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Livering
Well - Care of the Liver
by Lynn Hinderliter CN, LNC
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There is an old saying, "is life worth living? It
depends on the liver!", but perhaps not all of us realize the essential truth
contained therein. To a very large extent, the health and well-being of an
individual is dependent on the proper functioning of this important detoxifying
organ.
Without the good offices of your liver, 3 vital functions
would not be performed:
- the blood supply would not be filtered,
which is your body's method of removing bacteria, allergens, toxins and other
undesirables from circulation,
- bile would not be secreted, which means the
absorption of fats and certain vitamins would be inhibited, and
- metabolic functions, such as controlling hormone
secretion, extracting toxins and fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins &
minerals, together with the regulation of blood sugars through the thyroid
hormones and the production of GTF chromium would not take place efficiently.
Some of the symptoms of a
"sluggish liver" are fatigue, general malaise, digestive problems, blood sugar
regulation disorders (such as hypoglycemia), high cholesterol, psoriasis,
allergies and chemical sensitivities and constipation.
Extreme cases of liver problems would be jaundice, hepatitis and cirrhosis. |
What causes less than optimal liver function? High on the list
are oral contraceptives, synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy, and
exposure to many drugs and chemicals. All drugs are foreign to the liver, and
put a great strain on it. Some commonly prescribed drugs which are a particular
danger to liver health are:
- acetaminophen (when used frequently and in high doses)
- anabolic steroids (used by body builders)
- anticonvulsants such as phenytoin and valproic acid
- cancer chemotherapy
- cardiovascular drugs (especially amiodarone)
- estrogens
- halothane (anesthetic)
- isoniazid (INH)
- methotrexate (used to treat psoriasis and arthritis)
- psychiatric medications (not all)
- statins ( high cholesterol treatment)
The following is a little quiz (with acknowledgment to Dr. Christopher Hobbs at
http://illness.altmedangel.com/liver.htm)
to help you judge the health of your liver.
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If you answer yes to five or more of the
following questions,
it's important that you pay more attention to liver health.
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1. You suffer from dry, brittle nails and/or
chronically painful joints.
2. You have persistent skin problems (especially
psoriasis).
3. You have a habitual bitter taste in your mouth.
4. You have constant dry eyes (which are not caused
by prescription drugs).
5. You have menstrual problems.
6. You have chronic indigestion when eating fatty
foods.
7. You have burning feet.
8. You often have a generalized queasy feeling.
9. Your stools are perpetually light-colored.
10. You have periodic bad dreams or nightmares.
11. You have a history of gallbladder attacks or
gallstones.
Lynn: I would add persistent insomnia which nothing seems to
help.
If the above represents you, it may be time to
start rehabilitating your liver and gallbladder.
Alcohol is very damaging to the liver, and faulty diet
also places a strain on it. It is important to take into account that a poor
diet, which is effectively a daily insult to the health of the liver, can
cause it a great deal of damage: regular consumption of food fried in often
rancid oil, high intake of alcohol, foods low in protein and high in
carbohydrates and fats, frequently with chemical preservatives, colorings and
flavorings not only do not support the liver, but actually add to its workload.
Overeating is also a common cause of liver malfunction, causing it to
overwork and become fatigued, no longer able to efficiently filter toxins out of
the bloodstream.
Many experts recommend a
3 day juice fast
at regular intervals to detoxify the liver, using carrot and beet
juices, aloe vera in small amounts and distilled water with a little lemon
juice. ( Obviously many people would be wise to consult a health expert before
doing anything radical.)
An extension of this approach is to come gently off the fast
on a diet of vegetables, fruits and grains to provide high fiber, while at the
same time following a course of nutrients for organ support, such as Choline
and Inositol, the amino acid Methionine, herbs such as milk
thistle, artichoke and dandelion, and the antioxidant Alpha Lipoic Acid,
which has been known to normalize liver enzymes, sometimes in a matter of
days.
| The art of Ayurveda, Indian
medicine in existence for thousands of years, places great emphasis on liver
function, and recommends several major herbs to suport it. |
Picrorrhiza Kurroa is one of the important herbs for
support not only on an ongoing daily basis , but in cases of severe viral
attack: a study by Vaidya (Ass. Phys.
Ind. Conf. Abstracts (1981).) found protection against
viral hepatitis, and other studies have demonstrated its helpfulness in
protecting against alcohol related liver damage.
Phylanthus Amaris has been researched for its effects
on hepatitis, and in 1988 Thyagaran et al. (ibid) reported that 22 of 37 cases
of Hepatitis B lost their "carrier" status after using the herb for a month. (Lancet
1988:2:1017–8.) In the placebo control group only 1 person
out of 23 had equivalent results!
Outstanding results in people suffering from jaundice have
been obtained using a herb called Tinospora Cordifolia: In 1983,
Rege et al. (ibid) used the herb in malignant obstructive jaundice: half of the
group received conventional treatment - drugs and drainage - the other half were
treated with drainage plus T. Cordifolia. After conclusion of treatment, 50% of
the drug-treated group were found to have blood poisoning while none of the herb
treated group developed this problem. After surgery, only 40% of the
drug-treated group survived, whereas an amazing 92.4% 0f those treated with the
herb lived. (Ind. Drugs Sept. 544 (1984).
