The liver is the largest glandular organ in the body, weighs about 3-5 pounds and about the size of a football. The liver is located behind the lower ribs on the right side of your abdomen. It consists of 5 lobes and is reddish-brown in color. The liver is the most important metabolic organ as it secretes bile necessary for the breakdown of food in the small intestine. The liver is the main fat burning organ in the body and regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism. A healthy liver will take fat in the form of cholesterol and pump it via the bile into the intestines where it will be carried away in the bowel actions provided the diet is high in fibre. Thus a healthy liver is essential for those who cannot lose weight or those who find that they are gradually gaining weight. It performs many functions important for cell metabolism.
The most important of these are:
This incredible organ 'packages' nutrients into a usable form for cells in other parts of the body. It transforms toxic substances for excretion from the body. It is the most abused organ in the body as modern life contributes toxins from drugs, smoke, alcohol, pollution, and stress, which must be detoxified by the liver. 45,000 Americans will die from liver diseases this year. These diseases include cirrhosis, hepatitis, and jaundice. A close study of liver function reveals that your cells depend on a healthy liver for nutrients. The human body cannot be healthy without a fully functioning liver.
The secretion of bile into the duodenum during the digestion of food is an important liver function. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder until food is ingested. It is then released into the duodenum and is important for the digestion and absorption of fats. This is accomplished chiefly by one of the components of bile: bile salts. Bile salts are derivatives of cholesterol and are recycled by the small intestine and returned to the liver after use.
Bilirubin is also a component of bile and is actually a waste product excreted into the bile. Worn-out red blood cells are removed from the blood by the liver. Bilirubin is the result of the degradation of the hemoglobin contained in these old red blood cells. It is yellow in color and gives a yellow tint to both bile and urine. When it is modified by bacteria it gives feces its brown color. If the body produces too much bilirubin the patient takes on a yellow, or jaundice, color.
After food is digested in the small intestine, it passes through the liver where cells extract glucose for conversion to glycogen. Glycogen is then stored in the liver until it is needed by the body. Some of the glucose and starch are converted into fat which is either stored or released into the blood.
Your liver plays a key role in converting food into essential chemicals of life. All of the blood that leaves the stomach and intestines must pass through the liver before reaching the rest of the body. The liver is thus strategically placed to process nutrients and drugs absorbed from the digestive tract into forms that are easier for the rest of the body to use. In essence, the liver can be thought of as the body's refinery.
Furthermore, your liver plays a principal role in removing from the blood ingested and internally produced toxic substances. The liver converts them to substances that can be easily eliminated from the body. It also makes bile, a greenish-brown fluid which is essential for digestion. Bile is stored in the gallbladder which, after eating, contracts and discharges bile into the intestine, where it aids digestion.
Many drugs taken to treat diseases are also chemically modified by the liver. These changes govern the drug's activity in the body.
Your liver helps you by:
The three major liver diseases are jaundice, cirrhosis, and hepatitis. Cirrhosis is the degeneration of liver tissue, usually seen in middle-aged males with a history of alcohol abuse. It is caused by a protein deficiency (choline) which is common in alcoholics. Symptoms of cirrhosis include enlargement of the liver and spleen, emaciation, jaundice, accumulation of abdominal fluid, and even hemorrhage. Treatment for cirrhosis includes high-protein diet, vitamin B injections, transfusions to replace lost blood, and removal of accumulated fluid.
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. There are two types of hepatitis: serum and infectious. Serum hepatitis is transmitted through transfusions of infected blood or by the use of hypodermic needles that are not sterilized. Infectious hepatitis occurs sporadically or through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include nausea, fever, loss of appetite, enlargement of the liver, pain in the abdomen, and jaundice. Recovery takes at least 6-8 weeks and symptoms could persist for more than a year.
Hepatitis (meaning an inflammation of the liver) is caused by several different viruses. Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated water and food and is excreted in the stools. Hepatitis B is acquired from transfusions or other blood products. It can be transmitted through minute cuts or abrasions or by such simple acts as kissing, tooth brushing, ear piercing, tattooing, having dental work or during sexual contact. It can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby. Hepatitis C, formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis,is primarily spread through infected blood. It causes cirrhosis in 50% of the cases.
The liver often becomes tender and enlarged, and the patient usually exhibits symptoms including fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, jaundice and aversion to food. The virus may be present in the bloodstream, intestines, feces, saliva and in other body secretions.
Hepatitis is common in the United States and some forms of it can be extremely infectious. Most people recover from viral forms of the disease without treatment, but some die and others may develop a chronic, disabling illness.
In the United States there are more than four million "carriers" of hepatitis, people who are not ill themselves, but may pass hepatitis on to others.
