Tongue coating

[Peter]

The coating on the tongue is something Burroughs mentions briefly in his book, The Master Cleanser, on page 27. He says, "One of the best signals of the completed diet is when the formerly coated and fuzzy tongue is clear pink and clean looking. During the diet it becomes very badly coated."

In case you're interested, here are two links to traditional chinese medicine websites that talk about diagnosing the patient by tongue color and texture.

Before I send you there, I'd like to tell you I've gone through the furry tongue phase on the MC. I decided to do the cleanse until my tongue was pink. It took 20 days. A friend did it and it took him 26. The tongue does get coated with white cheezy stuff as you're detoxing. It does clear up if you continue.

http://www.beyondwellbeing.com/html/tongueform.htm

[ajbruno]

I can vouch for the white tongue thing. I did 10 days first cleanse and was only starting to get some pink back. I am on my second cleanse and day two is a completely white tongue, headache for 24+ hours, and saltwater is a "pass through" nothing with it. Last time I did this day 3 was an energy boost, I am hoping that will kick in tomorrow. The mint tea has really helped the way my mouth feels.

[max1]

my tongue was coated for all 10 days for at least three fasts...after fasting 13 times I finally have a pink tongue...I've learned that having a pink tongue after the very first fast does not necessarily mean your body is clean.....

[carleyq]

I am on day two right now and my tounge is coated to a point that i feel slimy and gross. i tried to gargle with salt to clear it some. it didn't work.
yuuck. i guess this means i have alot of toxins to clear.

[Peter]

Hi Carleyq and welcome to the bulletin board. :)

You can brush your tongue just like you brush your teeth, but if you do, it'll take a couple of days for your tongue to accurately reflect all the junk being eliminated (get coated again).

Peter

[debbysuebee]

I have been through the white coating to the yellowish white to yellowish-brown to greenish-brown. Is this just a reflection of the toxins that are being removed?

Has anyone else had this happen?

[Peter]

Yup! Ain't it grand?! :D

[gina23]

Hi to everyone with concerns and frustrations with their tongues. I happen to be a registered dental assistant and have a little experience with the tongue and it's hygiene. The toothbrush as wonderful as it is doesn't clean the tongue like it should. Someone out there created a wonderful device called a tongue scraper. Not to be confused with a tongue brush. I do the scraper usually 3 times a day but finding that with this cleanse am doing it much more frequent. It is amazing what will come off of it. Go to your local drug store and ask for a tongue scraper and look for one that has deep grooves so it really gets in there and cleans out the bactereia. Hope this helps!!!!! :P

[debbysuebee]

:P Thanks, I'm glad to know that others have had all the different stuff on their tongues.

I also work in the same small building with two dental practices, so I won't have any trouble getting a tongue scraper from them.

I am now on day 21 of my first MC and it seemed like it took me awhile before I really started getting anything getting any toxins and other gunk to get loose, so I just figured I'd better keep going. I have been feeling fantastic and have been able to teach my excercise classes without fatigue which blows my mind because i had trouble with getting tired before I started the Cleanse.

I just thank God for bringing me to this healthful practice.

Deb

[CrazeeKat]

Deb, I just read in your post that you are also a fitness instructor and I'm so happy to read that you were able to teach and still have energy. I'm been so worried about my energy level. My classes are usually very high energy and my class loves it. I'd hate to dissappoint them. However, after reading your post gives me hope. Thank you.

[carltonh]

As an aside, when I was probably in high school I realized that if I had a sore throat, if I scraped my tongue with a spoon that it would immediately go away for several hours. I could repeat as necessary till whatever I had subsided. It was much better than cough drops and without any sugar.

Since I've been on a healthy diet the past year I had forgotten about this, but it is a completely non-toxic and free if you own a spoon! Just don't gag yourself doing it.

[Guest]

How long after say a 10 day cleanse will it take for the tongue to clear if it hasnt by the time you've reached the 10 day goal?And does tongue coating automatically happen for everyone?


Thanks,Ted

[Peter]

Hi Ted, :)

Tongue coating usually happens. I've heard of a few people who didn't have any tongue coating. Perhaps they were in great shape or perhaps they didn't follow instructions.

It's no problem if one quits before their tongue turns clear pink. The coating generally goes back to "normal" in a few days.

Peter

[Guest]

Hello All, I was on the Master Cleanse for 15 days...My tonge got really thick and white (proper name: "Thrush"
Before I started the MC I already had a white Tonge which is a sign of a Toxic Body (A over growth of "Yeast and Bacteria problem")....Which Leads to so many problems, aches and pains in the joints, headaches, bloating Brian fogg....
So if anybody Could answer this question....can the Master Cleanse fully cure Yeast and Bacteria problems better know as "Candida"????...I have done the research and found out that when the body is in this condition, it has become a "Acidic Body"....When U use the Master Cleanse, U being to Alkalize the body...which is a good thing!
I start my Cleanse Jan, 06, 2005....

Mark

[Peter]

Hello Mark Leon, welcome to the bb. :)

I am not a licensed health care practitioner and so cannot diagnose, treat, prescribe or cure.

However, I know of one case where the MC eliminated the symptoms of candida by the end of the cleanse. I know of no cases where anyone has reported worsened cases of candida.

Victoria Boutenko, a raw foodist and author, spoke about a 7 day fat free diet that eliminated yeast problems. So, the above makes sense to me. Also, the disappearance of the symptoms you cite of yeast infections are often mentioned in the reports of people who complete the MC.

I think you'll have to try it and see.

By the way, a white tongue coating during the Master Cleanse is not the same as thrush. Thrush causes sores (lesions) on the tongue and mouth, whereas the coating doesn't usually affect the underlying structure of the tongue in any of the people I've observed.

I hope this helps,
Peter

[jadam]

I really need someone to answer a question for me, please. I've always brushed my tongue when I brushed my teeth and during the cleanse was no different. Plus, I started 'scraping' my tongue like one of the earlier posts said. However, I've never noticed any heavy white coating on my tongue. Not even anything I'm scraping off seems like this to me. So, am I actually detoxing? Am I doing something wrong?

Here's what I'm doing (exactly) and I'm at the end of my 5th day:
- In the am, I do the swf by putting 2 tsp of dry sea salt on my tongue and chasing it w/ a quart of water. I get the same results as I did the one day I did it normal and gagged the entire time (horrible!).
- I've drank 6 lemonades each day. However, I can't handle the cayenne (any amt) in my lemonade to drink, so I make a shot of the lemon juice, syrup (1 Tbsp), and cayenne (I'm finally up to a 'dash'. I started out w/ a 'smidgen'.) and chase it down w/ 8 - 10 oz of water. I can handle it that way. It's usually kept me satisfied until today (day 5).
- In the pm, I make a cup of the herbal laxative tea w/ 1 Tbsp of syrup (since I use so much less in all my lemonade shots). It usually wakes me in the morning w/ my first mvmts before I ever do the swf.
- I drink a lot of water throughout the day and I haven't cheated at all.

Typically, I feel better earlier in the day after the swf, but start to feel draggy about 6pm each evening. I also started my cycle yesterday, so I'm not sure how it's effecting things.

I just would like to know if the way I'm taking everything would cause me NOT to detox. And, if I need to just quite brushing and scraping my tongue to see if it even would get this coating that everyone's talking about.

Thanks!
Jennifer

[Guest]

I am on day 5 and I have no coating on my tongue. I am following the MC carefully, except I SWF 16 oz. intsead of 32, because 32 makes me vomit. 16oz. does the trick very well. :P I am NOT in great shape, so it's not because I have a toxin free bod..... Does this mean the MC is not working?

[Peter]

Hi Joy,

There are five indications of detoxing: cravings, tiredness, aches and pains, irritability or boredom, and hot eliminations. If you have one or more of these you're detoxing.

You'll do better if you do the whole 32 oz. of salt water. I understand that it made you vomit once, but I recommend you try it again with perhaps less non-iodized sea salt (type of salt makes a BIG difference).

Peter

[Guest]

Peter,

About the fuzzy tongue thing - in Arnold Ehret's book "Mucusless Diet Healing System" he says that it is not always advisable to do a fast until you get a clear tongue because it is possible to have ill effects from fasting too long. What do you think of this? Of course he suggests that during a fast you have to monitor the (patient's) symptoms. Just wanted to get your take on this.

[MikeL]

I'm on Day 27 (MC 1), and my tongue is still white down the middle, pink on the rest, but at the back of my throat, it's white all the way across and on down.

I'm going to day 30, but was hoping to have clear tongue by then. Maybe too much candida.

I did find that using 'Tea Tree' toothpaste (at health food store) was great for your breath.
They also have tooth picks called 'Tea Tree Australian Chewing Sticks' that help your breath while around others. :)

[Guest]

I am worried about my tongue. It is slightly coated but also has areas that my dentist told me was "graphic tongue". This is the end of my 9th day and I really havevn't had any problems except for my tongue. Before the clease things such as tomatoes would make it worse. I was hoping the clease would help with this. Any suggestions? ???

[Halo]

I would also really like to know if it is okay to take the salt all at once and wash it down with water. What a great idea!

I have failed the cleanse twice, but I'm not giving up until I finish. I'm starting to wonder if part of my problem was that I didn't do the salt water wash in the morning. I did the herbal tea twice daily instead since the salt water made me gag. The idea of doing it in a shot sounds possible. But is it okay to do, or is it altering the diet?

I really need someone to answer a question for me, please. *I've always brushed my tongue when I brushed my teeth and during the cleanse was no different. *Plus, I started 'scraping' my tongue like one of the earlier posts said. *However, I've never noticed any heavy white coating on my tongue. *Not even anything I'm scraping off seems like this to me. *So, am I actually detoxing? *Am I doing something wrong? *

Here's what I'm doing (exactly) and I'm at the end of my 5th day:
- In the am, I do the swf by putting 2 tsp of dry sea salt on my tongue and chasing it w/ a quart of water. *I get the same results as I did the one day I did it normal and gagged the entire time (horrible!).
- I've drank 6 lemonades each day. * However, I can't handle the cayenne (any amt) in my lemonade to drink, so I make a shot of the lemon juice, syrup (1 Tbsp), and cayenne (I'm finally up to a 'dash'. *I started out w/ a 'smidgen'.) and chase it down w/ 8 - 10 oz of water. *I can handle it that way. *It's usually kept me satisfied until today (day 5).
- In the pm, I make a cup of the herbal laxative tea w/ 1 Tbsp of syrup (since I use so much less in all my lemonade shots). *It usually wakes me in the morning w/ my first mvmts before I ever do the swf.
- I drink a lot of water throughout the day and I haven't cheated at all.

Typically, I feel better earlier in the day after the swf, but start to feel draggy about 6pm each evening. *I also started my cycle yesterday, so I'm not sure how it's effecting things.

I just would like to know if the way I'm taking everything would cause me NOT to detox. *And, if I need to just quite brushing and scraping my tongue to see if it even would get this coating that everyone's talking about.

Thanks!
Jennifer

[Peter]

I am worried about my tongue. *It is slightly coated but also has areas that my dentist told me was "graphic tongue". *This is the end of my 9th day and I really havevn't had any problems except for my tongue. *Before the clease things such as tomatoes would make it worse. *I was hoping the clease would help with this. *Any suggestions? ???
Hi Denise, welcome to the cleanse and this bulletin board. :)

People's tongues go through all kinds of changes on the cleanse. As for making it better, most people have decades of waste to eliminate and it takes many cleanses to completely handle it. Just take it one cleanse at a time. Enjoy the good days.

Peter 8)

[lizw]

Peter, I'm not very good at doing postings and hope this reaches you or someone else that can answer my question below.

I have been on the cleanse twice (15 days/10days). Both times have regained weight. Am going through a stressful time and when I go off cleanse, end up stress eating (more than I should at each meal and eating even after dinner). While on the cleanse I have enough willpower to stick to it religiously.

My question to you --
I've seen on the website that there are people who, after the fast and resuming normal diet, are continuing the SWF and lemonade drink as part of a daily diet.
Is this to limit food consumption or continuing a cleanse?
. Can you tell me what to do if I do not want to do a full blown cleanse at this time? Would I do the SWF, then drink lemonade (how many a day) then eat one meal?
Is the lemonade drink just lemon/water/maple syrup
or are they also adding the cyanne pepper to? If they add the pepper, then do they want to keep continually detoxing?

I desperately need to lose this regained weight and think that I might be able to manage lemonade in place of meals.
Also, is it better to do drink for breakfast, eat lunch, drink for dinner or in the evening? or doesn't matter as long as you're cutting back on food intake?
Thank you so much -- if this doesn't get to Peter, can anyone else answer this.
Thank you

[mladyJane]

Hi ,Lizzy I've been having the same problem I finished a 13 day cleanse just a couple of weeks ago and I also went crazy eating too much--I found I enjoyed the taste of food so much more.Stocking my fridge to the point of bursting didn't help any cause than I felt like I had to eat more so that it wouldn't go to waste.I've decided on my own to carry on with the lemonade drink-one in morning,as I don't eat breakfast of any kind and one in early evening 1) to carry on a mild c ontinuos cleanse and also to get the nutrition from it instead of taking something like a multi vitamin mineral tablet which isn't so natural.Yes It does work using the lemone drink as a meal replacement,eg.--me with a breaky replacer. (aparently one another site I came across there were people that after they finished they're mastercleanse liked to carry on with the lemon drink cause they found it still carried on mildly cleansing them and also acted as a fat emolsifier on the foods you ate and had stored in your body .And yes I'm still mixing up my drinks the same as I would if I were doing the mastercleanse. Hope this helps you and also that more members contact you and let you know why they are still taking the lemon drink.Good luck ::) ::) P.S.---My food intake is starting to slow down where I don't feel the need to eat as much-just thought you'd like to know ;) :)

[lizw]

I was doing well as I stuck with just raw or steamed vegatables for a week or two after the cleanse. However, due to my stress situation (max!) and not really eating a decent meal, I end up snacking and looking for sweets or whatever even when I don't have much of an appetite.
Do you think with the lemonade, the cyanne pepper is still necessary. I hate that part. And if I'm not in detox mode would it still be needed. ??
Do you do the evening tea and SWF in the a.m.?
(Thanks for your reply -- I'm not sure where on the website I should have put this request for info)
I've stocked up on my lemons and will give this a try.

