very easy homemade detox tea, you can infuse a sprig of rosemary (+ a slice of yellow lemon if you wish) in 20 cl of boiling water for about 10 minutes.
Don't hesitate to drink this detoxifying tea in the morning when you wake up. It is much more digestible than coffee when the liver is overloaded by overeating.