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" Say
Goodbye To Gall Stones"
(In Two Days)
I have revised how I am doing the
liver/ gallbladder flush a little bit.
By doing the 2 days of the apple cider; I recently expelled 40 small gall
stones. {The last time that I had done the cleanse was 12 years ago.} My wife
had never done the cleanse and when she did the cleanse recently, she
expelled 3 large stones and 160 small stones. She wants to re-do the cleanse
within the next week to see if any more stones come out. We have begun taking
some of the Chinese herbs to help with the process of cleansing the liver.
DO NOT EAT ANY SOLID FOOD FOR TWO DAYS.
Drink one glass (8 ounces) of apple cider per hour from 8 am to 8 pm for two
days.
Then at 9:00 pm on the 2nd day drink 4 ounces of Extra Virgin
Cold Pressed Olive Oil mixed with the juice of 3 lemons (about 2-3 ounces). Stir
it well and it actually tastes pretty good.
Repeat this at 9:30 pm and repeat again at 10:00 pm.
Total of 3 doses of olive oil and lemon juice. 12 ounces of olive oil.
Then go to bed and lay on your right side.
The next morning drink 8 ounces of warm water with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.
The gall stones will come out that morning. They will tend to float and will
be green and black.
Purchase 16 ounces of Pure Olive Oil.
Bertolli's is a good brand.
6-9 lemons--
If you feel totally full as if you cannot take any more oil then stop.
If you feel like throwing up then stop.
Go to bed and lay on your right side.
Do not eat anything.
Gallstones will come out of the gall bladder about 2 am.
Gallstones will exit the body in the bowel movement the next morning.
Most people have no pain at all.
If you
have any pain then it would be about 2 am when the gall bladder is emptying
and you should drink a little pineapple juice and massage the abdomen gently
in a clockwise direction. Pain feels like labor pains and lasts about ten
minutes then relaxes and may occur once more.
You may feel sluggish for one day and then your energy level will
increase usually by 25% or more.
Dr.
McCarty,720-200-9317
I personally have
done this gall bladder cleanse several times. The first time was while I was
in Chiropractic College. I was only able to drink down 8 ounces of the olive
oil before I felt so full as if I had eaten 2 plates of spaghetti. Therefore
I stopped. The stones still came out the next morning.
I was not married at the time so I called my girlfriend and told her that the
cleanse had worked. She decided to do the cleanse. So therefore I did it a
second day in a row to encourage her. This time I got about 12 ounces of oil
down before feeling completely full.
About four years later, my uncle needed to do the gall bladder cleanse so I
did it again to encourage him plus I was curious if any stones had formed in
the meantime. A couple of very small stones came out this time also.
I am including some other e-mails from patients with similar questions that
have information of interest to you as well as a web link for even more
information about this subject.
At 02:06 PM 10/21/2005 +1000, you wrote:
Hi, I am a 34 year old mother of 5 and when I found your website and the
option to email you to ask questions I began to cry. I am worried as I
have 5 small gallstones they say, and I want to do the liver flush to rid
them. My doc says straight out "can't happen, waist of time"
but I have a fear of general anaestethic and I really don't want the
surgery. Are you sure it will be gallstones that come out and not some
concoction that the oil has made inside my stomach? I so want this to
work and I am willing to change my eating habits from now on to avoid
surgery. I am not overweight though.... I guess I just need a positive,
that I am on the right track here with this flush. Look forward to
hearing from you. kathy Jones
Dear Kathy,
Your medical doctor is wrong. He has NOT been trained in natural methods. He
has been trained in pharmaceutical prescriptions and surgery.
Please let me know what you decide to do and the outcome.
[May God Bless You with lots of Health and Happiness and Energy to take care
of your 5 children as well as bless them with Natural Health. Dr.McCarty
The oil will lubricate the intestines and the citric acid in the lemons will
soften up the calcium in the gall stones. When you continue with the lemons
and the olive oil the muscles around the gall bladder will contract and
squeeze it causing the stone to exit the gall bladder and enter the
small intestines. The stones will come out with your bowel movements the next
morning.
Dr. McCarty,
I have had gall stones for about a week and a half and have had constant
pain, nausea and/or fatigue the entire time. My doctor recommends surgery,
but I'd like to avoid this. I spoke with her about a gall bladder cleanse,
but she says my body will only make more gall stones.
Is there any advice you can give me to help me make the best decision for me?
The gall stones range in size from 5mm to 1.9cm. Also, can you give me some
idea of your credentials, i.e. why should I trust you over anyone else I
found on the internet? Thank you for your time and help.
Kris
I am a Chiropractor. I graduated in 1984 from Texas Chiropractic College. I
have had my own clinic for 20 years.
Almost everyone has some gallstones. My experience has been that after about
four to ten years that very small stones will begin to form again and will
come out again with another gall bladder cleanse. Or you can alter and
improve your diet to eat less fried food and less greasy food.
If you follow the instructions on this page you should be fine. Especially if
you will take one extra day and drink apple juice the day before. The apple
juice contains "malic acid" which will begin to soften the calcium
in the stone. The lemons contain "citric acid" which will also
soften the calcium and cause any big stones to break into smaller stones.
There have only been three times in 20 years that anyone has ever had any
problems with this and it was because they did not follow instructions. One
man did everything right except that after he went to bed he got hungry and
went to the kitchen and made himself a big big big sandwich and it gave him a
large stomach ache.
His stones still came out the next morning.
Another lady wanted to do the treatment and then go to a party and drink
alcohol so she did the treatment twice as fast. This did not give the citric
acid in the lemon juice time to completely soften the calcium in the stones
and so she had pain when the stones came out.
A third lady passed the gallstones but was a very medically minded person and
not used to natural methods. So in the middle of the night when she began
passing the stones, she went to the hospital thinking that something was
going wrong. The next day she told me that she had passed several little
green rocks and that her pain was gone.
I hope that this helps a little to resolve your concerns, Kris. Once they
remove your gall bladder, then you will not be able to digest vitamins A, D,
E, K. These all have to do with skin, immune system, circulation, and blood
clotting, and sexual performance.
You need to weigh it out and realize that you do need a gall bladder no
matter what the MD says.
Please let me know your response to the treatment.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim McCarty
At 0415 AM 9/25/2003 -0400,
>Dear Dr. McCarty
>After reading your prescription for removal of gall stones with the use
of
>ollive oil, I began wondering if the size of the gall stones was
>potentially problematic. I have multiple stones, they "appear"
to be the
>same sizes, but I am uncertain of their dimensions. I briefly saw my
>ultra sound during a physical for health insurance. I was turned down
>because of the stones. I am not particularly concerned about that as I am
>pretty accustomed to the medical professions "cut and paste"
methods of
>treatment. I was told I needed surgery even though I have no symptoms
>besides moderate obesity (is there such a thing?). In any case, I am
>inclined to try your method. In the ultra sound, there appeared to be
>approximately 10-12 stones, each about the size of a nickel. I would
>appreciate any advice. I would come in to see you but unfortunately I
>recently moved from Littleton, Co., to Boca Raton, Fl.
