Detox & Cleanse Claims
Detox and cleanse claims checked: what NIH's NCCIH found, what the liver and kidneys already do, and why charcoal, clay and cleanse products raise safety questions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read natural ingredient safety before you use anything on this page.
The claim as marketed
"Detox" and "cleanse" products and programs are promoted as ways to remove "toxins" from the body, lose weight or support health. NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes programs that include fasting, juice-only diets, eating only certain foods, supplements, herbs, colon cleansing, reducing environmental exposures and saunas. [1] This page checks the claim. It does not recommend any product or program.If you think you have swallowed something harmful, or a child has, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). For collapse, seizure, trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat, call 911.
What the body already does
Two organs do most of the everyday work of clearing waste. MedlinePlus says the liver helps the body "remove poisons." [2] NIDDK says the kidneys filter the blood, "removing wastes and extra water to make urine." [3] The sources we read for this page do not describe a cleanse product that improves on this in healthy people. The NCCIH page does not name specific toxins that these programs remove.What the evidence is
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Do detox diets help weight or remove toxins? | NCCIH cites a 2015 review that found no compelling research to support detox diets for weight management or eliminating toxins. [1] | Insufficient evidence |
| Do the small studies show benefits? | Some had positive results, but NCCIH describes them as low quality, with design problems, few participants or no peer review. [1] | Insufficient evidence |
| What happens to weight? | A 2017 review cited by NCCIH said juice and detox diets can cause early weight loss from low calories, but weight tends to return when normal eating resumes. [1] | Mixed, short term |
| Colon cleansing (colonics) | NCCIH says there is limited clinical evidence validating it and insufficient evidence for its prescribed uses. [1] | Insufficient evidence |
NCCIH also notes that chelation therapy, a chemical detoxification procedure, is recommended by the CDC for removing toxic metals in some specific serious cases. [1] That is a medical procedure for a diagnosed problem. It is a different thing from a store-bought cleanse.
What regulators and poison centers say
NCCIH reports that the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission have taken action against several companies selling detox or cleanse products. The reasons it lists were hidden ingredients that may pose a significant health risk, false claims that products could treat serious diseases, and, for colon-cleansing medical devices, marketing for unapproved uses. [1] We did not read the FDA or FTC notices themselves, so we do not list individual actions.Charcoal, clays and salts
Activated charcoal is a real medical treatment: Poison Control says it can bind many poisons in the gut. [4] The same page says not to try to treat a poisoning with activated charcoal at home. [4] Proper evidence not found that charcoal, bentonite clay or Epsom salt baths remove "toxins" from healthy people. We searched the NCCIH and Poison Control pages cited here and found no such statement. See Activated Charcoal and Poisoning, Bentonite Clay and Epsom Salt for each one.What a reader can safely do
- Check what is actually in the product and whether it says which "toxin" it targets and how that was tested.
- If you are worried about a real exposure (lead, a poison, a medicine overdose), that is a medical question. See a clinician, or call Poison Help.
- Bring any cleanse product to your pharmacist or clinician. NCCIH recommends telling your health care providers about any detox or cleanse you use. [1]
- For the wider food-and-juice side of the claim, see Detox Foods and Juice Cleanse Claims Checked.
Frequently asked questions
Do detoxes and cleanses work?
NCCIH cites a 2015 review that found no compelling research that detox diets help with weight management or eliminating toxins. [1]
What do the liver and kidneys do?
MedlinePlus says the liver helps remove poisons, and NIDDK says the kidneys filter the blood to remove wastes and extra water. [2] [3]
Is activated charcoal a detox?
Poison Control describes it as a treatment for poisonings given with expert guidance, and says not to try treating a poisoning with it at home. [4]
Are cleanses safe?
Not always. NCCIH lists risks including unpasteurized juice, laxative-related dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. [1]
Is fasting the same as a detox?
NCCIH says some fasting programs are advertised with detox claims, while intermittent and periodic fasting are being researched for other purposes, with no firm conclusions about effects on human health. [1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Risks of cleanse programs
- Unpasteurized juices can make people sick, and the illness can be serious in children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. [1]
- Juices made from high-oxalate foods such as leafy greens and beets are a concern for people prone to kidney stones. [1]
- Laxatives in cleanse programs can cause diarrhea, dehydration and poor absorption of nutrients. [1]
- Drinking large amounts of water and herbal tea with no food for days can lead to dangerous electrolyte imbalances. [1]
- People with diabetes are told to follow their care team's plan and to talk with their providers before making major changes. [1]
Supplements and herbal cleanse products can also be mislabeled or contaminated. See Product Quality and Contamination and How Interactions Work. Anyone who takes prescription medicines, is pregnant or breastfeeding, has kidney or liver disease, or has an upcoming procedure should ask a pharmacist or clinician before starting any cleanse.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). “Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need To Know. NIH. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus. Liver Diseases. National Library of Medicine. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Your Kidneys & How They Work. NIH. Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (America’s Poison Centers). Activated charcoal: An effective treatment for poisonings. Read 2026-10-23.