The Life Changing Practice of Liver Cleansing
It is wild that has been almost 7 years since I started experiencing gut issues. It started first with an H.pylori diagnosis, followed by a SIBO diagnosis.
I was able to get rid of the h.pylori, but let me tell you- I have tried everything for SIBO. Gerson Therapy, heavy amounts of herbal antimicrobials, biphasic diet, no plant GAPS diet, parasite cleanses, candida cleanses, a 28 day juice-only cleanse, somatic therapy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, homeopathy- the list goes on.
I have the added complications of also being diagnosed with POTS, histamine intolerance, and MCAS. Because of this, I have to be really careful about what I put in my body as most supplements and foods cause reactions such as digestive upset/painful flares, difficulty breathing, racing heart, and dizziness.
About a year and a half ago, I discovered the importance of liver cleansing, especially if you have chronic issues. In this day and age, most of us have fatty, congested livers, full of toxic material. Because of this, we have severely restricted bile flow.
Why is bile important? The bile acts as a detergent to the gut. It effectively sweeps away parasites, bacteria and fungus such as candida, helping the environment in your gut become healthy and thriving again. A congested liver is the root cause of most health issues in the body; a clogged liver means little bile flow which creates a stagnant environment for pathogens to multiply and thrive.
There are a couple different ways you can cleanse the liver.
The Andreas Mortiz flush, which utilizes epsom salts, citrus juice, olive oil and some form of malic acid, with 1 week of prep.
The down side of this cleanse is that the Epsom salts can be very depleting to the body, so you should replenish with minerals and electrolytes post-cleanse. You also have to prep with high amounts of malic acid (in apple juice, capsules or tart cherry juice) for a week prior to your flush. If you have MCAS, the epsom salts can cause inflammation in the intestines, which can make it harder for stones to release and pass through.
The benefit to this cleanse is that it is extremely affordable, only costing around $20 to complete, making it accessible for many.
You can find the book that outlines Andreas Mortiz’s cleanse (and also contains invaluable information about cleansing the liver) here.
2. Zen Cleanz’s Forgive Liver Cleanse which is created with fruit and vegetable enzymes that have been fermented for 3 years, as well an olive oil and citrus juice flush drink.
The benefits of this cleanse are that the enzymes used are restorative, nutritive and non-depleting. Also, the enzymes keep you pretty full throughout the day, keeping the typical hunger that can be felt during cleansing at bay. Also, this cleanse is ideal for sensitive people; because the enzymes are fermented for so long, they are essentially predigested, causing individuals with sensitivities to generally be able to tolerate them more. It also is just one day of prep.
The downside is that it is expensive, however, it is a very unique product which I feel cannot compare to any other cleanse on the market. If Zen Cleanz didn’t exist, I could not flush my liver at this time because the Mortiz flush is too harsh for my body.
You can find the link to purchase this cleanse, along with many other life-changing products, here. Please use code BRIELLEMARTELL for 5% off.
What are the benefits I’ve experienced from doing liver cleanses?
After trying seemingly everything and not experiencing any lasting results, I can say with certainty that liver cleanses have done more for my health than anything else. I went from being able to just eat meat and zucchini to enjoying most foods (that are dairy and gluten free). I am also able to tolerate more supplements than I was able to previously. This has been extremely life-changing for me! I have also experienced positive changes in my skin, my energy levels, and the motility of my digestion. Random aches and pains have also disappeared. (At the time of writing this I have completed 8 flushes).
There have also been emotional benefits. The liver is where we store anger and resentment, and when we have congested livers, these emotions also fester and stagnate. I have noticed after cleansing that my heart feels more open, and that resentments I used to hold on to have simply melted away. It is phenomenal.
Tips:
Beginning on the day after cleansing and continuing for a week, I highly recommend taking a binder, like activated charcoal or zeolites, to absorb the bacterial, fungal and parasitic die off that has been released by the liver and the intestines. This will help with herx reactions greatly.
Also, be gentle with yourself! The body just went through a type of surgery without a scalpel. Hundreds, if not thousands, of stones have been released, and it will take a bit of time for your body and liver to adjust to this big change, after a lifetime of congestion.
Important note:
Liver cleansing is not a one time act. This is something that needs to be done repeatedly (ie once a month for 6-12 months) to feel lasting benefits. During each cleanse you release the stones that are closest to the gallbladder opening, and after cleansing the stones that have formed higher up in the liver come down and need to be flushed as well. Each cleanse restores bile flow more and more.
Please reach out if you have any questions! I am happy to chat :)