[mju]

Lizzy,

If you find yourself constantly having the urge to snack, then perhaps you can just make sure you have a "healthy" snack available... Nuts, raisins, and dried fruit are all much better alternatives to the typical candy bar or bag of chips. If you have a Trader Joe's store near you (mostly in the SW), they have an incredible selection of good snacky foods.

One other tip I might offer is when the snacking urge hits you, drink a glass of water. I also try to drink a glass of water before my meals, so that I feel full a little bit earlier... definitely helps cut down on the amount of food you eat.

Good luck!

M.J.

[mladyJane]

Hi, Lizzie, healthy snacks are definitly better -my snacking has been fresh fruit,fruit nut balls that I make,fresh vegies ,steam cooked vegies or another salad so even though after the cleanse I gained my weight back from too much eating it has been healthy food I've been eating.The cayenne pepper is a good idea to keep up with if you are thinking to keep on a maintenance drink with the lemon drink.Cayenne pepper is a good builder of healthy blood/blood vessels and is very good for your heart --it increases the blood flow and the oxygen within your body. :D :)

[Guest]

I have been brushing my teeth and tongue with baking soda. It leaves the mouth fresh.

[AMBER]

I think my tongue has always been white:)) i wish i could see some of your tongues so i would know if it looks like mine..lol...it would be interesting to see a pink tongue for me ..i dont understand but i think my tongue has just always been white...but yet i am not receiving major detox symptoms so far and i am on day 5 maybe i will gettting a whammie soon ???

[Pepperhead]

;D Hey! Don't fear the groovy hairy tongue! There is a lot you can do with it! Just wrap a ponytail holder around the hair and add a cute bow and GO! That is what I do with mine. ;)

By the way, if you get T.V. programs from the UK this week try to find the detox program they are showing that tells you all about the hairy tongue. :P

[Peter]

Speaking of the UK, there may be a story about the Master Cleanse in the alternative health section of the London Times in the next couple weeks.

Re: Tongue coatings, You can see pictures here: http://beyondwellbeing.com/herbs/tongue-diagnosis.shtml

Re: People cravings sweets after the cleanse, I've found that replacing the probiotics (the good bacteria in the intestines that makes some vitamins and keeps bad bacteria in check) washed out during the Master Cleanse, reduces or eliminates those cravings. After searching out some that use vegetarian capsules, are temperature stable, and cheap; I now have them available in the Web Store (http://123webmagic.com/themastercleanse/catalog/).

Peter 8)

[Ribbie]

I am on day 13 of the MC and my tongue is foul looking. It is thickly coated, feels like it has a ball of fuzz on it towards the back (nearly made me gag today!) and my mouth is so dry my teeth even feel coated.

I have a deep "gash" about an inch long down the middle of my tongue (it doesn't hurt and is not an open wound). If I keep going with the cleanse, will this eventually right itself Peter? I am willing to go as long as it takes to get my body cleaned out.

Anyone else experiencing this stuff?? Help please!

[Dreams]

RIBBIE. . .
I dont have the hair ball yet in the back of my throat but just to assure you, I probably will sometime soon!

When I checked on my furry white friend first thing this morning, things had seemed to have changed dramatically! No longer only white colored. I said earlier it looks like the little critter has moved in a Calico Cat for a companion! White spots, yellow spots, brown spots and etc!

This tongue thing is really interesting, isnt it? Its a good sign to us that we are really getting at some deep toxins, I think. Your situation sounds a bit extreme, but I would think it is positive in the long run.

I want to do this Cleanse until I have received some real healing as well. I am trying so hard, but today I dont feel real well. Day 8. I have a lot of negative feelings coming up about alot of things. You may have read about it in the other thread this morning.

Anyway, with the mood I'm in, those critters on my tongue better keep the noise down! I'll start charging rent soon!

Good Luck to you Ribbie! Press on . . . . . ~ Dreams ~

[syntaxiss]

23rd Day of Cleanse. At this point my tongue is really starting to clear generally with true "funk" mostly limited to the far back portion in the middle. Both previous times after 23 days our tongues did NOT clear. I feel excellent and am sleeping wonderfully and dreaming a great deal.

Sasha at this point still has a coated tongue. (I use a great deal more pepper than she) This is her 2nd time to reach day 23, my third.

My tongue is looking very encouraging and I shall endure.............

[Franny]

Hi. This is my third day on cleanse number two. I have read quite a bit on tongue coating but have found nothing that actually explains physiologically what is occurring when our tongues get the thick, white shag. Is is literally toxins on the surface of our tongue? And if so, aren't we just ingesting them over and over again?

Does anyone have the answer to this allusive question?

[sciniq]

Hi. This is my third day on cleanse number two. I have read quite a bit on tongue coating but have found nothing that actually explains physiologically what is occurring when our tongues get the thick, white shag. Is is literally toxins on the surface of our tongue? And if so, aren't we just ingesting them over and over again?

Does anyone have the answer to this allusive question?


i believe the tongue coating is representative of the toxicity of your body. so the more white and fuzzy your tongue is, the more toxic the inside of your body is. the only thing i don't get is why it's not whte and fuzzy when you're NOT on the fast/detox.

[sciniq]

anybody have an answer for this, yet?

why is the tongue pink and not white/fuzzy when you're NOT doing a detox?

[lemonmonkey]

. . . I have a deep "gash" about an inch long down the middle of my tongue (it doesn't hurt and is not an open wound). If I keep going with the cleanse, will this eventually right itself Peter? I am willing to go as long as it takes to get my body cleaned out.

Anyone else experiencing this stuff?? Help please!

I am feeling anxious about my tongue, as well. I have a greyish coating on it, which is fine. However it is not uniform-- maybe that's ok. The thing that's freaking me out is a sort of "cut" in the center of my tongue nearer the tip. Like Ribbie, my "cut" doesn't hurt or look like a wound. Can anyone tell me what's up? Should I be concerned? Will it heal? What's happening?!

[peanutterb]

General question - should i stop when my tongue's no longer coated or can i stop before that?

[freddy]

OK, I'm just completing day nine of my first MC and thought I'd share a pic of my tongue when I started (hopefully it'll show up):

http://freddyandeddy.groupee.net/groupee/forums/a/ga/ul/8861077711/freddytongue.jpg

As you can see, the white fuzz was awful when I started. It's still there, though much reduced after doing nine days. One of my employees continued going for another 5 days beyond the 10 and saw no further changes, with some whiteness continuing to show. I'm not really worried about my tongue turning completely pink my first time around; I set out to do ten days and that'll be that. Maybe more next time (I plan to do this every six months), but I'm pretty happy with my results thus far. For me, I'm just satisfied with the incredible sense of accomplishment I've gotten from making it to the end of this and my attitude change on food and eating in general. It's almost like being reborn!

[Guest]

The last time I fasted my tounge developed sores almost like blisters. Does anyone know what that's about. Also when I fast I have very lucid dreams and I don't mind it at all. There very interesting. Is this common?

[heidichu]

What if the coated tongue is just from the acidity of the lemons all damn day in our mouth!??????

....and we are ALL just "falling for it" that: OH IT's GOTTA BE TOXINS escaping!?
:/

Does anyone have some kind of proof or ANYTHING more descriptive of WHY our tongue does this????

[heidichu]

:o
omg u all:
look:
from what peter put up from a website:
http://beyondwellbeing.com/herbs/tongue-diagnosis.shtml

"A dirty white coating is the same as a light yellow coating. This indicates some low-grade heat in either your entire body such as a low grade fever or in your digestive system in particular. This could also be something as meaningless as having just drunk some tea or coffee. Or it could indicate some stagnation in your digestion such as what happens when you eat to much.

It could also indicate that your cold is becoming a flu or that you are developing a fever or that you like yellow colored candy."



Okay so of course we have low-grade heat in our body, cause we're fasting. and look it even says IN OUR DIgestive system.. Yea... we aren't digesting ~is why our tongues are like this. lol. i dont know guys. I am quitting on day 10!!!! i dont care if my tongue's not pink yet anymore!

what do you guys thinK!??

[karan]

Hi all,
I have had a white tongue coating since the past 3 years. It could have started due to chronic indigestion / IBS. When I showed it to my general physician last year he said it was nothing, and so did the gastroentrologist who told me to forget that I had a coated tongue. They refused to look at it holistically, saying the tongue has nothing to do with the rest of the body. Online the most common diagnosis for white coated tongue was candida yeast overgrowth in the body which I am not very sure about and there were several sites which had a saliva test. I also have a dry mouth which makes it worse. I have tried brushing but the coating does not go away, maybe temporarily. My mouth feels dry and parched by the end of the day. I am trying to drink more water but i do not feel very thirsty either.

I have started considering a fast because it maybe too many toxins in the body and abdomen. I also looked at bowel cleansing and elimination diet by Dr. Bernard Jensen. I then came across the Master Cleanser which has a mention of the furry coated tongue as a part of the detox process. My tongue is coated palish white slightly away from the front, with some tiny red dots at the tip and sometimes has a crack along the middle. It is sometimes more, or less, coated. It may depend on what I ate but I am not sure.

I went to the chinese medicine website posted by Peter and it seems I have some spleen and liver problems associated with IBS. At least it looks at the tongue as a mirror of problems in the body. I am now considering doing a lemonade fast and then going to a chinese medicine practitioner or naturopath for advice.

My questions are:
1. Would an acupuncturist be able to advice on chinese medicine?
2. Are there any people in the new york or brooklyn area (or anywhere else for that matter) with similar problems for a support and healing group? I work in the corporate world and the work stress is high and one of the causes of the problems. I am 34, indian, male.
3. Are there people on the bulletin board who have had similar problems and are on the lemonade diet because of this?

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you.
Peter, any advice would be very helpful.

[kathleen42]

hi everyone. I'm on day 16. this is my second time on MC. my tounge in very coated even after 16 days. I am hungry and wonder why my tounge isn't better. i am feeling like i should stay with it until my tounge is pink again. is this correct? my husband is on it too. although he continues to chew and swallow his DIP. his tounge has not gotton too bad with coating but seems to get worse when he dosesn't take a chew. what can YOU tell him about that? thanks kathleen

[rawmom]

Hi kathleen,

Have faith -- your husband may quit. Mine had a 20-year addiction to Copenhagen Chew. He chewed on and off through the first 20 days. On his 20th day, he quit! It's been 4 months now and no more chew.

The Master Cleanse is good for breaking addictions.

As for the tongue, I came here because I'm on my 20th day today, my tongue is still pink but I think I need to eat something -- I'm getting really tired and exhausted am am not able to function quite normally.

I will say though that I have asthma and the past 3 days, I can feel it unlayering and kicking out so with that, i feel motivated to continue -- just don' t know if I should.

I have a weird craving -- Shiitake Mushrooms with sesame oil and braggs!

RAWMOM

[rawmom]

Oh Kathleen,

Wanted and forgot to say that my husband -- it took him 20 days on the cleanse to quit the chew. Then he went to 50 days! So 30 days without chewing before he broke his fast with green smoothies for 10 days. IT seemed to do the trick.

RAWMOM

[sonia_m]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum but I have been checking it out for a few days. I am so glad that I checked it today in reference to the tongue coating. I started my MC four days ago and this morning I looked at tongue and it was scarey! I started looking up explanations on the internet but then I got on the forum and realized that I was not alone. The first two days of the cleanse were fine but the third day I went nuts with hunger. I felt like a drug addict. I felt as if I was loosing my mind, Yes I must admit I fell apart and had some broth followed my some globe grapes. So I guess that means that I am having to start over today. Is that true?? Will one day really throw my diet off?

I was a bit upset with myself especially after going to the bathroom following my eating and saw that my body just released some unbelivable things from my intestines. Please somebody tell me that I will not have to start over in counting my 10 days!!

I must explain that I got back a week ago from vacation in Jamaica and had consumed quite a bit of food!! I am still feeling hungry but I am determined not to fall off again. Help!

[winterwatson]

Hello All.

I am on day 13 and this is my second cleanse this year but I have done several in the past. My tounge has never gotten completely clear on any of my past cleanses. I am motivated to continue till my tounge gets clear this time.

I am writing because my tounge is still very coated and I am discouraged. I'm wondering if my tounge will ever get clear. Would really appriciate any support about clear tounges. I know myself, I get discouraged and then I quit. I consider myself pretty healthy. Maybe I have been worse off than I realized :(

-Winter

[Kelemchrist]

I plan on stopping the cleanse after the 10th day, regardless of whether my tongue coating has subsided or not, because I've got a concert to get to a few days after the cleanse is over and I want time for my body to re-adjust to regular food... Is this healthy or should I just stop the cleanse now and do it later in the summer before it's too late?

(I'm only on day 2 now)

[LadySue]

Kelemchrist, the first 3 days are the hardest and you've made it so far, so I personally wouldn't quit now. The pink tongue may not even come after 10 days. Sometimes it takes several MC's or going much longer than 10 days. Your body will still benefit tremendously from 10 days now, regardless of what color your tongue is.

