Most herbal detox supplements are made from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, sap, bark, fruit and seeds of different plants and can be powerful aids when you detox your body. These natural herbal detox products work by stimulating liver and kidney function and protecting your organs and tissues from released toxins.

Herbalists prefer to use tinctures made by soaking the herbs in an alcohol base, but you may find it more convenient to take tablets or capsules, made from dried or powdered extracts of the active component of the herb. You can also use detox drinks and teas prepared from dried herbs, although the dosage will not be exact in this instance.

When buying herbs or herbal detox supplements, do look out for ’standardized’ extracts which tell you how much of the active ingredient is present in each dose. Many cheap, non-standardized preparations contain very little and so is simply a waste of money.

It’s not advisable to take more than one herb at a time except under the supervision of a qualified herbalist, as there might be interactions (although you can drink herbal teas quite safely). Don’t take herbal detox tablets or raw herbs at all, without discussing it first with your doctor or specialist, if you are on any prescribed medication or have a chronic illness or health condition.

I’ve included a selection of the best herbal detox supplements below, their uses and the dose you should take.

Echinacea

If you are prone to colds or the flu virus, try this immune system booster as part of your body detox program. Studies have shown that people taking Echinacea get only half as many infections as those who don’t, and the ones they get tend to be less severe. It promotes sweating and can help with chronic fatigue syndrome following a viral infection. Take a 500mg tablet or 20 drops of tincture a day when you detox your body to help with cleansing. If you do get a cold or flu, take 300 mg three times a day to help fight it off.

Milk thistle

The most famous detox herb, and rightly so. More than 300 studies have now shown that its active ingredient, silymarin, can protect liver cells from the poisonous effects of alcohol and other toxic chemicals. It inhibits free radical formation and boosts glutathione levels in the liver by over 33 per cent. It prevents poisons from penetrating the liver cells and also stimulates them to regenerate after cell damage. If you are not taking any other herbal detox supplements to treat specific symptoms, choose this popular detox aid. Start with a dose of 100mg taken three times a day, standardized to at least 70 per cent silymarin, or take 20 drops of milk thistle tincture in water.

Artichoke extract

Globe artichoke is related to milk thistle. A number of studies have shown that artichoke leaf extracts can reduce the effects of excess alcohol, lower cholesterol, increase bile secretion and improve digestive symptoms such as bloating and flatulence.

In a study of 550 people taking artichoke extracts for 66 weeks, abdominal pain was reduced by 76 per cent, constipation by 71 per cent and bloating by 66 per cent. If you experience a lot of digestive system problems, try taking standardized 320mg capsules one to three times a day with food. An important point to note here is that herbal detox supplements are not something that you can expect a quick fix from – you need to include them as part of your regular diet for the biggest benefits.