Dry skin and Livatone Plus

[conancillo]

Hi Shelley:

I have been suffering from very dry skin since long time ago, probably from the accutane that I took back in 1997. I have also been noticing some wrinkles above my cheekbones.

Could you recommend me something to apply topically (maybe a cream) or any foods/supplements to smooth my dry skin?

Also, I just got some Livatone Plus capsules and would like to know how do you recommend me to take them and for how long?

Is it ok to take them before/after liver flushing? I know that I must stop them on the day of the flush.

Thanks for your help,
RMA

[shelley]

Hi Hi! So nice to hear from you.

I too struggle with dry skin thanks to being a Vata and currently we're having Santa Ana wind conditions, which is a very blustery wind with not much moisture. Yeesh! I broke down and bought a commercial moisturizer from the health food store that has very few additives and preservatives, and most of the ingredients are organic. It's called Jason, with the long A symbol over the A, and the oo symbol over the o (gosh I forget the actual names of these symbols which is pretty bad for an English teacher LOL!). I got the one that is 86% aloe vera and I'm liking it a lot.

But when I have time, I use avocado. In the Kitchen forum is a post all about Avocado and it includes a recipe for using avocado as a moisturizer, facial cleanser, etc. For more intense moisturizing you can add vegetable glycerine.

I also adore EVcoconut oil. I simply heat it up enough to become liquid and apply to clean skin.

Internally, what you want to do is get plenty of fluids and plenty of good oils - coconut, almond, and dairy fats in particular. The Protein Shake when eaten regularly will give you very beautiful skin. Also good is what I call "Skin food" which is explained in the FAQ. Wheat germ oil, zinc, fish oils, Emergen-C, etc.

Now wrinkles are not so much from dryness as from a lack of muscle tone keeping the skin taut. For that, nothing beats massage. I have an electric massager and when kicking back and watching TV I try to remember to give my face a once-over. You can also do facial exercises. It's on my list of things to post someday.

It's important to address both internal and external moisturizing and nutrition for healthy, beautiful skin.

As for Livatone Plus, take whatever the recommended dose is on the bottle, stopping on the day of the flush and the day after, then resuming. When you're about 3-4 days along after the flush, try upping the dose by taking a second dose at another time of the day and see how you feel. If you get a headache, stay at that dose for awhile until the headache goes away, or reduce, whichever you prefer. Then you can decide whether you want to stay at that level or increase it again. See, when we are detoxing, the trick is to be slightly uncomfortable so we know that things are happening, poisons are leaving, but not so uncomfortable that we become miserable. Make sense?

[conancillo]

Thanks a lot for your detailed response Shelley.

I just have another question.

I read somewhere from you that milk thistle shouldn't be taken for long periods of time, because of the effect it has on the liver cells.

Let's say that I take one month's supply. When should I reintroduce it, or one month would be enougb for liver detox purposes.

Thanks for your advise,
RMA

[shelley]

One month of MT should be enough. wait a month, check your symptoms list, and if it seems necessary start it up again. And you can always find a liver cleanser that doesn't have milk thistle, such as Julia's Chinese Bitters, and simply use that one for awhile before going back on the cheaper ones that do.