What is the act of removing a toxin from the body called?

The act of removing a toxin from the body is referred to as detoxification. This process involves the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from the body, particularly via the liver, kidneys, and other organs that play a role in metabolism and waste processing. Detoxification can involve a range of biological processes in which the body neutralizes and excretes harmful substances, helping to protect overall health and maintain homeostasis.

Digestion specifically relates to the breakdown of food into nutrients that can be absorbed and utilized by the body, rather than the removal of toxins. Filtration generally refers to the physical or mechanical process of separating substances, which is useful in contexts like water treatment but does not encompass the broader biochemical processes involved in toxin removal. Elimination can refer to the expulsion of waste products from the body, but it is not specifically defined as the process of detoxifying or removing toxins from the body in the context of health and wellness. Therefore, detoxification is the most accurate term describing the act of purging harmful substances.