What Is a Liver Flush and Should You Do This Detox Practice?

How would it feel to deeply cleanse and flush out your body’s hardest-working detox organ, the liver?! From working with thousands of private practice patients and clients, I’ve seen that most of us have some degree of liver congestion or sluggishness. 

Liver congestion can lead to downstream effects of toxin build-up within the body. If the liver can’t filter and flush toxins, then they simply stack up! Eventually, the build-up spills over as symptoms. More on those unwanted symptoms below!

One practice I’ve incorporated into my health regimen to love on my liver is a liver flush. It’s budget-friendly, effective, and easy to do from home. I’ve been doing them for years and swear by them. 

Now I’m doing a guided liver flush with my TDW Community members, and I’ve received so many questions and so much interest regarding this topic. It’s time to answer your must-know liver flush Qs!

Why is the liver so important?

The liver is responsible for so many vital functions, yet it’s often overlooked as a key component to our health. 

• Detoxification: The liver is the body’s largest detox organ, located in the upper right abdomen. No matter how non-toxic our lifestyle is, it is inevitable we are still exposed to toxins in today’s world. The liver’s primary function is to remove toxins and waste from the body. This includes chemicals we ingest via food, water, air, etc., “used” hormones, and more.
• Digestion: The liver is also important for producing bile, which aids in digestion of fat. It also helps disinfect the gut.
• Immune system: The liver acts as the body’s filter to help “catch” pathogens and will even sequester viruses and bacteria within the liver itself to protect them from attacking the rest of the body.
• Thyroid health: The liver is where the thyroid hormone is converted, specifically the conversion of T4 into T3 (aka active thyroid hormone). If the liver is congested, it can mean low conversion and result in fatigue and weight gain which are symptoms of hypothyroidism. 

It’s also important for producing cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, and storing of essential nutrients like vitamins, copper, and iron. You can think of the liver as the body’s main processing center for bodily chemicals and maintaining overall metabolic balance.

How do I know If my liver is congested/sluggish?

How do you know if you have a congested liver? It can show up in a very wide range of symptoms, some of which include:

• Fatigue
• Digestive issues (burping, bloating, gas, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and more)
• Skin problems (eczema, acne, easy bruising)
• Hormonal imbalances (PMS, irregular cycles, infertility, heavy and/or painful periods, etc.)
• Brain fog
• Swelling and inflammation
• Constipation
• Chronic headaches
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Food sensitivities 
• Poor sleep
• Seasonal allergies
• Sensitivity to chemicals (ex: exposure causes dizziness, migraines, difficulty breathing, nausea, swollen lymph nodes)
• Blood sugar issues
• Dark urine

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Liver disease and other conditions are becoming more common in our country – more than 100 million Americans have some form of liver disease. And unfortunately, poor liver function is easily overlooked in conventional healthcare and even in functional medicine. This is why I’m particularly excited to offer this type of support in TDW Community!

What is a liver flush? What are the benefits?

A liver flush is a guided cleanse to help the liver detoxify – cleansing it of gallstones and other toxins and build-up. You will actually see gallstones and other waste material after using the restroom during a liver flush!

While liver cleanses/flushes can look many different ways, me and my team are guiding TDW Community through a food-based liver flush this month. We give a full breakdown of the necessary foods/beverages needed during the flush (surprisingly simple!), what to do each day, and what to expect. *Note that although we’ll be doing a community-wide flush later in September 2024, the guide is evergreen to all community members, and the flush can be done anytime. 

What can I expect from the TDW Community liver flush?

I have been doing liver flushes for years and have always felt good! That said, if you have a lot of toxic build-up, you may experience symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. It is common to experience mild diarrhea overnight and into the next day, but this typically subsides as you begin to feel the flush’s effects. 

During the flush, your body is detoxing and passing gallstones, so it’s important to support those efforts by eating the right foods pre- and post-flush (i.e., easily digestible foods like soups, broths, limited animal meat, etc.), staying hydrated, carving out time to rest/relax, etc. 

