The liver is the largest internal organ and gland in the human body and it is the body’s major filtering organ. It’s the body’s first line of defense, when it comes to toxicity. The liver’s primary function is to limit the amount of toxins that enter the human body. The thing about these toxins is that they are typically consumed voluntarily. Examples of these toxins are below:
- Alcohol consumption
- Drug use (legal and illegal)
- Smoking
- Eating processed foods
- Ingesting chemicals such as:
- Sugar
- Salt
- MSG
- Aspartame
- Sodium nitrate
- Propylene glycol
- Lake dyes
- Saccharin
- And many, many more.
A healthy liver helps you live a healthy life. The liver has to work hard, having over 500 responsibilities. It is served by two blood supplies. The hepatic artery conveys oxygenated blood to the organ, while hepatic portal vein conveys nutrient-filled blood from the stomach and intestines. The liver typically holds about one pint of blood, or about 13% of the body’s total blood supply.
Liver Problems
Now, let’s take a look at a few common ailments of the liver.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and about 300 million people worldwide are affected by hepatitis C. Roughly 3.9 million (about 1.8 percent of the population in the US) people in the US have chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatitis B Statistics In the United States
- 12 million Americans have been infected (1 out of 20 people).
- More than one million people are chronically infected .
- Up to 100,000 new people will become infected each year.
- 5,000 people will die each year from hepatitis B and its complications.
- Approximately 1 health care worker dies each day from hepatitis B.
Hepatitis is caused by excess mucus accumulation in and around the liver due, which is primarily due to acidity (from acid-forming food and beverage consumption). The liver becomes enlarged when it is inflamed, just like every other organ in the body. Hepatitis is mainly caused by poor or an insalubrious diet (excess meat and dairy consumption; refined and processed food products) and intake of drugs, especially pharmaceutical drugs (which include pre-natal pills, explaining why so many American babies are born with hepatitis or jaundice).
Pharmaceutical drugs, unlike all natural herbs, cause LIVER TOXICITY (liver disease). It’s a shame that hospitals (and OBGYN’s) have women ingesting toxins under the guise of pre-natal nutrition. Commercial and pharmaceutical grade pre-natal tablets/pills are toxic and poisonous.
Jaundice
Jaundice, also known as Iciterus, refers to the yellowish appearance of the skin or whites of the eyes. If there is too much Bilirubin (pigmentation) in the blood, then the skin or whites of the eye will have a yellow tinge. Bilirubin is naturally in the body, but the liver usually gets rid of it, in addition to old red blood cells. Jaundice is not a disease, rather, it is usually the result of an underlying liver disorder.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis of the Liver is an abnormal condition where permanent scarring is done to the liver. The most common reason for Cirrhosis is Alcoholism, but it can also result from Hepatitis and other conditions. The liver helps detox harmful substances from the body, cleans the blood, and makes vital nutrients. When the liver is injured it attempts to repair itself, ultimately creating more and more scar tissue. The progression of Cirrhosis makes it difficult for the liver to function.
Melancholy and the Liver
Melancholia is the result of the production of black bile from the liver instead of green bile. Many people who drink alcohol become depressed during or after drinking. Intoxicants causes the liver to release black bile and shortly after, extreme sadness or depression can follow.
The Liver and Anger
Ever organ can house a negative emotion, and the liver hold the negative emotion of anger. Yes, our anger is stored in our liver. This is why cleansing can induce some agitation. Alcoholic beverages cause stored anger in the liver to be released. Inebriated people can become angry quickly. It’s not so much that it is the liquor, but rather the effect of the liquor on the liver, or what it causes the liver to do.
Dietary Intervention
Changing your diet can improve liver health. Liver-toxic foods like alcohol, coffee, processed foods and excess fats need to be avoided.
Natural Healing Solutions
Herbs
Great hepatic (herbs with an affinity for the liver) herbs include:
- Milk Thistle Seed
- Dandelion Root
- Boldo Leaf
- Chanca Piedra
- Peony Root
- Quassia Bark
- Fumitory
- Gentian Root
- Bupleurem
- Fenugreek Seed
- Goldenseal
- Barberry
- Oregon Grape
- Fringetree Bark
- Wahoo Bark
- Chicory
- Artichoke
- Tumeric
- Cascara Sagrada
- Black Root
Olive Oil
Olive oil also helps the liver. Olive oil pulls toxins from the liver. Olive oil is also a mild chologogue (see Dherbs.com Herbal Glossary) and enhances and increases the natural secretion of bile.
Coffee Enema
Coffee enemas are great for liver cleansing purposes. Coffee when entered via the rectum causes the liver to dump off toxins like a dump truck. The caffeine does not enter the bloodstream like it does when ingested via the mouth when entered through the rectum. A coffee enema can be performed once a month or whenever you feel like performing one. Make sure you use organic coffee beans (which you can find at a good health food store such as Whole Foods Market).
Castor Oil Pack
The castor oil pack application works wonders for cleansing the liver. You take castor oil (which you can warm up if you like), apply it to your skin (above the liver, located on the right side of your body). Next, take some plastic (the kind you get at the dry cleaners – the thin, clear kind) and apply it over the oiled skin. Then, apply a hot pack (preferably a cotton flannel pack) over the plastic. This process works by allowing the castor oil to penetrate the skin and enter into the bloodstream that eventually finds its way to the liver whereby it stimulates cleansing of the tissues of the liver.