>Gratefully, Eileen
-
Dear Eileen,
It is NOT necessary for you to come into our office in order to do the gall
bladder flush. Boca Raton sure is a nice part of Florida. The nickel size
stones are no problem as many people have had stones come out that were the
size of quarters or larger. The lemon juice will soften the stones and many
times they break up into smaller stones before they even get out.
What will come out of you will be like small green rocks (soft) and dirty
oil.
You should have no problem at all with the flush. Please send me another
e-mail after you do the flush to let me know how you did.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim McCarty 720-200-9317
Subject Re gall stone removal in one day
Date Tue, 11 Nov 2003 121322 -0500
X-Mailer MSN 8.5
Dear Dr. McCarty;
Sorry to be so long responding to your kind reply to my inquiry. I am very
pleased to report that I did the flush the last days of September and was
very successful. I had no problem passing multiple stones , had virtually no
discomfort of difficulty ingesting the olive oil...New query...How do I know
if I need to do yet another flush to be certain my gall bladder is clear???
I have been taking a product called 'Stone Free' put out by planetary
formulas. I am still passing small stones I do believe. it appears that way.
Thanks again for your support and encouragement.
Eileen
At 0644 PM 1/1/2004 +0000, you wrote
A happy new year to you. I have just discovered your page describing the
treatment for gallstones. I have been suffering acute abdominal pain since
27th and am currently taking antibiotics for a query gall-bladder
infection/gallstones. There has been no confirmation of stones present, but
the development of 'slow' digestion and bloatedness-despite a balanced
diet-suggest they are the culprit.
I have had similar pain on 2 previous occasions over last 3 years although
not as severe or of such duration.
My question is What percentage of your gallstone treatment results in the
stones getting stuck - requiring emergency room treatment for excruciating
pain, jaundice, etc., thus surgery for gallbladder removal ?
Do you think the Olive oil/lemon cure is a consideration?
love and happiness
Andy Parker
Zero. I have NEVER in 20 years had anyone have a stone stuck. Also in 20
years we have NEVER found a patient that ended up needing surgery. We have
even had American citizens who worked in Saudi Arabia for oil companies come
back to the States specifically for the Gall Bladder Surgery only to try the
treatment, have the stones come out, have all of their pain disappear, and
CANCEL SURGERY.
Every one with slow digestion would benefit from the "gall bladder
cleanse."
You would also help yourself if you go to the health food store and purchase
"apple pectin". It is for adding fiber to your diet. Start with one
tablespoon in a glass of water. Stir well. It will start to look like
gelatin. Then drink a second glass of water. Take this once per day.
Drink plenty of water.
Another product that will help your digestion is called
"Iberogast". It is a German product made by "Enzymatic
Therapy". Comes from the mustard plant. Follow directions and Add to
water before eating.
At 05:16 PM 10/23/2005 -0400, you wrote:
Below is information from 2 different web sites.
Issue 170:
Liver Flush, Gallstones, Mirena UID, Kevin Trudeau, Flu, Polio...
Free
CureZone Newsletter is sponsored by netatlantic.com
27,354 subscribers ... Subscribe
here
Cut, copy, reproduce and forward freely.
Read newsletter online at http://curezone.com/forums/fd50.asp?f=83
Previous newsletter published my attempt to find out what those
"stones" are. In this newsletter, we can continue digging for
the liver flush facts:
Dropping stones before I took olive oil
After the 2nd dose of ES, 30 marble size balls came out. After running to
the bathroom a few more times before 10. At 10:15 pm I took the olive oil and
went to bed.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=447&i=23345
Avoided Gallbladder Surgery by Flushing by Charly
A MRI showed that she had gallstones after she had a couple of
gallbladder attacks. Her doctor wanted to schedule surgery - but she said she
wanted to do a couple of liver flushes first. She passed a few pretty good
sized ones (one was about an inch). She showed the stones to her doctor. The
doc said that were large enough to have caused the problem and ordered
another MRI ...
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=476&i=1361
Of Course Liver Flushes Work to Restore Health
For someone like myself that has been ill for over 20 years, after being
poisoned with orgarnophosphate pesticide, had tried every type of therapy
that you can think of, and a few you probably have never heard of, and spent
thousands of pounds on trying to get well, to be restored to health by 13
[simple, cheap] liver flushes has proved Dr Clark's point beyond doubt as far
as I'm concerned.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=476&i=1355
Active Debates:
Kevin Trudeau Discussion: Natural Cures
Liver Flush Debate Forum
Quackery or Cure Debate Forum
I don't use oo and lemon juice by Lessa
I have used a coffee enema and gotten out stones. I have used
bacon, yes real pork bacon, and gotten out stones. I have used eggnog
and gotten out stones.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=447&i=23308
Unsettling News by Nolongerhurting
I had done 5 flushes, and each time I released many stones. I decided
after the last two flushes to save them and take them into the doctor to be
analyzed since he never believed in flushes. He said he had them sent off to
a lab.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=447&i=23298
Liver Cleanse by gpascucci
The sixth cleanse there were hardly any stones and the seventh and eighth
almost nothing. It was here that I began to see the medical changes in my
blood pressure 135/88 to 112/70, cholesterol 230 to 190, and weight 218 to
205 and the increase in energy.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=476&i=1351
My Flu/AMA column by _BOB
It is quite apparent that America has an addiction problem. Its not
addiction to nicotine, alcohol, heroin or crack, though. Americans are addicted
to the medical community.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=237&i=3102
Laughing
Cure: Fun Pictures
Amazing
Photos
Re: Mirena IUD Side Effects
My partner has had the IUD for just on 10 weeks and while I wont try to tell
you I know what's going on insider head (right now she wont even discuss the
weather with me), I can clearly speak of how she has turned from a sweet
independent career woman/mother/partner to someone I was vaguely considering
calling it quits with (until I found this site!!!!).
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=86&i=2468
My 12 year old has had Crohn's for several years
Try the Strict Carbohydrate Diet. The results were almost immediate
(within a week) for our son. There is some woman who wrote the book some
20-30 years ago because her daughter had Chrons. We are convinced the diet
works.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=73&i=1115
Four Amish contract polio, no signs of paralysis
Four children in two Amish families in Minnesota have been infected with
polio after not being vaccinated against the disease, probably for religious
reasons, state health officials said on Thursday.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=237&i=3110
Kevin Trudeau: Natural Cures: just sharing own experiences... by puppies4
I bought the natural cures book a number of months ago after my husband
saw one of KT's infomercials on TV.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=659&i=164
CDC Lies About Flu Statistics -- Proof by John Cullison
We keep hearing how the flu virus kills some 36,000 people per year
in the United States. Take a look at the CDC flu web site, and you can see
for yourself that the CDC makes that claim.