To get the best results, our cleanse lasts 1 week. It is 6 days of prep with the last day being the cleanse. The prep days are minimal – just eating and drinking what we recommend. I suggest planning the flush to where your final day is over a weekend or when you have a couple of days off work to allow your body to rest and relax. 

Who should do a liver flush?

It can be beneficial for most people, but I recommend avoiding it if you are pregnant or nursing.

If you have known gallstones, liver disease, or other serious medical conditions definitely consult your healthcare provider. Ideally, if you have a history of liver or gallbladder issues, you want an ultrasound showing gallstones are less than 1 cm, so the flush doesn’t cause an acute gallstone attack. If your stones are greater than 1 cm, you’ll want to shrink and break them up before attempting a flush.

It is possible to do a liver flush without a gallbladder because your liver continues to produce bile, and a flush can support bile flow and liver detoxification.

Note this is not medical advice. We recommend you check with your provider to see if you are a good candidate for a liver flush.

Can you do a liver flush while pregnant or nursing?

No. I recommend avoiding it if you are pregnant or nursing. Since toxins can enter the baby’s umbilical cord or be transferred via breast milk, I encourage mothers to avoid detoxing measures like a liver flush during this special time in their lives.

Can kids do liver flushes?

Generally, liver flushes are safe for adults, but I do not recommend it for kids. However, it’s important to support your child’s liver and detox efforts with:

• Plenty of sunshine, movement, and time outdoors
• Optimizing hydration with filtered water
• Eating a real food diet with a focus on clean proteins and healthy fats
• 8-10 hours of quality sleep
• Basic supplements, adding more support as needed

In our TDW Community liver flush guide, there is a whole kid’s section dedicated to liver-supportive practices for kids. That way the whole family can love on their liver!

How often should you do a liver flush? Is there any prep or downtime after?

You can do the TDW Community liver flush every 2-4 weeks until you do not see gallstones in your stool anymore. Then, you can do it quarterly or every 6 months for a tune-up. Or, if you just feel like your digestion is sluggish and you just need a good liver cleanse.

There are 6 days of prep work up until the day of the flush in our TDW liver cleanse. These prep work days are minimal, and they consist mainly of just consuming certain foods and drinks. I suggest a day or two of “relaxation/downtime” after the day of the flush. 

Should I do a liver flush even if I feel like my detox pathways are blocked?

Yes! A liver flush will actually help open up those detox pathways. If you are looking for more detox pathway drainage support, we have dedicated resources in our TDW Community digital wellness library.

How will I feel while doing a liver flush?

While I have always felt great on liver flush days, some people experience nausea and fatigue. Diarrhea is very common, as toxins and gallstones are being excreted from the body. It is important to take downtime and rest for a day or so following the flush. 

Want me to walk you through a liver flush?!

If you want to do a real-time liver flush alongside me, my team, and other wellness warriors, I hope you join us in the TDW Community! Or, join the community and receive the guide/instructions to do the liver flush when it works best for your schedule! 

Our guide also walks you through additional lifestyle tips to support the liver, liver-supportive foods and supplements, recommended lab work to give personalized insight into your liver, and more.

The TDW Community is truly one of my favorite pieces of my business. It’s where I get to connect personally with y’all, and partner alongside you on your health journeys. For only $39/month (cancel anytime, no fees), you get so much value!

• Functional medicine expertise from me and my team
• Access to functional medicine lab testing, 1:1 consults, and health coaching
• A digital library of exclusive wellness content, including parasite cleansing, blood sugar balancing, and more. We’re always adding more resources
• Live monthly Q&As with me
• And so much more! 

DISCLAIMER: Information and content on this course is provided for information and educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Taylor Dukes Wellness, LLC will in no way be diagnosing, treating, or acting as a medical professional. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or acute issue, promptly contact your healthcare provider. Always speak with your healthcare professional before taking any medication, nutritional or herbal supplement. We will not be ordering any insurance-covered services or filing to your insurance. No ICD-10 codes will be provided. Information provided here does not create a provider-patient relationship between you and any medical professional affiliated with this course. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.