1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Alternative Medicine

Detox and Cleansing Information

Detox, short for detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. Although detox is primarily thought of as a form of drug rehabilitation, used to treat alcoholism or other drug addiction, the term also refers to diets, herbs, and other methods of removing environmental and dietary toxins from the body.
Kidney Cleanse – Should You Try a Kidney Cleanse?
Kidney cleanse proponents claim that certain herbs and foods can flush out your kidneys and, in turn, prevent kidney stones and boost your overall health. Learn more about the science behind kidney cleanses, and find out how to care for your kidneys in the everyday.
Detox Diet
A detox diet can give you greater energy, clearer skin, stronger digestive health, and better focus. But to get the most out of your detox diet, you need to make a few changes to your daily routine before you begin. For detox diet success, learn how to prime your system for optimal cleansing.
Quiz: Detox Screening Quiz -- Is it Time for a Detox Diet?
This is a popular quiz that can help people get a general idea of whether they might benefit from a detox diet. Take this quiz now and find out!
How Much Do You Know About Detox Diets?
How much do you know about detox diets? Take this simple quiz and find out.
Detox Diet IQ Quiz Answers
After you have tested your knowledge of detox diets with the detox IQ quiz, find out the correct answers with explanations.
Detox Diet - Nutrients and Support for Detox
This is a list of some foods and nutrients often included in a detox diet.
Proper Elimination During the Detox Diet
Common methods of ensuring proper elimination from the digestive tract on the detox diet.
Detox Diet - List of Foods to Avoid
A sample list of foods to avoid on the detox diet.
Detox Diet - List of Foods to Eat
A sample list of foods to eat on the detox diet.
Breaking a Fast
Proponents of fasting say that it is important to slowly return to a regular way of eating in order to avoid adverse reactions.
What is Juice Fasting?
Juice fasting is a strict method of detoxification. Learn the basics and find out about side effects and safety concerns.
Juice Fasting Diet
This is an example of what a juice fasting diet involves.
Detox & Cleansing Basics
All the basics about detox and cleansing. Learn what detox is, where "toxins" come from, why people detox, health conditions that are thought to benefit from detox, safety concerns, and more.
Detox & Cleansing Q & A
Common questions about detox and cleansing.
Causes of Gas, Excessive Bloating and Flatulence
Find out the causes of excessive flatulence, gas and bloating and learn about complementary and alternative strategies.
Surprising Causes of Weight Gain
Weight gain is thought to be influences by health conditions such as hypothyroidism, food intolerances, Cushing's syndrome, certain medications, anxiety, blood sugar imbalance and essential fatty acid deficiency.
Detox Diet Plan
What does a detox diet involve? This is a sample two week plan.
Digestive System Cleanse
This is a sample "no fasting" cleansing diet for the digestive system.
Castor Oil Pack
What is a castor oil pack? Why do people use it? How is it made?
Skin Brushing & Contrast Showers For Skin Detox
Learn how to do skin brushing and contrast showers for skin detox while you are on a detox diet.
Stools: What's Healthy and What's Not
An ideal bowel movement is medium brown, the color of plain cardboard. Learn about the causes of green stools, pale stools, yellow stools, blood in stools, mucus in stools, pencil thin stools, infrequent stools, and more.
Nasal Irrigation
Nasal irrigation is an at-home technique people use to help clear nasal and sinus passages.
Meditation Techniques
Two simple meditation techniques that are often used in research studies.
Detox Recipes
Sample detox recipes.
Explore Alternative Medicine
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Alternative Medicine
  4. Diets
  5. Detox & Cleansing

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.