[lisa_pe]

At what point does this happen to your tongue? I am on day three and this hasn't happened yet. I do scrape my tongue everytime I brush with a tongue scraper, does this help the situation??

Lisa

[papyrus]

Lisa, I did read somewhere on here that a tongue scraper helps to get rid of the fuzz. I didn't actually see fuzzy-tongue until day 4 and another person on this board didn't see anything until day 6-7. :) May the fuzz be with you.

[RoyalFlush]

I have done this cleanse for 10 days and am now coming off it. my tongue is still completely yucky and coated:( I guess I am still toxic but I have to stop the cleanse because I have a huge family vacation and I dont want to spend the week explaining to everyone that Im on a lemonade fast. Will my tongue go back to normal? My breath is disgusting and the tongue scraper doesnt help much.

[kaykay]

Is it ok to chew sugarless gum while cleansing? I'm thinking it might help with the tongue coating, but I don't want to cheat.

[JaGa]

OK. This took quite a bit of research. There's a lot of crap about this on the web, and a lot of confusing stuff, because there's also thrush, which is a fungus infection and is DEFINITELY NOT the coated tongue we're seeing.

(I'm in day 4 of my first MC and was shocked when I realized I could scrape the white stuff off my tongue.)

What is the white stuff? Dead skin cells!!! Not toxins at all. This makes sense to me - when I scraped the stuff off it felt like sloughed off skin. And I couldn't understand why we'd push white toxins out the tops of our tongues.

I found a great PDF explaining this from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (NOT someone trying to sell me something, a big boost in credibility). Here's the link to the PDF:

http://www.aaomp.org/brochures/Hairy-CoatedTongue.pdf

I got there from this general "diseases of the tongue" page:

http://www.aaomp.org/general/forpatients.html

It does a great job of clearing things up. Let me summarize:

Normally, the tongue is under a lot of stress and irritation. To protect itself, the tongue forms a top layer of dead skin - keratin, the same stuff used to make hair, fingernails, and calluses. Normally the keratin is knocked off and eaten as we eat our meals. Keratin production is roughly balanced by our normal eating habits, and so the tongue appears pink and normal.

BUT, now that we're on MC - a liquid-only diet - the tongue is not getting that skin scraped off - so it accumulates! The tongue is suddenly producing more keratin than is necessary. The article mentions a "softer, less abrasive diet" as being a cause of coated tongue.

So what does that mean to us? This means we don't have to feel bad about not getting coated tongue, or feel bad for not being able to get rid of it. I'm guessing for those who saw it go away after many days of MC, the body had simply lowered its keratin production to adapt to the new diet.

So there you have it. Worry no longer about coated tongue! It means nothing, good or bad, regarding toxins.

[peanutterb]

ja ga
interesting stuff...
thanks for sharing!

[Dith-Eay]

Awesome information, thanks JaGa!

[swimgirl]

Interesting! Was just about to post a question b/c my tongue was sort of white but not totally gross as some of the photos I've seen. I was worried I was not detoxing enough...

Thanks!

[freefromfood]

I just finished 21 days on Sunday

I notice the sides of my tongue are getting pinker now. Tommorrow I will go back to eating normal food , but my stomach is smaller so I think I'll keep the weight off that I lost

[Virtuous]

Is it ok to chew sugarless gum while cleansing? I'm thinking it might help with the tongue coating, but I don't want to cheat.
Yes, I was wondering the same thing!
Additionally, how do you not gross people out that you are talking to with your bad breathe during the fast???

Someone mentioned Tea Tree toothpicks, but I don't want to go around (as a lady) with that sticking in my mouth all the time! :p

[tallulah]

I'm so happy to hear this.

I wasn't looking forward to scrutinizing a yucky tongue everyday, and to feeling that 10 days wouldn't be enough. I'm on day three, and doing well, but don't have the option to continue beyond 10. Even that's a stretch, with some important work-related social events coming up.

[Dustyfaye]

I just finished 21 days on Sunday

I notice the sides of my tongue are getting pinker now. Tommorrow I will go back to eating normal food , but my stomach is smaller so I think I'll keep the weight off that I lost
What was the total amount of weight lost on ur MC?

[peanutterb]

gum is a no no
drink alot of water
and the peppermint tea works well.
brush/ scrape your tongue as well
and just don't talk to close to people.
i've fortunately never been plagued with the bad breath
but i'm still very self conscious and just kept my distance anyway.
don't stress it, it will pass (and be totally worth it)

side note: while cleansing i found other people's breath to be unbearable.

[writergirl]

I bought a tongue scraper and it just makes me feel cleaner. I haven't been plagued by the bad breath, but I'm drinking at least a couple of cups of peppermint tea day.

Writergirl

[Virtuous]

gum is a no no
drink alot of water
and the peppermint tea works well.
brush/ scrape your tongue as well
and just don't talk to close to people.
i've fortunately never been plagued with the bad breath
but i'm still very self conscious and just kept my distance anyway.
don't stress it, it will pass (and be totally worth it)

side note: while cleansing i found other people's breath to be unbearable.
Very helpful! Thanks Peanutterb!!

[hillcountry]

After reading all of the pages I have come to the conclusion ( I think ) that when I get to the point of having a complete pink tongue it really does not mean I am totally detoxed??????:confused:
I was really using my tongue as sort of a bases on how long I wanted to continue. I can't really tell what's going on inside my body so the visual of the tongue was it for me. Any answers would be greatly appreciated
Cheers :p

[HealthyBiz]

Hi HillCountry,

I've been wanting to say hello *I love Austin!,* so thanks for giving me an excuse!:)

I think the pink tongue is still the #1 indicator of a clean and healthy system. It's just that many people can't stay on the cleanse that long. And for those of us that brush or scrape our tongues, like me, we'd have to stop that practice in order to see our tongue coating.

Since I scrape my tongue every morning, it's looking pretty pink and healthy with just a few white patches. I was weak and couldn't stand the coating.:o Although I'd only planned on 10 days when I started this cleanse, I'm giving myself up to 30 days now to clear out my system. I want to be detox-symptom free for 3 days before I quit - or at Day 30, whichever comes first. I have plenty of signs of detox other than my tongue, so I guess I'm just 'lucky' that way *lol* and don't need to really rely on the color of my tongue for a clue when to quit. However, I'm going to stop scraping my tongue a few days before I plan to quit to see if there's still a white coating.

Hope that helps!:D

[hillcountry]

Hi Healthybiz
Thanks for the input. All of that makes since.
Austin is a wonderful place
Cheers :p

[FoxyKaT]

Is that common??? Is anyone else experiencing this? Or is this a silly question?

Also, I want to know if anyone is licking their fingers like I am when MS gets on them? I find myself taking swigs from the bottle...lol!

Confess... am I the only one???

:p

[fancy1]

Never took swigs from the bottle, LOL
But then again everyone is different.
I do lick my fingers though, don't want any to go to waste.

My tongue had pink spots, I looked really goofie.

[peanutterb]

i tend to lick the spoon. but momma always says, waste not, want not.

either the middle of my tongue get pink or the edges, i've never had a fully pink tongue. perhaps i've never cleansed long enough...

[mplsvirgo]

this is my first cleanse. day 9. my tongue is still coated and my entire mouth is incredibly itchy. should i be adding anything to this cleanse? garlic, etc.?

[peanutterb]

this is my first cleanse. day 9. my tongue is still coated and my entire mouth is incredibly itchy. should i be adding anything to this cleanse? garlic, etc.?

no you should never add anything that's not outlined in the original MC by Stanley Burroughs.

The tongue coating is a detox symptom and will clear up when you are finished detoxing or when you stop the cleanse.

try scraping your tongue. that makes a big difference. also, drink lots of water.

[fancy1]

My tongue never turned totally pink until I stopped the MC.
Yes, do scrape your tongue, it makes a big difference in breath smells and you just seem to feel better not seeing all that crud

[jack2000]

Hi,

I did not have a tongue coating before the cleanse but I started getting one towards the beginning of my cleanse. It was thick and yellow and pretty gross. I did a 35 day cleanse and came off about one and a half months ago and I still have this tongue coating although it is not as bad on the tip of my tongue as it was on the cleanse. Has this happened to anyone? What does this mean and how do I get rid of it?

Thanks,
Jack

[peanutterb]

hey jack2000 (is that a will & grace reference or do I watch too much lifetime)

how have you been eating post cleanse? The tongue is a sign of detox and usually cleaers up once people return to normal eating.
Do you use a tongue scraper? Do you brush your tongue?

here's the stickied thread on Tongue Coating from the top of the page, page 1 has a link you can check out different types of tongue coatings and what they may mean
http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147

[jack2000]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply! First, I don't watch will & grace and I really didn't mean anything by it. Jack was taken and jack2000 seemed something I could remember. My diet has been good, mostly fruit and vegetables and non/low gluten pasta and bread. According to the link you posted I have too much junk in my large intestine which is a diagnosis I tend to believe in, just a little curious that I didn't have this tongue coating before the cleanse. I don't have a tongue scraper and brushing my tongue with a tooth brush doesn't do a lot of good. I thought it might be candida but since it is limited 100% to my tongue I figured that it was probably something else. I think I'll try some P&B shakes, I've been thinking of doing that anyway.

I can see in your post that you live in Atlanta? I used to live in Peachtree city although that was like eight years ago.

Thanks,
Jack

[peanutterb]

well i'm glad you figured something out Jack. Hope that works for you. Let us know how it goes.
I find that after the cleanse my body is more alert and aware of stuff that isn't good for me. So I have food allergies I didn't have before and basically by allergies I mean my body reacts negatively to certain foods it doesn't like. Which is fine by me, if only it wasn't food *I* like.

(Jack is a character on will & grace and he had a play or something called Jack 2000, but clearly I watch too much daytime Lifetime)

Yes I live in Atlanta and love it. Even though it's cold right now ;)

[lightbright]

Hi fellow cleansers,
It seems like I will never have a pink tongue. I am on day 32 and my tongue still has a white/light yellow coating. I have used a tongue scraper and brushed it, but that doesn't seem to change it. I didn't think I was more toxic than other people...I wonder if it has to do with the antidepressants I took for about 6 months early this year.

I am not holding out for the pink tongue though. I plan to end my cleanse when I achieve my weight goal. I started at 188 and now I am at 159. My goal is 155. I should be finished in 5 days or so. But by then I might as well continue until 40...

[HealthyBiz]

Hi fellow cleansers,
It seems like I will never have a pink tongue. I am on day 32 and my tongue still has a white/light yellow coating. I have used a tongue scraper and brushed it, but that doesn't seem to change it. I didn't think I was more toxic than other people...I wonder if it has to do with the antidepressants I took for about 6 months early this year.

I am not holding out for the pink tongue though. I plan to end my cleanse when I achieve my weight goal. I started at 188 and now I am at 159. My goal is 155. I should be finished in 5 days or so. But by then I might as well continue until 40...
Hi lightbright - Sounds like you are doing great!!! I never got a fully pink tongue (in my 31 day cleanse), but I still feel great - over a month after my first cleanse. I had so many interesting detox symptoms, reminding me of past aches and pains *some of which I'd forgotten* :eek: that I know I did worlds of good for my body. Perhaps I'll get that pink tongue in my 2nd or 3rd cleanse. Keep up the good work!:D

[lisalit2]

OK, this may be a stupid question, but what is a tongue scraper and where does one get one?

[bayareababe]

OK, this may be a stupid question, but what is a tongue scraper and where does one get one?

hi Lisa, no question is a stupid question :) a tongue scraper is a plastic handled scraper that you gently scrape on your tongue to remove bacteria. You can find them in the toothpaste section by the floss items :)

be well

[lisalit2]

My tongue is MUCH pinker today than it was yesterday. I'm only on day 3. There's still a little white around the sides but the center is pink. Why would that be?

[bayareababe]

My tongue is MUCH pinker today than it was yesterday. I'm only on day 3. There's still a little white around the sides but the center is pink. Why would that be?

hi Lisa, I really don't know that answer, but my tongue never got really white, it stayed pinkish in the center, even on my longest MC.

[Katrina1616]

I posted this on another thread but thought it's also applicable here:

I know someone was asking about tongue scrapers - just use dental floss! My dad works in the dental industry, and suggested it.
I tried it this evening and it works really well. Just thought I'd share that with everyone!

[Eva]

my tongue was coated for all 10 days for at least three fasts...after fasting 13 times I finally have a pink tongue...I've learned that having a pink tongue after the very first fast does not necessarily mean your body is clean.....

So do I understand it right that one isn't necessarly done cleansing when one still has a coated tongue, and that it can take several times doing the MC till one really has everything detoxed there is to detox ( in terms of old toxins)?
I am on Day 11 and my tongue still looks pretty bad. I thought it was getting better a few days ago.

[Eva]

Is it advisable to use a tongue scraper if one's tongue is still coated after having finished the cleanse? Or will the coating get better on it's own?

[Mark]

anybody have an answer for this, yet?

why is the tongue pink and not white/fuzzy when you're NOT doing a detox?

My tongue has had a white film on it for years. I do brush my tongue after brushing my teeth. I really need to get that tongue scraper. I'm hoping to finally have a pink tongue when my 10 day cleanse is done.

[Danidee]

I'm on day 4. My tongue coating was thick and white for the end of day one and all of day two. It's gone back to pink now though. Does that mean I am done cleansing?

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years, don't drink or take any pills. So, I'm thinking maybe since i don't eat the standard american diet, maybe I'm less toxic? I was planning on going 10 days, and I'm just not sure if that's necessary.

