Delicious Detoxifying Homemade Herbal Spice Blend Recipe: A Fast and Easy Detox Wellness Blend (Nettles, Milk Thistle, and Herbs for Liver Health)
I formulated this herbal spice blend recipe to support your main organs for detoxification in your body, specifically the liver and kidneys and their health. It is SO easy and fast to make, plus it tastes just delicious, so why wouldn’t you want this herbal blend in your homemade culinary spice collection and kitchen apothecary?
This easy herbal spice blend is great for adding extra nutrition, vitality, and herbal support for your liver directly into your daily diet! It includes scrumptious pungent and aromatic herbs such as garlic, sage, and rosemary plus a bit of salt. The primary health supporting herbs in this blend (nettle and milk thistle), REALLY love your liver and kidneys!
Help your body with its natural detoxification processes by effectively adding nettle and milk thistle into your diet…
You can use this green herbal spice blend recipe in all kinds of dishes, including soups, stews, casseroles, and even in homemade salad dressings and dips!
Sprinkle this spice blend liberally on your eggs, mashed potatoes, and many other savory dishes too. You can’t use too much of this blend, as the spices are safe for culinary and remedy uses!
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Here is super delicious spice blend recipe you can make to cook with that contains not only aromatic culinary spices, but also some nutritious and detoxifying herbs as well. This blend is healthy and great to support the health and wellness of your kidneys and liver…and it tastes amazing. Learn the science behind this blend too. #homemade #spiceblend #healthy #detoxifying #detoxherbs #liver #kidney #wellness #health #recipe #fast #easy #healingharvesthomestead
Why This Spice Blend is So Good for Your Liver
The herbs and spices I used to formulate this tasty plant-based spice blend for your daily cooking are ones that are exceptionally well-known and clinically studied to be helpful for your liver and kidneys. The aromatics and pungents included, such as the garlic, rosemary, and sage help increase and enhance the liver supportive herbs.
Here’s a rundown of the herbs I used, and why I used them in these quantities, as well as the exact recipe to follow!
Nettle Leaf Powder (Urtica Dioica):
Nettle leaves are one of the most highly nutritious plants on the planet, in my opinion. They have been extensively studied for their nutritional value and are found to contain high levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, F, K, and P as well as very high levels of calcium and magnesium.
“Nettles contain a significant number of biologically-active compounds. For example, the leaves are rich sources of terpenoids, carotenoids and fatty acids, as well as of various essential amino acids, chlorophyll, vitamins, tannins, carbohydrates, sterols, polysaccharides, isolectins and minerals. Extracts from the aerial parts of nettles are rich sources of polyphenols.” Source
In fact, nettle tea has been taken for bone health for centuries, as well as its ability to support the detoxification mechanisms of the body by directly and positively impacting the liver and kidneys.
According to Leslie Taylor in her book, The Healing Power of Rain Forest Herbs, Nettle leaf is significant for supporting the prostate gland in men, an exceptional diuretic, and is helpful for the inflammation caused by arthritis. The root is helpful as well, primarily for BPH.
There really are no contraindications for using nettle, unless you are taking medications that should not be taken with a diuretic, as nettle is certainly a strong one. One other mention: Since nettle is such a wonderful diuretic and supporter of kidney health, it’s also helpful for high blood pressure. Source
***If you’d rather watch a video of this recipe tutorial, here it is! Please subscribe to my channel!
Lovely Nettles
Milk Thistle Powder (Silybum marianum):
Milk thistle is a member of the aster family, and is a common weed in many areas. The seeds are the powerhouse of this plant, although other parts may be used as well.
According to the National Institute of Health, “evidence exists that milk thistle may be hepatoprotective through a number of mechanisms: antioxidant activity, toxin blockade at the membrane level, enhanced protein synthesis, antifibriotic activity, and possible anti-inflammatory or immunomodulating effects.” Source
And the Mayo Institute states that milk thistle may play a role in liver health as well.
Contraindications:
Milk thistle is generally safe, especially used in culinary amounts. If you are a person who is allergic to members of the aster family, care should be taken, as allergic reactions may result from ingesting milk thistle.
Also, milk thistle may have additive effects when taken with drugs meant to lower blood sugar levels, as well as have effects on drugs such as blood thinners (warfarin, coumadin) and antidepressant drugs. Source.
According to News Medical Life Sciences,
Research shows that extracts of milk thistle may protect liver cells by inhibiting the influx of various damaging toxins and eliminating the entrapped toxins from the liver cells. Silymarin is a potent antioxidant which may support liver repair. Current studies show that silymarin can prevent liver fibrosis. Use of milk thistle is advised to neutralize the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on liver. This use has been supported by a double-blind clinical trial showing that, once alcohol use is stopped, milk thistle can reverse some of alcohol-induced liver damage. Source
The above quote has been common knowledge among herbalists for centuries, and milk thistle is a commonly used herb for supporting liver function in the herbal community.
**I just want to note, here, that scientific studies with positive herbal results seem to be more difficult to find online. Once again, I suggest finding a good herbalist you trust, who has training and application knowledge as an additional source of information rather than relying solely on online search results.
