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Detoxifying from drugs is an important step in recovery. If traces or residue of prescription or recreational drugs remain in the addict's system, cravings and withdrawal symptoms continue. Some drugs--like diazepam, marijuana, cocaine and phencyclidine--accumulate and stay in the system for long periods of time. This is especially true in cases of long-term drug use. Naturally detoxifying from drugs at home is a safe way to clean out the entire body, improve overall health and maintain recovery.

Drink lots of fluids. A daily intake of eight to 12 glasses of fluids each day flushes out the toxins and chemicals. All healthy fluids--water, fruit juices, vegetable juices and herbal teas--are a good way to clean the body internally. The wastes, impurities and drug residues are washed out of the cells, tissues and organs.

Try a fast. Going on a fast accelerates detoxification. Via your not eating food, the body doesn't need energy for digestion. Instead, the body uses the energy to clean and heal itself. A fast gives the body a short rest period. Fasting for one or two days is safe for most people. Consult a doctor about longer fasts.

Lose fat by exercising. Even if you aren't overweight, losing fat will help with detoxification from drugs. Most chemicals and toxins that enter the body are stored in the fat cell. By losing excess fat, a person also loses toxins. To lose the fat, do aerobic exercise. Swimming, running, dancing and cycling are good cardiovascular exercises that help to burn calories and fat. During a high-impact workout, a person also builds up a sweat. Toxins are released through the sweat glands. Building muscle with weights or resistance training also burns fat. In time, the muscles replace the fat deposits. Breathing deeply during any type of exercise helps to expel toxic carbon dioxide from the lungs. On inhalation, more oxygen enters the body.

Have a healthy diet. Eating fruits and vegetables gives the body the nutrients it needs to repair itself and carry out its many functions. Organic foods are more expensive, but they are better for the body, because they contain fewer chemicals like preservatives and pesticides. Adding fiber to the diet also helps in moving wastes and debris through the intestines and out the body.

Take herbal supplements. There are a few well-known herbs that are good for detoxifying the body. Milk thistle cleans out the liver, a filtering organ that removes toxins from the body. Uva ursi cleans the kidneys and keeps them functioning at a high level. This is important because the kidneys filter the bloodstream every day, removing wastes, toxins and impurities like drugs.