Hi Anne,

Okay, this is a very relevant post to where I am right now. I have done 12 liver flushes, the last one about 6 months ago. I think I might do one very soon, but I have mixed feelings on this. I'll give you some feedback based on my experiences.

What a Liver Flush basically does is clear out the ducts in the liver so it can function better in a mechanical sense, and it also gets rid of some toxins at the same time that are good to get out of the body. And the liver functioning better can also have broad-ranging effects.

Problem is that its stressful to the liver, but in my opinion anyone who hasn't done them probably thinks it's much worse than it is. I normally take a much higher amount of olive oil than is recommended (maybe 10 ounces or more), but I think I will be a little more conservative this time around.

I personally feel, based on my experience and speaking with others like JV, that a Liver Flush is, at a bare minimum, not the panacea that many here seem to think it is. Your body can work better for awhile, but the effects are not that long-lasting. It is also a matter of diminishing returns if you are doing them every month or so. I really, really doubt that it can cure some of the things that have been claimed for it...I recently responded to a thread asking what besides Liver Flushes can cure hypothyroidism. Sorry, but I don't see how Liver Flushes can cure hypothyroidism. If the problem wasn't centered in the thyroid or at least the broader endocrine feedback system, then Armour thyroid wouldn't be effective.

There really needs to be more in-depth discussion on how to keep the liver clean. Using cholagogues like chicory and turmeric can be a step in the right direction. Andy recommended taurine, and glycine should help as well. Regular intake of certain types of fats, like olive oil and cod liver oil, should be helpful. Lecithin is supposed to dissolve stones, and so forth.

But in some cases, that might not be enough. Moreover, this protocol would likely cause the liver to get backed up with a lot of junk. I have had a fair share of bloating and constipation over the past several months of DMSA and ALA, and I really think that regular Liver Flushes might help me for the first year or so on this protocol.

I'm going to take several days off from the protocol to do one, and see how it goes. This protocol tends to be a little rough on the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, and the kidneys. That's unavoidable, but I'd like to find ways of correcting or healing any problems that might arise from doing it. Maybe this will be one of the steps that can help.

I have mercury toxicity and have done Liver Flushes without problem. I usually do one Liver Flush every 4-6 weeks, and one weekend of chelation every month, never both at the same time.