Gentle And Natural Medicines To Take Care Of Your Liver

In the body as a whole, the liver plays an essential role because it protects it from all kinds of poisonings caused by substances that enter the body with food, medicines or the air we breathe.

To do this, for example, it produces bile, a substance that accumulates in the gallbladder and is capable of killing microbes and deactivating toxic agents, but above all it allows the assimilation of fats, breaking them down into small drops on which the digestive enzymes. In addition, the liver is a storehouse of iron, vitamins and energy in the form of glycogen.

There are natural resources to take care of the liver

Most people are exposed to an overload of environmental toxins, such as heavy metals and man-made compounds, which can compromise the function of the liver and gallbladder system.

Usually this happens over a long period of time silently. Symptoms that may indicate a liver disorder are tiredness, diffuse malaise, lack of appetite or itching. Often they are not accompanied by abnormal laboratory values ​​in the blood, but they are enough to decide to take measures that strengthen the liver.

In the field of natural medicine, there are a good number of options that can prevent the development of chronic or serious diseases or can be part of an adequate treatment if they have already manifested themselves.

Choose a diet low in saturated fat

As liver weakness is often accompanied by an alteration of the bacterial flora and chronic constipation, problems that cause the release of toxic by-products of digestion, the first and most important measure involves reducing the intake of saturated fats (foods of animal origin and palm and coconut oils) or partially hydrogenated (margarines, pastries and prepared dishes), as well as sweets and products made with refined flours.

Instead, it is advisable to increase the consumption of fresh vegetables that provide food for digestive bacteria. It is also important to increase the consumption of unsaturated fats (olive, flax, walnut, pumpkin …).

The Mediterranean diet, with a large consumption of vegetables, fruits, olive oil, as well as a balanced vegetarian diet with seeds and nuts are optimal. Thanks to changes in the diet in this direction, great improvements are usually achieved.

Eliminate alcohol

One in three liver patients can blame them directly for their ills. Although the alcoholic tolerance of the liver depends on each individual and on pre-existing diseases, the maximum daily dose that is not associated with a risk for men is 750 ml of beer or 375 ml of wine.

In the case of women, this figure is reduced by half because their stomach secretes less cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol before it reaches the intestine and, therefore, the blood and liver. However, these doses can be easily exceeded on a day-to-day basis.

Beware of medications

Hepatotoxic drugs such as paracetamol should also be avoided whenever possible . It is surprising that an over-the-counter, non-prescription drug is the leading cause of fulminant liver failure. In theory, if the doses recommended in the leaflet are not exceeded, there should be no side effects, but not everyone knows the state of their liver.

For example, fatty liver is a frequent disorder, especially in obese people, which multiplies the organ’s vulnerability to paracetamol. Other medications that overload the liver include steroids, birth control pills, anti-cholesterol statins, or antibiotics such as erythromycin. If you take any of these drugs, it is advisable to monitor the status of the liver.

Use friendly plants

In all liver disorders, a cure can be made with extract of milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ). It has an active component called silymarin with degreasing properties that even favors the creation of new liver cells. It has been shown to be helpful in fighting hepatitis C, especially in chronic cases.

Conventional hepatitis treatment is aggressive and milk thistle can increase its effectiveness while protecting the organ. Other indications for milk thistle are fatty liver, cirrhosis, and stones in the gallbladder and kidneys. The recommended dose is between 280 and 600 mg of extract daily for 6-8 weeks or more.

Other medicinal plants, generally bitter in taste, help reduce inflammation of the liver, such as dandelion, artichoke leaves and horsetail. In herbalists, they usually sell mixtures of these plants that can be prepared as an infusion and consumed at the rate of two cups a day.

Specific remedies are dandelion juice (one tablespoon daily) and artichoke extract, which stimulates the flow of bile, improves fat digestion and reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood by up to 15%. Dandelions can be picked in spring in the field, in uncontaminated places, to be added to salads.

Homeopathic care

The choice of a homeopathic remedy is based on the characteristics of the patient. That is, two people with hepatitis do not receive the same medicine but the one that best corresponds to their temperament.

