CLEANING THE LIVER

Cleansing the liver bile ducts and gallbladder is one of the most important and effective approaches to improve your health. The liver cleanse requires six days of preparation, followed by 16-20 hours of actual cleansing. To remove the stones trapped in these two organs you will need the following items:

Apple juice

Six 1-liter (32oz) containers

Epsom salts*

4 tablespoons dissolved in three 8-oz glasses of water**

Virgin olive oil, cold-pressed

One-half glass (4oz)

Either fresh grapefruit (pink is best),

Enough to squeeze 2/3 glass of juice

or fresh lemon and orange combined***

2 pint jars, one with a lid

Note:

* Look for Epsom salts that can be used internally.’ In German- speaking countries it is known as Bittersalz. In the U.S. you may find it at most major drug stores, Super Target, Walgreeens or any natural food store. Some packaging labels describe it as a natural laxative. In countries where it is unavailable, use Magnesium Citrate instead.

** I have chosen ‘glass’ (8oz) instead of ‘cup’ as a measuring unit to avoid confusion about what ‘cup’ means on different continents.

*** If you cannot tolerate grapefruit juice or if it tends to make you nauseous you may use equal amounts of freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice instead. The effect is the same with either choice.

Preparation

• Drink 1 liter (32oz) of packaged apple juice per day for a period of six days. (You may drink more than that if it feels comfortable). The malic acid in the apple juice softens the gallstones and makes their passage through the bile ducts easy. The apple juice has a strong cleansing effect. Some sensitive people may experience bloating and, occasionally, diarrhea during the first few days. Much of the diarrhea is actually stagnant bile, released by the liver and gallbladder (indicated by a brownish, yellow colour). The fermenting effect of the juice helps widen the bile ducts. If this becomes somewhat uncomfortable, you can mix the apple juice with water. Drink the apple juice slowly throughout the day, between meals (avoid drinking the juice during, just before and two hours after meals, and in the evening). This is in addition to your normal water intake. Note: Preferably use organic apple juice, although for the purpose of this cleanse, any good brand of commercial apple juice, apple concentrate or cider works just as well. It may be useful to rinse your mouth with baking soda and/or brush your teeth several times per day to prevent the acid from damaging your teeth. (If you are intolerant or allergic to apple juice, see the other options explained in Having Difficulties with the Cleans, at the end of this section.)

• Dietary recommendations: During the entire week of preparation and cleansing, avoid taking foods or beverages that are cold or chilled; they chill the liver and, thereby, reduce the effectiveness of the cleanse. All foods or beverages should be warm or at least room temperature. To help the liver prepare for the main flush, try to avoid foods from animal source, dairy products and fried food items. Otherwise, eat normal meals, but avoid overeating.

• The best time for cleansing: The main and final part of the liver cleanse is best done over a weekend, when you are not under any pressure and have enough time to rest. Although the cleanse is effective at any time of the month, it should preferably coincide with any day between full moon and new moon. The 6-day preparatory period can start 4-5 days before the full moon. You should avoid doing the actual flush on full moon day which is the day when the body holds on to bodily fluids. New moon is most ideal time for liver flushing since this is the time when the body is more engaged in self-cleansing and self-repair than during other times of the month.

• If you take any medication: During the entire week of preparation and cleansing, avoid taking any medication, vitamins or supplements that are not absolutely necessary. It is important not to give the liver any extra work that could interfere with its cleansing efforts.

• Make sure that you cleanse your colon before and after you do a liver cleanse. Having regular bowel movements is not necessarily an indication that your bowel is unobstructed. Colon cleansing, either done a few days before or, ideally, on the sixth day of preparation, helps to avoid or minimize any discomfort or nausea that may arise during the actual liver flush. It prevents back flushing of the oil mixture or waste products from the intestinal tract. It also assists the body in swiftly eliminating the gallstones. Colonic irrigation (colon hydrotherapy) is the fastest and easiest method to prepare the colon for the liver cleanse. Colema-board irrigation is the second most preferable method.

