Reactions to a Liver Flush

A liver flush, also called a gallbladder flush, is used to improve health by cleansing the liver and gallbladder of toxins. While this type of liver cleansing is increasingly popular, the American Cancer Society reports that it is still regarded as "alternative medicine" in the medical field.

Features

• A liver flush is a type of metabolic therapy, which involves the use of natural foods, Epsom salts, enzymes and nutritional supplements to detoxify the body. Often part of a larger detoxification regiment, the liver flush requires ingesting special vitamins and nutritional drinks that induce the removal of toxins through waste.

Detoxification

• The intent of the liver flush is a flushing out of unwanted fats, toxins, food by-products, gallstones and parasites from the liver. This detoxification allegedly improves the overall functionality of the liver, which is crucial to overall health.

Hormone Balance

• Liver flush enthusiasts allege that one intended reaction to a liver flush is the correction of hormone imbalance, since the liver is responsible for regulating hormones, and its cleansing can improve hormone regulation performance.

Preventing and Reversing Cancer

• Promoters of alternative liver cleansing allege that cancer can be prevented and existing cancer illness can be reversed with liver flushing. The American Cancer Society cites that this view is not conducive with modern medical concepts and has not been proven.

Side Effects

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are possible side effects of a liver flush. The likelihood and degree of these effects depends on the combination of vitamins and enzymes used for the flush and the individual's health condition.

Gallbladder Contraction

• A liver flush with a fatty component may cause the gallbladder to contract, which could cause gallstones to get stuck in the bile duct. Individual components of the herbal mixtures used in a liver flush may present their own health hazards.