5 Detoxifying Essential Oils

We’ve all had that shudder worthy moment when considering a detox plan. Media plays up the detox plan as if it’s all about drinking green smoothies that look like they came straight from a swamp and avoiding ever possible food source but nature’s finest leafy vegetables. This is a gross misrepresentation of a very healthy and rewarding process! Every day, your body works to detoxify itself. All of your organs take part in the process, from the heart pumping blood to your filter of a liver. A detox is simply a way of supporting this natural and very necessary process. You don’t need to go to the extreme to support your body as it works. Supporting your body’s natural detox is as easy as choosing to drink water or tea instead of soft drink/coffee/wine/whatever your poison may be. There are also essential oils that can keep your body running like the well-oiled machine it is. The following are our top picks for supporting your detox – test them out for yourself!

Peppermint

This all-purpose essential oil smells like candy canes and tastes like Menthos. The smooth, cooling flavor soothes your digestive system and scrubs your cells clean of petrochemicals and toxins. Consume it (ie. Add it to your post-workout smoothie); diffuse it (try out our Lotus diffuser – it’ll help you find your inner peace); or even blend it with your favorite moisturizer to give you a bit of a boost during the day.

Lemon

Fresh and clean – that’s what the smell of lemon means to us (mostly because it seems like nearly all cleaning products have lemon scents). This sensation combined with the astringent, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties of lemon oil make it very useful in the detox process. When you consume lemon (oil), either by flavoring your water or just squeezing lemon juice on your salad, you’re adding vitamin C, antioxidants and potassium to your diet; plus, citric acid helps your stomach create digestive juices and gives stomach acid, saliva and bile a hand cleaning out your system.

Juniper

Ah juniper… the sharp, piney, green scented and flavored berry (that isn’t actually a berry, but a cone). Juniper is a natural diuretic, which means that it flushes out toxins, excess water weight and excess sodium (layman’s terms: it makes you have to urinate a lot). Since that’s the best way to rid your body of unwanted guests, juniper is your go to essential oil! Add a few drops to your tea, diffuser tank or bath water for a relaxing, stress free detox without the green swamp water.

Grapefruit

Another essential oil from the citrus family, grapefruit’s sharp, fruity qualities kills viruses, bacteria, microbes and more to help cleanse your blood and digestive system of those microscopic villains. It is also a diuretic, like juniper, to help keep your body’s fluids moving. Finally, grapefruit contains limonene, a substance found in a lot of citrus fruit that has been proven to minimize the incidences of colon, skin, liver, stomach and pancreatic cancers. Adding grapefruit oil to your aromatherapy plan can only make your life healthier and happier! Another essential oil that can be added to your water or smoothies, diffused (try the Paradise diffuser, for uplifting inspiration) or put in a lotion.

Rosemary

This evergreen herb sneaks into our recipes and hides in our spice rack but seemed to always forget to tell us that it loves helping our bodies detox. Not only does rosemary help with digestion and circulation, but it is also a diuretic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Next time a recipe calls for rosemary, throw it in there with a smile (and by “it”, we mean the dried or fresh herb version of rosemary; rosemary oil is actually not meant for consumption). Or, if you’re not a fan of the taste, try diffusing rosemary oil or mixing a few drops with your hand lotion. The smell of rosemary will boost memory and help you focus while it gives your body the support it needs to complete the detox process.

Honorable Mentions

Here are some other essential oils you can look up, if none of the above work for you:

• Mandarin
• Laurel
• White Thyme
• Tea Tree
• Jatamansi