• What you need to do on the sixth day of drinking apple juice: If you feel hungry in the morning, eat a light breakfast, such as a hot cereal; oatmeal is the most ideal choice. Avoid sugar or other sweeteners, spices, milk, butter, oils, yogurt, cheese, ham, eggs, nuts, pastries, cold cereals, etc. Fruits or fruit juices are fine. For lunch eat plain cooked or steamed vegetables with white rice (preferably Basmati rice) and flavor it with a little unrefined sea or rock salt. To repeat, do not eat any protein foods or fats in any form. Otherwise, you might either feel ill during the actual cleanse or have no results at all. Do not eat or drink anything (except water) after 1:30 p.m., otherwise you may not be able to flush out any stones! Follow the exact timing given below to receive the maximum benefit from the liver flush and to suffer the least amount of discomfort during this process.

The Actual Cleanse

Evening

6:00 p.m.: Add four (4) tablespoons of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to three 8 oz. glasses of filtered water in a jar. This makes four servings, ¾ glass each. Drink your first serving now. You may take a few sips of water afterwards to get rid of the bitter taste in the mouth or add a little lemon juice to improve the taste. Some people drink it with a large plastic straw to bypass the taste buds on the tongue. It is also helpful to brush your teeth afterwards or rinse out the mouth with baking soda. One of the main actions of Epsom salt is to dilate (widen) the bile ducts, making it easy for the stones to pass. Moreover, it clears out waste that may obstruct the release of the stones. If thirsty, you may drink some water before the second serving of Epsom salts. (If you are allergic to Epsom salts or are just not able to get it down, you may instead use the second best choice – magnesium citrate – at the same dosage.)

8:00 p.m.: Drink your second serving (¾ glass) of Epsom salts.

9:30 p.m.: If you have not had a bowel movement until now and not done a colon cleanse within 24 hours, take a water enema; this will trigger a series of bowel movements.

9:45 p.m.: Thoroughly wash the grapefruits (or lemons and oranges). Squeeze them by hand and remove pulp. You will need ¾ glass of juice. Pour the juice and ½ glass of olive oil into the pint jar. Close the jar tightly and shake hard, about 20 times or until the solution is watery. Ideally, you should drink this mixture at 10:00 p.m., but if you feel you still need to visit the bathroom a few more times, you may delay this step for up to 10 minutes. Note: Petit Vata types and children may only need two-third to half amount of the oil mixture.

10:00 p.m.: Stand next to your bed (do not sit down) and drink the mixture of juice and olive oil, if possible, straight. Some people prefer to drink it through a large plastic straw. If necessary, take a little honey between sips, which helps chase down the mixture. Most people, though, have no problem drinking it straight. Do not take more than five minutes to complete drinking the mixture (only elderly or weak people may take longer).

LIE DOWN IMMEDIATELY! This is essential for helping to release the gallstones! Turn off the lights and lie flat on your back with 1-2 pillows propping you up. Your head should be higher than your abdomen. If this is uncomfortable, lie on your right side with your knees pulled towards your head. Lie perfectly still for at least 20 minutes and do not speak! Put your attention on your liver. You may even feel the stones traveling along the bile ducts like marbles. There won’t be any pain because the magnesium in the Epsom salts keeps the bile duct valves wide open and relaxed, and the bile that is excreted along with the stones keeps the bile ducts well lubricated (unlike during a gallstone attack). Go to sleep if you can. If you cannot fall asleep, remain in bed nevertheless. Otherwise, the cleanse may be less effective.

Only get up if you feel the urge to have a bowel movement. Check if there are already small gallstones (pea green or tan coloured ones) floating in the toilet. You may feel nauseous during the night and/or in the early morning hours. This is mostly due to a strong, sudden outpouring of bile, gallstones and toxins from the liver and gallbladder. In some cases, some of the oil is forced back into the stomach or it takes longer than usual for the oil to leave the stomach. The nausea will pass as the morning progresses.

The Following Morning

6:00- 6:30 a.m.: Upon awakening, but not before 6 a.m., drink your third ¾ glass of Epsom salts (if you feel very thirsty drink a glass of warm water before taking the salts). Rest, read or meditate. If you are very sleepy, you may go back to bed, although it is best if the body stays in the upright position. Most people feel absolutely fine and prefer to do some light stretching exercises, such as Yoga.

8:00-8:30 a.m.: Drink your fourth and last ¾ glass of Epsom salts.

