Do I need a liver cleanse?

[Liserpiece]

For those of you in the know with the liver cleanse...

Do you show symptoms of needing to cleanse? Or do you assume that you, after eating a SAD diet, would need one?

What are some of the symptoms of a liver that needs cleansing?

How difficult is the cleansing process? For example, could I manage with 3 kids (needing to get up during the night a few times...:) and feel good enough to keep up with them throughout the day) and DH away?

Thanks!

[rawstrength]

I think a liver cleanse would be beneficial for anyone coming from a SAD diet.

That said, the liver cleanse was really intense for me. The day of the cleanse and the two days after were really tiring. I would do a liver cleanse when your DH can help you look after the kids. The most crucial time during which you will need to rest is the night of the cleanse (no gettting up to take care of kids) and the morning after.

[Liserpiece]

Thanks, Rawstrength!! What symptoms did you have that the liver cleanse helped?

[Eva]

I ordered a full-body cleanse including the liver and colon and stopped it when I found out fake sugars were added to it. I no longer could trust the product being better for me than, say, juice and green smoothies.

Since I did part of the cleanse (which I eased myself of of halfway through), I have had about three weeks of not-quite-as-good-as-before bowel movements. Not cool that my body is now working less efficiently!

Where would you be getting the liver cleanse? And what does it entail? That would be helpful to know. :)

[Liserpiece]

I was thinking of doing the one posted here by Alissa... the Epsom salt/olive oil one.

I have looked into the Blessed Herb one too, but it's kind of pricey! The pictures sure are convincing though!

Fake sugars in a liver cleanse??? Seems counter productive!! :)

[Eva]

Well-- Blessed Herbs was the company! I was very surprised as that was not advertised on the site. They were very accommodating about allowing me to send it back and refunding my money, so I do still have some respect for the company. I felt like it would have been more honest had they included that SOMEwhere on their site rather than just calling it herbal.

I JUST read in a review about the book "Healing with Whole Foods" about a mix of lemon juice and olive oil for a cleanse and how it REALLY worked.

Just my two cents -- I think it's a good idea to do a cleanse when it seems like it's necessary IF it's with natural products and if it's one that's extreme that a person eases in and out of it.

:)

[Theogirl]

I finally found the original thread for Alissa's liver cleanse. I want to try it. I've been searching the site for more info and one person recommended that you make sure your colon is absolutely clear first. Since going raw 3-4 weeks ago, I have LOTS of eliminations, very regular and easy. I've cleaned out so much.

So how do I know if there's lots more in there that would make the liver cleanse ineffective or even reverse progress??

I have two preschoolers as well, and I need to be somewhat available so I can't do anything too drastic! Any feedback appreciated!

[Liserpiece]

Eva- Blessed Herbs was the company, eh?? WOW, from the advertising you'd never know! Thanks for letting me know!

Yes, I'm still trying to figure out if a liver cleanse is necessary. :) I've been raw for almost a year and still have some lingering issues. I've avoided most of the... cures, hoping that simply being raw would clear me up. So far, with just the diet alone, it's been amazing, but there are some things that still affect me.

Theogirl- The cleanse that Alissa posted seems most reasonable :) Seems like the effects during and after are pretty unique to each person. In the reading I've done, some say it's easy and a "minor" inconvenience, others say it's seriously taxing. Preschoolers don't really allow for a sluggish Mommy. :)

Thanks everyone, and I still love to hear about the reasons/ailments, methods and results. :)

[lizzyrose]

Well, I was about to order blessedherbs til I read about the fake sugar. Bummer!! Any other suggestions for a "kit" that does colon and liver? I'll admit Alissa's recipe sounds a little scary to me. I can barely use olive oil on my skin because of the smell (had to switch to coconut for my oil cleansing method). I can't imagine drinking it! yuck!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

drink watermelon juice... it cleanses the liver! much more gentle than alissa's liver cleanse!

be sure to juice the rind as well... and if you want to get more iron out it, add a little citrus to your juice.

the liver is also cleansed by removing all high-glycemic index foods and heavy toxins like alcohol, smoking, chemical and oils. dandelion greens and parsley are beneficial to your liver.