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=374&i=38
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If you have any pain then it would be about 2 am when the gall bladder is
emptying and you should drink a little pineapple juice and massage the
abdomen gently in a clockwise direction. Pain feels like labor pains and
lasts about ten minutes then relaxes and may occur once more.
You may feel sluggish for one day and then your energy level will increase
usually by 25% or more.
Hi Michelle,
I have revised how I am doing the liver/ gallbladder flush a little bit. We
are doing some behind the scenes changes of who is hosting my web site and
have not been able to update the individual pages of my site.
By doing the 2 days of the apple cider; I recently expelled 40 small gall
stones. {The last time that I had done the cleanse was 12 years ago.} My wife
had never done the cleanse and when she did the cleanse recently, she
expelled 3 large stones and 160 small stones. She wants to re-do the cleanse
within the next week to see if any more stones come out. We have begun taking
some of the Chinese herbs to help with the process of cleansing the liver.
Drink one glass (8 ounces) of apple cider per hour from 8 am to 8 pm for two
days.
DO NOT EAT ANY SOLID FOOD FOR TWO DAYS.
Then at 9:00 pm on the 2nd day drink 4 ounces of Extra Virgin
Cold Pressed Olive Oil mixed with the juice of 3 lemons (about 2-3 ounces). Stir
it well and it actually tastes pretty good.
Repeat this at 9:30 pm and repeat again at 10:00 pm.
Total of 3 doses of olive oil and lemon juice. 12 ounces of olive oil.
Then go to bed and lay on your right side.
The next morning drink 8 ounces of warm water with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.
The gall stones will come out that morning. They will tend to float and will
be green and black.
Dr. Jim McCarty, D.C, 720-200-9317
Below is information from 2 different web sites.
1. Liver functions, liver disease, and liver cleanse
Constant fatigue, age-related vision and memory loss
The liver is our body's most important organ after the heart, performing many
important functions including metabolism, detoxification, and formation of
important compounds including blood clotting factors. It also filters,
regulates, and stores blood. Stress, poor diet, and over-medication are
common problems in our "civilized" lifestyle. These may lead to
stress and functional damage to the liver. As a result, "sluggish"
liver has become a common ailment. It may affect memory, sleep, thyroid, body
weight, and other body functions.
Both estrogen and androgen stimulate cell division. Elevated levels of these
hormones may lead to abnormal cell growth such as womens' uterine fibroids,
ovarian cysts, endometriosis, breast cysts, and breast cancer or mens'
prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Since the liver is the principal
organ which removes these hormones, its failure to remove them efficiently
often leads to their accumulation in the body and is a major cause of the
above diseases.
It has been known for thousands of years in China that liver problems are the
source of many ailments. However, hormonal imbalances are still little
understood in Chinese medicine. As a result, most womens' problems are
treated for blood and energy stagnation. "Blood moving" herbs such
as Don Quei, licorice, and ginseng are frequently used for reducing
stagnation and stimulating circulation without realizing their effect on
estrogen levels. These herbs may initially help improve circulation, but the
elevated estrogen levels can eventually make the problem worse.
Liver functions
The liver is the most important organ after the heart. It performs
hundreds of functions including:
1. Circulation:
transfer of blood from portal to systemic circulation, activity of the
liver's reticulo-endothelial system (kupffer cells) in the immune system. The
liver stores and regulates the blood and is responsible for nourishing every
cell in our body. Every part of the body depends on blood from the liver for
nourishment and sustenance.
2. Excretion:
formation and secretion of bile for digestion and cleansing of blood; removal
of ammonia from blood; excretion of substances filtered from the blood by the
liver such as heavy metals or dyes.
3. Metabolism:
carbohydrate, protein, lipid (fat), mineral and vitamin metabolism;
manufacturing and storage of many nutrients such as glucose and vitamins;
production of heat through metabolism.
4. Protection and
detoxification: removal of foreign bodies from the blood (phagocytosis);
detoxification by conjugation, methylation, oxidation and reduction.
5. Production;
formation of urea, serum albumin, glycogen and blood coagulating proteins
such as prothrombin, fibrinogen and heparin; erythrocyte (red blood cells)
destruction.
6. Regulation of hormones:
inactivation and elimination of hormones through the bile or urine. Since
estrogen and androgen are both growth hormones which stimulate cell division,
elevation of their levels in the blood due to the liver's failure to remove
them efficiently can cause their accumulation in tissue. This in turn may
lead to abnormal growths such as uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts,
endometriosis, breast cysts and breast cancer, prostate enlargement or
prostate cancer. Excessive estrogen is also the most common cause of painful
menstruations.
The liver also regulates body functions which affect emotional and mental
activities. In a diseased condition, the liver's blood storage and regulatory
functions are affected, and bleeding or clots can result. When liver blood is
deficient, nourishment to tendons and blood vessels is curtailed, the joints
become stiff, and muscles become spasmodic and numb. Blood deficiency in the
liver may even lead to stroke, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, deafness,
fainting or convulsion. When the liver blood is so deficient that it cannot
nourish the eyes, night blindness or blurring may result. If the liver is
affected by stress or unhappy feelings, its vitality may be repressed and the
sides hurt, and hiccups or hernia may develop. The bowels may become
constipated and sleep may be disturbed causing nightmare or insomnia [2].
The liver is the most emotion sensitive organ and its weakness is often
connected to emotional sensitivity. Individuals who are emotionally sensitive
are more prone to weak liver even if they do not have a poor diet or are not
taking medication regularly.
"Liver causes heart attacks" (Reference 3)
The structural position of the liver as a bridge between the
returning blood from the digestive system and the lower part of the body to
the heart makes the liver an important organ for the health of the heart. A
weakened and swollen or congested liver can obstruct the venous blood flow to
the heart causing heart palpitations or even heart attacks (see reference 3).
In other words a healthy liver is essential for maintaining an adequate
amount of blood flow to the heart and the heart can only pump the blood it
receives.
Age-related vision and memory loss: the importance of the liver
According to the Chinese, the liver and kidneys are the organs that
"age" us. That is why almost all longevity herbs used in Chinese
medicine are liver and kidney tonics. Without a clean, efficient liver and
healthy kidneys, blood is not filtered clean. "Dirty" blood, loaded
with toxins or waste products, is heavier and more sluggish. This causes poor
circulation and reduced capacity to carry oxygen and nutrients. As a result,
tissue and organ cells are undernourished. If this condition persists the
cells will deteriorate and inevitably age. The eye and brain cells are
especially affected because the blood has to flow against gravity to reach them.
In an article on Alzheimer disease in the January 1988 issue of the Mayo
Clinic Health Letter, malfunction of the liver and kidneys was mentioned as
one of the causes leading to Alzheimer disease. Brain tumour, which
physically blocks blood flow to the brain, was also cited as one of the
causes.
The brain is only 2% of our body weight, yet it needs 20% of our oxygen
supply. If the toxin-loaded blood from a weak liver has limited capacity to
carry oxygen, the brain cells are affected most.
