Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by Deliciously Organic Editor
Detox is a way the body continually cleanses to heal and repair itself. I’ve talked before about why detox is necessary and why in today’s industrialized world, diet alone won’t suffice, so today let’s focus on how to specifically detox your liver naturally and gently.
First, here are some signs that you may have some liver congestion:
Grey circles under or around the eyes
Bloodshot eyes
PMS symptoms
Menopause symptoms
Blood sugar imbalance
Under conversion of T4 to T3
Liver disease
Itchy skin, hives, or other rashes
Waking up with night sweats
Hormone imbalance
Chemical sensitivity
Dark spots on the cheeks and/or around the eyes (commonly known as liver spots)
Nausea
Estrogen dominance
What Role Does the Liver Play in Detoxification?
The liver is one of the primary detox organs in the body and is responsible for over 500 functions in the body. It’s also the master transformation site that filters toxins from the blood to neutralize and eliminate them. These toxins can include: synthetic chemicals, excess hormones, heavy metals, sugar, processed foods, etc.
When the liver sees a toxin, it creates bile and puts the toxin in the bile and then sends the bile to the gallbladder. When you eat fats, this sends a signal to the gallbladder to release the bile into the intestinal tract to then be expelled via the bowels.
This is why it’s imperative to eat healthy fats each day such as butter, ghee, tallow, duck fat, coconut oil, etc. so the liver can create the bile and then the gallbladder can be sent the signal to contract to release the bile into the intestines. Gallstones are often a result of a low-fat diet, so it’s very important to always include fats in your diet each day.
How Does the Liver Get Congested?
In today’s world, it’s very hard to avoid toxins completely. They are in our food, clothing, skincare, body care, cleaning products in your home, cars, furniture, perfumes, candles, throughout the home and workplace, and even in the air.
The more toxins the body is exposed to, the harder the liver has to work to remove them. Over time, the liver can become sluggish and congested which will reduce its ability to properly detox.
What about a juice cleanse?
A juice cleanse isn’t a good way to detox the liver because juices don’t contain any fats. If there are no fats, then the body can’t excrete the toxins via the bile. I understand that the idea of juice cleanse is nice because it can help you focus on making better food choices, but if you want to do a juice cleanse, then make sure to blend in some raw cream or raw egg yolks in the juices so the liver and gallbladder can actually excrete the toxins from the body.
Another very important thing to consider is that detox can only happen in the parasympathetic state. The parasympathetic state is the state in which the body can rest, digest, heal, repair and restore. So, it’s imperative to make sure you get enough sleep each night, set boundaries on your work hours each day and how often you’re on electronics, find ways to reduce your stress, exercise daily, etc.
Above all, remember that detox is a process, not an event. So it’s best to incrementally change some of your daily habits to enable your liver to function at its optimum capacity over time.
8 Ways to Detox Your Liver Naturally:
1. Keep your sugar intake at 20-30 grams or lower a day (this does not include carbohydrates from healthy sources such as vegetables, soaked grains, raw dairy, etc.). I realize this is probably the least favorite tip of all, but it’s important to understand that the liver is one of the three organs responsible for blood sugar balance.
When you eat too much sugar, this makes it very difficult for the liver to do its job. If you struggle with sugar cravings right now (I’ve been there before!), make this recipe for buttermints and follow the directions listed.
2. Find ways to reduce your stress and slow down your pace. Remember, detox is a parasympathetic process, so if you’re on the go all the time and under too much stress, this will make it very difficult for the liver and other detox organs to do their job.
“When the body is dominated by the sympathetic nervous system it diverts resources to the muscles (fight or flight) and away from organs (rest and digest). Stress affects our bodies in many different ways: our muscles tighten and energy is shunted away from our repair and renewal system—and this means that we will not be detoxifying optimally. For this reason, our bodies will store more toxins in fat cells when we are stressed because they do not have the energy required to convert and excrete them”. source
3. Do a castor oil pack over the liver 3-4 times a week. Castor oil packs are a gentle and effective way to decongest the liver and lymphatic system. (This is not recommended if you have an IUD, during menses, or when pregnant or breastfeeding.)
