Cleansing the body from the accumulated environmental toxins (xenobiotics) and the excess biological compounds and metabolites (i.e. hormones, etc.) is known as "detoxification." Most of these toxins are subjected to numerous chemical changes (detoxification) in order to be prepared for elimination from the body.

The major detoxification reactions take place in the liver. The goal of detoxification reactions is to transform chemicals that are fat-soluble into water-soluble compounds. Water-soluble compounds can then be eliminated through kidneys, skin, or gallbladder, in urine, sweat, or bile, respectively. Secretion of bile is one of the major pathways of detoxification. Once the liver has cleared the toxins, the resulting compounds are delivered to the gallbladder to be excreted with bile into the digestive system, and eliminated.

Detoxification is extremely beneficial as a preventative measure for different health problems, or as a means to enhance therapeutic procedures for a variety of medical conditions. The removal of these toxins from the system enhances the organs' ability to absorb nutrients, improving biological functions, which, in turn, accelerates the healing processes. A healthy detoxification is of utmost importance in a variety of medical conditions and therapeutic procedures.