The main function of the liver is to metabolize substances in the blood to preparation for excretion. It has many other important functions, including synthesis of most essential proteins, production of bile, and regulation of nutrients such as glucose, cholesterol, and amino acids. The liver has over 500 known functions, too many to list here. Suprisingly you can do fairly well with only one-sixth of your liver functioning. If 50% of your liver were surgically removed, the liver would normally grow back to full size in about 3 months. What all this means is that it is often hard to find out if the liver is malfunctioning until the damage is extreme.
As the main detoxifying organ of the body the liver filters the unfortunate and substantial amounts of toxic substances in the food we eat, the city water we drink, the air we breathe, the gaseous toxins by many building materials, etc... The liver in most people needs a lot of help. Aside from detoxifying these external toxins, the liver also detoxifies excess hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc., partly digested proteins, ammonia from the breakdown of protein, and other toxins produced internally. In some cases the byproducts of normal function are themselves toxins; e.g., chemicals made in detoxifying alcohol consumed in large amounts and over a long time period can destroy the liver.
Environmental impacts on the liver's health can be exposure to toxins in our polluted industrial world - untamed waste products and rain water/river run off. The water we drink - added chlorine and fluoride plus any other toxins that may leach their way into the drinking water tables in the community. The quality of food we eat - with plenty of additives and preservatives, pesticides and herbicides. And more recently, genetically modified fruits and veggies that no body knows the true impact of yet.
Liver congestion is mainly caused by poor diet and exercise very prevalent in todays busy work place. These burdens can make fats build up in the liver tissues and clog the matrix of the organ, disabling it in moving fats into the blood stream.
Symptoms of congestion can include headaches, indigestion, tiredness, apathy, poor appetite, easy weight gain, and general muscle weakness.
Liver dysfunction has many causes besides the toxic foods we eat and the use of drugs, most of which tax the liver. Prolonged constipation is one major cause. Diets high in protein (such as meat, gluten, isolated soy protein, etc.) overwork the liver, as do fried foods, excess animal fats, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable fats (margarine, etc.), roasted nuts, tannic acid in tea, artificial sweeteners, refined sugars, alcohol, tobacco and deficiencies of B vitamins.
Liver damage (cirrhosis) can be caused by many factors - chronic alcohol consumption, heart failure, overeating, excess protein and carbohydrates in the diet . Causes can also include inherited diseases – such as cystic fibrosis; viral diseases -- hepatitis B and hepatitis C (these cause inflammation of the liver and damage over many years); autoimmune inflammation of the liver (the body's own immune system attacks the liver); Disorders of the drainage system of the liver (the biliary system); metabolic disorders of iron and copper (hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease respectively) each of which can deposit in the liver; medications and environmental toxins (rarely). Cirrhosis can also happen suddenly in the case of an accident if there is severe damage to the liver tissues.
It can happen continuously over many years as in the case of alcohol abuse.
Liver damage forms scars and circulation through the liver is impaired, creating congestion and functional disability. Often it is so severe that recovery is impacted. Scarring causes disruptions to the flow of blood and bile through the liver and keeps the liver from working properly. The most common symptoms include fatigue and weakness; loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea; small, red spider-like blood vessels under the skin; yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); redness of the palms of the hands (palmar erythema); swelling of the belly caused by fluid retention (ascites); swelling of the legs, feet, and back caused by fluid buildup (edema); breast development in males and, possibly, shrinking testicles; whole body itching (called pruritus); mental confusion (called hepatic encephalopathy), caused by a buildup in the blood of harmful toxins. Quite an amazing list infers the importance of keeping this organ healthy to insure a quality of life.
Protocols for maintaining liver health can include regular consumption of dandelion tea (whole plant), or you can make coffee with the dandelion root, if you roast it first. There are many herbs that lend a hand to helping the liver resume normal function and/or cleanse itself - dandelion, as mentioned above, milk thistle (Silymarin) is another invaluable herb, it contains some of the most potent lver-cleansing compounds available.
A regular elimination regime can rid the liver of stored toxins, cleaning out the tissues. This can be as simple as a short juice fast - giving the liver and the rest of the digestive organs a break from the daily routine allows them to repair and clean house. Elimination diets can get rather complex and specific, if needed. Some examples may include doing a 7-day liver cleanse with mostly liquid foods and water - no solids; or drinking a concoction of hot water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper several times a day. Another elimination option is colon cleansing, since constipation and lack of stimulation leads to loss of nutrients absorbed. Flushing the colon can greatly help in eliminating toxins and speed up the metabolism.
A diet with an abundance of liver-friendly foods can also be beneficial on a regular basis. This would include beets, artichokes, peas, parsnips, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, yams, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, okra, onion, and parsley. Choose organically grown produce as often as possible to avoid pesticides and lighten your body’s toxic load.
Consuming plenty of fresh clean water everyday - 64 oz. is highly recommended; this provides the liver plenty of fluid to function properly.
A decent exercise regime will keep the blood flowing and fats moving through your system.
Eating less fatty foods, or at least moderation of consumption, will benefit the liver by not overwhelming it with too many lipids to process. By nature, the liver will store excess amounts of fats, congesting the organ. Eating too much sugar, dairy (mucous forming), salt, alcohol, preservatives, additives, and pesticides also cause internal congestion. It is all hard for the liver to process.
Using glandular supplementation is another holistic option for liver health. This involves actually consuming the similar organ of an animal, or in some cases concentration of an organ. Nutritional glandulars have a very long history of safe and effective use by healing professionals in most of the countries of the world. The U.S. conventional medical system has chosen to use synthetic replicas instead. The wonderful thing about glandulars is that they provide the body with the exact nutrients needed for a specific organ in a perfectly harmonious synergistic balance, in this case using liver to support the liver. Glandular supplements help in tonifying the specific organ tissues and can provide enzymes for proper cellular health. It is possible to find a glandular that is specific to the liver, and this would help in repairing any known damage to the organ.
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