I was born with a photographic memory, but I lost it at the age of 17. Up to
the age of 16, I could remember every single word in textbooks that I glanced
through just once. I was surprised to learn that I could not do that any more
before I finished my high school. Looking back, my very stressful childhood
must have congested my liver and my inadequately filtered blood had
difficulty flowing up to my brain to nourish my cells. The fact that I
fainted in school at the age of 11 indicated that my blood flow to my brain
was already sluggish even at an early age. As the years went by with
stressful life, my memory kept going down hill and reached the bottom at age
47, the year that I was diagnosed with badly congested liver. When I cleansed
out my liver and gallbladder, changed my diet and started doing daily morning
exercise, my memory improved. I don't think I will get my photographic memory
back, but I did gain back some of my memory power and stopped its
deterioration.
Constant Fatigue
When blood is loaded with toxins due to a weak and inefficient liver,
there is limited capacity for the blood to carry oxygen and nutrients which
are necessary for energy production. The result is constant fatigue. A clean
and efficient liver which produces cleaner blood would help energy production
because clean blood can carry more oxygen and nutrients.
Liver problems: liver congestion and stagnation
Liver congestion and stagnation are common liver problems. Yet
conventional medicine does not understand them and has no test to detect
them. In hepatitis or liver inflammation, liver enzyme levels in the blood
are elevated because of the ruptured liver cells which contain high contents
of liver enzymes. However, in liver congestion or stagnation, liver cells are
still intact and liver enzyme levels in blood are normal. Therefore normal
clinical tests which rely on liver enzyme levels as a measure of liver
condition cannot detect liver congestion or stagnation.
I had blood tests performed a few months before I was diagnosed with badly
congested liver by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. These tests
showed no abnormal liver condition because they simply could not detect liver
congestion. I never knew I had liver problems until the Chinese doctor
correctly diagnosed my congested liver condition. This was the turning point
for my health problems. When my liver became healthy again through a lengthy
jouney of self-healing (see Liver cleansing section below), most of my
chronic health problems disappeared.
According to Chinese medicine, all internal organs work as a team in the
body; the liver is considered the "General" or "Chief of
Staff:". Unfortunately, many of our modern prescription drugs are
damaging to the liver or kidneys. Over the counter drugs such as painkillers
can also cause liver toxicity. Therefore it is not surprising that many
people over the age of 50 develop liver weakness or toxicity. Even among
healthy people who are not dependent on drugs, the liver has been filtering
blood day and night throughout life without being "cleansed". Over
the years, circulating blood has deteriorated in quality which goes
unnoticed. The end result is often a feeling of sluggishness and heaviness
due to poor circulation. Studies linking liver damage to excessive or
long-term use of painkillers have been reported.
I come from a family with weak livers. My father died of a stroke at the age
of 59. It was very likely related to liver problems as he had been diagnosed
as having a weak liver. My uncle became quite sick at the age of 67. His
extremities were dark in colour due to poor blood supply and he was very
tired and weak. He went to see a western medical doctor and was told that he
was beyond help and would not live much longer. He decided to seek a second
opinion from a traditional Chinese medical doctor who prescribed a liver
cleansing herb (Chinese Gentian) which purges the liver. He is now over 80
and is still healthy.
Weakening of the liver and eventual toxicity are usually slow processes. In
many cases the only sign of liver weakness is poor digestion and low energy
level. Most people pass this off as something that happens with age. As a
result they do little or nothing about it until it is too late. Fortunately,
nature has endowed our liver with excellent regenerative powers. If we are
able to understand the early signs of degeneration, we have an excellent
chance of restoring it to optimal functioning with proper care.
Liver cleansing
The liver is the most important organ for hormone regulation. Because
of my weak liver, I had severe hormone imbalance resulting in many
"women's problems". Although the Chinese medicine practitioner
correctly diagnosed my congested liver condition, his treatment actually made
my problems worse! He prescribed several herbs including Dong Quei, licorice
and ginseng which contain plant estrogens. Although these had beneficial
effects initially because they improved my blood circulation, the plant
estrogens eventually aggrevated my hormone imbalance problems. I realized
Chinese medicine does not understand hormones and conventional medicine also
offers no help for my chronic liver congestion problems. I therefore decided
to treat myself, using my combined knowledge of clinical chemistry and
Chinese herbs.
At first I tried several commonly used liver cleansing herbs such as
dandelion, chrysanthemum and Swedish Bitters. Dandelion and chrysanthemum
were too weak. Swedish Bitters helped for about 3 weeks but my condition
became actually worse because there are 3 herbs in it which contain plant
estrogens. I searched Chinese herbal medicine literature (including some
ancient Chinese texts) on liver remedies. Several herbs are mentioned as
beneficial to the liver including Coptis, Gentian, Self-Heal and Scutellaria.
Chinese Gentian (Lung-tan Tsao) has been known for thousands of
years to be useful in the treatment of fever, rheumatism and general
debility. It is also said to benefit the liver, aid digestion, strengthen the
memory and give lightness and elasticity to the body. It is primarily used in
the treatment of acute hepatitis, acute conjunctivitis, acute tonsillitis,
jaundice and most liver disorders (Ref. 2, 5 ). It is also helpful in
alleviating "sluggish liver" which can be caused by hormone
therapy, medications or other problems such as stress or poor diets.
I recalled my uncle's very postitive experience with the herb Chinese
Gentian and decided to try it. From my research, I knew that the Chinese
herb Bupleurum increases "energy flow" in the liver. I
decided to use a combination of Chinese Gentian and Bupleurum prepared
in an alcoholic tincture. I reasoned that alcohol is a better carrier than
water for the herbs through the liver because the liver detoxifies
water-insoluble toxins for which alcohol is a better solvent. Within a few
months of using this mixture in conjunction with daily morning exercise and
diet control, I experienced significant improvement as judged by reduction in
menstrual pain from endometriosis, arthritic pain, stiffness and
improved quality of sleep. This improvement was gradual but steady.
I then came across information on apple juice fasting and olive oil/lemon
juice liver and gallbladder cleansing. I decided to give it a try. The result
was dramatic. After just the first cleanse, my pains, alergies and arthritis
all disappeared. Apparently, malic acid in apple juice is excellent in
dissolving the stagnant bile accumulated in the liver. I was really amazed by
the amount of stagnant bile driven out by the apple juice.
Details of the apple juice fasting and olive oil/lemon juice cleansing procedures
are given in gallbladder flushing.
I, Dr. Jim McCarty,D.C, find that more olive oil is needed to get results the
first time. After two days of drinking one glass (8 ounces) of apple cider
per hour from 8 am to 8 pm; then at 9:00 pm drink 4 ounces of Extra Virgin
Cold Pressed Olive Oil mixed with the juice of 3 lemons (about 3 ounces).
