These days, it’s not enough to buy organic, think global, and act local. Toxins pervade every aspect of our lives. To rid your home of them—and keep your family healthy and safe—you need to know where to start.

Here are five things you can do to clear your home of harmful chemicals.

Harmful Household Chemicals

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

  VOCs are chemicals that easily gasify and permeate the air you breathe. The EPA estimates that these toxins, found in everything from paint to furniture, carpeting to deodorants, and air fresheners to cleaning products can be present in 10 times the concentration indoors compared to outdoors. They can cause headaches, dizziness, rashes, eye disorders, respiratory tract irritations, and more. The kidneys, liver, and nervous system can all be damaged by VOCs, and long-term exposure can cause illness and cancer in both animals and humans.

  To mitigate the risks VOCs can pose, look for products labeled “Low VOC” or “Zero VOC.” Antique furniture is an option, but if you’re buying new furniture, allow the gases to aspirate into the atmosphere outdoors or in your garage for a few days before bringing them indoors.

  Pressed board or pressed wood items can be sealed with varnish to trap the gases inside. If you’re installing new carpeting or purchasing furniture containing VOCs, ensure your rooms are well-ventilated for several few weeks and direct airflow outside. If you’re in the market for new furniture with low emissions of VOCs, looks for third-party certification by Greenguard (www.greenguard.org).

  Some VOCs, like formaldehyde, can be reduced by controlling the climate and keeping humidity low.

• Pesticides

  Research indicates that exposure to pesticides is linked to increased risk of cancer. But it’s not just pesticide residue on food you need to be worried about. Lawn treatments and pest control products can also bring toxins into your home.

  To keep pesticides in their place, establish h a “no-shoes” policy in your home; shoes stay outside. Buy organic fruits, vegetables, meats, and personal care products whenever possible. Use natural nontoxic methods to control pests if you have a problem with them.

• Toxic Metals

  Arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, and aluminum can accumulate in your body’s soft tissue. When they do, they can lead to cancer, circulatory system damage, neurological damage, kidney and liver damage, and even death.

  These metals are frequently found in drinking water, seafood, dental amalgams, some building materials, and personal care products, such as antiperspirant.

  Avoid eating fish known to be high in mercury, such as swordfish, shark, and orange roughy, to name a few. Use cold, filtered water for drinking and cooking at home. Be aware that home fixtures such as fences and decks as well as children’s play sets made before 2003 may use wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA); this chemical contains arsenic and should be avoided.

• Phthalates and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

  Phthalates are chemical compounds or “plasticizers” used to make plastics softer and more flexible. They’re used widely in products including vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, raincoats, personal care products, and plastic food and beverage containers. They’re also used in PVCs, which are used to make products including garden hoses and some children’s toys.

  Given their ubiquity, we are constantly inhaling, ingesting, or otherwise absorbing significant amounts of phthalates, which enter our bloodstream. These chemicals can disrupt the endocrine system and have been linked to birth defects when pregnant women are exposed.

  Check labels to make sure products you’re buying don’t contain phthalates or PVC. Avoid recycling codes 3 and 7. Choose natural fibers, such as cotton or linen, when selecting draperies. Avoid products that contain synthetic fragrances—they almost always contain phthalates. Eat organic produce, meat, and dairy whenever possible as phthalates are used in pesticides. They are also found in the sewage sludge used in conventional agriculture.

• Chloroform

  Maybe you’ve seen it in those old-time movies—someone, good guy or bad—knocks out the other one in seconds by putting a chloroform-doused hankie over their opponent’s nose. That same chloroform is probably in the water flowing through your household taps if your water is chlorinated.

  This colorless cancer-causing chemical can lead to liver, kidney, and heart issues, as well as neurological damage and reproductive system damage.

  You’ve got to take a shower but you don’t need to overexpose yourself to the chloroform in your municipal water supply. Use a low-flow showerhead. Shower in cooler temperature water. Open the windows and ventilate the room when using hot water for a shower or cleaning. Locate your washing machine where the chloroform in the water can easily vent outdoors.

Who Benefits from Everyday Liver Support?

When herbalists strengthen the liver, we focus on the essential detoxifying function that it performs. Almost anyone would benefit from liver support.