[Danidee]

I'm on day 4. My tongue coating was thick and white for the end of day one and all of day two. It's gone back to pink now though. Does that mean I am done cleansing?

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years, don't drink or take any pills. So, I'm thinking maybe since i don't eat the standard american diet, maybe I'm less toxic? I was planning on going 10 days, and I'm just not sure if that's necessary.

[bayareababe]

I'm on day 4. My tongue coating was thick and white for the end of day one and all of day two. It's gone back to pink now though. Does that mean I am done cleansing?

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years, don't drink or take any pills. So, I'm thinking maybe since i don't eat the standard american diet, maybe I'm less toxic? I was planning on going 10 days, and I'm just not sure if that's necessary.

Hi Danidee, tongue coating is not a given for all people. I have done 3 cleanses and at times I have had a pink tongue and at other times not. I would suggest doing the 10 day MC, since it takes that long to take toxins built up for years to be released and eliminated. The tongue is not a good indication you are done. Stick with it, you are already on day 4! That's great.

[bayareababe]

I'm on day 4. My tongue coating was thick and white for the end of day one and all of day two. It's gone back to pink now though. Does that mean I am done cleansing?

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years, don't drink or take any pills. So, I'm thinking maybe since i don't eat the standard american diet, maybe I'm less toxic? I was planning on going 10 days, and I'm just not sure if that's necessary.

Hi, I answered this on your other post.

[Danidee]

Thanks so much!

[mjs]

New to the site and contemplating my first Cleanse..........learned so much after spending time reading the Q/A here on the site.......in fact, I have decided to delay my first experience until after the holidays and some minor surgery. Thanks! One question that seems obvious is based on the issue of whether one is really cleansed if one's tongue is still exhibiting the "white" appearance as opposed to the suggestion that one is approaching more of an optimal state when one's tongue appears to return to a healthy pink. Obviously each individual case is different, but is it wise or optimal to end a 10-day cleanse even if one's tongue is exhibiting the white appearance? Would you recommend staying with the cleanse for a number of additional days until the pink begins to emerge? Are there cases in which one's tongue does not exhibit a healthy pink tone even after many days of cleansing (say 14+)? How reliable is the tongue as an indicator?

[mtmouse]

Here's a whole thread on the subject, which goes into your question in detail.

http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147

[heythere]

i have been fasting for four days and my tongue is still normal and pink. does this mean i dont' have much to detox? (i eat very healthy and fast at least once a year) thanks.

[ljokorn]

I am on day five and my tongue still isn't white. I don't know what I could be doing wrong. I have followed the MC plan exactly except for one thing. I bought my sea salt at a health food store and it was recommended by the sales person. I noticed that it has a trace amount of iodine...not good, right? Could that be the reason my tongue isn't turning white? Other than that I am doing good. Not real pleased with all the "eliminations" but I suppose it's necessary.

ljokorn

[bayareababe]

I am on day five and my tongue still isn't white. I don't know what I could be doing wrong. I have followed the MC plan exactly except for one thing. I bought my sea salt at a health food store and it was recommended by the sales person. I noticed that it has a trace amount of iodine...not good, right? Could that be the reason my tongue isn't turning white? Other than that I am doing good. Not real pleased with all the "eliminations" but I suppose it's necessary.

ljokorn


right, no iodine in the sea salt, nada.

as far as the tongue goes, some tongues do not turn white. If you are doing everything accordingly, don't sweat. day 5 is awesome!

PS eliminations are our friend :) it is gettting all the toxins out of your body.

[Res]

ljokorn: Ditch the iodine. ;) Consume only what the book says you can and hope for the best! Perhaps Santa will visit you and you'll get a white fuzzy tongue sooner than later. ;)

Love,
~Res

[lyzzymac]

I am on Day 3 and my tongue hasn't changed. I don't have a coating at all. Am I doing something wrong? I'm following the recipe 100%, also doing the salt water flushes and the tea at night? Is it just different for everyone?

[nolo]

I am on Day 3 and my tongue hasn't changed. I don't have a coating at all. Am I doing something wrong? I'm following the recipe 100%, also doing the salt water flushes and the tea at night? Is it just different for everyone?

must be. i've been following it to the letter as well, and i didn't get any tongue coating until today (day 5)

[fly2lv]

My tougne coating was the worse in day 1 & 2 seems to be clearing now, I am in day 4.....is this normal?

[cel]

Question re: the tongue coating. I see tons of questions and answer about it but no real answers as to WHY. Here's a thought. Would love some feedback!

Several years ago I had to have periodontal surgery - actually more than once. Have had gum problems since I was a kid. Anyway - after the last couple of rounds of surgery the surgeon had me rinsing with a non-alcoholic OTC mouthwash into which I added tablets of metronidazole - a strong antibiotic that I recently found out is a carcinogen (ain't that lovely?) One really nasty and supposedly uncommon side effect of those tablets was the coated tongue. Not something you quickly forget - especially since I had to use these rinses for about two weeks each time. The coating became so bad I thought I would choke on it. After all the reading I have been doing on these boards in prep for my first cleanse this weekend I decided to do a bit of research into the cause of the side effect from the metronidazole. Common sense told me it had to be related to yeast and sure enough that's what it is believed to be.

So my question is - can the tongue coating in the cleanse be related to candida? It appears there are a few lucky souls who do not get the coating detox symptom. From all my years working in the health care industry (non-clinical) - some of it in research - I know that candida infections - even very mild - are very common in a large percentage of the population. Could it be that this what folks are experiencing as a result of the detox?

Any thoughts?

[peanutterb]

hey cel
this discussion has come up before and I don't remember the exact details but the tongue coating is not candida. it is a common side effect of fasting and i've read that here and many other places.

here's what info i have

- the tongue coating happens when fasting - whether it's a juice fast, the MC (which is a juice fast), a water fast or even a raw food fast.
- the tongue coating also happens when you are eating and sleep at night - have you ever looked at your tongue when you wake up in the morning before you have break-fast? it's whitish...
- the tongue doesn't only get white on the cleanse - for some it gets brown, yellow, green and any combination of the above
- did you check the link Peter has on page one of this thread? http://www.beyondwellbeing.com/html/tongueform.htm
- another bit of info from earlier in this thread:
From a member’s posting:
http://www.aaomp.org/brochures/Hairy-CoatedTongue.pdf

Specifically the general "diseases of the tongue" page:
http://www.aaomp.org/general/forpatients.html

Let me summarize:

Normally, the tongue is under a lot of stress and irritation. To protect itself, the tongue forms a top layer of dead skin - keratin, the same stuff used to make hair, fingernails, and calluses. Normally the keratin is knocked off and eaten as we eat our meals. Keratin production is roughly balanced by our normal eating habits, and so the tongue appears pink and normal.

BUT, now that we're on MC - a liquid-only diet - the tongue is not getting that skin scraped off - so it accumulates! The tongue is suddenly producing more keratin than is necessary. The article mentions a "softer, less abrasive diet" as being a cause of coated tongue. – posted by JaGa

next, i'd like to encourage you to do your own research to satisfy your curiosity - i googled "fasting tongue coat" and "white tongue fasting" and a bunch of results came up. I'm sure

[cel]

peanutterb-

Tons of info! Great! Thanks so much. You certainly relieved my concern.

[TiaraGal]

This whole experience hs gotten me very interested in tongues. First things first, tongue is such a weird-sounding word. TONGUE.....

Secondly, has anyone ever examined someone else's tongue? I did this at work today and ....one word....GROSS!!!

I could just see the need for detox with some of these people...especially my own! It is true that some tongue are pinker than others, but what an indicator of true health! Believe it or not, those who had really nasty looking tongues are the office "sickies"....always ill....gross.

This alone gave me many reasons why I am doing the MC. Our health is so important and as soon as I see a box of Godiva, cheese-its, or ice cream, I often forget the benefits of caring for myself. I am trying to change my mindset, thanks to gross tongue coatings!!!

[tlv]

Hi, I am new to the MC. (I love this message board!) I've done other short-term fasts in the past and my breath has been horrid. Has anyone tried sucking on small pieces of ginger as a breath freshener? Would this not be recommened in the MC? Any other options, beside mint tea? I'm interacting with people all day at my work and I'm pretty certain this will be a problem for me.

[PB_Detox]

quick question..

Am i NOT supposed to be brushing my teeth during this cleanse? I always brush my tongue when i brush my teeth.. should I just stop doing that in order to properly gauge my progress?

my breath is so stank.. i need some relief.

[TiaraGal]

quick question..

Am i NOT supposed to be brushing my teeth during this cleanse? I always brush my tongue when i brush my teeth.. should I just stop doing that in order to properly gauge my progress?

my breath is so stank.. i need some relief.

PB- OMG! BRUSH YOUR TEETH! You do not have to go through the MC without your toothbrush and you have got to rid your teeth of the sugar:eek:

LTV- NO ginger! Follow the MC to the letter. No gum either. I have found that the taste of toothpaste is much more refreshing anyway and my co-workers appreciate it too:)

[mastercleansevirgin]

i haven't gotten any tongue coating yet. at the end of day 4.

is that strange?

[paulojumpsup]

hi every one i had started the master cleanse 3 weeks ago but started eating
on day 5.
i was sleeping better and feeling better but felt i was not flushing toxins so
on day 4 i increased lemon juice, cayenne pepper also went for a run
and did hot and cold showers and had a spa bath, that night i could not sleep
and felt so hungry i could not handle it so i had to eat, i took a laxative and had some steamed vegies, i was disapointed but have learnt just to take it easy well doing the cleanse.

today is day 1 on master cleanse and i want to do it till my tongue is clean or longer i have been feeling more tired today but i am determined to stick to it.

[blacklizard]

I too have gone several days in Jan. and failed. After reading most of the posts I am ready to try again... did the lax tea last night and drank down the SW this am going ten days for now hoping to go longer...thanks to all that post.

[bayareababe]

hi every one i had started the master cleanse 3 weeks ago but started eating
on day 5.
i was sleeping better and feeling better but felt i was not flushing toxins so
on day 4 i increased lemon juice, cayenne pepper also went for a run
and did hot and cold showers and had a spa bath, that night i could not sleep
and felt so hungry i could not handle it so i had to eat, i took a laxative and had some steamed vegies, i was disapointed but have learnt just to take it easy well doing the cleanse.

today is day 1 on master cleanse and i want to do it till my tongue is clean or longer i have been feeling more tired today but i am determined to stick to it.

Hi Paul........ one thing that you can not increase is the lemon juice. Burrough makes it clear in his book that the MS and cayenne can be to taste but not the lemon or lime juice.

Up your MS if you find yourself getting hungry, also mint tea is nice. Take it easy for a bit. Also water helps with toxin release and hunger as well.

hope this helps.

[mastercleansevirgin]

i'm halfway thru day 6 and still no tongue coating.

i HAVE noticed a weird sticky film on my TEETH that i can feel. but my tongue is clean. does that mean anything?

[Res]

What Your Tongue Says about Your Health:
Nine "Tongue Signs" to Watch Out For
by www.SixWise.com (http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/07/02/21/What_Your_Tongue_Says_about_Your_Health_Nine_Tongue_Signs_to_Watch_Out_For.htm)

The tongue is an incredibly important muscle that helps you to chew and swallow food, taste (the average tongue has about 9,000 taste buds) and speak. When it's healthy, your tongue should be slightly pink in color, moist, and fairly smooth. However, if your tongue is dry, coated, discolored or painful, it could indicate a problem.
http://www.sixwise.com/images/articles/2007/02/21/32995788.jpg
A healthy tongue should be pink, moist and fairly smooth.
Tongue Problems to Watch Out For
A change in the appearance or feeling of your tongue could be related to the tongue itself or another problem within your body. Meanwhile, some tongue changes are harmless while others may indicate health issues are present. Here are some common tongue scenarios, along with what they may be telling you.

Hairy Tongue: If the papillae (small bumps) that cover the surface of your tongue become enlarged and profuse, it can make the tongue appear hairy or furry. This is harmless (but if the appearance is bothersome antibiotics are sometimes given).
Geographic Tongue: This condition is characterized by smooth, bright red patches on the top of the tongue. The patches can change size and location from day to day (and have a map-like, or geographic, appearance). There may also be some soreness or burning. This condition is also harmless and usually resolves on its own in a few months (it's sometimes triggered by stress, hormonal changes or allergies).
Fissured Tongue: This is another harmless condition in which deep grooves form on the tongue's surface. In fact, fissured tongue is an inherited trait that normally occurs in 10 percent of population.
Black Tongue: A black, coated tongue can result from an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast in the mouth, which then accumulate on the papillae and cause discoloration. This is a harmless condition that can usually be resolved by brushing your tongue with a toothbrush twice a day. Rinsing your mouth with diluted hydrogen peroxide can also help remove the discoloration.
Smooth, Pale Tongue: A smooth tongue can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamin B-12 deficiency. It can also be an indicator of anemia.
http://www.sixwise.com/images/articles/2007/02/21/hairytongue.jpg
A black, hairy tongue is a harmless condition caused by enlarged papillae and an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth.

Canker Sores on the Tongue: A viral ulcer or "canker sore" may appear on the tongue. These can be painful but will go away on their own. Canker sores can appear for apparently no reason, though some doctors believe they are triggered by stress and fatigue.
Enlarged/Swollen Tongue: A swollen tongue can be caused by a number of disorders, including strep infection, Down's syndrome, leukemia, cancer, and hypothyroidism. It can also be a minor side effect due to a hangover or an allergic reaction to food or medication.
Red Tongue: If your tongue is red (from dark pink to magenta) it could be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, particularly that you may not be getting enough folic acid, vitamin B-12 or vitamin B3.
White Tongue: A white coating on your tongue could mean that you are dehydrated. It can also be caused by smoking or drinking alcohol. A white coating can also be a sign of thrush, which is an infection of the mouth with the yeast Candida albicans.
How to Keep Your Tongue Healthy
To keep your tongue clean and healthy, along with brushing your teeth regularly experts recommend using a tongue scraper (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00064JGBO/sixwisecom-20) twice a day. Tongue scrapers are inexpensive, and it takes only about 10 or 15 seconds to do: just slide the scraper gently over your tongue (you don't need to press hard!), repeat three or four times to reach the entire surface, and you're done.