4. Let go of anger and practice forgiveness. Nothing overburdens the liver like unresolved anger. Talk to a counselor or therapist, someone you trust at your local church, or a friend that will help you walk through this process.
5. Eat healthy fats from animal sources each day to provide the body with plenty of vital nutrients to support the liver. Some of my favorite sources are: butter, ghee, tallow, duck fat, pastured eggs, and raw dairy.
6. Eat organ meats 1-2 times a week. This liver pate recipe is absolutely divine (and I don’t even like pate!). If the taste of organ meats is too much for you, then taking liver capsules from Vital Proteins or Radiant Life is a good option.
7. Drink a small glass of beet kvass first thing each morning. This tonic is fabulous for the liver and very easy to make. See recipe below.
8. Walk or do other gentle exercise such as pilates, yoga, etc. to lower cortisol and stress levels to reduce putting stress on the liver.
PrintBeet Kvass
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 2 quarts
Ingredients
- 3-4 small raw beets or 1 large raw beet, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon Celtic sea salt
Instructions
- Place the beets in a 2 quart glass or ceramic pitcher. Cover with water and stir in the sea salt. Cover with a clean cloth and place in a dark cool place for 3 days. After 3 days, remove the beets and store the kvass in the fridge. It will keep for about 2 weeks.
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I have been told that when you have mthfr you can’t remove the heavy metals from your body easily. Would you have any information on this?
Thanks , Donna
An MTHFR mutation makes it harder for the body to detox heavy metals from the tissues, but given the proper tools, the body can release them. It’s always best to first start with diet and the gentle detox steps mentioned above. We use various drainage therapies with our clients and we have had great success with them. I used them as well to detox the metals from my system many years ago and I also have an MTHFR mutation.
Where would one inquire to find drainage therapy in their hometown?
What else is great for the liver.
How long do you do the beet kvass for?
Can this be placed in the refrigerator for 3 days to do its thing? It’s summertime and there are no cool places in my home right now. Thx!
It needs to be at room temperature in order to ferment, so best to leave it in a dark pantry for a few days.
I was wondering the same thing Patty. I live in a hot desert. Does the fridge work?
Please can you email me I’m very toxic and have that gene too I have mast cell activation disorder and chemical and electrical sensitivity bad and mold toxicity and candida and my thyroid doesn’t produce t3 my environmental Dr said. Please email me and tell me how I can help myself my gallbladder was removed when I was in my twenties I’m 58 now.. I’m so toxic and am being affected by mold and have nonstop metal taste in mouth and I have no teeth left.. I feel like everything I breath in goes right into my brain and then tissue and my lymph.. My lymph is so backed up I have shingles on the back of my leg that’s what happens when I get really toxic.. I keep saying momma outloud randomly and not on purpose.. My left eye keeps doing something weird and my nose and vaginal area stay dried out and lips stay sticky.. If you touch anywhere on me I’m sore and the includes my throat. If I squeeze myself I get brain symptoms worse.. Everything in environment bothers me.. Keep getting weird bumps on skin and little tiny things that get out really small randomly mostly on upper back and face.. My feet go numb.. There is mold in our house.. Please respond back to me
I’m sorry to hear you are struggling right now. Legally, I can’t give personal health advice unless you are a client. Please contact my office and they can get you set up for a consult or a Lab Analysis service. Biodynamic Wellness 858.259.6000 I work with all clients long-distance and am happy to help!
