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Liver - Hepatitis |
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Natural
Herbal Alternative Remedies & Treatments for Liver Health & Hepatitis |
Liver Dr.:
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| What does your liver do? The liver is found within the lower part of the rib-cage on the right hand side of the body. It has a huge variety of functions in the body and is the only organ that can repair and re-grow itself after damage. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is often seen as the most important one. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, a healthy liver is seen as the most critical element in the body's ability to fight disease and function optimally. For this reason, complementary and holistic medicine always emphasizes liver health as one of the most vital components in overall systemic health. Amongst other important functions, the liver is responsible for eliminating and detoxifying the poisons that enter our blood stream. The liver is very important in the digestion of food and produces bile which is essential in the breakdown of fats, thereby preventing obesity – one of the biggest contributors to bad health. It also regulates blood sugar and stores any excess sugar in a useful “quick-release” form for when it is needed. The liver clears the blood of old red blood cells, bacteria and other infectious organisms as well as ingested toxins including alcohol. It is responsible for producing a large number of different proteins including hormones and blood clotting factors and is the organ which stores Vitamin A, D, E and K. Environmental pollution, fast foods, drugs, alcohol and sedentary lifestyles all contribute to sluggish and diseased livers. The result? Depressed immune systems Constant fatigue Obesity Sluggish livers and digestive systems Allergies Respiratory ailments Unhealthy skin Many other health problems. What can go wrong with your liver? As with all organs of the body, the liver is subject to a range of disorders and diseases. The liver’s functioning does not really decrease with age so, in the absence of disease, the liver should work optimally right into very old age. The most common diseases affecting the liver are viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease. Hepatitis A, B and C are the most common causes of viral hepatitis. Although Hepatitis A is usually a transient infection, both Hepatitis B and C can be serious and progress to chronic liver disease, even causing liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. There are usually very few warning signs until liver damage is very advanced. Liver Cirrhosis can be due to any long-term, continuous cause of liver damage. These causes include alcohol excess, Hepatitis B and C and inherited liver disease. When the liver is damaged some of the functioning cells die and are replaced by scar tissue. Once cirrhosis has developed, the process cannot be reversed even if the underlying cause improves. Alcoholic liver disease does not affect everyone who drinks alcohol. Though it is dependant on the amount of alcohol consumed over time, some people seem to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of alcoholic beverages. Consistent heavy alcohol intake can cause a condition called fatty liver in which the liver cells become filled with fat. It can also cause alcoholic hepatitis (Inflammation of the liver) or cirrhosis. [Top] What are the symptoms of liver disease? Jaundice (Abnormal yellow discoloration seen on the skin and in the eyes.) Dark urine Light-colored stools Nausea and vomiting Loss of appetite Abdominal swelling Abdominal pain Itching of the skin Vomiting blood or bloody/black stools Fatigue Loss of libido How is liver disease diagnosed? There are a number of laboratory tests that may be done to establish liver disease. Commonly, enzymes produced by the liver when it is damaged are measured in order to see if the levels are raised. Bilirubin- a breakdown product of destroyed red blood cells may also be measured as well as proteins produced by the liver such as albumin and blood clotting factors. How is liver disease usually treated? Effective drug treatment of liver disease is very limited and is often restricted to treating the symptoms and preventing complications. Treatment will depend on the specific condition; commonly used medications are anti-viral drugs for viral hepatitis, steroids for auto-immune disorders and iron-removing or copper-removing medications in the inherited disorders Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease respectively. Medications that cause very unpleasant and even dangerous side-effects when combined with alcohol, are commonly used to try and keep people who are dependant on alcohol from drinking. In people taking anti-viral drugs, which are used to prevent virus replication in Hepatitis B and C, relapse is common once the drug usage has been discontinued. People with liver disease or dysfunction need to be very careful about the drugs they choose to take as many common prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be toxic to the liver and severely worsen the condition and functioning of this important organ. In extreme and irreversible cases of liver damage such as liver failure due to cirrhosis, liver transplant is the only long-term effective therapy. Can natural remedies help? If ignored or left untreated, many liver diseases will lead to permanent and irreversible damage to the liver and can be a significant threat to your health. Liver problems respond well to a holistic approach, including complementary medicine, avoidance of alcohol, drugs and other toxins as well as a healthy diet. These measures can prevent organ damage, improve liver functioning and ward off irreversible changes due to toxins. As the treatment options in the allopathic medical world are very limited and liver transplants are uncommon, a holistic approach to liver dysfunction and disease is your best chance of keeping this vital organ healthy and functioning well into old age. In the ‘old days’ people used to say that they were ‘feeling liverish’ to describe a feeling of being bloated, uncomfortable, slightly nauseous, lacking in energy and generally ‘out of sorts’. Liver tonics were more widely used than they are today – with good effect. [Top] |
