Simple steps to cleanse the liver

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Sunday, October 21, 2001

Simple steps to cleanse the liver

By Rajen M.

 

Despite the enormous role the liver plays in keeping us alive and

well, most give scant regard to it. In fact, most people worry more

about their hair (which is actually dead!) than they do their liver.

Modern medicine has also played a big role in sustaining this

perception.

 

 

Doctors, too, seldom consider the liver in their treatment of a host

of maladies that could actually result from a compromised liver.Many

people assume that their liver is fine as long as they do not suffer

from hepatitis or are not chronic alcoholics. New research especially

in the holistic area seems to show this perception to be dangerously

flawed.

The liver is indeed the seat of metabolism. It affects the way you

feel physically. If your liver has been neglected for too long, it

may be rejuvenated through a detoxification programme.

 

 

 

How to detoxify

 

The liver is the only organ in the body that can help you detoxify.

If the liver is functioning sub-optimally, your entire body is coping

with an unnecessary toxin load. Detoxification is in three stages

– primary, secondary and final.

 

You should prepare for a detoxification programme a few days in

advance. Eat light and easy. Take simple food. Avoid meat and oily

stuff. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid coffee and go off

nicotine.

 

Do not eat while on a detoxification diet. Digestion, as we have

discussed many times before, is a very energy-consuming process.

Remember how you felt after a heavy lunch? You want to conserve this

energy and direct it towards healing and detoxification.

 

Also, you want to take it easy. You should only do light exercises

like walking. Heavy exercise will consume much energy, diverting it

away from where it should actually go.

 

Primary cleansing

 

Start your detoxification with a glass of pure, raw carrot juice.

This is extracted juice – meaning that solid matter (the pulp)

is filtered away. The juice must not even be diluted. Packed with

vitamins and minerals, carrot is one of the most cleansing juices. It

is also one of nature;s richest sources of beta-carotene – an

important liver nutrient and free radical neutralising agent.

 

As an extracted juice, it passes quickly through the system to remove

impacted toxins. As far as the liver is concerned, it seems to help

both Phase 1 and 2 detoxification.

 

Follow this through with some lime juice – one part lime to nine

parts pure water. Lime juice is also very cleansing and helps to

dissolve impacted material and stones in the gall and urinary

bladders. That is why lime is used in dishwashing solutions.

 

During the day, continue to take lots of pure water (distilled or

reverse osmosis). Another juice that complements carrot juice very

well is apple. There are 68 varieties of apples that are all both

cleansing and nutritious. Young coconut water is another nourishing

juice. You may add a dash of lime to this. It is also cleansing,

especially on the liver.

 

 

 

Blood purification

 

Herbs called “blood purifiers” can help strengthen the

liver and aid this organ in cleaning the blood by making the toxins

harmless. Generally speaking, blood purifiers are bitter tasting

herbs that contain natural soaps called saponins. In fact, blood

purifiers in tea or glycerin will actually develop suds when shaken.

 

Saponins function by breaking down damaged red blood cells so that

the iron and nutrients that they contain may be recycled and made

into fresh blood cells. They also help the liver in clearing away

impacted toxins.

 

Saponins also function by increasing the absorption of nutrients

across the intestinal lining. You might think of saponins as the

“laundry detergents” for your blood.

 

We sometimes call blood purifiers “alternatives” because

they “alter” blood chemistry. Alternatives enhance the

body’s ability to eliminate toxins via the liver by enhancing

the flow of bile. Often, they also help eliminate toxins via the

kidney and skin. They do not, however, produce a noticeable laxative

action.

 

Dr Henry Bieler in his book, Food Is Your Best Medicine, explains

that the liver is an alkaline organ. If you have tried eating liver,

you will know that it is a bitter organ. If you have vomited bile

that is produced by the liver, you will certainly remember the bitter

taste.

 

Dr Bieler suggests that the liver neutralises poisons by alkalinising

them and eliminating them through the bile. Bile is the substance

that emulsifies (makes an oily substance become water soluble) the

fats that we eat.

 

If you consume blood purifiers, you must remember that they will

cause your body to pull out toxins. You might notice stronger or

darker urine. It may also be more pungent. Your stools may also be

unusual. Paradoxically, you may notice an aggravation in the very

symptoms that you are attempting to eliminate. You should consider

this as a positive sign that the purification is already in progress.

 

As your body releases the toxins, you will be more energetic and feel

better. According to Ayurveda, the Indian system of holistic healing,

one of the best blood purifiers and liver tonics is neem. It is seen

as a perfect blood purifier.

 

The bitter taste has been a major drawback in its use. Recently,

capsule versions of neem have become available in pharmacies. For

cleansing, you should take 300mg daily for a month.

 

How long do you stay on this stage of cleansing? You should listen to

your body and be guided by it. It should generally take three to five

days. By this time you should start feeling more energetic and be

ready for the next step. Remember, this is not a weight loss

programme. You are not supposed to continue till a point where you

shed weight.

 

 

 

Secondary cleansing

 

Now you are ready for some solid food. Here are some foods that can

be very helpful at this stage: Melon, cauliflower, papaya, green

beans, yam, sweet potato, cucumber, celery, flaxseed oil (one

tablespoon) and sunflower oil (one tablespoon). All vegetables should

be lightly steamed and eaten without salt, sugar, spice or other

condiments.

 

At this stage, you should keep yourself well hydrated by drinking

lots of juices and pure water. A metabolic cleansing programme is not

a weight loss diet – you should not feel hungry. Choose at least

six servings a day from the foods suggested. A serving is one piece

or a full cup (8oz). Continue this stage of the programme for up to

seven days.

 

 

 

Final cleansing

 

If you have very mild liver imbalance, you can proceed straight to

this stage. In fact, I recommend this stage to everyone, at least

once a year. Take lots of water and fruit juice and avoid coffee.

Take neem (100mg three times daily) for a month. For the first week,

avoid all red meat.

 

 

 

What to expect

 

As the liver removes accumulated toxins over the course of the

metabolic cleansing programme, you may experience minor discomforts

like fatigue, poor stamina, light headedness, headaches, insomnia,

muscle pain, joint pain, gas and bloating, skin irritation and an

irritable mood during the first few days

 

Prepare those around you for this. Try to schedule a detoxification

programme at a time when you can be on your own and resting. An

important word of caution: if you are ill, on prescription medication

or under medical care, seek your doctor's advise and permission

before you embark on a programme like this. Extra caution is also

advised if you are diabetic or prone to yeast and fungal infections.

 

Next: Gingko and pegaga – the brain combination

 

o Rajen. M is a pharmacist with a doctorate in Holistic Medicine. He

may be reached at 03-79551717 or via e-mail at

health. For previous articles, visit www.alterni.com