The Master Cleanse is clearly known to affect menstruation largely from thicker heavier flows.
Stanley Burroughs, inventor of The Master Cleanser, doesn’t specifically say one way or another that the cleanse is safe for menstruating women but he had a special tip regarding lemon skins and the effects on menstrual periods:
Blend a part of the lemon skin and pulp with the lemonade in a blender for further cleansing and laxative effect. (Note: commercially procured lemons may have had their skins dyed with yellow coloring and may have been subjected to poisonous insect sprays— be sure to peel off the outer skin if you cannot get uncolored, organically grown lemons.) The properties in the lemon skin also act as a haemostatic to prevent excess bleeding and to prevent clotting internally should there be any such prevailing condition. (Don’t worry— normal conditions will continue during menstrual periods.)
When considering this tip, one can infer that he felt the master cleanse was perfectly safe for during menstruation.
Common Effects of The Master Cleanse on Periods
- Early and Late Periods: Can come early. While on the cleanse their menstrual cycle started at a different time of the month than usual
- Heavy Periods: If it is heavy, but you are not feeling tired, a lack of energy or weak due to the heavy flow, then also, don’t worry. Many women report discharges are often darker and heavier, but only temporarily.
- Missed Periods: Not commonly reported.
Tips for Master Cleansing and Menstruation
Bad Cramps? Try taking a little more than one-half teaspoon of cayenne, and put it on the back of your tongue, and take a drink of lemonade. The cramping has been reported to stop instantly while producing an immediate elimination afterwards helping with with menstruation cramps.
If your problems don’t go away after a couple days off the cleanse, I would see a doctor. If they do go away, you might want to consider putting yourself on a health-restoring regimen for several months.
I’m on day five of the MC. I’m thinking about doing it for a total of seven days. Everything went well until now. It’s only today that I could start the Saltwater flush as I would be near a toilet. So today, I woke up at 7:00 Am, drank 32 ounces of warm water mixed with 2 teaspoons of uniodized, natural salt. I drank it but I didn’t have the immediate reaction of going to the bathroom. Instead, I went twice to the bathroom to flush out little liquid. I feel extremely weak and this is day 2 of my period. I feel like I’m going to faint unless I sleep more. I’ve been slowly rehydrating myself. I am also craving protein like I never have before, but I am controlling myself. I went through 4 days of hardship and I don’t want to give up now. Any words of wisdom and/or encouragement?
i got my period while on the cleanse. only thing i noticed was that it was lighter the first few days, and so, consequently, it lasted longer (compared to my usual heavy and fast periods). other than that, nothing else. or rather, no cramps, less pms, very much less headaches too
Hi seewhatwesee, I believe that it would be very unlikely that your doctor would support this program. Allopathic /mainstream medicine has a very different foundation/beliefs/ structure. This is quite an alternative and holistic approach with the foundation being that all illness is a result of toxicity within the body. I am currently on day 18 of my second cleanse {first being that10 days}. feel fantastic! When the body does not have to digest food it can then fully turn to releasing toxins, poisons and unessesary wastes{ that are the cause of imbalances and symptoms within the body {and mind and emotions}
There is an emotional cause of all illness and
allergies relates to having the belief that you are denying your own power, feeling powerless or there is somebody in your life that get under your skin , you are reacting. The physical symptoms are an indicator of a false idea or false belief that youyou are holding in consciousness. I would suggest that you read about the master cleanse to gain a greater understanding of the process.
Before I say anything, I just want you to know I am going to talk to my doctor about this, I am just asking for some opinions here.
So I’m a teenager with a LOT of problems. None of them my fault. :/ My immune system is a drama queen and overeacts to every little thing my body comes across, including dander, dust, grass, bright lights, etc and I have to take Vitamin D1 and Singular to help calm it down. For allergy control, I have to do nose sprays, gargle salt water, etc. I also have PCOS and have to take birth control to control that. I’m just wondering if any of you have a very distinct “NO! Don’t do this!” vibe. :/ A symptom of PCOS is obesity, and my doctors have suggested eating foods with a glycemic index under 60, but the majority of those foods fall under The Dirty Dozen and other heavily pesticided groups. My body doesn’t handle pesticides well and organic food is to expensive for my mom and I. No fifteen year old should have to spend high school at 230 pnds. ):
Any advice- whether for this cleanse or any other- will be GREATLY appreciated. Please respond. <3
Hi, I am on day 35 out of 40 of the MC. I like this cleanse as a detox and I feel great but don’t use this cleanse just to lose weight. If you want to lose weight and keep it off you need to change your lifestyle of eating. Look up the paleo diet it is easy to follow and that is How everyone should eat. That is how I eat when I’m not cleansing and you will lose weight just by eating good and counting your calories so you don’t over eat. And work out!