10:00-10:30 a.m.: You may drink freshly pressed fruit juice at this time. One half-hour later you may eat one or two pieces of fresh fruit. One hour later, you may eat regular (but light) food. By the evening or the next morning, you should be back to normal, and feel the first signs of improvement. Continue to eat light meals during the following days. Remember, your liver and gallbladder underwent major “surgery,” albeit without medical intervention and harmful side effects.

The Results You Can Expect

During the morning and, perhaps to some degree also during the afternoon and evening, you will have a number of watery bowel movements. These initially consist of stones mixed with food residue, and then just stones mixed with water. Most of the released stones are pea- green and float in the toilet because they contain bile compounds (see Illustration 12a). The stones come in different shades of green and may be bright-coloured and shiny like gemstones. Only bile from the liver can cause the green colour. Gallstones may come in all sizes, colours and shapes. The light-coloured stones are the most recent. Blackish stones are the oldest. Some are pea-sized or smaller, and others are as big as two or three centimeters in diameter (about 1 inch). There may be dozens and, sometimes, even hundreds of stones (of different sizes and colours) coming out at once (see Illustration 12b).

Also watch for stones that are tan or white in colour that may sink to the bottom with the stool. These are calcified and semi-calcified gallstones that are released from the gallbladder and contain heavier substances with lesser amounts of cholesterol (see Illustrations 12 c & d). Fully calcified stones don’t float in the water. All the green and yellowish stones are as soft as putty, thanks to the action of the apple juice.

You may also find a layer of white or tan-coloured chaff or foam floating in the toilet. The foam consists of millions of tiny white, sharp-edged cholesterol crystals that can easily rupture small bile ducts. They are equally important to release.

Try to make a rough estimate of how many stones you have eliminated. To permanently cure bursitis, back pain, allergies or other health problems, and to prevent diseases from arising, you need to remove all the stones. This may require at least eight or ten cleanses which can be performed at 3-4 week intervals (try not to cleanse more frequently than that). If you cannot cleanse this often, you may take more time between cleanses. The important thing to remember is that once you have started cleansing the liver, keep cleansing it until no more stones come out. In some people, leaving the liver half clean for a long period of time (three or more months) can cause greater discomfort than not cleansing it at all.

The liver, as a whole, will begin to function more efficiently soon after the first cleanse and you may notice sudden improvements, sometimes within a few hours. Pains will lessen, energy will increase and clarity of mind will improve considerably.

However, within a few days, stones from the rear of the liver will have traveled forward towards the two main bile ducts exiting the liver, which may cause some of the previous symptoms, or even all of them, to return. In fact, you might feel disappointed because the recovery seems so short-lived. But all of this shows that there are still stones left behind, ready to be removed during the next round of cleansing. Nevertheless, the liver’s self-repair and cleansing responses will have increased significantly, adding a great amount of vitality to this very important organ of the body.

As long as there are still a few small stones moving from some of the thousands of small bile ducts towards the hundreds of larger and two main bile ducts, they may combine to form larger stones and reproduce previously experienced symptoms, such as backache, headache, earache, digestive trouble, bloating, irritability, anger, etc. The recurring symptoms may, however, be less severe than before.

Illustration 12 a: Green colour gallstones

Illustration 12 b: Mixed types of gallstones

Illustrations 12 c: Calcified and semi-calcified gallstones (cut in halves)

Illustration 12 d: More Cholesterol Stones Cut in Half

Once the old symptoms of disease or discomfort are gone and a new cleanse no longer produces any stones, which usually happens after 8-10 cleanses (in more severe cases it may take more), your liver may considered to be in excellent condition. Still, it is recommended to repeat the liver cleanse every 6-8 months. Each cleanse will give a further boost to the liver and take care of any toxins that may have accumulated in the meanwhile. Note: Never cleanse when you are suffering an acute illness, such as an upper respiratory infection, the flu or even a simple head cold! If you suffer from a chronic illness, however, cleansing your liver may be the best thing you can do for yourself.

Important! Please read carefully.

The liver cleanse is one of the most invaluable and effective methods to regain one’s health. There are no risks involved if all of the directions are followed to the letter. Please take the following instruction very seriously. There are many people who followed a liver flush recipe that they received from friends or through the Internet, and suffered unnecessary complications. They did not have complete knowledge of the procedure and believed that just expelling the stones from the liver and gallbladder was sufficient to improve their health.