I very much like the combination of supercritical extracts in Theraveda's
NIRMAL.
The following article by Peter O'Hara BA Hons Dip. Hom.,
makes a convincing case for the use of a herb called Tribulus Terrestris in
hormone balancing and liver function.
Demand has skyrocketed in recent years as women become more aware of natural
products that offer relief of PMS and menopausal symptoms. One reason demand has
increased is because more women are experiencing hormonal imbalance problems.
Why is this so? Several reasons – lack of minerals, essential fatty acids, and
other nutrients in the diet, livers stressed by excessive fats and sugars in the
diet, higher chemical exposure (further taxing the liver), and day to day stress
in our life.
Do you notice the references to the liver in the above list of reasons? The
liver is not often considered to play a role in hormone balance but its role is
critical in the correct functioning of the endocrine system. The liver has an
important role in the production of hormones, and when stressed by our modern
lifestyle ,hormone production is one function that deteriorates.
The good news for people with hormone imbalance problems is the recent listing
on the Australian Register of the Therapeutic Goods of Tribulus for relief of
menstrual and menopausal symptoms. This is also good news for people whose liver
is stressed or congested because Tribulus is especially beneficial for the
liver.
More information about Tribulus
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The liver is a major synthesizer
of hormones. They are synthesized from cholesterol, so a herb such as Tribulus
that has a stimulating effect on the liver, will have a major influence on
cholesterol and other products of the liver.
Aiding the liver in its functions is
the gallbladder: this small organ is more or less attached to the
underside of the liver, and concentrates bile, which is essential for the proper
digestion of food, particularly fats. Gallbladder problems caused by stone
formation and sludge are very common in the US, by one estimate affecting 15% of
the US population. Vegetarians are less affected than others, and this may
be because large amounts of fiber in the diet help to control gallbladder
problems.
Very often, there are no symptoms at
all connected to the presence of small stones, but if the problem progresses, a
pain in the right side of the abdomen may develop, perhaps even radiating up
into the shoulder blade, reaching the level of excruciating. (Of course, this
usually happens during the night.) If this situation is not addressed, and
dietary changes made, then almost certainly further and worse attacks will
follow often accompanied by vomiting. With this disturbed environment, worse may
be to come, with pancreatitis, infections and a call for surgical removal of the
organ.
Many practitioners advocate a liver/gallbladder
flush once a year
to head off any problems in this area. |
Some people recount their success in
avoiding surgery with such an approach, but once stones have formed, one has to
consider the possible dangers and weigh them against the problems that accompany
a surgical solution.
- All surgery carries with it inherent risks
- This surgery carries a starting price tag of
app. $10,000
- Frequently there are stones formed in the
liver also which cannot be removed
- If surgery is not accompanied by lifestyle
changes, stones may continue to form in the pocket left by
surgery
- Without the gallbladder to concentrate and
deliver the bile needed for digestion, you may suffer from
indigestion for the rest of your life
- Often the pain post surgery (and I don't mean
from the surgery itself) is as bad or worse
- The lack of a gallbladder may contribute to
diabetes later in life, by increasing the demands on the
pancreas.
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Here are the instructions for a
Liver/Gallbladder flush. I will just say that there are some experts who
say that the "stones" are a reaction between the oil, mineral complexes
and the acid, but I cannot finds that they have had them analyzed to confirm
this.
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Liver Gallbladder Flush.
You will need:
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4 gallons of apple juice
(or you may juice your own apples - make sure they are organic!)
4 gallons of steam distilled water - do not add minerals
1/2 c virgin olive oil
3 lemons (or enough to make 1/4 cup lemon juice)
Set aside a 4 day period to do this properly.
A daily enema is recommended and a
saltwater flush
is a viable alternative for those who dislike enemas.
Drink 1 gallon of apple juice and 1 gallon of water each
day for 3 days. On the evening
of the third night when you are tired and ready for bed, drink 1/2 cup of virgin
olive oil Get the good stuff. Chill the oil - it tastes better cold.
You can use a straw to ingest it: some people find it easier not to have
it touch their lips, others want to get it down as quickly as possible
Immediately drink 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice.
Go directly to bed and lie down on your right side with two
pillows under the right hip to help the oil reach the gallbladder more quickly.
You will almost certainly have a miserable night. I spend
it thinking positive thoughts about how much I am doing to promote my body's
health On the 4th day, you will
see your results. When you have a bowel movement, be alert for objects
floating on the top of the water: probably green, but possibly black for
older stones. It is an amazing and affirming sight, believe me.
It is helpful to continue with the
enemas or saltwater flushes for a few more days to complete the cleansing, and
you should be rewarded by feelings of well-being and extra energy. Ease
back into your usual diet carefully. if your "usual diet" is less than
optimal, now may be the time to clean it up, too!
Read my suggestions for healthy eating here.
Give this hard-working and essential part of your body a rest and
a tune-up, and you will be rewarded with better health, more energy and higher
disease resistance. |