A vaccine for hepatitis B has been shown to be safe and effective in the prevention of infection if given before exposure. It is recommended for all infants, those who come into contact with blood in their work, and for anyone with more than one sex partner. Treatments with interferon are effective in some cases of hepatitis B and C.
A vaccine for hepatitis A was recently approved. It is effective in protecting over 90% of those who are vaccinated for at least six to 12 months and perhaps longer.
Jaundice
Jaundice, as previously discussed, is the discoloration of tissues of the body from the overproduction, or lack of elimination, of bilirubin. It can be seen most easily in the patient's skin and the whites of their eyes.
Jaundice can be brought about in three ways:
1. Prehepatic jaundice (before the liver) which is the excessive breakdown of red blood cells that cannot be excreted by the liver.
2. Hepatic jaundice occurs when the liver is diseased and is unable to excrete a moderate amount of bilirubin.
3. Posthepatic jaundice (after the liver) is generally brought about by the obstruction of the bile duct, usually from gallstones.
Treatment ranges from removal of the offending problem to simply use of a bilirubin light in order to correct the disorder.
Alcohol-related liver disorders
There are three separate liver disorders related to alcohol: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.
Fatty liver, the most common alcohol-related liver disorder, causes enlargement of the liver and right upper abdominal discomfort. The swollen liver is often tender or painful. Severe fatty liver may cause temporary jaundice and abnormalities of liver function. Abstinence from alcohol can effect complete reversal and cure without leaving residual cirrhosis.
Alcoholic hepatitis is an acute illness often characterized by nausea, vomiting, right upper and middle abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, enlarged and tender liver, and an elevation of the white blood cell count. Sometimes alcoholic hepatitis may be present without symptoms. As with fatty liver, treatment is primarily supportive and preventive.
Any disease which is brought on by alcohol abuse cannot be reversed until alcohol intake is stopped. Once alcoholic hepatitis develops, progression to cirrhosis will occur if alcohol consumption continues.
Alcoholic cirrhosis occurs in 10% to 15% of people who consume large amounts of alcohol over a prolonged period of time. However, there is considerable variation in the degree of susceptibility of people to given amounts of alcohol, and further research is needed to determine why some individuals are more vulnerable to alcohol than others.
Each year over 25,000 Americans die from cirrhosis, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, between the ages of 25 and 44, it is the fourth disease-related cause of death.
Cirrhosis of the liver is a degenerative disease where liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar formation. As scar tissue progressively accumulates, blood flow through the liver is diminished, causing even more liver cells to die. Loss of liver function results in gastrointestinal disturbances, emaciation, enlargement of the liver and spleen, jaundice, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and other tissues of the body. Obstruction of the venous circulation often causes massive vomiting of blood.
Anything which results in severe liver injury can cause cirrhosis. Over half of the deaths from cirrhosis of the liver are caused by alcohol abuse, hepatitis and other viruses. Some chemicals, many poisons, too much iron or copper, severe reaction to drugs, and obstruction of the bile duct can also cause cirrhosis.
Some types of cirrhosis can be treated, but often there is no cure. At this point, treatment is mostly supportive and may include a strict diet, diuretics, vitamins, and abstinence from alcohol. However, there has been much progress in managing the major complications of cirrhosis such as fluid retention in the abdomen, bleeding, and changes in mental function.
The most common form of cancer of the liver is the spread of cancer from other organ systems to the liver. Not much is known about cancer which originates in the liver except that it is associated with viral hepatitis and certain parasites, drugs, and environmental toxins. Each year, 1,000 Americans die of primary liver cancer. Chronic carriers of the hepatitis B or C viruses are at increased risk to develop liver cancer. Liver diseases appear to be on the increase. Part of this increase may be due to our frequent contact with chemicals and environmental pollutants. The amount of medicine consumed has increased greatly with resulting dangers to the liver. The liver, the detoxifying factory in the body, has become an increasingly overworked organ. The present investment in liver research is scant in relation to the magnitude, severity and destructiveness of these diseases. Liver diseases are poorly understood. An adequate investment in effective liver research has the potential of saving billions of dollars and preventing untold human suffering. Experts estimate that more than half of all liver diseases could be prevented if people acted upon the knowledge we already have.
Each year more than 25 million Americans are afflicted with liver and gallbladder diseases and more than 43,000 die of liver disease each year. There are few effective treatments for most life-threatening liver diseases, except for liver transplants. Research has recently opened up exciting new paths for investigation , but much more remains to be done to find cures for more than 100 different liver diseases. Meanwhile, patients and their families must cope with medical, financial and emotional problems.
