Has anyone done Master Cleanser?
 

This is that water/lemon juice/maple syrup/cayenne pepper thing that you might have heard about. It is based on a book written by a guy named Stanley Burroughs. There is a lot more to it than just drinking this mix, there are other things you are supposed to take with it. It is really a detoxifier but of course it is great that you lose weight with it. You drink this drink for 10 days and then gradually add in other foods. I'm not sure what, there is more info on the web if you want to google it. I'm interested in hearing from people who have actually done the whole thing from start to finish. I'm NOT going to do it myself so please don't anyone comment that I am killing myself by doing this because I'm NOT going to do it. My husband is working with a guy that has been seeing a naturopath and he has been doing the program for several weeks and I am just wondering what others have experienced doing it. There is no way I could do this because my understanding this that there is a lot of running to the bathroom with it and with my job there's no way I'd be able to spend that much time in the bathroom!

I'm glad your not doing it. I just have one question why would anyone do something that unhealthy to their body?
Eat healthy and exercise. Your body does not want to run to the bathroom all day.:carrot:

Sorry, Jen, I don't mean to blast you, but WOW! That's a pretty crazy plan. :crazy: People keep looking for this magic fix because they want immediate, easy results obtained by hitting this special, secret magic button, when if they'd stopped chasing that futile (and money-wasting) dream and improved their eating habits and exercised, they could have been losing weight all along. Stanley still makes his money. It's sad.

Sounds gross, too!

My friend has done it... many times. She does it once a year. She is slim to begin with. She does not do it to lose weight but to clean out toxins in her body. She will lose weight on it.. but goes back to her regular weight. It is not meant for weight lose but for cleansing.
I personally would not do it.. .. mostly because I don't care what toxins are in my body.. I'm not giving up food for 10 days!

I've done it, and a different cleanse as well. It's SO frustrating to hear people bash them when they've done wonderful things for me. I do NOT have IBS symptoms anymore, I was diagnosed with Intercystial Cystitis, Vestibulitis and Endometriosis, I was in SO much pain, I had constant yeast infections, not to mention the bladder infections. My doctor couldn't do anything but put me on pills for the rest of my life - costing me 100 dollars a month - again, for the rest of my life. I didn't want to pay that, and didn't want to be taking pills forever. However, with the help of the same doctor I did a cleanse and sustain the eating for over a year and now I have no symptoms. It's definitely not for weight loss, but a cleanse can do amazing things for a sick body. And yes - I did just try cutting out bad foods. For 5 months I ate completely clean - it did nothing.

I'm sorry to go off - but doing a cleanse really worked for me. And I don't think it's fair to say that doing a cleanse is a bad thing when it's all about the intentions, if you do a cleanse for weight loss it won't work in the long term.

-Aimee

I think people assume cleanse - diet and they are 2 different things. I don't do them, but my mother did. She wasn't trying to lose weight. She felt every now and again the body needed a good cleaning out. If you happen to lose weight great, but I don't think they are the main purpose.


[QUOTE=SwimGirl;
I'm sorry to go off - but doing a cleanse really worked for me. And I don't think it's fair to say that doing a cleanse is a bad thing when it's all about the intentions, if you do a cleanse for weight loss it won't work in the long term.

-Aimee[/QUOTE]

Aimee, I'm glad that it's helped you with your health problems. I wasn't bashing it for that purpose, but for weight loss, which is what I think most people are going for when they do these cleanses/fasts.....case in point, in Jen's original post she referred to it being "great that you lose weight with this." (Sorry to call you out like that, Jen, but you brought it up! ;))

Cleansing and weight loss are completely separate intentions. People have been fasting for centuries and there are both physical and spiritual benefits to be had from this practice.....but it sure as heck is not an advised weight loss approach!

I guess I'm saying, "Got toxins?" Do the cleanse! (And also look at what you're ingesting.) But, "Got fat?" The cleanse is not your answer.