I am reading this because I am doing the cleanse for a second time, (first time was a complete success, I felt wonderful) I do this for my health, NOT for weight loss, I am at my ideal weight, and I believe people should know that the cleanse was NOT designed for the purpose of losing weight!!, and any weight you lose on it will be GAINED as soon as you pick up your normal eating habits..
that being said, during this second time, I am going to be on my period, and was wondering what other people’s experiences with that have been, and I am SHOCKED to find people complaining about feeling sick, while they are taking BIRTH CONTROL and IBUPROFEN. these are very strong synthetic hormones that are extremely difficult for the body to EVER flush out (toxic!) and ibuprofen a drug (also toxic!) … I am not judging, but URGING people to re-evaluate their ideas about this CLEANSE, it is called a CLEANSE, it was designed more than a century ago to DETOXIFY, why would you toxify it further while on it??
I am currently on Day 6 and am doing this cleanse to detoxify. I eat a light diet with no processed foods. I am at my ideal weight (5’7, 123 lbs.) and so far, have not lost any weight, which is fine.
That said, I got my period on Day 2 of the cleanse and did not have any symptoms. I have been experiencing irregular periods these last few months and this was the most “normal” period I’ve had in a long time. No cramps, no food cravings, maybe a little bloating, which could explain the fact that I haven’t lost any weight so far. All in all, I had no problems doing the cleanse while menstruating. Everyone is different, but I wouldn’t postpone the cleanse just because having a period. Hope this helps…
Diet Day #6:
This is my second time doing the Master Cleanse. I had good results the first time. I lost ten pounds in 7 days and was able to curb some bad eating habbits. My body felt great, I slept better, had energy, and was much more ‘alert”.
My hubby is trying the “diet” with me this time. We do NOT do the salt-water,.. I just cannot handle the taste and amount. We drink the tea in the am & pm,… works just fine.
My period was due 2 days before starting day one of the diet (it often varies by a day or two),… We did NOT “Ease-In”,.. we drank the tea the night before then started Day #1 of the diet.
I normally have pretty moderate cramps that lead into a VERY heavy 1st day with progressing cramps to VERY Bad & painful,… usually only on day one/also the heaviest day of bleeding.
I woke up on Day#2 of the Diet and already felt GREAT,… all my usual-day-to-day bloating was GONE already and I started spotting just very lightly,.. minimal to non-existant cramping.
Day#3 of the Diet was my “heavy day”, if you could even call it that. Admittedly,.. I did take 800mg of IBuprofen early in the morning because I had a 12.5 hr work day to make it through and was expecting the “usual” -horribly rotten menstruation day 1″,… much to my surprise and delightment,.. I had THE LIGHTEST/MOST EASY period I’ve had in YEARS! I’m 34 y/o, usually pretty regular and consistent periods.
My hubby and I hit the gym and ran a few miles on Diet Days #2 & #4. I admittedly pushed myself HARD,… I’m not a gym-rat,.. could stand to lose a few pounds and just go to the gym a handful of times a month (if its a good month),.. I had plenty of energy to run/work out. felt great,… just drink your lemonade throughout the day! ;)P
I actually started my period on day 6 and i was totally shocked. Usually I see it coming because my breasts get really swollen and i get cramps, but I didn’t have any PMS symptoms. The only thing it throws off a bit is the tracking of your weight loss because it does give you some unexpected bloat. Otherwise, no worries!
It never occurred to me that my birth control would be flushed out of my system too quickly for it to dissolve until day 7 when I got my period. Felt it coming around day 6, but thought it was just cramping from the tea. I felt horrible. Headaches, weakness, muscle pains, loss of concentration, dizziness, etc. I also work a physically demanding job and had a very long shift. I’m currently on day 8 and thinking of giving up. Thought a massage on day 6 would help the muscle tightness, but ended up with bruising and tons of swelling. I have lost 8 lbs, but the costs aren’t really outweighing the benefits.
Ease out day 1
I started my period while on the master cleanse and I found it to be very easy for me. I had much less cramping and bloating than I would normally have and my flow has lighten quite a bit, which I explain to myself with what I had been told by a herbalist that when we have our periods that our bodies also excrete an amount of the toxic buildup we have in our system at the same time, so my conclusion was that there were less toxins for it to release.
But each woman is different, each body is different so your experience may be different.
I’ve done the Master cleanse detox previously with great results. However, starting my recent attempt I had a strong ‘healing reaction’ that I suspect are an internal reaction from using fresh lemon (both previous times I made a batch up at the start of my day) and the cayenne pepper. I am aware that my body generally has become intolerant to hot spice/ heat & I my constitution has become sensitive to sour foods (often causing ulcers on my tongue). As a result I got very sick, causing a intolerable headache, sweating & vomiting so I had to stop the cleanse. I have been a healthy vegetarian for over 23 years and I can only conclude that as my body has changed this cleanse is no longer conducive with my body. Everyone is different & our bodies are constantly changing but I can strongly account for my previous success of maintaining the cleanse for 10 days, which I used to do twice a year. Any thoughts/ suggestions on my comments would be greatly appreciated.