Nancy Hearn, CNC, EFT-ADV
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Liver and Gallbladder Flushes and Cleanses
by Nancy Hearn, CNC
Q: I would be very interested in what you have to say about liver/gallbladder flushes, and I believe there is a liver cleanse. How does it differ from a flush and how do we keep our livers clean?
A: The liver flush is a detoxification method and is also used as a natural treatment for eliminating gallstones. There are many variations to a liver/gallbladder flush, but it typically involves drinking two glasses of organic apple juice every two hours for two days. In addition, you are advised to eat only fruits and vegetables. At the end of the two days, you take one to two tablespoons of Epsom salts dissolved in water, followed by half a cup of olive oil with lemon juice at bedtime.
How does the liver flush work? Apple juice is high in malic acid and is believed to act as a solvent to weaken adhesions between solid globules. Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) relaxes smooth muscle and will dilate the bile duct to enable solid particles (like gallstones) to leave the gallbladder. The olive oil is then taken to stimulate the gallbladder and bile duct to contract and expel gallstones.
After taking the olive oil, people often notice small balls in their stool, ranging in size and color. Some advocates of the liver flush believe these balls are gallstones. However, others (including some reputable Naturopathic Doctors), say that the balls are not really gallstones but rather are merely produced within the digestive tract. Side effects of the liver flush may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
What do I think of this liver flush? I have done it in the past a few times and I certainly don’t enjoy the process. In order to consider doing it again, I would want to know for sure that it does, in fact, eliminate gallstones. I have not seen anything clinically to prove that what are removed are actually gallstones. In addition, that much apple juice is just too much concentrated sugar for most people, especially those with existing blood sugar imbalances or yeast overgrowth.
I am not sure which liver cleanse you are referring to, but most liver cleanses involve a restrictive diet along with detoxification formulas targeted for the liver. Several amino acids are essential in the liver detoxification process, such as L-Methionine, L-Cysteine and L-Glutathione.
Herbal formulas that are famous for their ability to stimulate, cleanse and protect the liver and gallbladder include milk thistle, Oregon grape root, artichoke leaf, gentian root, wormwood leaf and dandelion root. Garlic, black walnut hull and wormwood are anti-parasitical plants, which also support liver detox.
Why I prefer whole body cleanses. In general, when it comes to cleansing and detoxification, I prefer whole body cleanses because I believe they support the natural processes in the body better than specific organ cleanses. However, if you do decide to do a liver cleanse, I highly recommend that you always precede it with a colon cleanse, such as colon hydrotherapy (colonic) or an herbal colon cleanse.
It is critical with any type of cleanse to be sure that the body can effectively remove the toxins. It doesn’t do any good to do a liver cleanse, for example, if you’re constipated. In addition, it is absolutely essential to follow any cleanse with a high-quality probiotic for at least two months to replenish the good bacteria.
The good news is that our bodies are designed to effectively remove toxins. They work tirelessly at removing toxins all the time. In fact, every time we urinate, defecate, exhale, cough, sneeze, or sweat, our bodies eliminate toxins from the system. Since the liver is one of the eliminative organs, the best way to support the liver is by supporting all of the eliminative functions of the body.
This means staying adequately hydrated for optimal removal of toxins through the urine, exhaling completely and fully many times a day, allowing the body to sweat (especially through exercise and saunas), and keeping the colon clean by eating primarily fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. It is helpful to do periodic herbal colon cleanses or to have colon hydrotherapy. In addition, a simple and inexpensive way to daily “flush” the liver is by drinking a glass of fresh-squeezed lemon juice first thing in the morning.
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Additional Resources:
Detox Reviews. This is a very helpful site for both colon and full body cleanses. The highest ranked product they reviewed is called Colonix and Toxinout from www.drnatura.com. I have tried these products and they are the best products I have ever used. They are contain high-quality ingredients, are thorough and complete, easy to use, and not too intense. The other herbal cleansing products I recommend are “Perfect Cleanse” by Garden of Life, "Cleanse Smart" by Renew Life and Dr. Schulze’s cleansing products. Schulze’s products include high-quality ingredients and are very effective, but can be a bit too intense for some people.
Dr. Ben Kim's Full Body Cleanse. Dr. Ben Kim is one of my favorite online resources now. I appreciate his wisdom and common sense, holistic approach to health. I highly recommend his programs. His article via this link explains the basics of a full body cleanse, along with information on how to cleanse the liver.
Body Cleanse Services at Total Wellness. The body cleanse services offered at Total Wellness Health and Nutrition Center in Livingston, Montana, include the Far-Infrared Sauna and Aqua-Chi Footbath, as well as herbal cleansing products and nutrition consulting for body cleansing.
For a free 15-minute body-cleanse consultation, contact Nancy Hearn at nhearn@imt.net or call 406-222-7304.