Essentially, this is a controlled fast. People have been doing fasts for hundreds of years. I've done it in the distant past, and felt great afterwards. My 70 yr old mother did something called the Gall Bladder cleanse, which included lemon juice and olive oil. I was a bit skeptical when she told me about it, not worried about her health or anything, just not convinced of the benefits. You should have seen her afterwards. Her eyes were amazing clear, bright, and she felt great. I'd say if the human body can withstand living on fast food, it can surely withstand living on maple syrup and cayenne pepper for a few days.

I never thought that this was primarily a way to lose weight, it is just a great side benefit. It was always my understanding that it was a detoxification program. Primarily I posted because I wanted comments from people who have actually done it and know what the program is all about (thank-you Aimee). I know I had the same thoughts as most of you when I first heard about this from my husband who was telling me about what his co-worker and his wife were doing (following this program, seeing a naturopath) but I wanted to get informed information from people that have actually done this or something similar.

Has anyone been to a naturopath, what was your experience if you are willing to share it?

I plan to do the Master Cleanse one day, hopefully this year. I also plan to do the liver/gallbladder cleanse. I've heard great things about both.

I'm starting to be a believer in natural cures and remedies. The doctors/hospitals/drug companies do not want to cure you. They want to make you comfortable by prescribing a pill that you need to repurchase ($$$) for the rest of your life. There is no money in the cure.

My personal philosophy is if you want to do a cleanse, then do it with natural foods. I've looked at the master cleanse and personally, I don't care for it but that is my personal preference.

I will say that eating more whole foods has helped me immensely. I used to have daily stomach issues. I took pepto bismal on almost a daily basis. This went on for years. When I started cleaning up my diet, those issues did go away. I try to stay towards natural foods and foods with minimal processing.

My only advice before you try something is to do the research, good and bad. I don't think the master cleanse would be harmful (unless you have insulin issues) but that doesn't mean it would be helpful either.

I've seen a naturalpath, so has my mom and brother. I think you have to go with an open mind, they say some stuff that makes you not so happy. For example my mom was told not to have wheat, who wants to hear THAT?! My brother was told he had a vitamin B deficit and once he started taking it daily it gave him a lasting energy. The naturalpath we all saw really believes in the "Eat Right for you Blood Type" book, I checked it out and incorporate lots of their ideas into my diet. Is it worth the money? Depends on how bad your health is. It definitely costs a pretty penny!

-Aimee

I've fasted many, many times and I LOVE the health that comes with it. Master Cleanse is just like a fast, maybe even a little stronger. There is nothing wrong with either, as long as you can handle the no food part. Some people just can't. In that case, go veggie-fruit for a while. You'll get a similiar effect, but it just takes a lot longer.

I don't know if it's fair to paint all doctors and hospitals with the same brush. Similarly, aren't their many alternative practictioners who make their living on repeat business?

SexyRevealed said:
This has not been my experience. And there's no money in the cure? Wouldn't you pay for one if you needed it? Also, there are plenty of ongoing medical concerns we'll all be faced with in the course of aging....so they're not likely to go out of business by treating people ethically.

Exactly. There are shiesters and opportunists in just about every line of business and in almost every culture because, unfortunately, we humans have a tendency to enjoy the comfort and powers of acquisition that result from financial success.

I've been getting treatment for serious medical problems since December of 2004, and literally every medical professional I've encountered has done their part to try to get me cured. I also grew up with some serious esophageal problems and as a result was hospitalized literally monthly for my entire childhood. Again, noone wanted anything but the very best for me, and everyone focused on making me as well as I possibly could be.

The American medical system is fraught with issues that need to be addressed, but I do feel it's too easy (and simplistic) to scapegoat the doctors and hospitals. After all, they and their families get sick with the same degrees of frequency and severity as do we and our loved ones. The conspiracy theories just don't hold up under scrutiny.

Sorry, I really don't mean to be argumentative, but I've just had too many doctors in too many hospitals working their asses off in a sincere effort to get me well not to speak up in their defense. :^:

I just don't think I need any kind of cleanse to rid my body of toxins, that's what my kidneys and other vital organs are for. We cleanse ourselves every day :) I definitely would NEVER personally do anything that required more than 1 day without solid food, starving has been bad juju for me in the past (unless under a doctor's supervision, of course).

