Herbal Detox for a Healthy Liver, Kidneys and Gallbladder

Okay, folks. You asked for it, you've got it. Here's my favorite liver, kidney and gallbladder detox. Also called a "blood cleanse," this detoxification flushes out what your body doesn't need (and doesn't want!). This may include small gallstones or liver stones but should also include waste and to an extent, environmental toxins that have collected in the organs.

This detox is a little more intensive than the other recipes I've posted, but if you're having significant problems, it can definitely help.

Step One: Prepare for the Detox
Before the actual fast/detox, you'll want to eat clean for ONE WEEK. What does "eat clean" mean? It means a diet heavy in fresh (not canned) vegetables and fruits, fish or poultry only (no red meat), a minimum of dairy (1 cup per day maximum) and NO artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

Step Two: Cleanse Instructions

• You will cleanse for the next THREE days.
• Drink eight 8-oz. glasses of water per day of your cleanse. Any teas you consume count toward that water quota. Do NOT drink diet colas, milk, alcoholic beverages or teas prepared with artificial sweeteners. You can drink more than this quota if you want, and you may have water at any time during the regimen (between meals, with meals, etc.).
• Exercise each day of your cleanse. We do not recommend anything too taxing - just gentle, regular movement of your body for 30 minutes to one hour. Walking is perfect. Exercise will help move things alone while your body is detoxing.
• Upon rising each morning of your detox, squeeze 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice in 8 oz. water. Drink, then wait one hour.
• Have breakfast. Your breakfast will consist of both juice and whole fruits. Drink 6 oz. pure apple juice (no additives or preservatives) and eat as much watermelon and papaya (from the whole fruit) as you need to feel satisfied. Don't overstuff yourself.
• Have a midmorning vegetable/fruit juice drink. It's best if you juice this yourself. Your juice should consist of carrot, apple and a little fresh parsley. The carrot and apple should be in a 2:1 ratio. Drink 6 oz.
• Have lunch. This will be a green salad, no whole fruit and no nuts. Fill a bowl 2/3 of the way with fresh spinach leaves. Chop one large stalk of celery and add to the salad. Top with apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. turmeric.
• One hour before dinner, drink dandelion tea or take dandelion extract capsules per the bottle's instructions for one daily serving.
• Have dinner. This consists of pure vegetable broth (any non-starchy veggies in any combination -- NO corn or potatoes). You can use vegetable bouillon cubes if they have no additives. You may also have boxed vegetable broth. Do NOT use canned vegetable broth. In addition to your soup, have some fresh or steamed spinach. Top with lemon if you'd like.
• One hour before bedtime, have another serving of dandelion tea, following the same directions as above.

If you're overly hungry during the days of your detox, drink celery juice or eat celery.

After your three days of detox are over, ease back into your normal eating routine with a breakfast that consists mainly of fruits, plus slow-cooked oatmeal or another whole grain. After this you may eat normally.

This is a more serious detox and will take discipline to accomplish, but you should feel great afterward. If you want to avoid buildup of toxins in the future, continue to eat clean -- that's my recommendation. You'll feel all the better for it.