However, homeopaths often use certain preparations in a complementary way for their indication in liver disorders. This is the case of remedies such as Chelidonium, Podophyllum, Berberis and Hydrastis, Carduus Marianus, Hepatine (in case of hepatitis) and Digitalis.

Wraps and Chinese medicine

The scrubber organ can also be treated from the outside, applying hot and humid wraps. The wraps are left for 20 minutes on the liver region and are repeated between 2 and 3 times a week.

They are suitable for mild disorders and should be avoided in the acute or advanced stages, or if there is a possibility of an infection.

Traditional Chinese medicine is also helpful . In order for treatment to be effective, it is important that a properly trained specialist makes the diagnosis.

In general, Chinese medicine describes alterations in the ascending yang of the liver and gallbladder. It is associated with heat symptoms, hence I recommend avoiding spices such as chili or pepper, very hot or well-cooked foods, and coffee, which favor yang.

The acupuncturist diagnoses the situation. If necessary, it tones the yin or yang of the liver, or eliminates its possible excesses. To do this, apply needles at certain points on the liver meridian.

When the liver is impaired, it can be difficult to direct behavior and thinking in the satisfactory direction. Often the person can feel overwhelmed by anger, the emotion that Chinese medicine relates to the liver, and which is expressed in irritability and frustration.

How to treat hepatitis

A common liver disease is hepatitis. Viruses B and C are widespread, but the usual one is A, which generally occurs without leaving sequelae.

Liver toxins, including unnecessary medications , should be avoided. Some homeopathic remedies can help but it is necessary to go to a good doctor.

Osteopathy can also help in chronic hepatitis as it positively influences the surrounding tissue and the digestive tract, which also suffers.

What is fatty liver syndrome?

Fatty liver is a common disorder, especially in obese people. It should be prevented and treated. It is estimated that up to 24% of the European adult population may be affected by fatty liver, a condition also known as hepatic steatosis.

The cause of 90% of them is the so-called metabolic syndrome, a combination of being overweight, high blood pressure and high levels of fat and sugar in the blood.

At first the symptoms are nonspecific. It is often spoken of a pressure in the upper right part of the abdomen or digestive discomfort such as gas, diarrhea or a feeling of fullness. At this stage it usually goes unnoticed, but can be discovered through blood tests and ultrasound.

The treatment of fatty liver consists mainly of losing weight and increasing physical activity, in addition to modifying the diet and avoiding the consumption of alcohol and unnecessary medications.

In those people who are in more advanced stages of the disease (liver inflammation or fibrosis), some nutrients can be used, such as vitamin E for its antioxidant properties, and insulin-sensitizing drugs.

Likewise, L-carnitine and S-adenosylmethionine supplements are recommended . The indication of these supplements and their doses should be supervised by a doctor with training in orthomolecular therapy.

In the worst case, especially if alcohol consumption is not abandoned, fatty liver can lead to liver cirrhosis, which implies a general deterioration of the organ and may require a transplant.

Natural treatment of gallstones

A very common alteration is the formation of stones in the gallbladder. Its causes are multiple, but a diet low in fiber and rich in saturated fat and cholesterol favors them.

Some studies indicate that poorly managed fasts, birth control pills, and certain cholesterol-lowering medications also promote them.

Gallstones are usually asymptomatic. 25% of those affected have discomfort when a stone is trapped or moves along the gallbladder canals.

Colic can then appear , with severe pain in the upper right part of the abdomen that can radiate to the back or shoulder, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting and jaundice, and sometimes by intolerance to fats, coffee and drinks cold.

In the case of very strong and painful colic, it is usually necessary to remove the gallbladder. If you have stones but they do not cause discomfort, great benefits can be achieved with natural therapies.

The infusion of half a teaspoon of turmeric in boiling water is recommended . Let it rest for five minutes, strain it and sip it hot. 2 to 3 cups a day, several weeks.

In acute colic, the homeopathic remedies Colocynthis and Magnesium phosphoricum acidum can be used. Schüssler’s salt No. 7 (Magnesium phosphoricum) is recommended as a soothing agent (10 tablets are dissolved in hot water and sipped).