Liver Detox Process

From the days of Hippocrates to the present, liver detoxes have been used by many practitioners as a non-specific way to improve health and overcome chronic disease. The liver, the triangular-shaped organ set deep in your torso, bears the brunt of toxins present in your body every day. The detox process aims to relieve some of this burden from the liver.

History

Leon Chaitow, a naturopath and the author of many books of on natural healthcare, explains how the process of detoxification has played a part in the cultures of many civilizations for thousands of years, with partial or total fasts being undertaken by both Islamic, Jewish and Christian people. These protocols were seen to increase health and also played a role in religious ceremonies.

Aims

Liver detoxes aim to cleanse the body of toxins that have accumulated in the cells. As the liver sits at the center of all metabolic reactions and takes its place as the organ most responsible for detoxification, most detoxes center around stimulating the cells to release stored toxins, then supporting the liver in the binding up and the removing of such compounds.

Methods

Most liver detoxification protocols involve some sort of reduction in food intake. Not only does this reduce the toxic burden entering the body, but it also means that the body's systems for enzyme production can fully focus on removing toxic compounds from cells, rather than breaking down food for energy. While some liver detoxes involve complete fasts, others make use of select foods, such as live yogurts, algae such as chlorella and citrus fruits.

Effectiveness

Thousands of years of anecdotal proof supports the use of liver detoxes for a variety of conditions, notes Chaitow. However, he also refers to more recent scientific studies that agree with this evidence; of a group of Scandinavian patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, all experienced a significant improvement after undergoing the process. He also speaks of experiments dating back to 1915, in where controlled fasts normalized the blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Side Effects

The process of undergoing a liver detox can place the body under increased stress. The higher burden of released toxins can result in an increased concentration of toxins in circulation. Leisa Wheeler, a naturopathic practitioner and contributor to the Natural News website, refers to this aggravation as the Herxheimer reaction, and notes that it may result in headaches, dizziness, nausea or rashes. While a low level of aggravation represents a detox taking it's course, particularly harsh side effects normally suggest that your elimination of toxins needs attention so you should speak with a knowledgeable practitioner.