[dkd45805]

I am on day 5, and my tongue isn't very white. I see some white, but it is mostly pink. Since I started the cleanse, I make sure to brush my tongue when I brush my teeth. Is this why I'm not seeing much of a white coating? I also haven't had many detox symptoms (including the coveted weight loss), so I am wondering if I am detoxing at all. Please let me know.

[dkd45805]

This is very weird....and kind of gross...so thats your warning. On my Day 2 of the cleanse, I scrapped of some of my white stuff of my tongue. It smelled like garlic. The weird thing is....before the cleanse, I was trying to eat all the food in my house so it wouldn't tempt me. One of the things I had to get rid of was a lot of lettuce....and I used a garlic salad dressing. I ate a lot of this the week before the cleanse.

Is that for real? Was that my imagination?? It was definitely weird.

[keropi]

I am on day 5, and my tongue isn't very white. I see some white, but it is mostly pink. Since I started the cleanse, I make sure to brush my tongue when I brush my teeth. Is this why I'm not seeing much of a white coating? I also haven't had many detox symptoms (including the coveted weight loss), so I am wondering if I am detoxing at all. Please let me know.

Hi, I also brush my tongue every time I brush my teeth and the white stuff just comes back a few hours later even if I'm not drinking lemonade (from night to morning).
Are you following all the directions exactly? getting fresh lemon/lime juice, drinking at least 6 glasses of lemonade daily? lax tea at night and SWF in the morning? not eating or drinking anything else?
I usually don't loose much weight while on the MC, I mostly loose inches everywhere and the weight seems to stay about the same. I would loose about 2-4 lbs for every 10 days.
Hope you start getting more detox symptoms soon!

-Keropi.

[keropi]

i'm halfway thru day 6 and still no tongue coating.

i HAVE noticed a weird sticky film on my TEETH that i can feel. but my tongue is clean. does that mean anything?

not sure why you haven't got any tongue coating but keep on going!!!

Yeah, there will be a weird film forming on your teeth while on the MC, it will go away when you brush your teeth. What I have done for my last 2 MCs is to always drink the lemonade with a straw, that stoped the teeth coating and makes my mouth feel fresher.

-K.

[Res]

This is a bit interesting and gross.

What Your Tongue Says about Your Health:
Nine "Tongue Signs" to Watch Out For
by www.SixWise.com (http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/07/02/21/What_Your_Tongue_Says_about_Your_Health_Nine_Tongue_Signs_to_Watch_Out_For.htm)

The tongue is an incredibly important muscle that helps you to chew and swallow food, taste (the average tongue has about 9,000 taste buds) and speak. When it's healthy, your tongue should be slightly pink in color, moist, and fairly smooth. However, if your tongue is dry, coated, discolored or painful, it could indicate a problem.
http://www.sixwise.com/images/articles/2007/02/21/32995788.jpg
A healthy tongue should be pink, moist and fairly smooth.
Tongue Problems to Watch Out For
A change in the appearance or feeling of your tongue could be related to the tongue itself or another problem within your body. Meanwhile, some tongue changes are harmless while others may indicate health issues are present. Here are some common tongue scenarios, along with what they may be telling you.

Hairy Tongue: If the papillae (small bumps) that cover the surface of your tongue become enlarged and profuse, it can make the tongue appear hairy or furry. This is harmless (but if the appearance is bothersome antibiotics are sometimes given).
Geographic Tongue: This condition is characterized by smooth, bright red patches on the top of the tongue. The patches can change size and location from day to day (and have a map-like, or geographic, appearance). There may also be some soreness or burning. This condition is also harmless and usually resolves on its own in a few months (it's sometimes triggered by stress, hormonal changes or allergies).
Fissured Tongue: This is another harmless condition in which deep grooves form on the tongue's surface. In fact, fissured tongue is an inherited trait that normally occurs in 10 percent of population.
Black Tongue: A black, coated tongue can result from an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast in the mouth, which then accumulate on the papillae and cause discoloration. This is a harmless condition that can usually be resolved by brushing your tongue with a toothbrush twice a day. Rinsing your mouth with diluted hydrogen peroxide can also help remove the discoloration.
Smooth, Pale Tongue: A smooth tongue can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamin B-12 deficiency. It can also be an indicator of anemia.http://www.sixwise.com/images/articles/2007/02/21/hairytongue.jpg
A black, hairy tongue is a harmless condition caused by enlarged papillae and an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth.

Canker Sores on the Tongue: A viral ulcer or "canker sore" may appear on the tongue. These can be painful but will go away on their own. Canker sores can appear for apparently no reason, though some doctors believe they are triggered by stress and fatigue.
Enlarged/Swollen Tongue: A swollen tongue can be caused by a number of disorders, including strep infection, Down's syndrome, leukemia, cancer, and hypothyroidism. It can also be a minor side effect due to a hangover or an allergic reaction to food or medication.
Red Tongue: If your tongue is red (from dark pink to magenta) it could be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, particularly that you may not be getting enough folic acid, vitamin B-12 or vitamin B3.
White Tongue: A white coating on your tongue could mean that you are dehydrated. It can also be caused by smoking or drinking alcohol. A white coating can also be a sign of thrush, which is an infection of the mouth with the yeast Candida albicans.How to Keep Your Tongue Healthy
To keep your tongue clean and healthy, along with brushing your teeth regularly experts recommend using a tongue scraper (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00064JGBO/sixwisecom-20) twice a day. Tongue scrapers are inexpensive, and it takes only about 10 or 15 seconds to do: just slide the scraper gently over your tongue (you don't need to press hard!), repeat three or four times to reach the entire surface, and you're done.

[dkd45805]

The past couple of days my tongue has been sore. It feels like its burned or something. Is this from the cayenne pepper and/or lemon juice? Will it go away? Has anyone else experienced this. Its almost like I burned it on something hot. Its hard to describe. Thanks.

[locolady]

My tongue is all weird, too. It's day 9 for me (my first MC!:D ), and besides the bizarre coating (which I read about), my tongue feels a little sore sometimes, too. Just a little. Almost like the acid from the lemons is tenderizing it?

Anyone else?

[rogershaffer]

your first fast and you are on day 21?? Holy smokes, you are amazing
i am on day 19 and it is my second. i only lasted 10 days the first time
when are you going to stop?? i am thinking of going 30 days
I need to program my brain 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days

[noonie]

I'm having the same problem & would love to get an answer. I was wondering if it was an acidic reaction to the lemon juice.

[LJsadventure]

Hello
I am on MC2 Day 11. I am not sure how long I am going to do this one, I am thinking 15 - 20 days. On MC1 I got the tounge coating on day 9, and did finish the cleanse on day 10.
I do everything as I am supposed to. 60oz a day. The 2 tbs of fresh squeezed organic lemon juice, 1 tbs of grade B organic MS and a couple good dashes of cayenne (all per 10 oz of water). Lax tea in the am and pm.
This BB has been a life saver, I look to it everynight for motivation and education. I have been learning about the tounge coating and that you are "done" with the cleanse when it has gone white, and then pink again but here I am on day 11 and its still pink! Has not changed at all. Any advise on this?
Thanks for anything you can tell me!!!

[LJsadventure]

Day 15, got the tounge coating. Have no idea what took so long, but am glad it finally arrived.
If only it could go away now....

[mrichy555]

Im confused, someone posted very good info pretty much debunking the whole "White tongue = detox sympton" theory, yet everyone kinda just ignored it and went back to saying it still IS detox sympons. Now ive seen tons of proof saying its something other thend etox symptons, does anyone have any credible proof that this is a detox sympton?

[mrichy555]

Yea thats the article I saw too. Everyone seemed to beleive it, then by the next page everyone was just back to assuming its a detox symptom. and if it IS a detox sympton im very curious as to why exactly detoxing would tur a tongue white

[YANELYS15]

tHANKS FOR THE INFO.... =)

[Rosieclimber1]

I see lots of people from FLA, awesome!

[LJsadventure]

Interesting, very interesting. I didnt see that article before about the tounge coating. But then it makes sence, I guess, why mine didnt get white for a while. Although im not really convinced one way or the other, I kind of like thinking that its not a detox symptom.

[TallTravel]

I have noticed my tongue has been slightly white, mainly the middle section all the way back, since the start of my fast. I am on day 3 now, and can't say my tongue is white because it is only the middle 1/3 which is white.

Probably I will have to look at the article referred to above, as I cannot recall reading that during my last 21 day MC.

[TallTravel]

Hi Joy,

There are five indications of detoxing: cravings, tiredness, aches and pains, irritability or boredom, and hot eliminations. If you have one or more of these you're detoxing.

You'll do better if you do the whole 32 oz. of salt water. I understand that it made you vomit once, but I recommend you try it again with perhaps less non-iodized sea salt (type of salt makes a BIG difference).

Peter


I guess, with the heat of my eliminations, that means I am most definitely detoxing! That was amazing when I noticed how HOT it was. I was not worried but until reading this I did not realize it can be considered a sign of detoxing. I felt tired yesterday, but who knows what that could be? My aches and pains, only one in my big toe, went away yesterday for the first time in months, so that does not apply to me so far. Irritability or boredom? Shoot, that could be anything! Boredom because I am spending so much time on the toilet?

Either way it seems I am detoxing.

[peanutterb]

look for progress in your tongue. it'[s clearly white right now so check to see when it starts clearing back up to normal. you can tell. then when it's clear, give it a day or two to make sure it stays clear. sometimes it may be clear for a day then go back.
not everyone achieves a pink tongue, so don't stress it too too much. but you def can see it getting whiter or getting pinker and you know when it's getting pinker (clearer) you're making progress.

[unsure]

My tongue is always pink - morning, noon and night - on my regular diet. ;)

[Fishin4it]

Hello all. I searched this thread for an answer to my question but couldn't find anything.

i'm on Day 7 of my first cleanse going only this time around. My toungue has been mostly all white until the last day or two when it has started to clear up around the edge and in a few places in patches. The patches are totally smooth and clear pink and don't hurt or anything. I noticed a big difference from this morning to this evening as one of my patches has gotten bigger and a new one has begun. Anyone ever experience this? How have others noticed their tongues clearing up?

peace

[peanutterb]

yep. my tongue's clearing up too.
but i always wait to see if it is consistently clear for 2 or more days bc one time it was clear on day 7 then the very next day wham, detox boat docked and it was white again and i was miserable for 2-3 days before things started looking up again.

what was your question? was that it?
cus I feel like i missed something :o

[Fishin4it]

My question was more related to how your tongue clears up. does it happen uniformly or in patches or from the outside in? Mine seems to be happening in patches and around the edges with the middle still white.

[peanutterb]

ooooh! lol sorry. so yes, mine happened in patches

[sandra2122]

I completely forgot about the tongue coating stuff... maybe I'll try to go as long as it takes for my tongue to clear up. On my previous cleanses I went only for the number of days, but this time I think i'll aim for a clear tongue.


:rolleyes:

Sandra

[Vilibere]

Hi everyone! Well, I'm on day 10 and doing ok.

This is my first MC but it's been pretty easy and I plan on continuing...if you've been having lots of difficulties and this makes you mad, you should know that a) I've been eating very healthy food for years and b) I had decreased appetite when I started this fast, probably due to some mood issues.

Now to tongue stuff...I would say that the tongue coating is basically my only detox symptom...it was a little white prior to starting, then quickly turned solid white, and last time I looked it was getting shaggy and yellowish and way gross. I'm afraid to look! I think I am going to get a tongue scraper like tomorrow. Also, because some of the wonderful researchers on this post have sort of debunked or at least credibly questioned the coating-detox theory, I'm not going to wait for a pink tongue...

...although I do plan on continuing past 10 days with this fast...I just love being free of hunger and free of the inevitable fullness-lethargy I get after eating...I do feel a bit more energized, a bit more happy, and probably more open to spiritual experiences, though I'm not finding enough room in my routine for that...

Well...best of luck to everyone.
-Vilibere

(PS: In the absence of detox symptoms, except for some abdominal discomfort which usually just means I gotta run to the bathroom, how am I to know when to stop?? are there detox symptoms/indicators I'm not aware of? does the nature of your eliminations change as you reach the "end" ? Thanks in advance!)

[peanutterb]

hi vilibere - have you read the general help for newbies thread yet? it goes into more detail about the tongue coating.

i can tell you it is detox, based off my own research and experiences over 4 cleanses. on the roughest days and the days i felt the worse, my tongue also looked the worse. and as i started to feel better, get more energy and feel more cleansed, my tongue started turning back pink.

for example, i fainted one day in the supermarket on this past cleanse and my tongue was neon yellowgreen. that wasn't a coincidence.

my point here is that seeing that you're not having any other obvious detox symptoms, wait for your tongue to clear up. it'll get less fuzzy and less and less white. seeing that it's your only indicator, i think it's the best one to stick with.

info on when to stop is in the newbies thread and covered in more detail at http://rawfoodexplained.com

[Lindsey]

one of the reason i am doing the cleanse is that i have had a yellow tongue for 6 months. does anyone know what that is??? or if it will go away after the cleanse???

