How To Detox

These are the oils that can play a role in detoxing. You can use them on their own or make up blends, by using the tips about which oils they work well with.

1. Angelica

Invigorating for the lymphatic system, angelica is particularly good at getting rid of toxins after illness, it will also act on fluid retention, and stimulate the skin to sweat. It's also believed to be a tonic for the liver and spleen. You'll like it if you enjoy sweet, musky smells, but don't use it if you are pregnant or going out in the sun, since it makes the skin photosensitive.

Blends well with: grapefruit, lemon and mandarin

2. Black pepper

If your colon is acting up, black pepper oil may help strengthen things. It's used to restore tone to the colon muscles and encourages bowel movements. The ancient Romans used it to help people overcome food poisoning, and to help them digest heavy meals and red meat. It's also a good stimulus for the circulation.

Don't use black pepper oil neat on the skin as it can irritate. If you're using it in massage or bath blends, add only one to two drops and always mix it well in a carrier oil.

Blends well with: cypress, grapefruit and lemon

3. Cypress

With its pine-needle scent, this oil's job is to regulate the overall fluid balance of the body. This means that it is excellent at tackling water retention and allergy symptoms like runny noses.

The good thing about this is that although it has diuretic properties, it doesn't dehydrate the body. It also helps to strengthen the circulation and liver. This oil is not recommended for use during any stage of pregnancy.

Blends welt with: juniper, lemon and orange

4. Fennel

A big toxin-buster, fennel has been traditionally used to detox the poisons from insect or snake bites, but for most of us its power lies in its ability to cleanse the body after you have eaten or drunk too much.

Hangovers can be helped by a massage blend including fennel. Use it sparingly, however, since in high doses it can be quite toxic itself and, if you have sensitive skin, it can irritate, it shouldn't be used in pregnancy or by anyone with epilepsy.

Blends well with: lemon and juniper

5. Geranium

Strongly floral, this scent detoxes the body from within. It's a good diuretic and helps stimulate both the liver and kidneys; it's an immune booster, stimulating the lymphatic system; and it also thins the blood, making circulation more efficient.

Geranium also balances the body mentally; Japanese research has shown that when used on people who were stressed it calmed the body, but when used on those who needed stimulating it did just that.

Blends well with: angelica, grapefruit and orange

6. Grapefruit

An energizing and reviving oil, grapefruit is a lymph stimulant, it also helps to control water levels in the body, and can reduce fluid retention and increase urine flow. It's furthermore believed to stimulate bile withdrawal symptoms in detox clinics.

However, if you're using it to help fight weight gain caused by fluid, be careful - its citrus scent can be an appetite stimulant, it also makes skin sensitive to sunlight.

Blends well with: geranium

7. Juniper

The liver-boosting oil, this oil has even been used to help boost healing after liver disease. It can help feelings of overindulgence and hangovers and it also helps clear the intestine. It can help suppress the appetite so, if you're on a detox plan that involves cutting down on particular foods, it could help to make things easier for you.

Juniper has diuretic properties and it helps to boost the kidneys. Do not use juniper during pregnancy, or over-use it generally, since its powerful diuretic action can over-tax the kidneys.

Blends well with: cypress, geranium, grapefruit and orange

8. Lemon

An all-round body cleanser, lemon helps strengthen the liver and the kidneys, and thins the blood, so boosting circulation. It also stimulates white blood cells, boosting the immune system (the body often becomes acidic when we eat lots of red meat), which is good news because an acidic body is more prone to creating those free radicals.

Blends well with: fennel and juniper

9. Mandarin

Renowned for helping combat feelings of fragility and loss of balance, mandarin can help soothe many of the symptoms of increasing toxicity. It also has its own cleansing actions; it has a stimulating effect on the liver, promotes bile production and aids in breaking down fat.

It is one of the few oils that is thought to be totally safe for use in pregnancy and can be used on children effectively - although you should cautiously stick to using just tiny amounts in both instances.

Blends well with: black pepper, grapefruit and lemon

10. Patchouli

A very strong diuretic, patchouli helps the body to fight fluid retention and cellulite and flush toxins through the kidneys.

It's an appetite balancer, which can help reduce over-indulgence in rich foods and drinks. It also balances the mind, giving energy when it's needed and sedating when stress levels are particularly high; as a result, it can treat symptoms and any major cause of toxic overload in the body.

Blends well with: black pepper and geranium

So, all in all quite a selection of natural detox oils. Think I feel the need for a hot batt.