What would you advice to eat all Day of you have a disease which probably is related on the liver but also have Trouble with more fats and being underweighted
It’s hard to say without knowing your full health history and reviewing your labs. If you’d like to book a consult or lab analysis, please contact my office. I’m happy to help! Biodynamic Wellness 858.259.6000
Do you also work with Canadian clients? Or are you only able to offer your services within the States? Thanks for information! Love your website and am glad to have stumbled across it. 🙂
I’m not taking new clients, but if you’re looking for help for thyroid disease, adrenal imbalance, blood sugar, liver detox, etc. my online course would be a great fit. You can read more about it here: http://www.deliciouslyorganic.net/thyroid-online-course
Hi carrie. I dont have celtic salt with me now . Can i use Himalayan pink salt instead?
Yes, that will work.
I also have that mutation what can I do to help myself thanks
The items listed above along with avoiding processed foods, folic acid, and getting plenty of folate in your diet are all ways to help.
Thank you Carrie! I purchased a castor oil kit last year and STILL have not made the time to use it 3 times/week – AND still haven’t made the beet kvass. Apparently, I can be my own worst enemy at times. However, hubby had cancer last year AND recently suffered a stroke. Finding “me” time is fleeting. 🙁 Thanks for all your expertise – I’ve been following you for YEARS!!
You’re welcome! I can understand needing to take care of others and having a hard time to squeeze things in. Even the smallest baby steps can help! 🙂
Can I take chlorella when I have hashimotos?
I recommend asking your practitioner about which supplements are best for you.
I love everything you write, thank you SO MUCH for all the free and accessible support.
That being said, what if someone is doing everything you list here and still having signs of liver/GB issues?
Thank you! If you’re still having issues, then I recommend booking a consult with me so I can dive into your health history and write you a personalized protocol.
What if you don’t have a galbladder. Will that effect the liver cleanse? Do you have to do something different since you don’t get bile from the galbladder anymore and the liver has to work more to create bile.
Yes, taking steps like this is ok to do if you don’t have a gallbladder, but only if you’re taking bile salts at each meal to enable the body to absorb and utilize the healthy fats in the diet. Cholacol from Standard Process is the one we use at our office.
Hello I would also like to know what if you don’t have a gallbladder. Would this cleanse still work with out a gallbladder. Thanks Anita
Yes, taking steps like this is ok to do if you don’t have a gallbladder, but only if you’re taking bile salts at each meal to enable the body to absorb and utilize the healthy fats in the diet. Cholacol from Standard Process is the one we use at our office.
Is there a difference between bile salts and ox bile?
I’m curious too. I hope she replies back to your question.
Wondering why castor oil packs are bad for IUD’s I’ve never heard this before.
There’s a risk of the IUD leaching copper into the system.
Hi Carrie. What if you don’t have a copper IUD? I have the mirena IUD – would you still advise against using the castor oil packs?
I would just make sure to only do the pack over your liver and never over your lower abdomen.
When you say, “drink a small glass of beet Kvaas first thing in the morning”, how many ounces are you suggesting? Also, my husband has had severe bouts with gout in the past, he has been symptom free for five years. Once he was told to stay away from beets, do they have an effect on gout?
I am wondering what your response is to Karen regarding the amount of Kvass each morning and also the effect beets have on gout. I had a blood transfusion in Dec of 2016 because my iron levels were so low , apparently life threatening. I was told to take GNC max iron which I did for almost a year. I have learned that taking iron may quite possibly be the worst thing I could do for my anemia and could very much relate to the symptoms of iron overdose. Brain fog, memory loss , etc. I had all my amalgam fillings removed about 15 years ago. Thank you for any suggestions you can make.
Hey Karin – You can do anywhere between 4-8 ounces. Gout is rooted in blood sugar imbalance, so taking steps to reduce sugar and grains, and then decongest the liver can help immensely! We have some drainage therapies at the office that he might find helpful. Give us a call if you’d like to order them. 🙂
Hi, thank you for your invaluable information. The tip of my tongue and the sides are extremely red and the tip burns and sometimes feels numb. My lips are also red and they are dry sometimes to the point of slightly sticking together or sticking to my teeth. I noticed this slowly happening for the last 3 weeks. Does this mean I need a Liver Cleanse?
