Before You Detox: The Hidden Truth About Cleansing Programs

Before you buy another 7-day “miracle cleanse”, it’s worth asking a blunt question:

Do most detox programs actually do what people think they do?

In my experience: no – most of them don’t.

They might make you feel lighter for a week (usually because you’re eating less and going to the toilet more), but they rarely address the deeper issue of real toxic load, especially heavy metals.

That’s why I like to step back and look at what’s behind the marketing – and why I think Dr Georgiou’s HMD protocol deserves to be in a completely different category to the usual “detox in a box”.

The problem with most detox programs

Walk into any health shop or scroll through social media and you’ll see:

• 3-day juice cleanses
• “Flat belly” teas
• Harsh laxative mixes labelled as “colon cleanses”
• One-size-fits-all “detox kits” with no explanation of how they work

They typically share three big problems:

1. They’re not actually targeting toxins

Most generic detox products are really just:

• Diuretics (you pee more)
• Laxatives (you poo more)
• Appetite suppressors (you eat less)

That can make you feel temporarily lighter – but it doesn’t mean you’ve dealt with deeper issues like mercury from fillings, lead from old plumbing, or cadmium from cigarettes and pollution. Heavy metals tend to lodge in tissues, bones, brain and organs, not just “sit in the colon”.

2. No science, just slogans

If you look closely at the labels:

• No clinical trials
• No data on what they do to actual metal levels in the body
• No explanation of how the ingredients work, or whether they’ve been tested together

Compare that to the hundreds of detox products on the market that have zero published research – just promises.

3. No exit route

Even when a product mobilises toxins, if it doesn’t properly support:

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Lymphatic system
• Gut/bowels

…you risk stirring things up without helping the body move them out. That’s when people can feel worse – headaches, fatigue, fog – and give up.

So, before you detox, it’s worth asking:

Is this program based on anything more than marketing?

What does real detox look like?

For me, a serious detox protocol – especially for heavy metals – should tick several boxes:

1. Science, not guesswork
   Has the formula actually been tested, or is it just a clever blend of fashionable herbs?
2. Targeted, not vague
   Does it focus on specific toxins, like heavy metals, or is it just “general cleansing”?
3. Comprehensive
   Does it support the organs that do the work – liver, kidneys, gut, lymph – rather than just pushing one pathway?
4. Gentle but ongoing
   Does it allow slow, steady detox over months, rather than a violent “blowout” over 3–5 days?
5. Clean formulation
   Is it free from unnecessary additives, allergens and synthetic nasties, especially when it claims to be about detox?

When you put most detox products against that checklist, they fall short very quickly.

This is where Dr Georgiou’s HMD® protocol stands out.

The HMD® story: how it’s different from typical detox products

HMD® (Heavy Metal Detox) didn’t start life as a marketing idea. It emerged from a large research project examining natural heavy-metal chelators.

Dr Georgiou and his team were commissioned to test a range of natural substances – including chlorella, cilantro, chlorella growth factor (CGF), vitamin C and others – to see which actually supported the body in clearing heavy metals in real people, not just theory.

The result was:

• A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
• Conducted over three years
• With 350 metal foundry workers, who were exposed to multiple toxic metals on a daily basis
• Using ICP-MS analysis of blood, urine and hair to measure metal levels, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, aluminium, antimony, mercury, nickel and uranium.

From that work, the team identified a specific natural combination that performed best, which later became HMD® Heavy Metal Detox.

In other words, HMD® wasn’t built by guessing which herbs “sound detox-y”. It was selected out of a group of natural candidates because it actually changed measured metal levels in a challenging, real-world environment.

That already puts it in a tiny club.

What exactly is in HMD®?

HMD® is a liquid formula containing three key components:

• Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF) – a steam-distillation extract derived from Chlorella pyrenoidosa, rich in nucleotides.
• Coriandrum sativum (cilantro / coriander) – long known in natural medicine as a detox-supportive herb.
• A homaccord of Chlorella pyrenoidosa – a homeopathic preparation at different potencies.

These are blended in a specific ratio that emerged from the research, not randomly. The final product is:

• 100% natural
• Vegan
• Allergen-free
• Free from alcohol, GMOs, artificial colours, flavours, salt and preservatives
• Manufactured in a GMP-certified lab in the USA
• On the market for over 16 years, used by practitioners worldwide

The real “secret” lies in how these ingredients work together, not alone.

When each component was tested on its own, it did not significantly help the body eliminate heavy metals – the results were only effective when combined into this specific blend, working in synergy to support detoxification.

