The Liver Cleansing Diet

[Sanity Claws]

Has anyone tried it? I was wondering what's involved and how easy it is to follow.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I never trust anyone who writes a health book that is summed up with "buy my pills".

http://www.skeptics.com.au/articles/liver.htm

[Sanity Claws]

2. Is that what the Liver Cleansing Diet is?

I thought it was supposed to be about eating certain foods that will help detoxify the liver. If it's just about pills, I don't want to spend the money to read about it.

[TZ]

4. liver cleansing is an oxymoron

The liver's function IS to clean toxins out of your system. Eating a "diet" isn't gonna do anything. If you really want to "detoxify "your liver..here's the simple answer. Don't drink alcohol and don't eat high fat/high cholesterol foods.
Thats all that needs to be done. Anyone who tells you differently is scamming you.

[Sanity Claws]

6. I know you have a biology background but...

I'm under the care of doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and prescribed herbs for my liver and gall bladder. The herbs are supposed to balance and tonify the liver. I'm feeling better than I have in years. What I'm thinking is that perhaps the term "cleansing" is the wrong term. How would you react if the diet said it would tonify your liver or improve its function.
I was interested in the diet because I thought it might complement the TCM treatment.

[TZ]

8. Honestly, I don't think it does anything for the liver

And feeling "good" isn't necessarily a sign of liver health. Its one of those organs that can be under strain and you wouldn't know it without a blood test. Really..the only thing you need to do for your liver is avoid fatty things, alcohol and certain drugs...

[Book Lover]

11. Quick question

What does 'tonify' mean? I'm just not familiar with the term. Thanks!

[Sanity Claws]

13. It's a term used by TCM practitioners

TCM has a very different orientation than Western medicine. TCM will probably say something about building yin or yang, or helping qi move smoothly, balancing yin/yang, etc.. I just think of it as improving the function of the liver or gallbladder.

[China_cat]

3. Or anything that is written or endorsed

by Kevin Trudeau or Hulda Clark.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. That's THEM?

Aren't they the people I see on TV sometimes, hawking all sorts of colon-cleansing and stuff?

The liver will take care of itself with a proper, moderate diet. It doesn't need cleansing. It's a nice, clean organ, which only wants to do its job and be left the hell alone by moneygrubbing shysters.

[Xipe Totec]

7. Speaking of cleansing...

[faithnotgreed]

9. i am in the (slow) process of doing a liver cleanse right now

though i dont know if youre referring to a specific "diet" or a general liver cleanse

i have found it takes a good deal of preparation/research to feel like i am doing it properly - everyone is different of course and has differing goals and ability to do something like this

there are a lot of reasons why i have gotten to this point but am very grateful for it all
as you likely know alternative medical practitioners and practices are controversial enough that i happily invite you to pm me if you would like to discuss this further


best wishes in search ...

[quakerboy]

10. My liver flukes

give me hell every time I try. I suppose someday I should do something about them and the tape worms, but I just don't like to live alone...

[madrchsod]

12. have you had a blood work up of your liver ?

you need to know what condition your liver is in before you try to"clean it" my problem was solved with niacin tablets

[BuddhaGirl]

14. I have done a liver cleanse

I felt much better after - more energy, and my skin cleared up.

Good for you that you'll do it with TCM. You'll be amazed at how you feel!!

I occasionally also take a blend of milk thistle, artichoke, tumeric and n-acetyl cysteine...really is good for my liver - I think it's important to keep it in the best shape possible :-)

[Sanity Claws]

17. How do you take these items?

Do you blend them together? Is it kind of a paste?
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with "n-acetyle cysteine" at all. What is it?
I've been thinking of adding a tea, such as dandelion or milk thistle, once a day, while I continue with the Chinese herbs. I figure it's really mild and couldn't hurt. I'll ask my TCM doctor next time I see her to make sure, though.
BTW, the Chinese herbs are really mild too, mostly food stuff, like ginger, licorice, tangerine peel, etc.

[BuddhaGirl]

19. I take them in capsule form

it's a product called "Super Thisalyn" by Nature's Way.

N-acetyl cysteine is an amino acid that detoxes the liver (it is also used for acetaminophen poisoning).

http://www.naturesway.com/?pid=15405

[underpants]

15. I did the Lemonade diet last year

and it worked. At least I felt and my wife was amazed-especially since she was planning on how she would have to do double duty getting our daughter to and from daycare-she was just certain that I would be passing out at the wheel :eyes: - she said my eyes and tongue were remarably clear

Check it out . Basically you do nothing but drink homemade lemonade (lemon juice/water/parika) for 10 days and do a laxative each night

http://www.thelemonadediet.com/

[IndianaJones]

16. no hunger or bad side effects? nt.

[underpants]

18. Hunger? of course but mostly just missed the act of eating

the lemon juice remarkably does a good job of killing the hunger.

No bad side effects really. You do have a rather particular process of coming off it back to normal food (basically a vegetable stew) but that is about it.

I read the whole thing on line and was just sure there had to be more so I ordered the book and for the most part it is more of "movement" (okay bad choice of term there) literature and the recipe the laxative tea part and the coming off process. That is really it.

[IronLionZion]

20. My GF keeps wanting me to do this

she's an acupuncturist but I'm skeptical. Good luck! Please let us know how it works out for you.

She's done it before and said it's an overnight thing and little stones come out in the morning. Naturally, I'm very hesitant to do it.

[Sanity Claws]

21. That's something different

I think you are referring to a method for getting rid of gallbladder stones. It involves drinking olive oil and lying on your side, right?

[IronLionZion]

22. yeah, that's the one. What's yours?

[Sanity Claws]

23. I have stagnant Liver Qi, among other things

Gee, that helps, doesn't it?
The diagnosis under TCM is very different. I don't have gallbladder stones but apparently your gf thinks you do.
For the last four weeks or so, I've been on these herbs that help. I wish I could explain it better but I can't.