Gallstones are formed when the cholesterol and/or pigment in bile crystallize in the gallbladder forming stones that vary in size from small pebbles to as large as golf balls. Sometimes gallstones get stuck in the bile ducts leading from the gallbladder to the duodenum (i.e., the first part of the small intestine). The gallbladder and bile ducts then try to push the stones out by muscular contractions. This can cause attacks of excruciating abdominal pain. Blockage of the ducts by stones also prevents flow of bile into the intestines. Bile then backs up into the bloodstream, causing jaundice.
Gallstones are more common in people over 40, especially in women and the obese. Each year, 400-500,000 surgical operations to remove the gallbladder are performed in the United States. Drugs are now available to dissolve cholesterol gallstones in selected patients and give hope for fewer surgeries in the future.
If any of these signs or symptoms appear, consult your physician immediately.
Carrots and beetroots contain antioxidants such as beta-carotene, other carotenoids and healing flavonoids which give colour to these vegetables. These vegetable antioxidants have a healing and cleansing effect on the liver.
Lecithin helps the liver to metabolise fats and reduces high cholesterol levels. It also contains essential fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine which helps to keep the membranes around the liver cells ( hepatocytes) healthy.
Alfalfa and barley leaf or barley grass can be eaten to give your liver a shot of chlorophyll which is the green pigment that gives plants their colour and enables them to convert solar energy into food energy. Chlorophyll acts as both a liver tonic and a liver cleanser.
1. Listen to your body....
2. Drink at least eight to twelve glasses of filtered water daily....
3. Avoid eating large amount of sugar....
4. Don't become obsessed with measuring calories....
5. Avoid foods that you may be allergic to....
6. Be aware of good intestinal hygiene....
7. Do not eat if you feel stresses or anxious....
8. Check if organically grown fresh produce free of pesticides is available in your area.
9. Obtain your protein from diverse sources (including legumes), not just from animal products such
as meat, eggs, and fish....
10. Choose your breads and spreads wisely....
11. Avoid constipation by eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables....
12. Avoid excessive saturated or damaged fats....
Psyllium
Taurine
The herb Dandelion
The herb Globe artichoke
The herb St Mary's Thistle
Slippery Elm Bark
Psyllium
Those with sluggish liver function often have difficulty metabolising
fats and may have high cholesterol levels. Psyllium can help in such
cases. The largest trial ever conducted into the effects of Psyllium
fibre carried out at the Universities of Newcastle and Sydney has proven
that it is probably the best cholesterol- lowering fibre available. Psyllium
is proving a more consistent cholesterol-lowering agent than oat fibre.
Psyllium is a plentiful source of soluble fibre, and it is well accepted
that soluble fibre has a significant role in the prevention and treatment
of elevated cholesterol levels. Psyllium is best taken with food.
Taurine
Taurine, one of the lesser known amino acids, plays several important roles in the body and is an essential component of cell membranes, where it plays a role in stabilising transport across cell membranes and provides antioxidant protection. Taurine plays a major role in the liver via the formation of bile acids and detoxification. Abnormally low levels of taurine are common in many patients with chemical sensitivities and allergies. Taurine is the major amino acid required for the removal of toxic chemicals and metabolites from the body. Taurine is important for conjugation of drugs and metabolites in the liver via the acylation route. Once conjugated, chemical toxins are removed from the body as a component of bile and also through water-soluble acetates in the urine. Taurine is a key component of bile acids produced in the liver. As bile synthesis utilises cholesterol, disordered bile synthesis may result in elevated cholesterol.
Taurine is the body's main antioxidant defence against production of excess hypochlorite ion and if this is not controlled it will lead to severe aggravation of chemical sensitivity. Impaired body synthesis of taurine will reduce the ability of the liver to detoxify environmental chemicals such as chlorine, chlorite ( bleach ), aldehydes ( produced from alcohol excess ), alcohols, petroleum solvents and ammonia. Taurine deficient persons are likely to have impaired mineral transport across the cell membrane producing imbalances in electrolytes and reduced ability of the liver to remove pollutants via the excretory routes of the bowel and kidneys. Recent findings are demonstrating that taurine is one of the major nutrients involved in the bodies detoxification of harmful substances and drugs and should be considered in the treatment of all chemically sensitive patients.
The herb Dandelion
Dandelion is known by herbalists as Taraxacum Officinale and its root has been used for liver and biliary complaints for centuries. Extensive records of its medicinal use exists from the 10th and 11th centuries when it was promoted by famous Arabian doctors. In 16th century Britain it was well established as an official drug of the apothecaries under the name of Herba Taraxacon and was a popular medicinal plant for the liver and digestive organs. Since the 16th century the Germans have used Dandelion extensively for "blood purifying" and liver congestion. It is truly a universal herb and is still found in the official pharmocopoeias of Switzerland, Poland, Hungary and Russia. A huge amount of research has been carried out on the medicinal and nutritional effects of dandelion in many European countries. Dandelion has been used as a herbal medicine for centuries in China, India and Nepal for liver ailments. Today dandelion is used widely as a tonic in North America, the Orient and Europe.