Hi Carrie. I appreciate you so very much. I’ve always been a die hard “large glass of water first thing after waking every a.m.” kind of person. Should the kvass be drank/drunk(?) before or after the water. How much “wait time” would you recommend allowing between the two?
I would also like to know the answer to the question above by Melanie
You can drink this in the morning along with a glass of water.
Can I add the salt that’s recommended on water to the kavas?
Wow! This stuff is soooo salty. It’s odd to have such a salty drink first thing in the morning. Can I dilute it? Thank you.
Yes, you can dilute it. 🙂
Thank you, Carrie. Have a magnificent week.
How much water should we be adding to the beet? You say a 2quart jar and cover the beets… I tried this and it’s very salty, if I dilute how much is too much ?
hi! I coincidently found your post (looking for your lemon pie haha) the day before my husband and I are to begin a ‘bowel and liver 12 day detox’! We’ve been drinkers of our fav juiced ‘beet,carrot,apple’ drink in times of stress and find it refreshing. Have also known beets to be a natural liver cleaner….so before we try your Kvass (first heard of by either of us) I’m just curious what you do with the beets afterwards AND why this vs juicing the beets ? Thanks!
I throw the beets out afterwards. The fermentation process makes the beet kvass better for the body, so that’s why it’s better to use it over regular beet juice. 🙂
Hi Carrie,
My daughter has one copy of each MTHFR and also has Fatty Liver among other issues. She doesn’t eat meat at all. We have done the HTMA and can see there are a lot of minerals out of balance.
We have no clue on what she should eat or how to reverse the Fatty Liver.
She also has been over waxxed, deppo, hpv, hep b. She is 35 and has been ill since she was 17.
Can you help??
Thanks so much,
Robyn
I’m happy to help! Please give my office a call to book a consult. Here’s the info: Biodynamic Wellness 858.259.6000
What about fruits?
Do you know the opinion of medical medium??
It’s so contradictional but so many results for lots of disease….
I’m so in doubt
Do you need to use a starter culture to make Beet Kvass? I’ve seen recipes saying to use one and others that don’t use one. Which is correct? I’ve also seen recipes that say to ferment it anywhere from a day or two to nearly two weeks.
You don’t need a starter culture for beet kvass. Just water, beets and some salt will do the trick! And, if you let it ferment for longer than a few days, it will usually start to mold, so I don’t recommend a long ferment.
Very useful information.
I am v intrigued reading all your information. Liver cleansing especially. I am a firm believer of a healthy liver. Is kvaas something to be taken daily 7 days a week? And any breaks. What about a blended juice of beet carrot apple lemon parsley? Is there any need to mix and matching these? Can I have a phone consult with you?
You can drink the kvass daily if you’d like. You can give our office, Biodynamic Wellness, a call to book a consult – 858.259.6000
I’m curios as to why a castor oil pack isn’t recommended during menses. Even if the oil pack is over the liver and not on the lower abdomen? Thank you!
Sandraboggs1960@gmail.com
Where is your office located?
I have been struggling with severe fatty liver symptoms I want my life back. Looking for best way to reverse and heal the liver. HELP
We are located in Solana Beach, CA, but I work with all clients long distance. If you give our office a call they can schedule a consult. I’m happy to help! Biodynamic Wellness 858.259.6000
Every time I do a castor oil pack (even if it’s only 20 minutes) it causes me to bleed..start my period no matter where I’m at in my cycle. Do you know what causes this? I use only hexaine free castor oil. I haven’t found anyone that knows why but have heard other ladies say the same. Any knowledge about this? Thank you for your wonderful info! Sincerely, Nicole L.
That’s not a normal symptom and I’ve never heard of anyone describe the same symptom. I would definitely stop doing them and talk to your doctor.