It is very likely that, on their way out, some of the released stones will get caught in the colon. They can quickly be removed through colonic irrigation. This should ideally be done on the 2nd or 3rd day after the liver flush. If any of the stones remain in the colon, they can cause irritation, infection, headaches and abdominal discomfort, thyroid problems, lymphatic congestion, and toxic blood. Even if some of the cholesterol-based stones begin to dissolve in the colon they can become a source of toxemia in the body.

If colonics are not available where you live, you can take 2-3 high water enemas instead. This, however, does not guarantee that all the remaining stones will be removed. There is no real substitute for colonic irrigation when it comes to liver cleanses. A colema-board enema, though, is the closest you can have to a professional colonic. If you settle for anything less than a colonic irrigation, mix one level teaspoon of Epsom salts with one glass of warm water and drink it first thing in the morning on the day of your chosen colon cleanse.

On the importance of colon and kidney cleansing: Although the liver cleanse on its own can produce truly amazing results, it should ideally be done following a colon and kidney cleanse. Cleansing the colon ensures that the expelled gallstones are more readily removed from the large intestine. And cleansing the kidneys makes certain that any toxins coming out of the liver during the liver cleanse do not put any burden on these vital organs. However, if you have never had kidney trouble, kidney stones, bladder infection, etc., you may go ahead with the colon cleanse—liver cleanse—colon cleanse sequence. But make certain that you cleanse the kidneys at a later stage. There should definitely be a kidney cleanse some time after every 3-4 liver cleanses and, again, after your liver has been completely cleaned out. Or, you may drink a cup of kidney tea for 3-4 days after each liver cleanse. Follow the same directions as given for the main kidney cleanse

People whose colon is severely congested, or who have a history of constipation, should consider doing at least 2-3 colon cleanses before their first liver cleanse. And to re-emphasize, it is very important that you cleanse your colon within three days after you have completed each liver cleanse. By removing gallstones from the liver and gallbladder it is most likely for some of the stones and other toxic residues to become trapped in the colon. It is essential for your health to flush them out! If you are unable to do so, it is better not to cleanse the liver in this way.

Having Difficulties With the Cleanse?

Intolerance to Apple Juice

If you cannot tolerate apple juice (or apples) for some reason, you may substitute the following herbs: Gold Coin Grass and Bupleurum. The herbs are made into a tincture (contains alcohol) and sold as Gold Coin Grass (GCG), 250 ml or 8.5 oz. and is available from Prime Health Products

Malic acid in apple juice does exceptionally well in dissolving some of the stagnant bile and making the stones softer (see details on malic acid below). The aforementioned herbs are also effective in softening gallstones and, therefore, can be used as a preparatory step for the liver cleanse, although it may take a little longer than if you use apple juice. The proper dosage for the tincture is 1 tablespoon (about 15 ml) daily on an empty stomach about 30 minutes before breakfast. This regimen should be followed for 8-9 days prior to the actual day of the liver flush. Gold Coin Grass is not for everyone, though. If you feel discomfort taking it, discontinue and use some of the other procedures mentioned later in this chapter’s “The Liver Flush Did Not Deliver the Expected Results.”

Intolerance to Epsom Salts

If you are allergic to Epsom salts or just cannot tolerate them, you may use Magnesium Citrate instead, although it is not quite as effective as Epsom salts. Magnesium Citrate is readily available from most drugstores.

Intolerance to Olive Oil

If you are allergic to olive oil or cannot tolerate it, you may use clear macadamia oil, cold-pressed sunflower oil or other cold pressed oils instead, except canola oil. Please note that extra virgin olive oil still appears to be the most effective oil for liver cleansing.

You Suffer from Gallbladder Disease or Don’t Have A Gallbladder

If you suffer from gallbladder disease or your gallbladder has already been removed, you may need to take Gold Coin Grass for 2-3 weeks (approximately 1 bottle supply) prior to liver cleansing.

As a general recommendation, you may also need to consider taking a bile supplement. Without a gallbladder, you may never again obtain the right amount of bile needed for the proper digestion of food. Consult with your health practitioner about which product may be the most suitable for you.

People Who Should Not Use Apple Juice

There are people who may have difficulty drinking apple juice in the large amounts required for the liver cleanse. These include sufferers of diabetes, hypoglycemia, yeast infection (Candida), cancer and stomach ulcers.