And importantly, it’s designed to be gentle enough for longer-term use, which is crucial for heavy metals.

The HMD® protocol: more than just one bottle

Where HMD® really separates itself from generic detoxes is in the full protocol, not just the single product.

Dr Georgiou’s HMD® Ultimate Heavy Metal Detox Program combines four key elements:

1. HMD® Heavy Metal Detox –
   The core formula that supports the body’s natural ability to mobilise and process stored toxic metals.
2. HMD LAVAGE® –
   A vegetable-glycerine herbal tincture containing seven herbs (dandelion, milk thistle, burdock, red clover, turmeric, hydrangea, uva ursi) traditionally used to support the liver, kidneys, lymph and urinary tract – essentially, your drainage system.
3. HMD® Organic Chlorella –
   Cracked-cell chlorella providing chlorophyll, protein, vitamins and minerals. It provides nutritional support and companionship during detox, helping you maintain energy as the body works harder.
4. HMD® MULTIS (often recommended) –
   A high-potency multivitamin and mineral formula, rich in antioxidants and trace elements, to keep detox enzymes and antioxidant systems well supported during the process.

I like to think of the protocol in three phases:

• Mobilise – HMD® encourages the body to start dealing with stored metals.
• Drain – HMD LAVAGE® helps support the organs that move waste out.
• Nourish & Protect – HMD® Organic Chlorella and HMD® MULTIS help make sure you’re not depleting yourself while you detox.

Most “detox kits” don’t have that level of structure.

Why this protocol stands out in a crowded detox market

There are hundreds of detox products out there. Here’s why the HMD® approach is different:

1. It’s one of the few natural protocols with proper clinical research

The 3-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 350 workers is rare in the natural detox world. In that study, HMD® was singled out for its ability to help chelate a range of metals, while other natural agents were less consistent.

Most supplements simply don’t have this level of data behind them.

2. It’s designed for real-world exposure

This isn’t a “weekend cleanse” tested on a group of healthy volunteers for a few days. HMD® was developed in the context of heavy industrial exposure (foundry workers), where metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and others were truly present.

That makes the results more relevant to people living with long-term environmental exposure, amalgams, pollution and so on.

3. It respects that detox takes time

HMD® is usually recommended for at least 90 days, and longer for those with higher suspected loads.

That fits what we know clinically: heavy metals accumulate over years, so giving the body a few months of structured support is far more realistic than promising a “total cleanse in 5 days”.

4. It combines detox with lifestyle

The HMD® protocol isn’t presented as a magic bottle that replaces common sense. On both heavymetaldetox.org and detoxmetals.com, you’ll see guidance about:

• Drinking 8–10 glasses of water or herbal tea daily
• Reducing alcohol to ease the load on the liver
• Choosing a cleaner Alkaline / Detox Diet
• Being consistent over time

That’s precisely what a responsible detox protocol should do.

Before you detox: what I’d suggest

If you’re considering a detox – especially heavy metal detox – here’s how I’d approach it:

1. Educate yourself about heavy metals
   Look at common sources (old paints, plumbing, air pollution, fish, dental materials, industrial exposure).
2. Consider testing
   Tools such as the HMD® Hair Analysis test and other tests can provide helpful information on mineral status and toxic metal levels before and after a programme.
3. Choose a protocol with structure and science
   Look for something like HMD® that:
   • Has clinical research
   • Uses clean, natural ingredients
   • Supports multiple organs
   • Is designed for at least 60–90 days
4. Support your basic physiology
   • Hydration
   • Real food
   • Sleep
   • Gentle movement
     These are not optional extras – they’re what your detox pathways rely on.
5. Work with a practitioner if possible
   A holistic or functional practitioner can help tailor dose, duration, and lifestyle to your individual situation.

So… do detox programs really work?

Some don’t do much more than empty your wallet.

But when you:

• Base a protocol on real research,
• Use synergistic natural ingredients,
• Support liver, kidneys, gut and lymph,
• And commit to 90 days rather than 9 days,

then detox can be meaningful, structured and intelligent – rather than just a buzzword.

That’s why, in a marketplace full of vague “cleanses”, I see Dr Georgiou’s HMD® protocol as something genuinely different: a research-driven, multi-step heavy metal detox approach that’s been tested in the real world and designed to work with the body, not against it.

If you’re ready to go beyond hype and explore a serious, natural heavy metal detox programme, you can learn more about the full HMD® range and protocol.

Before you detox, make sure you’re doing it with a plan – and a protocol that actually has something behind it.