This article is about detox as in detoxification. For Treble Charger's 2003 album, visit Detox. For Dr Dre's unreleased album expected in 2005, visit Detox.

Detox, short for detoxification, in general is the removal of toxic substances from the body.

Specific meanings of detox:

• A form of drug rehabilitation, used to treat alcoholism or other drug addiction. The process involves social, environmental, and physiological changes.
• A class of diets whose underlying assumption is that the body accumulates toxins (in this case, referring to toxic substances - often of undefined nature - from unhealthy foodstuffs, the environment and its own wastes) that must be purged regularly. "Detox diet" is a common phrase, as is "I'm on a detox". See also:
  • 'Detox Your World', by Shazzie (ISBN 0954397703)
  • Carol Vorderman's 28 Day Detox Diet (ISBN B0000558PK)
• Forms of complementary medicine and quackery that claim to remove such toxins from the body: for instance, by herbal, electrical or electromagnetic treatments.

As the definition of toxins in the latter two contexts has little scientific basis, the validity of such techniques is questionable. There is no evidence for such accumulation; the body automatically detoxifies and excretes many toxic materials, as well as its own metabolic wastes, via the liver and kidneys.

• It can also refer to detoxing your mind, as in inner spiritual cleansing.
• Some have even gone so far as writing articles about "detoxing your desk"!

External links

• Drug Detoxification