In all these cases, apple juice can be replaced with malic acid in powder form. The preparation period is the same as for taking apple juice, except that the 1 liter of apple juice per day is substituted by ½ - 1 teaspoon of malic acid, taken with 2- 4 glasses of water at room temperature. Drink this solution in small amounts throughout the day. Food grade malic acid powder (not mixed with magnesium or other ingredients) is very inexpensive and can be purchased through the Internet or from some natural health food stores. All wineries use malic acid to produce wine.

Cranberry juice also contains a lot of malic acid and can be used as well for the preparation period (1/3rd juice mixed with 2/3rd water, 3-4 times per day for six days).

Another alternative is Gold Coin Grass. Use the same directions as given for those who are intolerant to apple juice. You may try malic acid in one cleanse and Gold Coin Grass in the next one, and see which one works best for you.

A fourth alternative is apple cider vinegar: mix 1-2 tablespoons in a glass of water and drink four of these glasses per day, for six days.

The Liver Cleanse Did Not Deliver the Expected Results

In some cases, although rarely, the liver cleanse does not produce the expected results. The following are the main reasons, and their remedies, for such difficulties:

1. It is likely that a more severe congestion in your liver’s bile ducts, due to very dense structures of stones, has prevented the apple juice from softening them up during the first cleansing attempt. In some individuals, it may take as many as 2-3 liver cleanses before the stones start coming out. Those who have a history of constipation seem to be particularly affected.

Chanca Piedra, also known as “stonebreaker,” can help prepare your liver and gallbladder for a more efficient release of stones, especially if you have calcified stones in the gallbladder. Take 20 drops of Chanca Piedra extract in a glass of water, three times daily, for at least 2-3 weeks prior to your next cleanse.

The herbs, Chinese Gentian and Bupleurum, help to break up some of the congestion and will assist to prepare your liver for a more successful cleanse. These herbs are prepared as a tincture. They are more commonly known as Chinese Bitters and are made available through Prime Health Products.

The proper dosage for this tincture is 1/2 to 1 teaspoonful (about 5 ml) daily on an empty stomach, about 30 minutes before breakfast. This regimen should be followed for three weeks prior to drinking the apple juice (or using the other alternatives discussed in the previous section). Any unpleasant cleansing reactions usually disappear after 3-6 days. They can be minimized by following the tissue cleansing method of using hot, ionized water, and by keeping the colon clean.

2. You may not have followed the directions properly. Leaving out any one item from the procedure, altering the dosages, or the timing of the steps specified may prevent you from obtaining the full results. For many people, the liver flush does not work at all unless the large intestine is cleansed first. The backup of waste and gases diminishes adequate bile secretion and prevents the oil mixture from moving easily through the gastrointestinal tract. The best time for a colonic irrigation or an alternative method is the day of the actual liver cleanse (day six).

Headache or Nausea during the Days Following the Liver Cleanse

In most cases, this occurs if all of the specific directions were not followed. However, on some rare occasions, gallstones may continue to pass out of the liver after completing the liver cleanse. The toxins released by these stones can enter the circulatory system and cause discomfort. In such a case, following the liver cleanse it may be necessary to drink 4oz of apple juice for several consecutive days or for as long as the discomfort lasts. Make certain to drink the juice at least ½ hour before breakfast.

In addition, a repeat colon cleanse may be necessary to clear out any of the stones released after competing the liver cleanse. In addition, the tissue cleansing method (ionized water) detailed later in this chapter helps to remove the circulating toxins. If you place a small piece of fresh ginger into a thermos flask, the ionized water will quickly stop the nausea. If there is pain involved in the area under the right rib cage, take one tablespoon of Epsom salts in one glass of water and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.

Feeling Sick During the Cleanse

If you have properly followed all of the directions given in the outlined procedure, but feel sick sometime during the liver flush, please don’t be alarmed or feel that there is something wrong. Although rare, it sometimes happens that a person may vomit or be nauseated during the night. This is caused by the gallbladder ejecting bile and gallstones with such force that it shoots some of the oil back into the stomach. When the oil (and some bile) reenters the stomach, you may feel sick and may also be able to feel the expulsion of stones. It will not be a sharp pain, just a mild contraction.