[peanutterb]

i can't say Lindsey. but go to page one of this thread where there is a link about causes of tongue coatings and you can diagnose yourself. also be sure to read the tongue coating section of the general help for newbies thread.

[katiebeth527]

Peter, Peter, "Lemon-aid 'eater' "!!!

Okay, in some of the 1st pages that Peter began, it had been asked if we can "just put 2 t. sea salt on our tongue and chase w/ the 32 oz of water?" She/ he said they "got the same desired results as the previous day doing it the saltwater way.

So can we? Can we??? Please, please do tell us Peter.

It seems to make sense, that it WOULD be the same. Now I know SOME of the variations people are coming up w/ are "way off" and don't even make sense to work, because it's a totally different thing, at that point... but THIS method SEEMs to make sense to me.

Please do tell. :) Thanks!:D

[Nance]

Yup, I never really noticed this before, but I do have patchy tongue. The tip and the back are clean, and rest is furry beigey coated. Onward through the fog!:D

[Vilibere]

I just wanted to post a quick update...

I just checked my last post on here (April 26th) and realized that I am on day 27...I sort of got to this point without realizing it at all...(I was thinking I was at 14 or 21 maybe)...I just got caught up in the chaos and drama of my life but kept up the MC routine because it wasn't causing me any discomfort...

BTW: Tongue is still gross looking, though it varies a bit from day to day (yesterday seemed better, today is way yellow...still haven't made up my mind what to believe about that as an indicator).

Positive so far...I've lost a mini-gut that I was just starting to develop which is kinda cool...I think the MC has also supported me through the recent turmoil...but given that I was eating healthy to start with, the anxiety issues I had coming into this, and my increased stress level in the past weeks, I think the potential transformative effects were somewhat inhibitted...

Although!

I did have an absolutely amazing massage ! .. I was going to say more about this but I changed my mind...you should experience it for yourself...even if you don't do anything else "special" while on the cleanse, I highly recommend you at least get a professional massage...if you're going for longer than 10, try it around day 15 or later...If you're doing 10, save it for the last day (works partly as a reward if you need any additional motivation!).

Next time I do this...and it will probably be soon...I am definitely going to try to prepare myself better mentally and emotionally and sync the MC with a profounf BREAK from my regular routine...Go on a retreat or a vacation or both.

CONCLUSION:
If you're physically healthy to begin with, I don't think the MC is going to work any miracles by itself...but I think this cleanse can interact very positively with other events/practices/experiences and I hope to explore this soon...

Health, wellness, self-knowledge, and best of luck to everyone!

[simonl]

i can't say Lindsey. but go to page one of this thread where there is a link about causes of tongue coatings and you can diagnose yourself. also be sure to read the tongue coating section of the general help for newbies thread.


Hi, I have been on the cleanse now for 9 days and I have a very different problem that I haven't read about yet. My tounge was not coated to begin with and after 9 days it never did get a coating on it. It has become VERY sore and cracking, The lemon drink irritates it so that I can't drink anymore. I really don't know what to do, because I really want to continue doing this.

Mary

[bush1984]

Mary,

I am with you on that, all except my tongue doesn't hurt.. but I am on day 6 and it is still not bad at all.. By the time I brush my teeth and tongue it's almost gone.. Anyone have ideas on this for us?

Thanks

[Soozie1224]

Hi CrazeeKat, I am a newbie too, I'm on day 8. Since the first day I've had more energy than i can remember in years! I'm 58 but i feel like i'm 30 again. I just go non stop and i sleep very deeply and am resting better than i have in years. So be encouraged!!

[daybyday]

im on day 10...my tongue is still coated...i don't have to wait til it is pink before breaking the detox do I? besides, i just wanted to prove to myself i could do 10 days of detox...this is my first detox and im 35yo

[mochigirl]

That link from Peter's first post was fantastic! I did it (my tongue right now is mostly pink with some white, dots in the back, and the veins under my tongue are longer than 50% of my tongue). I am starting my 4th cleanse in August after I move and will do the tongue diagnosis again during and after my MC. I can't wait!

At times it can really be scary (but at the same time, a sense of relief) knowing the stuff that is in us.

[kameelean]

I'm on my 21st day. I never cheated once and followed the rules to the letter (with the exception of the first two days where I used less salt in my flush and yesterday when I was on the road all day).

My tongue seemed to get pink on some days within the first ten, but since then... nothing but white and a foul taste in my mouth each morning.

I didn't want to go past 21-30 days, but I'm concerned that I'll have to go 40 days.
Is it possible to need to go beyond 40 days for a pink tongue???

I wasn't a meat/chicken eater prior to the fast, but was a suga-holic. Perhaps that's the problem.

[mochigirl]

I'm on my 21st day. I never cheated once and followed the rules to the letter (with the exception of the first two days where I used less salt in my flush and yesterday when I was on the road all day).

My tongue seemed to get pink on some days within the first ten, but since then... nothing but white and a foul taste in my mouth each morning.

I didn't want to go past 21-30 days, but I'm concerned that I'll have to go 40 days.
Is it possible to need to go beyond 40 days for a pink tongue???

I wasn't a meat/chicken eater prior to the fast, but was a suga-holic. Perhaps that's the problem.

in my experience, i've gotten pink then white/coated again. sounds like you are in a detox phase. also, peter's stated before you don't have to go until you get a consistently pink tongue on any particular MC. you can go for as long as you want, then on your next MC, you keep cleaning.

[brighteyes]

I am so confused!

My tounge is MOSTLY white (thinnly coated) but on the left side there is a big patch of pink. It never got white at all. I am on day 7 (the end of it).

Any ideas????

[Jennacb10]

OK so how do I know when my tongue will be cleared? Does it do it all by itself or am i supposed to brush my tongue while I'm brushing my teeth?

[Patti511]

Hi. I'm starting the MC on Friday (Thurs. night tea). I'm getting myself prepared mentally for this and am committed to being successful with it. I was wondering about toothpaste. Am I supposed to get an all natural toothpaste to use? I hate the thought of having bad breath for 10 days. What does everyone do? Also, is there anything I should be prepared for on Day One? If there is anyone who is just starting this and would like to correspond with me during these 10 days, please feel free to e-mail me.

[Cool Breeze]

Also...should we not be using a tongue scraper??

I've been using one for 10 years and am amazed at what I scrape off even after brushing my teeth and tongue! :eek: I can't imagine not doing it! :(

CB

[mtmouse]

You can use whatever toothpaste you normally use--though if you read through a lot of the various forums, you may come away with a new idea or two! And you can brush your teeth as many times a day as you feel you need to.

And using a tongue scraper is acceptable but definitely not essential. Lots of people love them. Lots get by just fine without them.

Happy cleansing!

[kaninja]

i am on day nine and my tongue hasn't changed at all. it's normal. am i doing something wrong? is it possible to get all the way through the cleanse without tongue coating? please help...

[sokerfreak2k]

how long until you can have a beer?!

[Res]

LOL, You need to break the cleanse correctly and then beer in a week? Go easy. ;)

Love,
~Res

[summer]

People absolutely should not be brushing their teeth with regular toothpaste that contains flouride! am i wrong? its just such highly toxic chemical -- and to think that i found "organic" toothpastes that STILL contained flouride! so you have to be careful.... our mouths are highly absorbant to everything we put it it, and digestion starts there as well; do we really want to have to digest/fend off toxic chemicals like flouride WHILE we're trying to detox??

i use an organic, flouride-free toothpaste,and brush my tongue 2x a day... i also heard someone mentioning baking soda paste, but i have no idea if that is okay or if it is bad.

i am on day 7 and still have a pink tongue. i tried the cleanse once before and quit on day 4 or 5, but intend to go as long as possible this time... although i really do not want to see cheesy stuff on my tongue, i might throwup! yuck.

[Res]

Yes, Flouride is poison and we should steer clear of it. Baking soda should be fine.

[Enigma]

Yes, fluoride is actually a poison. http://sassifer.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/hidden-dangers-fluoride/

However I have a question about this tongue coating... I was recently informed from a naturopath that this is Thrush. Yeast on the tongue from a PH imbalance. Is this true ?

[TrueLivingKN]

Yes, fluoride is actually a poison. http://sassifer.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/hidden-dangers-fluoride/

However I have a question about this tongue coating... I was recently informed from a naturopath that this is Thrush. Yeast on the tongue from a PH imbalance. Is this true ?


I honestly wouldn't know if its Thrush or not but it makes me think...

Yeast on the tongue from a pH imbalance. Well, since, when we are toxic our bodies are acidic (well... they're not really acidic but thats a whole other thing I'll explain below. We'll just say they are acidic to keep it simple), and when we cleanse them I am assuming they become more alkaline. If this is the case, then it makes sense that the tongue would go from coated (acidic) to not (alkaline)... thus, it makes sense for your naturopath to be correct, since those of us cleansing are most likely trying to fix our pH, either with or without meaning to.

As far as me saying our bodies can't be acidic, I read somewhere online... someone was trying to say that acid / alkaline diets are bunk because the body can never BE acidic, it will naturally make itself alkaline (only the urine can be acidic or alkaline depending on what we eat)... and the stomach will always be acidic (thus, no matter what we eat we aren't affecting pH). Well, he/she is right. But that doesn't mean the acid/alkaline diet is bunk. You see, our bodies need to do things inside of us in order to maintain that healthy alkaline state. In the blood this means taking calcium from the bones in order to keep things alkaline. If we eat acidic foods, our blood will start to turn acidic, BUT it won't actually do so because it gets calcium to keep it alkaline. So, no, our bodies won't actually BE acidic but, yes, it is unhealthy to eat a lot of acid forming foods. (Also, doesn't this make sense as a cause of osteoperosis? Milk is acidic, but it also has tons of calcium [largely unabsorbable]... lots of milk drinkers and dairy eaters still get osteoperosis. Why? Because they deplete calcium stores in order to fight the acid reaction of the milk)

Oh, also in line with osteoperosis...breaking bones. Lots of people take calcium to prevent this... but more calcium will make your bones brittle. What is necessary is enough calcium for strength in the bones and ALSO enough protein collagen to keep them supple and flexible enough to take a hit and not snap. So, instead of overloading on calcium, what is really important is having a proper calcum to collagen ratio. And I think the only way to test for this is to fall down and see if anything breaks :)

WOW that was off topic but I hope someone learned something. :D

[Enigma]

Thanks for the speel loll! I have my own lecture on this matter here http://sassifer.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/lets-talk-acid/

But that is besides the point! I just can't for the life of me believe that this is thrush. Thrush is usually clumpy... this is an even coating. Atleast on mine..

I am also currently conducting a small study on myself during this fast. Testing my PH when possible. But the big test will be the before and after read-outs.

Lemons can and will turn your PH more alkaline. As do greens.. !

The only thing I see conflicting on this fast is the sugary content of the maple syrup.. this can cause many yeast problems. Yeast loves sugar, like a fat kid loves cake.

But honestly, with the amount of fresh lemon and H2o being consumed along side this.. One may theorize that this is honestly no different than your average american diet. Minus dairy and heavy meats. The sugar content is probably the same.. if not less. Everything we consume these days has sugar in it.. it's truly hard to find boxed/canned/pre-made foods without sugar. And this is sadly what a lot of people take to.

Most of us have a treat to ourselves every day to every other day, deserts! What about pop drinkers too? That's far more sugary than this.. and it is also refined sugar, rather than natural.

We'll see where this fast goes... and perhaps all of us doing this cleanse may never know the truth about what the white coating is!! :D

[steven ceo]

Thank you Peter! I had asked that question earlier re my tongue, and now I know that I need to keep going....I am on day 15.....say a prayer for me if you remember. Steven

[htmetz]

Even when not fasting I don't seem to be able to get rid of my tongue coating. Every once in a while it will go away for a day or two but then returns. Often it is very faint but usually there. My first MC I went for 15 hoping it would go away but it didn't. I am not sure it is a good indicator for me of when to end the MC; anyway, other considerations have moved me to end this MC on day 10.

PS - I think my tongue coating is from heavy metals which I have working at getting out of my system now for over a half a year through supplements, diet, foot detox baths, and having my amalgams removed. Guess it is a slow process (after all it took years to accumulate).

Any comments? :confused:

[Brooke]

Yes, fluoride is actually a poison. http://sassifer.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/hidden-dangers-fluoride/

However I have a question about this tongue coating... I was recently informed from a naturopath that this is Thrush. Yeast on the tongue from a PH imbalance. Is this true ?

Thrush is very painful to have anywhere on your body. Basically it is a yeast infection. Infants get it as a reaction to antibiotics. My daughter got it after adn ear infection adn I was nursing her so I got it on my nipples. It was HORRIBLE. It was painful for her too and can ause pain when swallowing. It can spread from the tongue to the roof of mouth and sides of mouth.

I think if you had thrush you would know. IT HURTS!!

[Kermittreefrog]

Well, it's the end of day 1 and I am already getting the filmy YUCK on my tongue and teeth. Oh, these are the days of my life!
I think I may right a poem and call it (Ode To The Toothbrush) your welcome to suggest verses for the poem! hahaha:D

[Kermittreefrog]

This is the beggning of my poem, feel free to add to it!

Look at my toothbrush,
All covered in paste.
too bad I can't use it,
It's going to waste.:rolleyes:

[labboxer]

Has anyone ever gotten a numb, tingling feeling in their tongue? I do right now, the eve of day 10.

[NicoleG]

Has anyone ever gotten a numb, tingling feeling in their tongue? I do right now, the eve of day 10.

Yes, my tongue is a little numb/tingling. It seems to come and go a bit and hasn't been too annoying.
At least we're not alone.