Hi. I have researched detox especially liver detox and the NAtursl paths or functional medicine doctors tell us not to eat butter or ghee during detox. Do this information is confusing
Animal fats such as butter and ghee contain Vitamin A which is the preferred vitamin of the liver and essential for detox. You need to be eating fats when detoxing so the gallbladder gets the signal to send the bile out into the small intestine to then be carried out via the bowels.
What if you do not have a gallbladder
I’ve seen different beet kvass recipes online. Most say to
Cover the jar with a lid and burp in order to get the right fermentation. You don’t have this step. What’s the difference?
Hi Carrie! I read to store the flannel with Castro oil in the glass container, do we keep that in the fridge or just at room temp? Thanks so much for all this great info!
Room temp. 🙂
Hi Carrie. I’ve seen a lot of articles on the internet about Dr. Gundry. Thoughts on this supplement?
Thanks!
Danielle
I’m not familiar with his supplements, so I can’t comment one way or another.
Is this ok to drink when pregnant? I have so many of the symptoms of a toxic liver and am looking of ways to do it naturally and safely while pregnant!
Good morning I have a under active thyroid and take 100 levotyroxine do I have to take this or is there a natural different way . And why do we get this I’m 53 yrs old
Legally, I can’t tell you what you can or can’t do with medications. You always need to talk to your doctor about this.
These two articles might help answer some questions about why hypothyroidism happens and steps to take:
https://deliciouslyorganic.net/how-to-reduce-tsh-naturally-hypothyroid/
https://deliciouslyorganic.net/hypothyroidism-symptoms-cause-levels-thyroid-disease/
Can you use any brand of sea salt?
I recommend Celtic sea salt, but if you have a favorite unprocessed sea salt that would work fine.
I use Himalayan Pink salt for my morning water as it also has 80+ minerals etc. and I’m concerned that seA salt could contaminated with radiation and other chemicals what is your opinion on that?
If there are high amounts of radiation in the Celtic Sea and you’re concerned about this, I’d call the company and ask them about testing they have done.
Hi Carrie! Could you please give more detail regarding your response? I just purchased the Celtic Sea Salt, and now reading about radiation in your response. I’d appreciate clarification. Thanks!
A reader was saying they are concerned about radiation in the water, so I told them to call the company to get details on that.
a huge thanks, all the way from hyd india. for sharing info about hypothyroidism adrenal fatigue and steps ,to take.
GOD BLESS YOU
You’re welcome! 🙂
I have heard about the results of Super MIC B12 for liver cleansing. Are they are a natural way to do liver detoxification. The reviews of this product are also very positive. But I am a little bit confused. Can you please suggest I have to bought B12 Lipo Shots (Super MIC B12) or not.
I recommend talking to your practitioner about what’s best for your situation.
I have a fatty liver and would like to try the castor oil pack but I don’t know what it is. Can you please explain. Thank you.
If you click on the words “castor oil pack” it will take you to an article that explains exactly how to do them.
This is a lazy question – would canned beets work for the kvass?
I recommend raw beets and just cut into 4-6 pieces.
Hello, if you follow these steps and maybe also do something like the Standard Process Bowel Detox- can it make liver spots (especially facial) go away?
Is there any way to make them go away- healing and restoration at a cellular level?
I’m not sure what kind of protocol would be best for you, but yes, many people can get rid of liver spots on the face. If you’d like some one-on-one help with this, please give my office, Biodynamic Wellness, a call and they can get you set up for a consult or Lab Analysis Service. http://www.biodynamicwellness.com
Thank you for all of your helpful information! Should I use just enough water to cover the beets or fill up the 2 qt container to the top with water? Thanks in advance!