This.

I have a liver and kidneys for a reason.

Also, I don't get the magic of lemon juice and cayenne.

Of course not all doctors and hospitals, that's not what I meant. I'm not implying that the doctors and nurses at your local hospital hold secret midnight meetings to discuss ways to conspire against the public. But at the same time, please don't be naive and believe that the healthcare industry as a whole always has your best interests at heart.

The healthcare industry is first and foremost a business. The main objective of any business is to turn a profit. The healthcare industry is certainly not exempt from this. If this was the case, there wouldn't be 9 million children in this country without health insurance. So what would be more profitable - a one-time cure for your illness, or a monthly need for your medication?

Please don't get me wrong. If I'm ever in a situation where I require medical attention, I won't hesitate to get it. But I also recognize that alternative methods do exist, and that these methods may not be profitable for the healthcare industry (and thus not publicized and accepted by the mainstream) but may indeed be the remedy I need.

I don't believe that I'm being naive in believing that physicians and hospitals have not abandoned all loyalty to the Hyppocratic Oath in favor of personal gain, nor do I think you meant to imply that they held secret meetings to plot against us. :lol: As for the 9 million children without medical coverage, I hold our political leaders and an apathetic, shortsighted nation responsible, not the insurance companies who only do what we allow. I said before that our medical system is fraught with problems, but I don't expect the insurance companies to fix them, nor do I assume that physicians are more interested in repeat business than healing their patients.

By all means, pursue alt treatment whenever it makes sense for you -- an ayurvedic cure helped me greatly when I got sick while living in Kashmir, India. I'm sure that you recognize that a huge percentage of those alternative methods don't send profit to the medical mainstream, but they usually send profit to somebody!

I am not anti-altie at all, and I do augment my mainstream treatment with alternative supportive treatments when it makes sense and is safe to do so. I just don't think that my refusal to demonize the mainstream medical community makes me naive, though, and it doesn't mean that I think our system is working very well at all.

I think we'll just agree to disagree on this one. ;) Sorry, Jen, for hijacking your thread! We now return to our regularly broadcasted program...... :D

Don't worry about it Sarah, it is always nice to hear different points of view about any issue.

Why I am bringing this up is that my dh has had some chronic health problems ever since he got his gallbladder out about 3 1/2 years ago and nobody (the doctors he has seen) has been able to pin down what the problem is exactly or how to fix it. He has tried a variety of medications and undergone numerous tests. We are starting to think about alternative treatments seeing as conventional doctors don't seem to be able to find out what is ailing him.

Also with regards to the human body having a liver and kidneys to filter the toxins out of the body...I seriously doubt that they were designed to handle some of the crap that we shove into our mouths. If we all went back to basics, eating unprocessed foods, more fruits and veggies, whole grains etc we'd probably all benefit. We've already had a few people say how much better they feel when they've eaten this way.

Something else I was thinking about this morning is that someone can live for years with allergies and not even know it. So if you eliminate those foods for a while, then it can help your body. The one thing I liked about "You: On a Diet" was that it did explain that "bad" foods can cause inflammation in digestive systems that we can live for years with. Once you start eating healthier, that inflammation can disappear.

Has your husband had an allergy test done? You might want to try looking into high allergy foods like dairy and grains (including corn) and see if that helps.

Excellent points Nelie - I've satyed quiet on this thread, but IMO - if you look close enough, you'll see there is someone who is profiting from this too. (and sorry, I don't agree with it - nothing I would want me or anyone I care for to do)

The only people who profits monetarily from water fasting... is well... no one. Juice fasting profiters are the farmers (who need the profits-albeit small)... I bought my Juiceman Jr. almost ten years ago for 69.00 and it still runs strong. Juiceman hasn't gotten a cent from me since my initial purchase.

That's true! You know, I read once that the reason there isn't much actual research done on water fasts is because there's no industry around it. I don't know if it's true, but it's an interesting commentary on much of the non-academic research (which is frequently sponsored by the company whose products are being promoted).

I do a cleanse and love it... but i use fresh juices......