Repeat this at 9:30 pm and repeat again at 10:00 pm. Then go to bed and lay
on your right side. The next morning drink 8 ounces of warm water with 1/2
teaspoon of sea salt. The gall stones will come out that morning. They will
tend to float and will be green and black.
After my experience, a friend of mine who had gallstones for years decided to
try this liver and gallbladder cleansing procedure. She did not get any
result the first time. There was one difference between her procedure and
mine. She did not use the Chinese Gentian and Bupleurum
tincture before the cleansing, like I did. I reasoned she probably had a
congested liver (many people with gallstones are likely to have congested
livers) which made it difficult for the apple juice to penetrate. She took my
advice and used the Chinese Gentian and Bupleurum tincture for
about one month before her second cleansing. This time it was successful.
I have subsequently prepared the Chinese Gentian and Bupleurum
tincture in commercial form (called "Chinese Bitters"). For
certain conditions such as gallstone problems or absence of gallbladder
(removal by surgery), it is best used in conjunction with another herbal
tincture called Coptis which stimulates bile flow.
Restoring my liver health
Nutritional deficiency is a common problem for individuals with liver
disorders. Most nutrients pass through the body without being assimilated if
the liver is weak. I was taking many vitamins, minerals, and herbal
supplements for years without any effect. My improvement came only after my
liver was cleansed and strengthened. It was after my experience that I
realized that supplements taken by individuals with weak livers may end up as
waste products for the body to dispose because the supplements cannot be
digested or assimilated.
As described above, I restored my liver to health in less than a year by
cleansing it with Chinese Bitters, by liver and gallbladder flush
and by eliminating all liver and kidney weakening foods such as white flour,
white sugar, caffeine, chocolate, deep fried foods, all citrus fruits,
tomato, banana, cold drinks and foods which chill the liver and kidneys. I
took supplements or foods rich in Vitamin B's, C and minerals to nourish my
organs and used the various Chinese herbs to increase "Chi"
(energy flow) in the liver. I also perform daily morning exercises which
involve stretching and deep breathing, based on an exercise regimen widely
practiced in Taiwan called Y-Dan (a simple and easy to learn
alternative to Tai Chi with only 19 movements). A video that provides
clear, easy-to-follow instructions on Y-Dan is available for order.
Exercise stimulates blood circulation. When blood circulates better, all
organs function better. Stretching and deep breathing kind of exercises early
in the morning provide the most benefit for anyone with sluggish liver.
According to Chinese medicine, the liver works hard to filter our blood
between 1 to 3 am during our sleep. A fair amount of blood may be still
retained in the liver when we wake up in the morning if the liver is
congested. Early morning exercises help to bring the blood out of the liver
into the circulating system. One of the symptoms for the excess blood
retained in the liver is waking up in the morning with stiffness or numbness
in the fingers or dizziness due to lack of blood circulation.
Because of my high estrogen levels, I also had to avoid foods or herbs that
have estrogenic activities such as Don Quei, Licorice, Ginseng, Royal Jelly,
fennel, anise, flaxseed oil, clover, red clover, evening primrose oil, etc. I
avoided taking all pharmaceutical drugs because most of them are weakening or
damaging to the liver or kidneys.
Stress congests the liver and constricts the blood vessels. It causes poor
blood flow and the whole body becomes sluggish. Furthermore, it is believed
in Chinese medicine that anger (especially suppressed anger) injures the
liver, grief injures the lungs, fear or fright injures the kidneys and worry
injures the spleen. As mentioned earlier, all these organs support each other
and work together. Disharmonies in one of these organs tend to produce an
imbalance in the corresponding emotions and vice versa.
According to Chinese medicine, cold and raw vegetables such as salads tend to
weaken the spleen unless the individuals who consume them are robust and
strong ("Yang" type person). This could be the reason why
many vegetarians look pale because of their weak spleen although Vitamin B12
deficiency may also be responsible. Also, most vegetarians eat a lot of
salad, even though cooked vegetables are better to eat. One of the common
signs of weak spleen is dry lips or frequent thirst. Chronic diarrhea or
loose bowel may be another sign of weak spleen. Since the spleen is an
important organ for red cell production, weak spleen is a common cause of
anemia, especially in cases that do not respond to iron supplements.
I suffered from heart palpitations since my early teenage years. I fainted
for the first time in my life in school at the age of eleven. It was due to a
hereditary weak heart according to the doctor who saw me. He warned me that I
might faint easily throughout my life. He was right in that prediction until
the health of my liver was restored in 1989. I never fainted again and my
heart palpitations disappeared.
When my liver became healthier my vision also improved and is actually better
than it was in 1989 when I was still suffering from liver congestion. I had
never used eyeglasses at any time during my life and I still don't need them.
The Chinese have a saying: "The liver opens into the eyes. When the
liver is harmonized, the eyes can distinguish the five colors". Clean
and nutrient-rich blood from a healthy, efficient liver can flow easily and nourish
the eye tissues better. Stimulation of blood flow to the eyes by massaging
also helps. I massage the pressure points for blood circulation to the eyes
twice daily, morning and night when I lie flat in bed. In this position blood
does not have to flow against gravity.
References:
1. Harper, H.A., Review of
Physiological Chemistry, 14th ed., Lange Medical Publications (1973).
2. A Barefoot Doctor's
Manual, the American translation of the official Chinese Paramedical
Manual, Running Press, Philadelphia (1990).
3. Neufeld, W.P., MD The
Liver Causes Heart Attack, Morning Dawn Publishing Company, Surrey, B.C.,
Canada (1987).
4. Selkurt, E.E. (editor), Physiology,
2nd edition, Little, Brown and Company, Boston (1966).
Chinese Medicinal Herbs, compiled by Li Shih-Chen, translated by F.
Porter Smith, M.D., and G.A. Stuart, M.D., Georgetown Press, San Francisco
(1973).
My Journey of Self-Healing
Sections:
Liver functions, liver disease, and liver cleanse - constant
fatigue, age-related vision and memory loss
Gallstone and kidney stone - Gallstone removal, kidney stone
removal
Gallbladder flushing - Gallstone treatment: gallbladder surgery
alternative; problems with gallbladder removed
Estrogen dominance - Womens' problems, amenorrhea, menopause,
womens' weight problems
Endometriosis - Endometriosis symptoms and treatment; relation
to liver health
Infertility - Hormone imbalance and Chinese herbs
Insomnia - Sleep disorders and depression
Allergies and Arthritis - The effect of liver health upon
allergies and arthritis
Other liver-related problems - Diabetes, thyroid disorders,
skin problems, mens' prostate problems, hypertension, and cholesterol
Halitosis - Bad breath, gum diseases, gum surgery, plaque,
gingivitis and sensitive teeth
Y-Dan (wai dan) exercise - a simple, easy to learn alternative
to Tai Chi
Properties of Herbs - description of the herbs we use in our
products
f Order
products
online
Fast Track Liver Detox
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS
Whether you're trying to drop unwanted pounds or flush out unwelcome
toxins, you need a healthy liver to make it happen. Here's how to keep this
overachieving organ in optimal shape.
