Liver Disease
Index of Diseases / Health Conditions ... Medicinal Foods, Herbs, Spices & Household Items
The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.
The Function of our Liver:
The liver is a unique organ in its versatile ability to chemically convert a wide range of toxins into safer, less harmful waste products that are shunted off to the kidneys and colon for excretion. Proper liver function is critical for good health.
- Because of its importance in toxin removal, limite your intake of substances, such alcohol and cigarette smoke - as these toxins that can unduly stress the liver. There are environmental toxins we can't escape, but we should minimize those that are within our control. Also refer to "toxic home"
- Milk thistle has long been used as a prime protector for the liver. Modern medical researchers have confirmed its effectiveness. For example, research in India demonstrates that milk thistle can help the liver fight off free radicals (oxidative molecules that injure tissue) generated by environmental toxins (Source: Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 2007, June;100(6):414-9). This benefit has been shown to be so potent, that Indian researchers argue that the natural chemicals in milk thistle should be employed "as a protective drug against toxicity induced by environmental contaminants."
Causes of Liver Disease:
Medication / Drugs: According to the "Consumer Report On Health" magazine, the leading cause of acute liver disease in the U.S. is "ordinary acetaminophen. That is the ingredient in many pain medications, such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin IB and Naproxen (aka Aleve). This ingredient can raise your blood pressure and possibly harm your stomach, liver and kidnes if used long-term."
The "Consumer Report On Health" recommends:
Diet High in Fat & High-fructose Corn Syrup: A diet high in fat and in high fructose corn syrup may cause severe liver problems in people with a sedentary lifestyle, according to a study conducted by researchers from Saint Louis University and presented this year at the Digestive Diseases Week meeting in Washington, D.C. Researchers fed mice a diet that was 40 percent fat and high in high fructose corn syrup for 16 weeks. In contrast to other studies, where mice have been fed a regulated amount, the animals in the study were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. They were kept sedentary and prevented from exercising.
- Avoid remedies that contain multiple ingredients. You many not need all of the ingredients and they can raise your risk of side effects.
- Choose by active ingredient, NOT brand name. You'll avoid getting the wrong ingredient or unnecessary ones.
- If symptoms persist, stop the drug and call your doctor.
- Ask your doctor about precautions.
"We wanted to mirror the kind of diet many Americans subsist on, so the high fat content is about the same you'd find in a typical McDonald's meal, and the high fructose corn syrup translates to about eight cans of soda a day in a human diet, which is not far off with what some people consume," said Brent Tetri, M.D., an associate professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University Liver Center. To the researchers' shock, it took only four weeks for the first signs of serious health problems to emerge. "We had a feeling we'd see evidence of fatty liver disease by the end of the study," Tetri said. "But we were surprised to find how severe the damage was and how quickly it occurred. It took only four weeks for liver enzymes to increase and for glucose intolerance -- the beginning of Type 2 diabetes -- to begin." According to Tetri, preliminary research suggests that fructose actually suppresses the body's feeling of fullness, whereas foods rich in fiber activate it. This meant that the mice didn't know when to stop eating, even though their diet was exceptionally high in calories.
High fructose corn syrup is a widely used sweetener, particularly in the United States, where corn is cheap and sugar importation is expensive. "A high-fat and sugar-sweetened diet compounded by a sedentary lifestyle will have severe repercussions for your liver and other vital organs," Tetri warned.
The University of Illinois Medical Center has in-depth information on liver disease in humans.
Some alternative treatments you might want to discuss with your doctor:
The following products will help with the detoxification process:
- Aloe Detox (available at your local health food store or at this website.
- Herbs that are conducive to maintaining liver health and even reversing existing liver problems are: Aloe, Milk Thistle, Psillium Husk Powder, Dandelions and others.
- Beets: According to Dr. H.C.A. Vogel (in The Nature Doctor), beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates the function of liver cells and protects the liver and bile ducts. Recent studies point to betaine as contributing to the prevention of coronary and cerebral artery diseases.
- Dandelion Root or MilkThistle in Lactulose - For detoxification and stimulation of liver
- Wheat Grass: It packs natural enzymes, vitamins A, B, C, E and K, calcium, chlorophyll, iron, lecithin, magnesium, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, amino acids, trace elements and protein. It cleanses the blood by improving the supply of oxygen to the circulatory system; detoxifies and regenerates the liver; and protects us from carcinogens in our food or our environment. Wheatgrass juice has been successfully used to treat anemia in humans and repair the liver.
- Carrot Seed: Among its uses are tonic, stimulant, liver regenerator, and control of cholesterol. Used in massage oils and baths as it is considered an excellent blood purifier due to its detoxifying effect on the liver. It is used to treat jaundice and other liver disorders.
- Improve Liver Function: Cauliflower
Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
Photo contributions and articles are welcome!