However, it’s most important for people with a poor diet, impaired digestion, or a greater-than-average exposure to toxins such as chemical solvents, excessive alcohol, and liver-toxic drugs. 

What Herbs Help Detoxify the Liver?

Two categories of liver herbs lend a hand: “movers” and “protectors.”

For the average person who just wants to give a boost to the liver, try “movers” like dandelion, burdock, chicory, and artichoke. Although less researched than milk thistle, these herbs have traditionally been used to support everyday liver function.

• "Mover" Herbs Help the Liver Detoxify

  “Movers” enhance the detox response by encouraging the liver to produce and excrete more bile, the accumulated liver waste that is eliminated from the body via the gallbladder and digestive tract.

  My favorite liver detox herbs include:

  • dandelion leaf
  • dandelion root
  • burdock root
  • chicory leaf
  • chicory root
  • bitter salad greens
  • turmeric root
  • schisandra berries
  • artichoke leaf

  They generally have a bitter flavor and work better if you taste them, so take them as food, tea, or liquid extracts as opposed to pill form.

  Together with lymph- and kidney-supportive herbs, these liver herbs are often referred to as blood purifiers.

• "Protector" Herbs Prevent and Repair Liver Damage

  “Protectors,” which prevent and may even repair liver damage from toxins, include milk thistle seeds, turmeric, and the adaptogen herb schisandra.

  Milk Thistle

  Milk thistle is well researched for its ability to protect against and repair liver damage from a wide range of dangerous toxins and in serious liver conditions like cirrhosis, fatty liver, and hepatitis.

  The seeds are rich in protective antioxidants including a compound called silymarin that appears to slow down, block, or eliminate toxin absorption by the liver while enhancing protein synthesis up to 30 percent.

  Milk thistle is best taken as capsules, standardized to 80 percent silymarin.

“The more fat you have, the more toxins you retain,” explains Brenda Watson, CNC. “The more toxins you retain, the harder it becomes to lose weight.”

The solution? Minimize your exposure to environmental pollutants and periodically remove toxins with careful detoxification.

Traditional medicine has long respected fasting as a means of cleansing and rejuvenating the body, mind, and spirit. 

“I believe that fasting and detoxification are the missing links in the American (and Western) diet,” says Elson M. Haas, MD, founder/director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin. “Much disease, especially degenerative disease, comes from congestion and stagnation in the body (in the organs, tissues, circulation, lymph, and cells), and this congestion/stagnation state can be cleared from the body through cleansing and detoxification.”

Detoxification begins when the cells excrete wastes into lymph fluid, explains Dr. Shallenberger, making physical activity that moves the arms and legs important.

Remember to Rest

Even resting is useful. “The under-20 age group needs about 10 hours of horizontal time per 24-hour cycle,” he says. People over 20 need at least eight hours because lying down allows lymph fluid to drain. 

After lymph fluid reaches the bloodstream, toxins circulate to the kidneys and liver. The kidneys need plenty of pure water to do their job, while dietary fiber binds with toxins to escort them out of the body.

Support Your Liver

The liver is vital to detox, literally sitting “on the front line where all toxins are directed,” Dr. Shallenberger adds. “From bacteria to viruses and pesticides, every toxin in the body must be cleared by the liver.”

To be healthy, he advises, do everything you can to support and protect your liver. As obesity increases, so does damage to the liver. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of Americans have what’s known as “fatty liver.” Add inflammation and the result is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to cirrhosis.

Sometimes a pimple is just a pimple, but many times it’s a sign our bodies need some extra care. Our skin often reflects overall health. As our largest organ, it can signal that something deeper needs looking after.

We often think of acne as being isolated to the skin, but if we look deeper, we can see there are systemic issues going on. Yes, we should be caring for our skin with external measures to keep pores clear, but we need to be caring for our bodies as well. Poor diet, digestive problems, hormone imbalances, and toxins and heavy metals are often the real culprits behind a chronic acne problem.

External skin care

In addition to natural, soap-free acne cleansers, or even the seemingly counterintuitive “oil cleansing” method (many people with acne swear by it), there are other approaches that can reduce bacteria and balance oil production.

A few drops of antiseptic essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, sandalwood, and oregano mixed in pure water and sprayed or blotted onto the skin can be helpful.