After more than two decades working as a nutritionist specializing in weight
loss and detoxification, I am still completely in awe of the liver. As far as
I'm concerned, this amazing organ, nestled away in the right side of the
abdomen, has more than earned its name, which derives from an Old English
word for “life.”
Your liver is your largest internal organ, and it's responsible for an
astonishing variety of life-sustaining and health-promoting tasks - including
those that make healthy weight loss and weight management possible. Integral
to countless metabolic processes, the liver supports the digestive system,
controls blood sugar and regulates fat storage. It stores and mobilizes
energy, and produces more proteins than any other organ in the body. It also
regulates your blood flow and, if you're a woman, keeps your menstrual cycles
running smoothly.
One of your liver's most important functions, though - and the one most
crucial to your weight loss - is chemically breaking down everything that
enters your body, from the healthiest bite of organic food to the poisonous
pesticides that linger on your salad; from the purest filtered water to a
glass of wine or a cup of coffee; from your daily vitamin and mineral
supplements to your doctor-prescribed blood-pressure medication.
It's your liver's job to distinguish between the nutrients you need to absorb
and the dangerous or unnecessary substances that must be filtered out of your
bloodstream. But when the liver is clogged and overwhelmed with toxins, it
can't do a very effective job of processing nutrients and fats. So if you're
concerned with managing your weight, remember this important point: The more
toxic your body becomes, the more difficulty you'll have losing weight and
keeping it off.
Diet Difficulty
Ironically, many of the low-carb diets that people adopt to lose excess
weight only make matters worse. By encouraging us to eat a lot of meat (much
of which is laden with toxins), and discouraging us from eating enough
fiber-rich, water-dense fruits and vegetables, such diets can slow
elimination. By loading us up with so many proteins that our stomachs can't
produce enough acid to digest them all, such diets can inhibit proper
digestion, overloading our liver and intestines with a stream of nasty,
internally produced poisons such as indican, ammonia, cadaverine and histide.
Fortunately, the liver, in its infinite wisdom, produces bile, a crucial
substance for detoxifying our bodies. Bile lubricates our intestines and
works with fiber to prevent constipation. Bile is also where the liver dumps
all the drugs, heavy metals, xenoestrogens, excess sex hormones from the Pill
and hormone replacement therapy, medications, pesticides, industrial
chemicals, and other toxins, so they can eventually be eliminated from the
body.
One of bile's other main duties is to help our bodies break down the fats we
need and to assimilate fat-soluble vitamins. Without bile, we couldn't
convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, nor could we use calcium. But when our
bile becomes overly congested with the toxins it's trying to filter out, it
simply can't function properly. It becomes thick, viscous and highly
inefficient in breaking down fats. The result: You are more likely to gain
weight and to have greater difficulty losing it.
Cleansing the liver helps it produce better, more efficient bile. That helps
your body flush toxins and break down fat more effectively. It also makes
more energy-giving nutrients available to your body and reduces strain on
your digestive and immune systems. Your elimination improves, and your colon
is relieved of unnecessary burdens. The net effect: You look and feel better,
and it becomes far easier for you to achieve and maintain your ideal weight.
The Fast Track: A Three-Stage Process
Ready to give your liver a healthy boost - and give your entire system a
thorough spring-cleaning? I developed a Fast Track Detox program for just
that purpose. It is a proven, highly effective detox and weight-loss system
that offers a simple, safe and effective way to drop excess pounds, to clear
out toxic gunk and to improve your health and vitality.
Described in detail in my book, The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet
(Morgan Road Books, 2005), this program is, in reality, less a diet than a
multipart program for healthy living. It has been carefully tested in a
clinical setting.
Although the fasting part of the detox plan is just a single day (making it
very safe), the complete process calls for both a seven-day preparation and a
three-day follow-up phase designed to properly prepare your system for the
liver-cleansing juice fast and then help extend and compound your healthy
results.
This three-part detox process can dramatically improve the state of your
liver and colon and help clear tissue throughout your body - all while
eliminating bloating, improving your energy and assisting you in dropping
unwanted weight. It can also help you appreciate the advantages of improved
nutrition and encourage you to adjust your normal diet for the better.
Best of all, unlike water fasting and long-term juice fasting, this program
is safe and gentle enough for you to employ any time you are feeling loaded
down, sluggish and needing more vitality. I personally do Fast Track Detox
fasts three or four times a year, usually around the fall and spring
equinoxes, and whenever I feel myself to be on overload - physically,
mentally or spiritually.
The Fast Track Detox program is simple to work into your normal life. Here's
how: You spend a full week on the Seven-Day Prequel, eating the Liver-Loving
Foods that your body's major detox organ so desperately needs. You'll also
load up on Colon-Caring Foods to help your colon purge the toxins and waste
from your body. Next, you'll spend one day following a special juice fast
designed to flush impurities and stored wastes from your system. Then, after
the fast is over, you'll seal in the results with a Three-Day Sequel that
includes additional liver and colon support along with special natural-food
sources of probiotics - fermented foods that support the friendly bacteria
your system needs to synthesize vitamins and promote immune function.
Many people experience significant and immediate weight loss on this program,
but the net benefits for energy and long-term health are every bit as
dramatic. So, whether you are looking to slim down or just lighten your toxic
load, give the Fast Track Detox a try. You'll be amazed at what your liver
can accomplish with just a little help.
Seven-Day Prequel
Before you begin the One-Day Detox, it's essential that you prepare your
body by strengthening your liver and colon for the work ahead. If you don't
do this, you might end up more bloated, constipated and “toxic” than you were
before. You may also inadvertently put the brakes on desired weight loss.
Fasting releases toxins that were previously lodged in your fat cells and shuttles
them into your bloodstream for filtration and transport through your body's
elimination channels. But without prior liver and colon support to help these
toxins clear your system, the poisons may simply get relocated within the
body, settling into any number of sensitive organs and making you feel tired,
anxious, headachy and more fatigued than when you started. So if you want to
avoid feeling unnecessarily lousy, and if you want to maximize weight loss,
follow this simple, six-step program for seven days before you embark on the
one-day, liver-flushing juice fast:
1. Each day, for seven days, choose at least one serving from each
group of the following Liver-Loving Foods:
· Crucifers, such as
cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, broccoli sprouts
· Green leafy
vegetables and herbs, like parsley, kale, watercress, chard, cilantro, beet
greens, escarole, dandelion greens and mustard greens
· Citrus, like oranges,
lemons and limes (avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, which contain a
compound called naringen that can interfere with the liver-cleansing process)
· Sulfur-rich foods,
like garlic, onions, eggs and daikon radish
· Liver healers, such
as artichoke, asparagus, beets, celery, dandelion-root tea, whey and
nutritional yeast flakes
2. Each day, choose at least two of the following Colon-Caring foods:
powdered psyllium husks, milled or ground flaxseeds, carrots, apple, pear or
berries.
