Victoria's Wisdom
LIVER - THE POWERHOUSE OF THE BODY
The
liver is the most important organ after the heart. It has a huge task of
performing more than 160 different functions including:
1)
Circulating functions: transfer of blood from portal to systemic
circulation, activation of immune system. The liver stores and regulates the
blood and is responsible for nourishing every cell in our body. Eyes, body
sinews, bones and joints all depend on blood from the liver for nourishment and
sustenance.
2)
Excretory functions: formation and secretion of bile and many
digestive enzymes; removal of ammonia from blood; excretion of substances
filtered from the blood by the liver such as heavy metals or dyes.
3)
Metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids (fats), minerals and
vitamins.
4)
Manufacturing and storage or many nutrients such as glucose and
vitamins.
5)
Production of heat to regulate and keep the body warm.
6)
Protective functions of detoxification: removal of foreign bodies
from the blood ; detoxification by conjugation, methylation, oxidation and
reduction.
7)
Formation of urea, serum albumin, glycogen and blood coagulating
proteins; red blood cell destruction.
8)
Regulation of hormones by inactivating and eliminating them
through the bile or urine. Since estrogen and androgen are both cell growth
stimulators, elevation of their levels in the blood due to the liver's failure
to remove them efficiently can cause their accumulation in the tissue. This in
turn may lead to abnormal growths such as women's uterine fibroids, ovarian
cysts, endometriosis, breast cysts and breast cancer or men's prostrate
enlargement.
The
liver also regulates body functions which affect emotional and mental
activities. In diseased conditions, the liver's blood storage and regulatory
functions are affected, and bleeding or clots can result. When liver blood is
deficient, nourishment to tendons and blood vessels is curtailed, the joints
become stiff, and muscles become spasmodic and numb. The blood deficiency in
the liver may even lead to stroke, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, deafness,
fainting or convulsion. If the liver blood is so deficient that it cannot
nourish the eyes, night blindness or blurring may result. If the liver is affected
by stress or unhappy feelings, its vitality may be repressed and the sides
hurt, and hiccups or hernia may appear. The bowels may become constipated and
sleep may be disturbed causing nightmare or insomnia.
The
structural position of the liver as a bridge between the returning blood from
the digestive system and the lower part of the body to the heart makes the
liver an important organ for the health of the body. A weakened and swollen
liver can obstruct the venous flow to the heart causing heart palpitation or
even heart attack. In other words, a healthy liver is essential for maintaining
an adequate amount of blood flow to the heart and the heart can only pump the
blood it receives.
According
to the Chinese, liver and kidney are the organs that 'age' us. That is why
almost all longevity herbs used in Chinese medicine are liver and kidney
tonics. Without clean and efficient liver and kidneys, our blood is not
filtered clean. The 'dirty blood', loaded with toxins or waste products, is
heavier and more sluggish. This causes poor circulation and reduced capacity to
carry oxygen and nutrients. As a result, the tissue and organ cells are
undernourished. If this condition persists, the cells will start deteriorating
and inevitably, age. The eye and brain cells are especially affected because
the blood has to flow against gravity to reach these cells. In an article on
Alzheimer disease in the January, 1988 issue of the Mayo Health Clinic,
malfunction of liver and kidneys was mentioned as one of the causes leading to
Alzheimer disease.
Unfortunately,
many of our modern prescription drugs are damaging to liver or kidney. Even
over the counter drugs such as painkillers can cause liver toxicity. Therefore
it is not surprising that many people over the age of 50 develop liver weakness
or toxicity. Even among healthy people who are not dependent on drugs, the
liver has been filtering blood day and night throughout life without being
'cleaned'. Over the years, the circulating blood has deteriorated in quality
without being realized. The end result is often a feeling of sluggishness and
heaviness due to poor circulation.
The
Chinese Gentian (Gentian Scabra) has been known for thousands of years to be useful
for fevers, rheumatism and general debility. It was also said to benefit the
liver, aid digestion, strengthen the memory and give lightness and elasticity
to the body. It is used mostly for acute hepatitis, acute conjunctivitis, acute
tonsillitis, jaundice and most liver disorders. It is also helpful in
alleviating 'sluggish liver' which can be caused by hormone therapy,
medications or other problems such as stress or poor diets.
Liver
weakening and toxicity is usually a slow process. In many cases the only sign
of liver weakness is poor digestion and a low energy level. Fortunately nature
endowed our liver with excellent regenerative powers. If we are able to
understand the early signs of degeneration, we have an excellent chance of
restoring it to optimal functions with proper care.
I
know some people who have experienced signs of liver problems including
constant fatigue, sleep disorders, skin problems, thyroid disease, heart
palpitations, allergies, arthritis, frequent infection and fainting sensations,
numbness in the extremities in the morning, poor memory, difficult and painful
menstruation, uterine fibroid, ovarian cyst, and endometriosis. The people took
a combination of Chinese herbs [Gentian for cleansing and various herbs for
strengthening) and exercised daily. All of the above symptoms disappeared one
after another when their liver became healthy.
In
one case, the person came from a family with weak livers. The father died of
stroke at age 59 and it was thought to have been caused by liver problems. The
uncle became quite sick at age 67 - his extremities became dark due to poor
blood supply and he was tired and weak. He went to see a typical western doctor
and was told that he was beyond help and would not live much longer. He decided
to seek the opinion of a traditional Chinese medical doctor who prescribed for
him the liver cleansing herb (Chinese Gentian) to purge his liver. The man
regained his health and is now over 80 years old and is still healthy.
SOME HEALTH QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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