*Taken from Jeremy Safron's book "Dining from an empty bowl"

---My liver was in severely bad shape a year ago... simply eating raw brought it to beyond what the doctor was hoping for! So... in my experience, simply eating raw will take care of your liver for ya!

[queenfluff]

I was just thinking about doing the liver/gallbladder cleanse too. I read somewhere that person who had problems with hair loss solved their hair problems by doing a liver/gallbladder cleanse. The reason they were losing their hair was that their livers were not clean and their gallbladders had stones so they weren't absorbing nutrients properly. Once they cleansed, their hair stopped falling.

I don't have hair loss but it was interesting to learn that the liver/gallbladder can effect absorption if not in proper working order.

I have never done one so I would be interesting in trying one.

I heard about a book called the Amazing Liver and Gallblader Flush. I think it involves a drink of somethings like epsom salt, orange juice and some other stuff.

Here is the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Liver-Gallbladder-Flush/dp/0976571501

I am thinking of getting a cheap used copy and see if I agree with the book and than I might try the cleanse!

Is Alissa's cleanse in her book?

[Jenifae]

drink watermelon juice... it cleanses the liver! much more gentle than alissa's liver cleanse!

be sure to juice the rind as well... and if you want to get more iron out it, add a little citrus to your juice.

the liver is also cleansed by removing all high-glycemic index foods and heavy toxins like alcohol, smoking, chemical and oils. dandelion greens and parsley are beneficial to your liver.

*Taken from Jeremy Safron's book "Dining from an empty bowl"

---My liver was in severely bad shape a year ago... simply eating raw brought it to beyond what the doctor was hoping for! So... in my experience, simply eating raw will take care of your liver for ya!


I'm curious about the recommendations on drinking the watermelon juice. Like first thing in the morning, or throughout the day, with or without food, etc.

thanks :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

he suggests you fast on it! :) but i would think, if you don't want to do a fast... that adding 4+ glasses a day would assist you as well.

[Jenifae]

How long of a fast? Days?

[Coconutcutie]

I did a liver flush two weeks ago, and am doing another one tonight. My primary reasons were acne and food not digesting properly even with the use of enzymes....In between I have been doing a few days here and there of fruit fasting as well as juice fasting....mostly because solid "heavy" foods were just sitting in my stomach for up to 8 hours. I am hoping that the liver flushes will improve my digestion so that I can go back to eating food and possibly be able to gain some weight

[queenfluff]

I got a copy of the book - the newer version called The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse. :) They actually had it at the Elephant Pharm near me - cheaper than buying it online.

So, hopefully I will do my cleanse soon.

Coconutcutie, what did your cleanse consist of? Any weird things come out? :)

[lizzyrose]

Wondering if any of you who are doing liver cleanses did a parasite and/or colon cleanse first? I read they were supposed to be done in that order and right now I"m waiting on my Humaworm then planning to do a colon cleanse... then finally the liver.
Do I have to do that order? Curz I really, really want to do the colon one asap!

[Aleesha Sattva]

How long of a fast? Days?

he didn't say... but ya i would think days ;) the idea is to starve them outta your body!

[queenfluff]

Wondering if any of you who are doing liver cleanses did a parasite and/or colon cleanse first? I read they were supposed to be done in that order and right now I"m waiting on my Humaworm then planning to do a colon cleanse... then finally the liver.
Do I have to do that order? Curz I really, really want to do the colon one asap!

I read through my book last night (I sort of skipped around because I really wanted to get to the cleanse part) and it does say your colon should be clean to do the liver cleanse. It says that if your colon is backed up the liver cleanse might not work. So, you are doing it right.

It also mentioned about doing a kidney cleanse too if you have had any problems with your kidney before but I can't remember if it said to do it before or after the liver cleanse.

[Sunboy]

I've been doing a liver cleanse once a year for several years now. The first two years, a ton of tiny little stones came out. The last time I did it, there was only three or so...

I use the Hulda Clarke protocol, which she has on her website for free. It's olive oil and grapefruit, and it worked great for me. Still does...

Come to think of it, it's about that time again.