Loving our Liver
The Liver
A big part of my overall healing has been focused towards the liver and I thought it would be good to share why this is.
The liver is a crucial and very busy organ with over a thousand known functions! It’s kind of like the chemistry lab of the body, breaking down old and building up new substances crucial for energy, detox and elimination. Due to all of the chemical reactions, it generates a lot of heat which helps to warm and maintain the body temperature. Like any good science lab, the liver must be kept in order to ensure its functions can be performed effectively.
Did you know that It’s common for people with cancer to feel a sense of coldness within their bodies? -The National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM) based in Bristol are doing studies on this. I work with an Integrative Dr there; Dr Smith, and he told me how common it is, for cancer patients to feel the cold in a more extreme way than “healthy” people. I personally have suffered (un-officially) from Raynard’s disease for years. This is where the bodies extremities don’t circulate blood as efficiently and it results in cold hands and feet where the body parts turn white or grey due to the lack of blood in that area. I do a few things to address this, and I’ve seen HUGE improvements in the last 6 months in particular. I will give more information on what I do a little later on in this post, but for now back to the functions of the liver.
One of the key roles of the liver is the production of bile, which is necessary for the digestive process. Bile is a greenish multifunctional fluid – It's composed of bile salts, fats and lecithin. Once bile has been produced it's concentrated in the gallbladder and then released into the first section of the small intestine (after the stomach). Bile is an alkaline fluid which also helps neutralize the stomach acid before it enters the first section of the small intestine. If you’ve ever been unwell and vomited on an empty stomach, the likeliness is that you’ve vomited bile.
Bile then acts to:
Break down large fat deposits into smaller fat droplets which can then be accessed by our fatty digestive enzymes.
Allows the absorption of iron, calcium and the fat-soluble vitamins – A, D, E K and beta carotene.
Maintains cholesterol in a soluble form to prevent the formation of gallstones.
Carries toxins and cholesterol out of the body to be eliminated through bowl movements.
Prevents the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. A good flow of bile ensures there is minimal bacterial growth in the small intestine
Other routine jobs for the liver:
To regulate metabolism and balance blood sugar levels in the body
To detoxify hormones, medications, alcohol and other toxins in the body
It produces Immune cells.
Interestingly, due to the livers role in the breakdown of hormones, an imbalance of hormones is often a result of liver issues, rather than as a direct issue with the hormones themselves. Even Cortisol which is the stress hormone, needs breaking down by the liver to deactivate it and return the body to its baseline.
Signs that your liver is struggling...
With the liver performing so many vital functions, signs that it is struggling or symptoms of a sluggish liver can be varied and numerous, however some key things to keep an eye out for include: -
Low energy and feeling very sluggish, particularly upon rising in the morning
Nausea
Constipation
Inability to tolerate alcohol
Liver Spots – brown blemishes that appear on the body & face
Skin rashes / skin issues / itchy skin / psoriasis
Melasma - brown patches of skin on the face. Melasma is hormonal and can be a side-effect of a sluggish liver
How to look after and help cleanse the liver
I try to use bitter foods and herbs in my diet every day. Bitter flavours stimulate the release of bile from the liver and support liver function. Consistency is key. An easy, go-to liver friendly drink is a cup of green tea with sliced lemon. Try and buy organic or at least unwaxed lemons as both the flesh and the peel have beneficial properties. I also start my day with a “liver shot” which includes half a lemon, squeezed, a teaspoon of organic cayenne pepper and a glug of good quality organic extra virgin olive oil. This helps detox the liver and also aids digestion. - I've personally seen an improvement in circulation, skin and digestion since incorporating this into my weekly routine. I do this shot, if not every day, at least 4 times a week. If you feel like you don't need a "liver rescue shot", a glass of warm water with lemon is another great way to start your day. Again, best on an empty stomach, as with the rescue shot.
Reducing your toxic load to help the liver
This can be done in our diet – eating a well-balanced, nutritious, colourful diet. Refraining from processed foods where possible. Also choosing smartly when it comes to household cleaning products, personal care products, candles, fragrances and so on. I always aim to use anti-paraben, natural products where possible. I only use natural candles (beeswax or soy with essential oils), natural make-up brands like bare minerals or rms Beauty and organic natural personal care products from Neals Yard or Green People. It's all sadly more expensive than normal brands but I always now opt for quality over quantity and am more frugal in my spending.
Chinese medicine & Acupuncture
As you might already know from previous blog posts, I have weekly acupuncture in Swansea’s Clinic of Chinese medicine with Dr Limin Zhu. Limin practiced mainstream medicine in China for years before moving over to integrative medicine as a Chinese doctor and acupuncturist. She is a truly wonderful person with a caring and empathetic nature. I respect and trust Limin's knowledge and wisdom and always feel like I'm in great hands. Limin focuses on my liver when treating me as she always says how important it is to have a healthy liver. A lot of the body’s issues are essentially caused as a biproduct of not having a fully functioning liver. Over time, I've found acupuncture has helped to improve my circulation, stress levels and digestion. Personally, I have found acupuncture to be a key element of my overall healing protocol. It’s something I will continue for life.
A bit of general knowledge to add to the mix, Interestingly, traditional Chinese / Eastern medicine links the energy of the liver with springtime. Like the determined spring shoots that push through the hard ground to emerge in the light, or the small plants with so much energy, they force their way through concrete, a strong liver provides us with motivation and determination to focus and drive ourselves toward achieving our goals in life.
The importance of a good night’s sleep
Honestly, I've come to realise that sleep is so important, in every area of healing. Quality sleep is paramount in the healing process. Restoration of the liver energy occurs while we sleep. With no further intake of food or substances for the liver to process, the liver can finish the tasks of the day and restore energy ready for the next day. Without sufficient rest, the liver is prone to coming under strain, which results in a sluggish liver and as mentioned above, the knock-on effects can be huge. It’s also important to have your evening meal at least 4 hours before you go to sleep, as we want our body to have the ability to focus its energy on rest & recovery while we sleep, instead of using its energy to process and digest.
I feel like all of the main points are covered here. As mentioned above, the liver is such a key organ with so many functions, its imperative to look after and support it as much as possible. The human body never ceases to amaze me and for all its complexities and intricacies, when it boils down to it, its also simple - if one thing, however small, falls out of balance, it has a knock on effect and can snow ball into a much bigger issue. So as always, its so important to look after our bodies and put health first.