[ras7sor]

Is it Ok to brush the coating off your tounge on a daily basis, or should you just leave it be?

Thanks,
RAS

[mayablue]

Is it Ok to brush the coating off your tounge on a daily basis, or should you just leave it be?

Thanks,
RAS

I like to use a tongue scraper on it... it gets rid of that "cotton" taste/feeling and is most usefull to keep the extra plaque off of your teeth. Plus it helps with the bad breath issues. It is way more effective than just brushing.

[SWF2go]

Even when not fasting I don't seem to be able to get rid of my tongue coating. Every once in a while it will go away for a day or two but then returns. Often it is very faint but usually there. My first MC I went for 15 hoping it would go away but it didn't. I am not sure it is a good indicator for me of when to end the MC; anyway, other considerations have moved me to end this MC on day 10.

PS - I think my tongue coating is from heavy metals which I have working at getting out of my system now for over a half a year through supplements, diet, foot detox baths, and having my amalgams removed. Guess it is a slow process (after all it took years to accumulate).

Any comments? :confused:

Well, for sure the heavy metals can be part of the issue. Dehydration can also be signaled by a coated tongue. When you're NOT on the MC check your 'water level' by pressing your thumb into the sole of your foot just ahead of the heel. If you are hydrated, it will bounce right back. If not it will stay indented. Drink more water and eat more veggies. :) Overdosing on water doesn't re-hydrate well. You just pee more and can even cause a loss of water in the blood serum and cells. It takes time for the cells to absorb water. Monitor and raise your water intake reasonably and eat more raw or blanched veggies.

Oh yeah. Nice bike!

[syntaxiss]

It is the 11th day of my current fast and my toungue seems to be clearing already, I have developed a clear pink circle near the back! Hooray! Onward Lemonade soldiers!

[Sasha78]

Hello! Today is Day 15 for me. :) My tongue is still heavily coated. I have done this fast several times in the last few years, few times of which I went for 23 days. Not one time has my tongue really cleared up. I am really hoping that this time it will. I am planning to continue for a couple more weeks. Will see what happens.

[SWF2go]

Sasha Are you drinking plenty of water along with the lemonades? Certainly the cleanse causes a coating on the tongue as we detox, but I also suspect dehydration also could be a factor. Drinking an equal amount of water along with the Lemonade would help cleanse the body and probably help with the tongue coating. Just a thought.

[ilovelamp]

day 10. tongue was very fuzzy today. its great.
:)

[fxyMNgrl]

I am on Day 7, and have had the tongue coating since Day 2. However around Day 5 I developed a pink heart shaped clearing in the middle of my tongue! It's cute in a kind of wierd way. I also found that brushing the tongue helps to deminish the icky feeling one gets in one's mouth.

This is my first master cleanse, so we'll see how long it takes to totally clear up!

[ssputnik77]

I have some questions. I am on day 8 of the cleanse. This is my first time doing it, and let me just say that it has been very hard. I can't stand the taste of the lemonade or the salt water flush, but I have managed to stick with it without cheating. I am worried that it is not working properly. For one thing, I never had a white coating on my tongue. It sounds like everyone is supposed to have this, but I don't. Also, I have not had much come out of me other than the yellow watery stuff. I never lost my appetite on the cleanse, but have been continuously hungry on it. I have been doing the salt water flush in the morning and at bedtime, which seems to work pretty quickly. I was discouraged about my eliminations not being more substantial, so last night I did the Smooth Move tea for the first time. I woke up with horrible stomach pains in the middle of the night, but couldn't have a bowel movement. Today, my lower stomach on the right side has been hurting all day. I am worried that I may be hurting my body.

Here's a little background on me: I'm 30, 5' 6'' and weighed about 170 before I started the cleanse. I have lost almost 10 pounds so far. I normally eat fairly healthy except for my love for sweets, too large of portions, and occasional fast food. I do eat meat and dairy.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I am very discouraged and thinking about quitting, but I don't want to have gone through all of this for nothing. Thanks!

[mtmouse]

ssputnik,

Don't quit now! You only have two days to go. Definitely stick it out.

However, please know that the SWF is supposed to be done only in the mornings, on an empty stomach. You are supposed to do the laxative tea at night, and again in the morning if you don't do the SWF. But don't do the SWF at night any more.

As for the rest of it, you sound like someone going through a normal cleanse. Your stomach pain could be from the nighttime SWF, or it could be run-of-the-mill detox. If so, it'll be gone by the time you end your cleanse (assuming you stop at 10 days) anyway.

Give it another couple of days now that you know about the SWF, and things may shift.

Congratulations on getting to day 8!

[Jerry Bergstad]

I'm on day 14 of my MC. Doing good. Was out to late lastnight. Went to bed without the Smooth Move laxative. Seems like the SWF took longer to cleanse. My tongue was bluish green yesterday evening, could scrape fuzz off with fingernail. Probably because I don't drink enough water between LA's. I plan on doing 40 days. Seems I am loosing about 2 lbs. a day. And do I feel the difference. Sure would love to have a cup of coffee. But it's a no-no. I am doing it by the book. Support her is encouraging and fun too read. adios and will keep in touch with ya'lll. thanks JRB drinking LA doin SWF and loosing weight and gaining discipline. Down 28 lbs in 14 days.

[katygirl06]

I am on day 3, and my tongue is really coated. I also feel better not so achy and headachey/nauseous. Is there a correlation here? Anyway, I am proud I have achieved my coated tongue (as gross as it is). now I just have to get rid of it! :p

[everevolving]

How obvious is this tongue coating thing? There are times throughout the day when I think my tongue might be coated, but others where it doesn't seem so much.
I've gone as far as to look online for pictures of people with a "heavily coated" tongue, to no avail. I'm not sure exactly what to expect of this heavily coated thing.

I wish I could describe my tongue graphically to you. It's sort of a pale pink/ white color, it sort of resembles leather. I no longer see taste buds.

It's more moist than it usually is, though.

I really want to honor the tongue thing, as I understand it sort of tells the stage you're in with detox, and am hoping to cleanse until it turns "pink" again, but I'm not sure it's not pink!!!

Clarification would be very helpful.
Thanks, friends,
Emily

[sadsak39]

everevolving-not everyone can use their tongue as a good indicator. Although mine coats some, it's hard to tell when it changes. It pretty much looks the same when I finish.

Ray- I miss coffee too!:):):)

[karebearninja]

Hi all, today is day 3 for me, my tongue is getting coated, but so is the roof of my mouth which is a rather unpleasant sensation, any suggestions? I bought some all natural toothpaste, but within minutes the coating is back.

Thank for all the support you are all awesome:)

Kerry

[bboswell]

Hello,
This is my first MC. I'm on Day 3. My tongue is alittle white coated. My question is what is the coating? Is it the toxins coming out?

The eve of Day 2 I got a throbbing HA. Had it all through the night. Was up with liquid stools twice. But, as Peter said in his book, it went away after the SWF this am. Yea!!!! Hoping Day 3 will be better!!

[tmf04]

Question -- I have had horrible cotton mouth for the past couple days. Any suggestions on that?? I drink a lot of water but that just doesn't seem to help. Aside from that, I feel great.

Day 8!! Two more days & I'm done! YAY!

[jelliott331]

My tongue is not coated yet, I just finished day 6...is that weird?

[knr12]

is there anything i can rinse/gargle with to make the tongue coating more tolerable?

[mtmouse]

Not really. You can brush it well, or get a tongue scraper. Sometimes that helps.

[Arrow]

Hello, I'm new here.

I am doing a cleanse and am on day 5. Not the master cleanse. I don't know what that is but I expect I will find out here.

I came to this site because I have developed a white coating on my tongue over the last 2 days that looks very freaky so I did a search and your site came up.

I have been doing a fast with veggie juice, hot lemonade, a product similar to barley greens, and a detox tea as well as water. I have fasted many times in the past but never got this white tongue before.

I am also using MMS and wonder if that is making me detox heavier.

So from what I gather here there is nothing to be concerned about with this white tongue. I am a nurse and have care for many a thrush infection and I am sure it is not thrush.

Any insight appreciated and also, can someone directed me to where I can learn about the master cleanse?

Thanks
Arrrow

[rselvey]

OK! I am preparing myself to start the MC on Monday and i am a little freaked out by the tongue coating. Once you reach your 10 days and if your tingue is not pink and clear, how many days does it take before it returns normal looking per-say!

[mtmouse]

If I recall correctly, I think my tongue usually gets pink within a day or two after transitioning. No big thing.

[Arrow]

Well, totally freaked out about this white tongue I tried brushing it and it didn't help much. So I put a few drops of grapefruit seed extract on in and went to bed. The next day, although not perfect, it was much better.

If you try this be careful cause grapefruit seed extract can burn sensitive gums that are diseased.

[msstress]

I am on day 7 and my tounge is a light yellow. I can't stand the taste in my mouth but I know it is a milestone so I embrace it. Sadly, I can't plant a sensual kiss on my boyfriend:(. But He is happy with the cute pecks and so am I. I see my body and attitude changing for the better and I will not stop till I hit my 10. I am considering going 14 days. Me and my friend who is also cleansing is planning on having a raw juicing party to celebrate the end of the fast. I decided that I will do the raw foods for a week and ease in to a Peseterian diet. This will allow me to enjoy a vegaterian lifestyle while eating fish 2-3 time a week. I need the protein so I can build up healthy muscle.Here goes day 8,YYYYAAAAYYYY!:D

[tbone]

im so glad i found this forum! :) i have read every post and i want to thank all of the sr. members for spending so much time REPEATING answers to those who dont bother to read! :P

i have done 2 MC before (9 days, 12 days) and i am currenlty on an all organic juice fast (9days).

the results have been pretty much the same. ive gotten the WHITE tongue everytime and i personally believe it is the best indicator of where you are in terms of the MC.

i thought i was cool having done 12 days.. but after seeing people do 20+, 30+... i am planning on doing my next MC later this year and attempting 20+ too!! judging by the white on my tongue each time, i believe there is still a LOT of bad crap inside my body. i am 32... but for the first 30 years of my life, i lived on what ever was good (not good for you, but what tasted good). the funny thing is, after my first MC, i dont even like fast food anymore (though i do eat it sometimes), dont eat too greasy, and i LOVE veggies now! (did i really say that?!) also, i was personally able to drop my blood pressure down 20 pts. now i know that wont be for everyone so keep in mind that results VARY big time.

to those who question the MC, keep going, something will change and you will actually see/feel the difference. the crappiness you feel is you body detoxing.

i will continue to monitor this post/site and contribute as much as i can.

best regards,
tom

[SessoMatto]

my tongue isnt' what is feeling the coating. its my back teeth!!
this is sort of my third MC, but really the first one that ive been in a good enough place physically/mentally to really stick to my guns. im very proud of myself....(i digress)

does anyone else get the gunk on thier teeth?? i'm brushing with a little salt and baking soda two, sometimes three times a day. but i have been brushing my tongue, as that has just been habit since i learned to brush anyways.

[Bogi]

SassoMatto,

Not just on my teeth even on my palate and troath. I continously trying to swallow, but it just doesn't go anywhere. :rolleyes:

[mtmouse]

Oh yes, my teeth get very gunky too!

I brush teeth and tongue with Tooth Soap (learned about it here from Cool Breeze) (www.perfect-prescription.com).

Just part of the drill (so to speak)! :)

[SessoMatto]

:)
ok, i figured as much--(about the teeth)--and last night was the first night i had the "try to swallow but it's not going anywhere feeling" i thought it was coz i swallowed all the pepper at the bottom of the bottle (which i do normally) but then it wouldnt go anywhere.
even with another quart of water down my face. nothing, so i just rolled over and tried to sleep and forget about it.

its gone this morning and my singing voice is stronger than it was last night, so YAY.

but seriously, the whole teeth sticking together thing...hee hee hee...blugh

[Bogi]

:)
ok, i figured as much--(about the teeth)--and last night was the first night i had the "try to swallow but it's not going anywhere feeling" i thought it was coz i swallowed all the pepper at the bottom of the bottle (which i do normally) but then it wouldnt go anywhere.
even with another quart of water down my face. nothing, so i just rolled over and tried to sleep and forget about it.

its gone this morning and my singing voice is stronger than it was last night, so YAY.

but seriously, the whole teeth sticking together thing...hee hee hee...blugh

So yours is gone from the throat? Good for you. Mine is a stubborn one, been there for 3 weeks! :)
You'll notice at the end of the cleanse that your singing voice not only get stronger but clearer, too! Or at least that happened to mine after the first cleanse. :)

[3musketeers]

Has anybody had a reaction on their tongue when breaking the fast? Just completed 10 days and during day 2 after the fast it feels like a burned tongue with little white bumps. I have followed the plan to the letter both before, during and breaking the cleanse. Any thoughts?

[Bogi]

Has anybody had a reaction on their tongue when breaking the fast? Just completed 10 days and during day 2 after the fast it feels like a burned tongue with little white bumps. I have followed the plan to the letter both before, during and breaking the cleanse. Any thoughts?

Did you break the fast with OJ? Maybe 10 days on lemonde and now the OJ was just too much acid for your tounge? Drinking the juice with a straw and maybe putting some carrot juice in it, too could help!

Good luck!

[SessoMatto]

i thought you'd like to know my throat has another illusive hairball in it.

:)
blah

[Bogi]

Welcome to my club! :D

[dmajor]

Here I am, back with great stamina. The first day of my first attempt was HORRIBLE, and I stopped, but I gave the two week wait and now I am on day 10, and going for 40! I did a search and found nothing so here's the reason I am here. Have brushed my tongue forever, aggressively, every time I brush my teeth, and I love it. While on the MC, I notice that now when I brush my tongue, it bleeds, quite a bit, and not all the gunk comes off. I rinse with salt water to try and stop the bleeding. I am assuming that the tongue is even more sensitive during the cleanse, but will a tongue scraper do the same? I don't have a lot of $ and don't want to waste any. Thanks for any replies.

