Method: Detox teas
Tea is the simplest way of ingesting medicinal ingredients thought to have cleansing effects. When shopping for these good herbs, the ingredients to look for are burdock, dandelion and ginger. Burdock acts as a diuretic; dandelion contains an antioxidant known as luteolin; and ginger releases bile from the gallbladder, which could help alleviate any post–New Year’s nausea.
Where to find it: Almost any teashop will carry some variant of a detox blend. Try Tavalon (22 E 14th St; 212-807-7027, tavalon.com), located just off Union Square. Its loose-leaf Purity—a blend of Ceylon black tea, peppermint leaves and ginger root—starts at $5 for 1.3 ounces (22 servings). Folks who prefer their tea in a bag can run down to any local Whole Foods or Sunac for a package of DeTox from Yogi Tea, which contains both burdock and dandelion.

Method: Garlic
Ward off heart disease (and vampires!) with a delicious ingredient you can easily roast at home or find throughout the city's dining spectrum. Recent studies have shown that garlic supplements reduce the accumulation of cholesterol on vascular walls and plaque in the aortas. Nothing could be better for counteracting the effects of that holiday roast and pie à la mode.
Where to find it: While garlic figures prominently in most of the world's cuisines, the Spanish seem to use it with particular flair. You could do a lot worse than visiting the West Village tapas bar Ostia and sucking down a plate of their heavily garlicked head-on shrimp. Or for an Asiatic dosage, try the "deluxe" tsuke-men noodles at Ramen Setagaya, with its garlic-infused broth.

Method: Raw-food diet
The premise of the raw movement is that cooking destroys or degrades enzymes naturally found in foods. Depriving the body of these enzymes, the theory goes, not only makes digestion more difficult but also builds up toxins in the body. The good news is that you don’t have to pull a Sting and subscribe to a lifetime of uncooked okra in order to reap the benefits. Proponents say you can flush out your system with a just week’s worth of heat-free eating.
Where to find it: This trend has hit New York hard and left the East Village awash with raw-food restaurants and caterers. Alongside cooked vegan dishes, Caravan of Dreams offers a menu of "live" entrées, from tapas to hummus platters ($13–$15). For dinner, try the Italian “meatballs,” composed of almond-Brazil nuts, diced vegetables and uncooked marinara sauce ($16).

Method: Dry skin brushing
As gross as it sounds, the removal of dead cells allows the skin to excrete unwanted substances within. According to detox.org, “Dry skin brushing is an easy way to stimulate the lymph system, which in turn enhances the body’s natural detoxification processes.” You’re instructed to start with the feet and work your way up to the heart, brushing in gentle, circular motions. Pair with an Epsom salt bath for the complete treatment. Shower immediately after.
Where to find it: The pros recommend a brush made of vegetable bristles. The Upper West Side’s Natural Alternative Center (310 W 72nd St; 212-580-3333, thenac.net) sells the Tampico Skin Brush, made from agave plant fibers, for $10. Its detachable long handle makes it easier to exfoliate those hard-to-reach places across your back.

Method: Sweaty yoga
In case you've been living in a cave and missed the hype, bikram yoga is performed in a heated room and combines the somewhat disparate activities of meditation and nonstop sweating. Be warned: It’s not for the fainthearted. Some studios are so fanatical, they require you to stay in the hot room for the entire class, even if the workout becomes too intense. A lower-key alternative would be to take advantage of that gym membership you optimistically purchased and visit the steam room or sauna.
Where to find it: Bikram Yoga NYC (bikramyoganyc.com), with four locations in Manhattan, is a good place to introduce yourself to the discipline. If you’re leaning toward option No. 2, reserve a couple of hours at Great Jones Spa (29 Great Jones St; 212-505-3185, greatjonesspa.com). Its “wet lounge” includes a chakra steam room, river-rock sauna and thermal hot tubs as part of its official detox package.

Method: Colonics
We acknowledge that not everyone will be jumping onto the enema bandwagon, but wouldn't it be silly not to even consider a wellness regimen reportedly practiced by Courtney Love? Advocates of the treatment claim we carry around 10 to 25 pounds of extra, uh, baggage without it. If you're not sold, there are less invasive colon-cleansing regimens, such as eating ground flaxseed (two tablespoons) with yogurt or drinking an aloe smoothie (blend one inch of fresh aloe leaf with lemon juice and honey).
Where to find it: You should find a pleasant setting for this potentially awkward treatment and skip the clinic in favor of a day spa. More and more spas now offer colon therapies as part of their holistic practices. La Casa Day Spa (41 E 20th St; 212-673-CASA, lacasaspa.com) combines a gentle water irrigation technique with reflexology and abdominal massage, so the experience is surprisingly comfortable. It's $110 for a 60-minute cleaning.