The therapeutic properties of dandelion are due in part to its bitter substances taraxacin and inulin (a bitter glycoside). Other substances in dandelion are taraxanthin, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, levulin, pectin, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Bitters, such as those in dandelion, stimulate the digestive glands and the liver and activate the flow of bile. Although dandelion's specific action is on the liver, it also acts as a general body tonic. It acts as a laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, bitter tonic and cholagogue. Its cholagogue effect is useful for liver and gall bladder inflammation and congestion, as well as jaundiced states. It is of use in the early stages of cirrhosis of the liver such as alcoholic cirrhosis. Professor John King, the American doctor famous for his works on medicinal herbs, recommends dandelion for " weak digestion, loss of appetite, constipation and hepatic ( liver ) torpor ". Its dual liver and kidney action makes dandelion an excellent detoxifying remedy for gout, rheumatism and skin complaints. The Australian Journal Medical Herbalism Vol 3 (4),1991, refers to two studies, one by Vivarelli in 1938 and the other in Britain, which demonstrate the liver healing properties of dandelion. They found that dandelion successfully treats hepatitis, liver swelling, jaundice and indigestion in those with inadequate bile secretion.
The herb Globe Artichoke
Globe artichoke also known as Cynara scolymus is a bitter tonic with liver-protective and liver-restorative actions. It has also been used as a "blood purifier". During the 1930's clinical studies established its value in lowering blood cholesterol, urea and nitrogen waste products of metabolism. Reference Rocchietta S: Minerva Med 50,612 (1959). It is of use as a liver restorative, in cases of liver insufficiency and damage, liver diseases, poor digestion, gall stones and chronic constipation. In overweight patients it can be used to lower elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. It can be used as a cleanser in cases of skin diseases and excessive body odour.
The herb St Mary's Thistle
This herb has been known as a traditional liver tonic for centuries and
more than 100 scientific research papers and a symposia have been
produced on it's liver healing properties, Reference Aust. Journal Medical
Herbalism Vol 4 ( 1 ), 1992.
St Mary's Thistle is also known as Silybum marianum or milk thistle.
St Mary's Thistle has multiple actions; these are liver-protective,
liver-regenerative, anti-hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant. St Mary's Thistle can be used with benefit in the
following conditions---- chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis,
liver damage, bile stagnation, ( cholestasis ), alcohol
and chemical induced fatty liver. Clinical and laboratory studies
and tissue examinations, both in humans and animals have found St Mary's
Thistle to have beneficial effects in treating all of the above.
St Mary's Thistle has been found to reduce toxic fatty degeneration of
the liver. In 1969 the renowned phalloidine experiment was carried
out by the researchers Vogel and Temme, Reference Arzneim Forsch 1969;
19:613-615. During this test St Mary's Thistle was proven to be liver-protective.
Phalloidine is extremely toxic to the liver. St Mary's Thistle can block
its toxic effects, which indicates that it has powerful liver-protective
capability. Not only is this remarkable herb liver-protective, it
has also been found to help liver cells ( hepatocytes ) repair and
regenerate themselves after they have been damaged. St Mary's Thistle
contains a flavone which protects some of the intracellular components
of liver cells ( mitochondria and microsomes ) from lipid peroxidation; this
protective effect was 10 times more powerful than that of vitamin
E. The powerful detoxification enzymes in the liver that break down
drugs and toxic chemicals are called the cytochrome P450 enzymes.
These enzymes are improved by one of the components of St Mary's Thistle
called silibinin A 3-month study following 67 patients with chronic
hepatitis, toxic liver damage and biliary inflammation found that St Mary's
Thistle greatly helped their liver disease. Reference: Talalaj S. A research
paper--Silybum marianum. Sydney: NHAA, 1985. The same study found
that patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had a significantly higher survival
rate if treated with St Mary's Thistle.
Slippery Elm Bark
The fine powder made from the bark of the slippery elm tree has a soothing effect upon the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. It produces temporary relief from the excessive acidity and reflux caused by digestive disorders. Slippery elm powder produces a protective lining upon inflamed and ulcerated mucosal surfaces and is thus of use for those with gastritis and stomach and duodenal ulcers. It may be of help in some cases of irritable bowel syndrome.
Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) Helps protect your nervous system from toxic effect of alcohol.