Artemis Herbal Medicine

Time for Spring Cleanse!

We can be forgiven to think that we are still in winter but the vegetation around us has all the signs that spring is here. In my garden I see the Nettle patch in lush green spring growth, the Chickweed is succulent and even my Mediterranean plants like Mint, Thyme and Oregano are feeling the pull upwards.

In all cultures regular body cleansing is recommended as a measure to stay healthy and increase vitality. Vitality is defined here as being able to life live to the fullest without being weighted down by sluggishness, a foggy brain and ill health. It means that balance is maintained even in times of physical or mental stress. Regular body cleansing is a great way to maintain and increase vitality and is traditionally induced in two main ways: via sweating (e.g. saunas, hot mineral pools, sweat loges) and via dietary measures.

Regualr cleansing has usually taken place at every turn of the season but at least twice a year, in spring and autumn. Spring provides a wonderful array of cleansing herbs and vegetables that enable our bodies to get rid of sluggishness, excess weight and fluid (oedema) that we have accumulated over winter. Juices and herbal health teas are particularly suited for detoxification as they deliver – apart from their cleansing nutrients – the necessary amount of liquid at the same time to flush the body. Liquid remedies are absorbed straight into the blood stream and do not need to be processed by the liver first as it is the case with tablets. Liquid remedies as in herbal teas, fresh juices or tinctures (herbs extracted in alcohol for a more concentrated remedy) unfold their benefits immediately and in a straight forward manner. This is what is meant with the technical term that liquid remedies have a superb “bio-availability”.


The classical live cleansing regime consists of a fresh lemon juice upon raising, followed by an (organic!) vegetable juice of fresh carrots, celery and parsley. But you can vary your juice and make use of the sumptuous and nutrient rich wild weeds in your garden to achieve the same or even better detoxification results.

At present, I have a lush patch of nettle (Urtica dioica but Urtica urens would be suitable too), Chickweed (Stellaria media) and culinary Fennel in my garden. I love using them in my spring cleanse juices.

Nettle is a classical detox herb and the old herbalists claimed that it can relieve the body of “all rubbish”. Indeed it has a cleansing action on the blood and kidneys and its enzymes activate the digestive organs stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Another fantastic benefit of Nettle is that with its high levels of iron, magnesium, silica, potassium and calcium it helps to re-mineralise the body. The humble Nettle is indeed a secret weapon against rheumatism, arthritic stiffness and pain, gout and skin impurities. Several scientific studies confirm its benefits.

Chickweed is principally a lymphatic cleanser. Like Nettle, it is also rich in minerals including zinc which is important for a the entire endocrine and immune system. The saponins (slight frothing occurs upon chewing) have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and digestive tract. Chickweed is traditionally used both internallt and topically (directly on the skin) to clear skin impurities and taxing body wastes. I always think of Chickweed as a tonic for the whole body and it is a nourishing addition also in salads and vegetable dishes.

Fennel has a delightful taste and helps in the digestion of any foods. It acts against wind and bloating and supports the cleansing action of the other herbs.

• 1 small handful of Nettle (go easy here to start with – Nettle is a powerful cleanser)
• 1 generous handful of Chickweed
• 1-2 carrots
• 1 lemon with peel (has to be organic!)
• 1 small apple (1 apple a day keeps the doctor away)

Enjoy every morning before breakfast over a minimum period of 3 -6 weeks. A full liver regeneration programme (which also cares about reducing the intake of taxing foods) takes 8 weeks.


If you don’t have access to fresh vegetables and herbs in your garden or you don’t have a juicer you still can increase your vitality by using cleansing herbal health teas. Use 1 cup of Liver Detox Tea (contains organic St. Mary’s Thistle) BEFORE breakfast, followed by a Kidney Cleansing Tea (contains organic Nettle) mid-morning. This will act like an “internal shower”. Repeat at lunch and mid-afternoon if deeper cleansing is required. Personally, I take one cup of Liver Detox Tea before breakfast and 1 cup Kidney Cleanse Tea at morning tea for regular detoxification throughtout the year as part of my “stay-well” programme. Both herbal health teas are traditional recipes and are available on the ARTEMIS website www.artemis.co.nz