My husband has been through the wringer with all kinds of tests including allergy tests, blood tests, lactose intolerance tests, colonoscopy and endoscopy and biopsies done with both those procedures. He is considering trying a cleanse. Thanks Nelie for that point about inflammation. He's been tested for gluten intolerance (Celiac disease) and he doesn't have it but who knows what other kind of food he might actually be allergic to without knowing it. We have thought of these things and a million others and really he has not changed the way or what he eats. The gallbladder surgery though could have triggered something, who knows?

About somebody making money off this I am sure this is referring to those folks who write books about fasting and sell stuff on web sites. I don't disagree with this but they are not advertising it as a method of weight loss, they are saying it is a way to detoxify your body. On the web sites I have looked at the weight loss benefit is mentioned secondary to how much better people feel because the toxins are being purged. I am sorry that I even mentioned it as something that will help lose weight. I AM NOT DOING IT! My husband is interested in it, HE DOES NOT NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT, he has chronic health problems that conventional medicine does not seem to be able to diagnose or treat. Also give me a break about people making money off this. The weight loss industry makes billions of $$. For every book someone has written about cleansing or detoxification there are probably 50 books printed about weight loss. These people are a drop in the bucket comparing the amount of money people spend trying to lose weight.

All I'm going to say is that my Aunt had breast cancer about 15 years ago and needed a bone marrow transplant. Luckily, one of my mom's cousins is extremely wealthy and paid for everything because her insurance wouldn't cover it and the hospital and Doctors wouldn't begin ANY treatment without a $50,000 down payment. When ability to pay determines life-saving course of action....I have a HUGE problem with that. In fact, in my opinion it is a criminal act. If you haven't encountered a situation like that...don't think it doesn't happen....just consider yourself fortunate and pray you never do. Caring doctors exist...I won't try and say they don't....but we wouldn't be in a healthcare crisis if caring was the "norm" for doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and all who influence the business of medicine....those two things are incongruous.

my cousin did it and after she was finished she couldn't go at all. She was all messed up when she started eating again. I told her that I was thinking about trying it at one time to get all the crap out and she scared me straight.

I was born in Canada and lived there until I was 28. I've been in the states for almost 9 years. I have also worked for a major medical insurance company.

From my humble experience - the US has FAR better medical then Canada. However the systems has it's flaws. (But I do NOT suggest socialized medical by any means)

1. We do need to become responsible for our own health. Of course there are exceptions to this that our beyond our control. I'm talking here about our weight. I am NOT helping the system by being overweight. I'm a part of the problem. If I need extra medical attention or drugs due to the fact that I like ice-cream that should become my responsiblity.

2. I believe the system should be two tiered. One cash - the other some type of socialized medical. Cash for preventive check ups and minor illnesses and standard births. Goverment controled major medical.
Same thing would go with drugs. It makes no sense to me that birthcontrol pills and viagra are covered under most insurance but condoms are not.

Another moral issue is drugs for seniors. Here is the problem... the drug companies make massive bucks - so they use some of that for research on great drugs that prolong our lives. 1/2 the seniors that are alive today would have been dead 25 years ago if it wasn't for the drugs we have today. Of course it's great that we have been able to prolong their lives - but there is a cost with it. You can't have one without the other. How much are you willing to pay for your Grandma to live to 95? I know it's a sick question - but I do think it needs to be asked.

Just things to ponder.

What I know for sure is that I have been lucky. My family only spends about $1200 a year for medical - that is what was covered by the insurance company. I did pay them over $12,000 for my premium (that includes what my dh's emloyer paid too) is it worth it? I think so....

If I had the choice to pay cash for the items I used.. and have premiums at half price to cover major medical I would.

My doctor visits that are 10 minutes long cost about $120.. that's nuts!

sorry this is such a rant.. but it's an important issue to me.

btw.. I worked for the insurance to understand how the system worked. I have saved over $1000 easy by understanding it better.

Well seeing as we are right off the topic I introduced let me add this small nugget....