[Zenvedev]

Hi everyone,

Lots of great information on this thread!

So I did the MC, but I'm already underweight. Due to the drastic nature of my weight loss I experienced on the cleanse, I stopped on day 6. My body is running great though, and I'm glad I did it. The problem I am experiencing is that I am still getting a coated, yellow tongue and I've been off the MC for almost 2 weeks. It's a little less severe than it was during the MC, but it's still there. It's on the back of the tongue and a bit down the middle. I've read this means that I basically have some gunk in my lower intestines. I also have some white crap on the very back of my tongue past the point of my gag reflex.

Has anyone experienced this issue AFTER their cleanse? Does it clear up? Is this normal?

Thanks...

[jessie_smith]

ok so i have a question for anyone our there that can help. im on day 3 of my first cleanse. but i am not having any of the tongue coating that ive been expecting to happen. ive read 2 books before i started and ive done all the steps everday, and had absolutely nothing else other than what the cleanse calls for, so i know im not doing anything wrong. is this normal too? it seems like EVERYONE has the tongue coating thang goin on. any help would be greatly apreciated. thanks!

[Darby]

My tongue... is driving. me. crazy. Blech!

The coating itself is not so bad, but the gunk in the very back is awful! Mostly because it's mucousy, which makes it super gross. I haven't done this cleanse in several years, and my memory is a sieve, but I really don't think my tongue ever bothered me this much before. I do recognize it means some good detox is happening, but it really is quite unpleasant.

I've been using a tongue scraper every couple days or so, but it doesn't really help much because even when it seems like I've successfully removed stuff that's pretty far back, the sensation is still there. And the mucousy stuff is back within moments.

I'm wondering... This morning, my throat was fairly clogged with gunk too. Seems not too unlikely that that could be due to sinus drainage. If so, could that be responsible for the nasty back of tongue too? I haven't noticed much sinus drainage, but maybe? Or maybe the tongue itself is generating the slime, and it's traveling into the throat?

Does anyone here irrigate their sinuses with salt water while doing the MC? I've been thinking about trying that. It certainly couldn't hurt, and would probably be very beneficial to help clean/detox the sinuses quickly.

I'll stop just thinking about it and actually DO it tomorrow morning to see. (A friend told my that sinus irrigation is most effective at removing sinus gunk if done in the morning.) I'll let y'all know how it affects the tongue, if at all.

[marsh]

hi darby-

i would suggest using the tongue scraper a few times a day. i use mine every time i brush my teeth. i have a pretty coated tongue still, and getting the film off more frequently helps.

[Darby]

Hi marsh :)

If it were earlier in the fast, I'd take that advice. However, at this point I'm avoiding scraping too often as I think that will make it harder to determine whether the tongue is clearing naturally, or simply looks better due to recent scraping. Besides, the worst of the ick is at the back where I can't seem to reach without gagging. :(

The good news is that I my tongue IS starting to clear! I last scraped yesterday, and while some gunkage has returned since, it's not too bad. The edges, especially, are pretty clear.

The stuff at the back is still there today yet it wasn't as bad when I woke up this morning as it was when I went to bed. That surprised me because you'd think if it was due to any sort of drainage, it would be worse after lying horizontal overnight. But still, it built up again after I got up and, oddly enough, it seems to get worse after I've had some lemonade. Seems like the lemonade would cut through it, but perhaps my tongue isn't liking the acid right now and is producing a mucous layer to defend against it? I wonder if gargling with salt water would help?

Anyway, I didn't end up irrigating my sinuses this morning. I forgot until late morning, then was too lazy to set up my WaterPik. :rolleyes:

<a little later>
I just tried gargling with salt water, and it did help a bit!

Thank you for your support, marsh! :)

[ovenfriedbeads]

Hi Carleyq and welcome to the bulletin board. :)

You can brush your tongue just like you brush your teeth, but if you do, it'll take a couple of days for your tongue to accurately reflect all the junk being eliminated (get coated again).

Peter

Yesterday (day 1) my tongue started to get a little coated by the end of the day so I brushed it good with herbal toothpaste before bedtime. I think I'm going to do that every day, and not look for the evidence or keep that gunk in there. I work retail with heavy customer service, so I think keeping it clean, but knowing it's working, is good enough for me!

Love this forum......I don't think I could get through this without it. Lots of support here.

Amy

[karinap]

:confused:Does it matter if I brush my teeth with fluoride toothpaste during the cleanse and just try not to swallow any or is there a different kind of toothpaste recommended or do I just brush with a plain toothbrush and no paste?

[mtmouse]

You can brush your teeth as usual. However, it's best to use a toothpaste without fluoride. Brushing without any paste at all is fine, too.

Happy cleansing!

[karinap]

Thanks Kathy

I am preparing to begin and trying to think of everything I possibly might encounter beforehand so I can be successful - it will be my first cleanse.

Karina

[mtmouse]

Good for you, Karina!

But you will be successful if you simply do the cleanse per the instructions and take whatever happens in your stride. You may feel great, you may feel terrible on any particular day--or even for a bunch of days. But if you stick it out for the minimum 10 days, you will get the benefits!

Have a good one! I'll be joining you next Monday. :)

[chez227]

Is chewing gum accepted during the cleanse?

[mtmouse]

Nope! :(

On the cleanse you can have salt in the SWF, lemons/limes, MS/agave, cayenne pepper, laxative tea at night, and occasional mint tea (one cup a day or less).

That's it! Please read the General Help for Newbies thread for more details.

[babsofyours]

I'm toying with the idea of using a tongue scraper while on the cleanse. I haven't started the MC yet but I don't know if I want to use it or not.
If I don't I feel I will better be able to keep track of where I am on the cleanse and will know when my tongue is a healthy pink.
If I do then I won't really be able to tell when its pink from being clean or pink because I scraped it all away.
Has anyone used the scraper or have any opinions or advice?
Thanks in advance:D

[kristinabobo]

Hi everyone!
Can anyone help me? Im on day 4, feeling great, doing everything right, but my tongue is NOT coated. It is pink and normal looking. I want all the detox symptoms, darn it. Any feedback appreciated. Thanks. Kristina

[nlawlor]

what about a yellow coating on back of tongue?

[anicca]

I'm noping someone will answer these questions for me!!!!
This is my second MC, I am currently on day 8. I've been feeling great the whole time with no crazy detox symptoms. I have not developed that furry tongue coating/feeling as I did last year on my first cleanse, although it is stained now yellow from all the lemonade. HOWEVER, I've had a baseline (all the time) whitish tongue for probably my whole life. Last year after 10 days that did not change. So wondering a few things:

1. Should I really worry about the baseline white tongue thing?
2. Am I not detoxing? Meaning am I cleaner than last year?
3. I don't really want to continue on longer due to scheduling sake- I'll be away and won't be able to keep it up on the road.
4. Has anyone done this cleanse, even for longer periods and NOT ended with a clearer tongue?
4. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

[L2lose]

Hey I'm wondering too. Tongue white, saliva thick, flem every morning, teeth coated with layer of slime. Hope it clears up.

[L2lose]

I finally broke down this morning and used a tongue scraper, just to get the junk out. I figure I am just removing the toxins another way. It took several scrapings until I felt better. My mouth feels like cotton mouth and I'm on day 5. I really hope it gets better.

[gingergirl]

Is it recommended to not scrape the gunk? I've been doing that a couple of times daily...Is it because it's hard to know if the tongue clears if it's being scraped?

[itgirl]

What is the average amount of days doing the MC does one get a pink tongue or does it vary per person depending on the amount of toxins one has.

[Res]

Unfortunately I don't believe you'd get an honest average. Everyone is different and its really based on your level of toxicity.

[gary@tunaverse.com]

agreed--I'm on day 4 and my tongue was driving me crazy!! Then I started scraping it and feel much better now. Like my kids said--yuck!!

[Water_Lilly]

I'm on Day 8 of the MC and things have been going pretty smoothly since day 3. Yesterday I noticed that there are sores on the edges of my tounge that sting with the lemon juice. I'm thinking they may actually be caused by the acidity of the lemon juice (rather than detoxing). The reason that I think this is everytime I've gone to Latin America and gorged on the delicious pinapple, my tounge has also gotten sores and even bled (from too much acidity). Any one else have this issue?

[bobaggio]

just to let anyone know that was wondering, I am on day and eight and my tongue was normal and healthy looking until about the end of day six and then it started getting very white, so don't worry. it will start to fill with gunk (ah the master cleanse, the only time when your tongue looking white and disgusting is seen as progression)

[lemonyfresh]

I am on day 23 and I have just now noticed a remarkable difference in my tongue. Not totally pink, but very close and the last time I checked ( yesterday sometime ) it was still gunky. This happened fast!
Lemonyfresh

[thesavage]

I scrape a few times per day too. I'm not worried about wondering if it's pink because I scraped or because I'm clean. When I don't have to scrape 2 or 3 times per day and it stays pink, then I'll know! I actually think it's fun to track how long it takes after scraping before my mouth is nasty again.

My tongue scraper has a regular side and a softer side. I use the regular, but it's good to know that if my tongue starts getting sensitive, I can still use it.

The way I see tongue scraping, it's similar to bowel movements. That junk is trying to exit my body. So I help it along. I don't want to swallow that gunk! yech. :o

[RaeVynn]

I'm on day six, and today I first noticed the coating on my tongue. Ewww.

Glad to know things are working fine... :p

[mel81]

Day 6 for me and no white tongue yet. My mouth often feels terrible though is it possible this is just how it will be for me? Not complaining at all!! Trust me.

I hear a lot of people continue the cleanse past 10 days if their tongue doesn't return to a healthy pink by then. I do love the MC but am really only planning to go to day 10 based on my schedule. If my tongue turns white on day 9 I think I'll be really disappointed. Has this happened to anyone?

My intentions were to do a 10 day cleanse twice a year. Maybe you have to just play it by ear though:(??

Thanks in advance for any input
Over-planner

[evey]

My tongue has a white coating on day 4, but it's not really thick or gross. Could that just be my normal nastiness? Does it typically get worse than this?

I, also, will be really dissapointed if it flairs up on day nine or so...:confused:

[Bobby]

Hi All;
Re: tongue coating. It seems to be diferent for each of us. This is my second cleanse-I'm on day 6 today. My tongue has gotten coated by day two/three each time. Last time, my tongue was not completely pink by day 10 but I stopped there as that was my plan.
I also plan to stop at 10 days this time; I've been eliminating quite a bit more than last time so hopefully my tongue will be clear. But, we'll see...:rolleyes:
I agree that scraping probably is not harmful and is just one more way to get rid of toxins. So I am scraping (or brushing) away!

[cheriewilson]

Does it take a few cleanses to get the pink tongue? I'm on day 11 with MC2! I was thinking of quitting after day 10 but obviously haven't. Should I wait for the pink tongue? I"m kind of bored but okay for now! Lots of energy - just want to eat fruit, raisins, nuts, salads...

What should I do? Go to day 20?

[HiOnLife]

I'm on day 6 today, after a few days of a mild white coating, my tounge is pink, but with 3 almost ringworm-like looking thingies on the edges of it. The edges of that same wierd tounge are all sorta cracked and bumpy --- probably not a good sign--- what's going on with that? anyone know?:confused:

[stylesmh]

quick question of concern: I'm on day 13 now, my tongue is definetly grossly white, but i've also developed some painful kanka sores on it too, which has lead me to wonder if all these toxins are being released through our tongue, is it possible that that could cause cancer to the tongue? or is this something to not worry about at all, and if so why not?

[rottenbroccoli]

Help! I'm on Day Five and my tongue is clear already!

It was coated and gross on Days Two, Three, and the morning of Four. Then, last night, I noticed it had cleared up. What does this mean?

I talked to a friend and she thought maybe I just didn't have many toxins to release... I'm 19, I'm a vegetarian, I don't drink coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks, most juices, milk, or alcohol, and I don't smoke anything. I've been raw for a few weeks before, too.

Could this be it? I'm pretty confused. I wasn't expecting my tongue to clear up this quickly.

[mtmouse]

The tongue isn't a perfect indicator, and often we find (especially on long cleanses) that there will be "layers" of detoxing, even when we're pretty clean to start with. So during the next five days your tongue may coat up again, or other detox symptoms may appear, or you may find more mental clarity, or you may just sail along and feel great.

Just keep going for your minimum 10 days, be prepared for anything, and be happy if it's easy and comfortable. :D

[dianthoma]

Hi CrazeeKat -
I teach yoga and work out a lot. I always feel better on the cleanse after the first few days and generally have more energy than normal.

[bunny689]

I am becoming obsessed with monitoring the tongue coating. I saw my shiatsu person's tongue yesterday (she's doing it too) and I was jealous b/c her tongue was nasty! Maybe mine is just going to be different because I am fully vegan and don't really eat flour, sugar, or other bad things. I do consume cappuccino, MSG, nutrasweet/splenda quite frequently though... I go through periods of diet soda obsession. So certainly I do have *some* things to cause a nasty tongue?

I am now keeping track of my tongue. I started a little journal just for it.
http://veganbunny.wordpress.com/
yes, I am truly obsessive about it!

[Diamondgirl65]

Haha I've been obsessed with mine too! I brush and rinse like a freak.

I'm on day five and it's looking and feeling better today. It got pretty coated and gunky feeling for those first few days.