Long before Ex-Lax hit the drugstore shelves, drinking a glass of salt water was a time-tested home remedy for constipation. But the Master Cleanse introduced crash dieters to the concept of drinking salt water for another purpose: to "cleanse" their bodies of undesirable "toxins." Dieters may attest that a salt water cleanse, sometimes called a salt water flush, indeed cleanses their bowels--but with distressing side effects.
The Master Cleanse
The salt water cleanse is a secondary component of the Master Cleanse (diet) concocted in the early 1940s by self-proclaimed physician Stanley Burroughs and made fashionable in the 1970s with publication of Burrough's booklet, "The Master Cleanser." Described by integrative physician Andrew Weil as "a real oldie," the Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet and the Maple Syrup Diet, has dieters drink nothing but water flavored with lemon, maple sugar and cayenne pepper six to 12 times daily. The salt water cleanse purportedly is an aid to help the body more rapidly expel "toxins," although Weil warns those who try it not to stray too far from the toilet; this cleanse causes numerous watery bowel movements soon after the salt water is consumed.
Internal Salt Water Bathing
Weil states that sea salt or saltwater flushes are also used to treat colds, high blood pressure, and other medical maladies by removal of "toxins." In "The Master Cleanser," Burroughs specifies how a salt water cleanse is effective in increasing the number of daily bowel movements for "toxin" removal. Burroughs claims that enemas and colonics are dangerous, and advises drinking a quart of water mixed with two teaspoons of sea salt first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Purportedly, the salt water flush works within the hour, during which "several eliminations will likely occur," Burroughs writes.
Are Toxins Removed?
In a December 2008 edition of "Dr. Z's Medical Report," allopathic physician Ed Zimney cautioned crash dieters about the use of diets such as the Master Cleanse and further weighed in on the theory of "toxin" removal. Zimney points out that dangerous toxins such as mercury and other chemicals cannot be removed from the body by a fasting cleanse, but rather only through intricate, complicated medical treatments--and sometimes these very real toxins cannot be removed at all. Zimney equates repeatedly consuming natural irritants to push water through bowels as akin to over-the-counter laxative abuse--"an all too common form of misguided dieting," he states.
Sodium Concerns
Weil offers additional concerns about salt water cleansing, expressing concern about the "sodium load" of some of the plans he's read online. Weil states that one teaspoon of salt yields around 2,400 mg of sodium, which is more than the recommended daily amount. Salt water cleanses such as those designed by Burroughs have "cleansers" consuming twice this amount at least once a day (Burroughs advises using the salt water flush as often as needed).
The Better Way
Both Zimney and Weil emphasize good nutrition, exercise and a healthy lifestyle as an alternative to salt water cleansing. Weil advises those who want to do an intestinal cleanse to eschew the salt water cleanse, as well as colonic irrigation, and try a juice fast instead (see Resources).
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