When I was 16 I had the oppurtunity to move to the US as my mom and stepfather were moving there. I stayed here with my dad because of an article I had seen in the newspaper and this essentially this is how I saw the US at that time. A woman had fallen on her own front step and broke her hip. By the time she had her hip fixed with all the hospital costs she was bankrupt and the bank was going to take her house (obviously she had no insurance). She committed suicide. When I was 16 I thought to myself that I didn't want to live in a country where something like this was probably a common everyday experience. Say what you will about socialized medicine at least I know that if anything happens to me I can go into any hospital in Canada and receive care without worrying about a bill in my mailbox. Yes there are a lot of negatives about the whole systgem but if I break my hip I won't have to worry about the bank taking my house because of my hospital bill.

Also back to the cleanser topic, redeemed....my understanding is that some people have to take laxatives during the process or they will get constipated. Maybe that is what happened to your cousin.

Dana, you've brought up an interesting ethical question about drugs keeping us alive until we are 95. If I could be that age and still in charge of all my faculties and able to get around then yeah that would probably be okay. I'm very cynical though because as a RN I see a lot of elderly people who are confused, aggressive, bedbound or barely able to move, incontinent and needing to be completely cared for 24/7 and that includes having to be fed. You would have no idea how some of these people are completely humiliated by being cared for as if they are babies again. They need to be fed, cleaned and changed. I have heard so many of them say that they never thought their lives would be like this. Yet I know there are tons of elderly people that who have wonderful lives. It's a crap shoot, you never know what is going to happen with your life. On the whole though, for the elderly people I see most of them would have just as soon died before things started to go downhill. Tell me what to say to a patient that they wish they were dead because they are stuck in a bed for the rest of their life, having to be cleaned, changed and fed like a baby? In that instance I don't agree with you about paying for research for drugs that will keep us alive until we are 95. If the drugs are going to give us a wonderful quality of life as well for all that time...

The people I know who have done the cleanse would drink a tea called Smooth Move along with the Cleanse.

Also, there is a certain way that you have to come off of the cleanse. You can't just starting eating any old thing the next day.

If anyone is going to try this, I highly recommend that you read and research all you can. There is an ebook available. Just google Master Cleanser.

Was it this cleanse thread or the other where we talked about who profits and someone said "no one, water's free"?

With the Master Cleanser you are supposed to drink a salt/water drink in the morning thats supposed to get things moving. They also suggest teas that get things moving - they don't suggest any certain brands. If you aren't taking those things, the cleanse isn't going to work.

The medical thing is a big thing that my brother (who lives in the USA) and I talk about. I can't imagine having to pay to see a doctor, when I was in college with zero income I got REALLY sick - I saw 4 different doctors, including a specialist who probably would have cost my entire college fund. There is no such thing as the perfect health care system - they all have their flaws. But I wouldn't want to go into debt from being sick. The poor always seen to get poorer. Sad.

-Aimee

Smooth Move is not specifically made for the Master Cleanse, and it is not a requirement of the cleanse. It is an herbal (senna) laxative tea that people drink instead of taking Correctol or other laxative products. It is helpful when used in conjunction with the cleanse, but some people opt for the salt water flush, or both. I think it's maybe $5 a box.

The rest of the cleanse involves organic lemons, grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water.

I seriously doubt if anyone is getting rich off of these products, which total less than $20 at any health store.

That's the horror of it.

There are web sites selling stuff (teas etc) that you can drink along with the cleanse but to the best of my knowledge you don't have to take anything other than the drink we already talked about. It is recommended to take a laxative as there is no fiber in this drink and you might get constipated from the stool that is still in your bowels. You can take any laxative and like Tiffany said they are really cheap. I had to buy a box for my husband when he was doing his colonoscopy prep and it was $3 for 12 tabs. He is borrowing a book from his co-worker that is all about this stuff so I'll post more after I read it if anyone is interested.

Wow, this thread has gone so offtopic.

I've never done the full ten days of the clense. I did do it for a few days but I added some food because I couldn't handle it.

I do believe some fasting is very good for the body. :-)

DAY ONE:

I am trying the master cleanse. Today is my first day. My goal is 10 days. I am doing it to kick start a healthier way of life and not just for weight loss. I'll keep you posted.