Raw manuka honey can be used as a nourishing antibacterial and exfoliating mask or cleanser. Lemon juice and/or baking soda can also help exfoliate skin, and apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties and the right level of acidity to help protect skin.

Whenever undertaking a new topical regimen, it’s important to start with a small test area to make sure your skin responds well.

From the inside out

Acne is much more prevalent in industrialized societies, which may be a result of the Western diet, environmental toxins, or other modern influences. A few lifestyle changes can make a big difference.

It’s important to avoid inflammatory, processed foods like sugar and sweets, trans-fats, dairy, deep-fried foods, and chemical additives. Also, eliminating gluten helps some people. These ingredients can wreak havoc on our digestive system, which is directly related to skin health. They can also contribute to hormone imbalance, feed bad bacteria, and weaken the skin’s protective and repair mechanisms.

Instead, emphasize green leafy vegetables such as chard, kale, and spinach; brightly colored vegetables like peppers, squash, and sweet potatoes; sulfur-rich foods like broccoli, cabbage, and eggs; healthy fats like omega 3s and olive oil; and lean, organic protein. Probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, low-fat yogurt, kefir, and miso contain beneficial bacteria that can support skin, digestive, and overall health. There are also many herbs that can help by reducing inflammation and free radical damage, including ginger, turmeric, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.

Antioxidant-rich fruits like berries, melons, and mangos are good for the skin, but use fruits in moderation as they can spike glucose levels, resulting in inflammation.

Detox & nourishment

Unprocessed, clean foods like those mentioned above help reduce inflammation, nourish the skin and body, and promote detoxification. In addition, a number of supplements can help further these benefits.

Food-based sources of A, B complex, C and E (mixed tocotrienols) provide antioxidant support and promote detoxification. Zinc helps fight bacteria associated with acne and supports skin repair. Antioxidants such as alpha lipoic acid, CoQ10, and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) support skin health and fight inflammation. Nutritional enzyme supplements reduce inflammation, and support digestion, circulation, and tissue repair. Be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of filtered water as well.

For more complete detoxification and overall health support, consider supplements that include a combination of alginates from seaweed and modified citrus pectin (MCP). MCP safely removes heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury from the body, while actively supporting cellular health, cardiovascular health, immunity, and more. Alginates are also known for their ability to detoxify heavy metals and radioactive isotopes.  

Question: How can you get your clothes “clean” if the laundry soap you use is “dirty,” full of extraneous stuff—fragrances, chemicals, and fabric softeners, ad nauseum?

Answer: You can’t.

Health Hazards of Typical Detergents

Commercial claims of “clean, fresh scents” are usually produced by toxic quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”), chemicals thought to cause asthma in otherwise healthy people and to be prone to producing antibiotic-resistant superbugs, says Rebecca Sutton, PhD, senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.

Making Healthy Detergent Choices

A few common sense tips can help you clean up your laundry habits—and safeguard your health.

• Stay Away from Surfactants

  Avoid laundry cleaning agents that list “surfactants” as part of their ingredients. Surfactants aren’t a specific ingredient; rather, they’re a chemical wetting agent that helps water penetrate fabric. Unfortunately, surfactants tend to release benzene (a toxin thought to be associated with cancer and reproductive disorders) into the environment.

• Buy Phosphate-Free

  Buy organic laundry soaps, which are naturally free of phosphates. Phosphates, a known water pollutant, kill plants and fish and throw the ecosystem off-kilter.

• Avoid Petrochemicals

  If it contains petrochemicals, chlorine, sulfates, or parabens—pass. These are all things you don’t want coming in contact with skin or leaching into the environment during the rinse cycle.

• Choose Concentrated Cleaners

  Look for concentrated cleaners. Typically, concentrates require less product and come in smaller packaging; that means a smaller impact on landfills or recycling facilities.

• Use a Natural Softener

  Instead of chemical-filled fabric softeners, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to each load during the rinse cycle; it’s a natural softener.

• Air-Dry Your Clothing

  You want your clothes to smell fresh and clean? When the weather permits, skip the dryer and hang the wash on the line outside.

• Go Fragance-Free

  Fragrances are among the top five allergens. A study conducted by the University of Washington found scented laundry products can contain up to 20 chemicals—including acetaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, which are thought to cause cancer.