One more note about milk thistle: Many beginning herbalists like to turn directly to tinctures because of their ease of use. The specific plant constituents need to be considered for their solubility in a particular menstruum.
For example, milk thistle is NOT very soluble in water (as in tea). So, if you happen to see a liver supporting herbal tea formula, just know the milk thistle is going to be pretty useless, if it’s an ingredient. I’ve seen some sold in the grocery and health food stores, and it makes me roll my eyes. Buyer beware!
The best way to get the benefits of milk thistle is to simply EAT the seeds. I like to powder the seeds and use them in spice blends such as this one, or you can add a half-tablespoon or so to your smoothie in the morning. Tinctures work well for milk thistle as well.
The Aromatic Herbs: Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) and Sage (Salvia spp.):
I included rosemary and sage in this spice blend formula because of the taste! You see, both nettle and milk thistle don’t really taste that great, to be honest. However, with the addition of these herbs, the spice blend is excellent.
You could also add or substitute oregano, thyme, or any number of other aromatics, depending on the flavors you want! Most aromatics will blend with and potentially overpower any bad tasting herbs. Personally, I like the “green” taste of nettle and milk thistle, but not everyone does. So….
Garlic (Allium sativum):
Garlic is another stimulating and activating herb, which helps the benefits of the nettle and milk thistle get to work in your body. And, we all know how wonderful garlic is for our immune health as well. In addition, it also helps with the taste!
Sea Salt:
Besides adding some additional minerals, the sea salt also adds flavor to the mix! Reduce or add more, as you like.
Milk Thistle….
Liver Wellness Herbal Spice Blend Recipe for Cooking and Culinary Use
This is SUCH an easy recipe. Just powder the herbs that aren’t already powdered in your herbal spice grinder or your mortar and pestle. Then mix all the powders together in a bowl. Use a sprinkle jar or just a nice big jar (I use a wide-mouth pint Mason jar kept above our stove) to use liberally in your foods.
You can also use pretty little swing top jars, like these. Get some cute little wooden spoons, and these will make lovely gifts too!
Ingredients:
3 tbsp nettle powder
2 tbsp milk thistle powder
1 1/2 tbsp rosemary powder
1 1/2 tbsp sage powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp black pepper powder
1/2 tbsp sea salt
Simply blend together well. Use liberally in your cooking! Enjoy!
NOTE: You’ll notice on the label on the jar, I’ve written the ingredients in “parts.” This is so I can adjust the recipe up and down for quantity easier. I’ve converted it to tablespoons to make it easier for you to make.
Where Can You Find Quality Nettle and Milk Thistle?
Some larger cities do have shops that carry bulk herbs. In my experience from living in Las Vegas, Nevada, however, the stores must sell enough to be able to turn their stock before the herbs go stale…and this can be hard to do.
My suggestion is to find a good online bulk herb supplier or better yet, a small local herb grower. Small farms will be more expensive, but their quality is usually incredible. My favorite large herb supplier is Starwest Botanicals because they are consistent with their quality and have super fast shipping.
**I also purchase my culinary herbs there too! They have EVERYthing. And, if you are looking for premade blends, they have these as well!
NOTE: The links above are for Amazon, for your convenience. I choose companies I trust to link to there.
Final Thoughts on This Detox Herbal Spice Blend
Honestly, I love spice blends. It is SO easy to sneak helpful herbs like nettle and milk thistle into your foods using spices as a handy cover. (Wink ;-)
Since it’s so easy to make your own spice blends for cooking, why not add some additional herbs that support the body systems you and your family need a little help with?
I’ve got a whole line up of healthy herbal spice blends. I suppose I should share them on the blog, and I will as soon as I can! In the meantime, you can find out how to become a confident home herbalist, use herbs safely and effectively for the health of your family….
Instead of wading through the masses of information out there, consider an easy, hands-on course with a TON of support! Click here for more information on becoming a confident home herbalist.
If you enjoyed this recipe and article, you may also enjoy these related articles too:
Lung Supporting Herbal Tea Blend (Great for Helping with Breathing Due to Asthma and Congestion)
Incredibly Healthy and Tasty Hot Chocolate Mix (With Spices to Support Your Immune Health)
The Super Healing Powers of 14 Kitchen Spices You Probably Already Have (Know Your Kitchen Apothecary)
Make Herb Infused Cooking and Finishing Salts (This Recipe is for a Delicious Basil Finishing Salt)
Learning how to use herbs for our health and wellness has been SUCH a blessing in our lives over here. I hope you’ll consider herbalism in your quest for a more empowered and self-reliant lifestyle! Many of the herbs we use we grow ourselves or forage from the wild. You can do this too! :-)
I hope you enjoy this spice blend, too. I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section!
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance,
Heidi
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Resources:
Kriegel, D.; Pawlikowska, E.; Antolak, H.; Urtica spp.: Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Properties., Molecules. 2018 Jul; 23(7): pp1664. Published online: 2018 Jul 9. doi: 10.3390/molecules23071664 Retrieved 1/6/2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100552/
http://www.rain-tree.com/nettles.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11896/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-milk-thistle/art-20362885
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Milk-Thistle-Health-Benefits.aspx