Cover them with water. 🙂
Hi Carrie: I prepared the beets as per your instructions. I divided the drink into two bottles since I didn’t have. 2 quart bottle. After the third day, one bottle had a little bit of fizz on top but the other had what seemed like some white foam. I am not sure if this one is safe to drink. Thanks,
I often have white foam on the top as well and I just skim it off. As long as it smells ok, then it’s probably just fine. 🙂
In tip #1, does healthy forms of sugar include fruits, raw honey, and/or organic maple syrup?
Yes, this includes fruits, honey, etc.
Hi Carrie: I was skimming the internet when I came upon this site,,,,,,,,,,so grateful because I’m on a 28 day.s juice fasting,…..beet, carrots, celery. tumeric. ginger, in addition to chinese herbs, by a holistic doctor (from Carolina), apparently for a liver cleanse. i have hypothyroidism for many years but recently my face. neck, hands below the wrist and my feet below the ankles, just started getting black! I am not told why but he has put me on this 28 days juice fasting,,,,,,,,NO FOOD! These ques and answers are very similar to what I am experiencing……..metallic taste, itchy skin, etc. Could this be liver problem? do you believe I’m being treated correctly?.
I’m so glad you found me! It’s hard to know exactly what’s going on with your symptoms, but if you’re having negative symptoms I would definitely talk to your doctor.
Are there really 1000 calories in the beet kvass? That would be almost all my calories for the day!
The nutrition software can be glitchy. It contains hardly any calories.
Any recommendations if I no longer have a gallbladder? How do you detox a liver without a gallbladder?
I have various health issues and now feel my liver is in trouble. I am 75 and want to do the liver cleanse as you suggest – no energy at all and had enough of the medical world! Am on strong pain killers – could these suffer if I follow the beet drink? Am very bloated and uncomfortable. Cannot believe I said I was 75, but it is true.
The beet kvass can be a great place to start!
Thanka a lot for the information. Please, I need more details on gallstone flush . Can you help with a contact or an email. I need someone to guide me.
If you give our office, Biodynamic Wellness, a call, you can book a short consult where one of our practitioners will go over the flush with you and then we can send the protocol and necessary supplements. 858.259.6000
I’m nonalcoholic and don’t have any other body problems. Why I always in pain near my liver area? This pain is frequent after I delivered a baby. Consulted doctor but no root cause detected. Please help me.
Legally, I can’t give personal health advice unless you’re a client, so I recommend talking to your practitioner.
So after I have been doing the liver detox I find myself super emotional. Like I will just start breaking down crying afterwards. Or I will snap angrily at my husband over something so little. Is this normal? Should I stop the detoxing, or is this just part of the process? Thanks!
We can see emotions well up when supporting the liver. I’m not sure which detox program you’re on, or if you’re following some of the steps listed here, but if you continue to see negative symptoms, I recommend talking to your practitioner about what’s best for you. 🙂
Hi Carrie!
I know I need to support my liver (I have most of the symptoms listed in the article) but I can not stand even the smell of beets! Is there any benefit to drinking the kvass super diluted?
I start my day drinking lemon water with the juice from one lemon. Do you thinking the beet kvass provides better support for my liver? Should I alternate days, one lemon juice, one beet kvass? Or perhaps have one later in the day?
It does provide more support for the liver and gallbladder.
Hi – I made this recipe but it did not turn out dark like the picture, it’s more like a pink
Color, wondering if I did something wrong or if it’s ok to be pink?
Sometimes it’s a lighter pink and sometimes it’s darker. I’ve never figured out why exactly.
Hi – great recipe, thank you! I’ve heard you mention different amounts to drink daily for a liver cleanse – 2oz and 4oz. Do you have a preference?
You can start with 2 ounces and then work up to 4 ounces. It’s best to start slow and see how you feel.
I appreciate the balanced approach in this article. Rather than focusing on quick fixes, you highlighted sustainable lifestyle habits that support overall health. The practical tips on nutrition, hydration, and daily routines make this a helpful resource for anyone looking to make healthier choices over the long term. Thanks for sharing these thoughtful insights.