3. Each day, drink half your body weight in ounces of filtered or
purified water.
4. Each day, make sure you have at least two servings (the size of the
palm of your hand) of protein in the form of lean beef, lamb, skinless
chicken, turkey or fish, or, if you're a vegan or vegetarian, at least 2
tablespoons a day of a high-quality blue-green algae or a spirulina source
(available in natural-foods and health stores).
5. Each day, make sure you have 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil in the form
of olive oil, flaxseed oil or a “woman's oil” (a flaxseed oil-black-currant
oil blend).
(For specific serving sizes and more detailed guidance on choosing
Liver-Loving Foods, see The Fast Track Detox Diet.)
6. Avoid the following “detox detractors”:
· Excess dietary fats,
especially trans fats
· Any form of sugar,
including honey and maple syrup
· Artificial sweeteners
· Refined
carbohydrates, including white rice and products made from white flour
· Gluten, found in
wheat, rye, barley and all their related products, such as packaged cereals,
macaroni and cheese, pizza dough, pasta, tortillas, pancake/waffle mixes and
cookies, as well as in many “low-carb” products, vegetable proteins, some soy
sauces and distilled vinegars
· Soy protein isolates,
found in many protein energy bars and processed soy foods
· Alcohol,
over-the-counter drugs and caffeine
One-Day Detox Juice Fast
The One-Day Juice Fast portion of the Fast Track Detox is designed to
flush impurities from your liver and other cellular tissues while supporting
your general health and energy.
While I do not advocate water fasts, or even long-term juice fasts, decades
of professional clinical experience and research have convinced me that
healthy, short-term juice fasting - the kind supported by adequate
nutritional preparation for the liver and sufficient fiber for the colon - is
probably the best-kept secret around for good health, long-term weight loss
and an overall feeling of well-being.
By reducing the amount of work your digestive system has to do, you free up a
great deal of energy for healing and regeneration. And while you will be
limiting your caloric intake for one day, it is not an extended enough period
to suppress your metabolism or set off a starvation response. In fact, every
ingredient of the One-Day Detox Diet has been specially chosen to stave off
hunger; balance your blood sugar; rev up your metabolism; and keep you
feeling fit, energized and trim throughout your fasting day.
Here's the basic protocol you should follow for your One-Day Juice Detox, and
some idea of what you might experience during the detox process (keep in mind
that the effects and results will vary from person to person).
Before you conduct your one-day fast, make sure you have completed the
Seven-Day Prequel. Then, follow this four-step program:
Step I. Prepare the Miracle Juice (for complete recipe and preparation
instructions, see The Fast Track Detox Diet):
· Cranberry Water -
unsweetened cranberry juice or unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate diluted
with filtered water (be sure to use 100 percent pure, unsweetened cranberry
juice that has no sugar, corn syrup or other juices added)
· Cinnamon
· Ground ginger
· Nutmeg
· Freshly squeezed
orange juice
· Freshly squeezed
lemon juice
· Stevia (a
sweet-tasting herb that is widely available at natural-food stores) to taste
Directions:
1. Bring Cranberry Water to a light boil; reduce the heat to low.
2. Place cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg into a tea ball; add to the Cranberry
Water. (For a tangier juice, add the spices directly to the liquid.)
3. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes; cool to room temperature.
4. Stir in the orange and lemon juices. Add stevia at this time, if desired.
Step II. Alternate drinking 1 cup (8 ounces) of filtered water and 1
cup (8 ounces) of Miracle Juice during the day. Drink at least 72 ounces of
filtered water throughout the day, in addition to the Miracle Juice. Make
sure you drink at least a cup of liquid - either the Miracle Juice or water -
every hour. Begin the protocol when you wake up in the morning. You don't
have to begin at a specific time, but be sure to have all eight glasses of
Miracle Juice in addition to the 72 ounces of water by day's end.
Step III. Upon rising and at the end of the day, take one serving of a
colon-caring supplement, chosen from among the following:
· Powdered psyllium
husks (1 to 2 teaspoons mixed in 8 ounces of water or Miracle Juice)
· Ground or milled
flaxseeds (2 to 3 tablespoons mixed in 10 to 12 ounces of water or 8 ounces
Miracle Juice)
Step IV. Engage in only light exercise - either a 20-minute walk or 10
minutes on a rebounder or elliptical machine.
The Three-Day sequel
Following your One-Day Detox, it's essential that you follow this sequel
program for three days straight. Otherwise, your reentry into normal eating
may leave you feeling bloated, constipated and more toxic than before.
Fasting without follow-up support means that toxins released into your bloodstream
during the fast may remain in your system, making you feel tired, anxious,
headachy and fatigued. Skipping the Three-Day Sequel also sets you up to
regain lost weight. So support your body's natural detox process and seal in
the results of your One-Day Juice Fast by following these simple steps:
1. Each day, choose at least one of the following probiotic food sources to
restore “friendly bacteria”:
· Sauerkraut (1/2 cup).
You can either make your own or buy an organic, raw variety. Most store-bought
sauerkraut is processed with heat, which kills the naturally occurring
enzymes and microflora, so check the label carefully.
· Yogurt. Nonfat,
low-fat or whole-milk yogurt are all fine, but look for plain yogurt whose
label reads “live, active cultures.”
2. Before each meal, take one or more tablets of hydrochloric acid in a
formula that contains at least 500 to 540 milligrams of betaine hydrochloride
with at least 100 to 150 milligrams of pepsin, and at least 50 milligrams of
ox bile extract (such formulas are widely available at most health and
nutrition stores and at many natural groceries).
3. Follow steps 1 through 6 of the Seven-Day Prequel.
Where to Go From Here
Once you've completed the Fast Track Detox as outlined above, I suggest that
you ease back into normal eating by choosing nutritious, low-fat cooked foods
that are easy to digest.
In The Fast Track Detox Diet, I supply a variety of simple recipes for
liver-loving, colon-caring and sequel-friendly foods. I also cover background
and advice on detoxing, in-depth nutritional and health information, plus
suggestions for taking the Fast Track Detox program to the next level.
Ultimately, you may decide to incorporate regular detoxes into your ongoing
health and fitness regimen. But, particularly if you have never done a detox
before, the important thing is to take stock of how you feel before, during
and after this first detox experience.
Pay attention to the positive, dramatic impact that supporting your body's
natural detoxification systems can have on your overall health and
well-being. Follow these basic detox suggestions and I trust that you will
feel lighter, happier and more excited about your body's healthy potential
than you have in years.
SIDEBAR:
Do you Need to Detox?
Unfortunately, we live in a fairly toxic world, and even those of us who
are committed to living clean and eating healthy are very likely to ingest,
inhale, absorb or produce our own fair share of disruptive substances -
substances that our body would be better off without and may need help in
unloading. All of the following may be signs of a body in toxic distress
(keep in mind that they may also be symptoms of other serious health and
medical conditions, some of which could require professional care; when in
doubt, or in the case of chronic conditions, consult your doctor or health
professional).
