Liver cleansing

[flexagon]

Hey, health nuts and others who are into alternative medicine... ever heard of a liver flush or liver cleanse? Is this recommended procedure crazy or could it actually do something? There are some other flushing procedures here but they don't sound as easy.

Stumbled across this on an acne forum because some people are claiming it makes their skin a lot better, and now I'm curious. If I really do have lots of little stones in my liver it might be a nice idea to get them out.

Comments

*ACKS*

[webrat.livejournal.com]

*shudders at the thought of how it tastes*

I've heard of them...

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

No idea if they're crazy or not. I'd be leery of doing anything that admits it will give me diarrhea without more research and perhaps talking to a doctor. *shrug*

On the other hand, it's quite possible that it's helpful (even beyond the acne benefit) so maybe it's worth it. *shrug*

Re: I've heard of them...

[flexagon]

I wouldn't be leery for that reason, myself. I mean, if you eat nothing but salt water for 12 hrs and then have a good-sized dose of olive oil, diarrhea sounds like a reasonable reaction to me. Plus, it's all normal, common ingredients and takes less than a day, so all signs point to "not especially dangerous".

I hate alternative medicine sometimes. I think a lot of it's good, but there are never going to be studies on most of it, certainly on the stuff that replaces expensive surgeries, and because of that it tends not to be rigorously proven. Sigh.

I'm more interested in the "more efficient digesion + more energy" bit than the "clears up acne" bit. Really, the liver's involved in everything, so if there's anything I can do for it, it's probably good all around. I dunno though. Maybe savage_rose or someone knows more.

*continues to wait*

Re: I've heard of them...

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't mean I thought it was dangerous, I'd just want to be fairly sure it was going to do something noticable if I'm going to get diarrhea from it. For all I know, I'd just be so relieved the diarrhea was over that I'd end up thinking I had extra energy.

I know what you mean about the lack of scientific data on natural remedies. However, when you're talking about semi-subjective stuff like "extra energy" and such perhaps the scientific method isn't well suited anyway.

This does sound interesting...perhaps we can do it together. At my house, where there's two bathrooms. ;-)

Re: I've heard of them...

[flexagon]

For all I know, I'd just be so relieved the diarrhea was over that I'd end up thinking I had extra energy.

*LOL* I see your point.

I'd be up for doing it together (or just simultaneously). Nothin' doing until after my move though. A weekend does sound best for it, and I won't have any weekends I can afford to be weak until then. Hopefully I'll remember to think about it again, when I do.

I've done a liver cleanse before...

[webfaery.livejournal.com]

...but nothing like this. The one I did was supplement based. I found no improvement at all from it. It also didn't have any of the side-effects this one obviously has.
Epsom salts are used sometimes to cure constipation.
I think this would be a huge assault to your digestive system and I'd be surprised if you'd feel recovered by the Monday (if you did it on Saturday).
I also think it all sounds a bit suss. Go to sleep, you may fail to get stones out if you don't So, if you lay awake all night, unable to sleep, then it won't work simply because you didn't sleep?
I wholeheartedly believe in alternative medicine, but I wouldn't do something like this without talking about it with a qualified naturopath.
There's no way you'd get me counting the 'stones' either!

This is just my 2c so take it for what it's worth.

Re: I've done a liver cleanse before...

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

So, if you lay awake all night, unable to sleep, then it won't work simply because you didn't sleep?

Yeah, I had the same thoughts. And the precision of the timing seemed weird too. I mean, it seemed like it was setting you up for excuses for it not working.

Re: I've done a liver cleanse before...

[flexagon]

This is just my 2c so take it for what it's worth.

I think it'd be worth at least 3c on the open market! ;)

Seriously, I'm glad you chimed in. I figured of all my friend circle you'd be one of the most likely to actually know something about this. I wonder where I would find a naturopath to talk with...

Re: I've done a liver cleanse before...

[webfaery.livejournal.com]

I found it much more difficult finding alternative practitioners in the States than here in Oz. Tho' maybe that was just the areas in which I lived. Here, as long as they are certified (and therefore qualified), even health insurance covers them.
I'd suggest looking for an Integrative Medicine Practitioner. Andrew Weil's website has some info on Integrative Medicine (http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cda.html-command=Page-pt=General-pageId=87)
You may find a Practitioner here (http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/).
I did a search on Dr Weil's website (http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cda.html) for 'liver cleanse' and didn't find much except a note that the liver doesn't need cleansing.

ps

[webfaery.livejournal.com]

I just googled (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=find+a+naturopath) 'find a naturopath' and got lots of hits.

Re: I've done a liver cleanse before...

[flexagon]

Interesting. Thanks for all the info!

Good to hear that Dr. Weil really is well-known & respected, too... I got his newsletter for a year when I was in college, and I wanted the supplements he sells but couldn't afford them at the time. I should probably poke around that site; I'm sure I'd find some things of interest.