- Acne, blemishes, hives
- Discoloration in whites of eyes or red, swollen, teary eyes
- Hormonal imbalances, PMS
- Heat in the upper body, such as warm face or hot eyes
- Difficulty perspiring
- Bad breath or offensive body odor
- Gas, bloating, belching and nausea
- Constipation or loose stools
- Colitis or diverticulitis
- Hemorrhoids or varicose veins
- Bruises or wounds that don't heal
- Multiple food allergies, sensitivities to fragrances, odors and
fumes
- Weight gain, even when controlling food intake
- Feelings of tiredness or sleeplessness after eating
- Frequent coughs, stuffy or runny nose
SIDEBAR:
Not So Fast!
There are some times when you should not fast:
· If you are pregnant,
nursing, recovering from an illness or injury, or are malnourished
· If you have cardiac
arrhythmia, type 1 diabetes, congestive heart failure, ulcers, or liver or
kidney disease
· If you are struggling
with mental illness (including anxiety, clinical depression, bipolar
disorder)
· If you are more than
10 pounds underweight or prone to eating disorders
Also, consult your physician prior to fasting if you are diabetic,
hypoglycemic, prone to migraines or are taking regular medications, including
antidepressants, blood-pressure medications and birth control pills.
SIDEBAR:
Fast Track Detox Shopping List
Beverages:
__ Filtered or purified water
__ Unsweetened cranberry juice
Liver-loving foods: (your choices in each of the following
categories):
__ Crucifers: cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, broccoli
sprouts
__ Green leafy vegetables: parsley, kale, watercress, chard, cilantro, beet
greens, collards, escarole, dandelion greens and mustard greens
__ Citrus fruits: oranges, lemons and limes (no grapefruit)
__ Sulfur-rich foods: garlic, onions, eggs and daikon radish
Liver healers:
__ Artichoke, asparagus, beets, celery, dandelion-root tea, whey and
nutritional yeast flakes
Probiotic-rich foods:
__ Sauerkraut and/or unsweetened yogurt
Herbs and spices:
__ Ground cinnamon
__ Ground ginger and nutmeg
__ Stevia (powder or extract)
Supplements and nutritionals:
__ Powdered psyllium husks and/or ground flaxseeds
__ Olive oil, flaxseed oil or “woman's oil”
__ Hydrochloric acid with betaine hydrochloride, pepsin and ox bile extract
SIDEBAR:
Toxic Problems, Detox Solutions
Medical and scientific evidence supporting detoxification is lacking, but
fortunately, a few liver detox studies have been conducted, primarily by
scientists committed to alternative medicine. A study reported in Alternative
Therapies in Health and Medicine tested 25 otherwise healthy people
before and then seven days after they'd undergone a liver detox program.
Participants filled out questionnaires and underwent drug challenge tests,
procedures whereby they were given small amounts of drugs, including
caffeine, to see how quickly the liver could perform its detoxifying function
of clearing the foreign substance from the bloodstream.
Based on a caffeine clearance test, subjects' liver detox capacities improved
by 23 percent; based on the questionnaire results, their liver functions rose
by 47 percent. Lab tests also showed an improved ratio of sulfate to
creatinine in the subjects' urine, a medical indicator that points to
improved liver function.
SIDEBAR:
Detox Downsides
For most of my clients, detoxing is generally an extremely positive
experience. But for some, particularly those who feel themselves to be
dependent on caffeinated drinks, the initial experience can be somewhat
uncomfortable. Although many participants in our trials reported increased
energy, mental clarity and improved well-being, some did experience other
symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, irritability, foggy thinking and mild
depression.
The explanation is simple: As you burn stored body fat for fuel, the
oil-soluble toxins you've stored in your fat are released, sometimes causing
distress as they recirculate through the system. If you've been diligent
about following the Seven-Day Prequel, you may not experience any symptoms.
But if you do feel tired, grouchy or headachy, don't lose heart. Drink more
water, give yourself some downtime and realize that these symptoms are an
indication that both the fast and the detox process are working. As these
toxins clear your system, you'll soon feel much better.
This article was adapted from Ann Louise Gittleman's most recent book, The
Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet (Morgan Road Books, 2005).
Ann Louise Gittleman is the award-winning author of more than 20 books,
including The New York Times bestsellers Before the Change and The Fat
Flush Plan. There are more than 3.5 million copies of her books in print.
She has appeared on Dr. Phil, The View, Extra, Good Morning America, PBS
and CNN, and she writes a column for First for Women magazine.
Gittleman holds a PhD in holistic nutrition and a master's degree in
nutrition education; she is a certified Nutrition Specialist. She lives in
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. For more information, visit her Web site at www.annlouise.com or call
800-888-4353.
I have had gall stones for
about a week and a half and
have had constant pain, nausea and/or fatigue the entire time. My doctor recommends surgery, but I'd like to avoid this.
I spoke with her about a gall bladder cleanse, but she says my body
will only make more gall stones.
Is there any advice
you can give me to help me make the best decision for me? The gall stones
range in size from 5mm to 1.9cm.
Also, can you give me some idea of your credentials,
i.e. why should I trust you over anyone else I found on the internet? Thank
you for your time and help.
Kris
I am a Chiropractor.
I graduated in 1984 from Texas Chiropractic College. I have had my own clinic
for 20 years.
Almost everyone has
some gallstones. My experience has been that after about four to ten years
that very small stones will begin to form again and will come out again with
another gall bladder cleanse. Or you can alter and improve your diet to eat
less fried food and less greasy food.
If you follow the
instructions on this page you should be fine. Especially if you will take one
extra day and drink apple juice the day before. The apple juice contains
"malic acid" which will begin to soften the calcium in the stone.
The lemons contain "citric acid" which will also soften the calcium
and cause any big stones to break into smaller stones.
There have only been
three times in 20 years that anyone has ever had any problems with this and
it was because they did not follow instructions. One man did everything right
except that after he went to bed he got hungry and went to the kitchen and
made himself a big big big sandwich and it gave him a large stomach ache.
Another lady wanted
to do the treatment and then go to a party and drink alcohol so she did the
treatment twice as fast. This did not give the citric acid in the lemon juice
time to completely soften the calcium in the stones and so she had pain when
the stones came out.
A third lady passed
the gallstones but was a very medically minded person and not used to natural
methods. So in the middle of the night when she began passing the stones, she
went to the hospital thinking that something was going wrong. The next day
she told me that she had passed several little green rocks and that her pain
was gone.
I am including some
other e-mails from patients with similar questions that have info of interest to
you.
At 0415
AM 9/25/2003 -0400,
>Dear
Dr. McCarty
>After
reading your prescription for removal of gall stones with the use of
>ollive
oil, I began wondering if the size of the gall stones was
>potentially
problematic. I have multiple stones, they "appear" to be the
>same
sizes, but I am uncertain of their dimensions. I briefly saw my
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