First symptoms of a sick liver (and how to take care of it naturally)

Even before a liver disorder can be detected by medical tests, various signs can alert de a dysfunction or overload of this organ. Popular expressions such as “lazy liver” relate in an empirical but often accurate way that a good functioning of the liver results in well-being.

it suits pay attention to the first symptoms of a diseased liver.

What functions does the liver perform?

The main functions of the liver can be summarized in three words: production, destruction and detoxification.

Liver cells, thanks to enzymes they contain, carry out numerous chemical processes and store vital substances; among them, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.

Thus, the liver absorbs glucose from the blood and stores it in a concentrated form –glycogen–, so that when many hours go by without eating or intense physical exercise and energy is required, hepatocytes reconvert glycogen into glucose so that it passes into the blood.

The liver is also involved in the production and storage of vitamins A, B, D, E and K. It also synthesizes substances that are involved in blood coagulation.

The eliminatory function is carried out from excretion, through bileof the waste derived from the destruction of red blood cells, or toxic substances made by the fabrics themselves: This is the case of the ammonia produced by intestinal bacteria, which the liver transforms into urea and the kidneys are responsible for eliminating it.

the liver too breaks down toxic substances absorbed by the intestine: herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals present in food, or any other foreign substance, such as most medicines. The liver transforms them into water-soluble complexes so they can be removed as harmless by-products, for the bile (and from there to the intestine and bowel movements) or the blood (urinary excretion through the kidney).

Therefore, a correct production (choleretic action) and release (cholagogue action) of bile ensures good digestion and adequate detoxification.

First symptoms of the diseased liver

If you detect these symptoms, you may suspect that something is wrong with your liver. Only with an accurate diagnosis can it be confirmed if these symptoms actually correspond to a liver disorder. In any case, it is worth paying attention to these symptoms:

sensation of general discomfort,taste of mouth bitter,nausea,lack of appetite,fatigue,dizziness,intestinal disturbances (flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation),anal itching,tendency to urticaria,certain headaches or migraines.

To diagnose liver disorders, one can resort to blood test (which measure the concentration of transaminases or liver enzymes) or to imaging (ultrasound, CT, or MRI).

Diseases that can affect the liver

The hepatitis –A, B or C– are not necessarily of viral origin. There are bacterial, medicamentous or toxic.are considered acute when liver inflammation lasts less than six monthswith symptoms such as malaise, nausea, vomiting, possible fever, joint pain, dark urine, discolored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eye conjunctiva).If they last more than six months, hepatitis can become chronic. (it happens in 75% of hepatitis C); they do not have to be accompanied by symptoms or significant damage (in severe cases, cirrhosis or liver failure), but leave the liver in a depleted condition. cholestasis: reduction or interruption of bile flow. “fatty liver” (steatosis): accumulation of lipids in liver cells. cirrhosis: the liver becomes fibrous and hard. Tumors (benign or cancerous). gallstones They are deposits that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts, mainly with solidified cholesterol. They can be expelled into the intestine or remain in the ducts without obstructing them; if there is obstruction colic pain appears.

To prevent them, we cannot forget that all drug abuse can be harmful to the liverespecially after the age of 60. A drug as widespread as paracetamol, taken at high doses and for a long time, can even cause hepatitis.

Excess alcoholic beverages can also adversely affect: fatty liver (steatosis), inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis) or scarring (cirrhosis). alcohol is more harmful if possible in womenwith less ability to metabolize it than men, especially when they are very young.

How to take care of the liver at the first symptoms that it is sick

To help the liver in its functions, Let’s start with the diet.

It is advisable to follow the following recommendations:

Do not abuse fats and avoid copious meals. Saturated fats of animal origin increase cholesterol (which promotes gallstones) and promote fatty infiltration of the liver. They are convenient vegetable oilslike the olive one, preferably first cold-pressed virgins.eat plenty of fibersince in addition to lowering cholesterol and relieving constipation (which makes the liver work harder), it produces a choleretic effect (increases bile secretion). diet rich in carbohydrates, preferring whole grain products to white flour, and honey and fructose to white sugar.The moderate vegetarian diet is optimal if there are liver problems. ​Eggs, preferably hard-boiled, can be taken if well tolerated. Although they are high in cholesterol, their yolk contains lecithinbeneficial for its phospholipids – which improve lipid metabolism – and choline – which prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver.Of the dairy products, the most convenient is yogurt.. It provides predigested amino acids of high biological value, while reducing the production of toxic substances in the intestine that an altered liver cannot adequately neutralize.Vegetables contain folates, potassium and other minerals beneficial. it suits especially sulfurgreat liver purifier, contained in onions (with detoxifying sulfur essential oil) and radishes (which fluidify bile).Fruit is always beneficialespecially for breakfast or dinner: apple, plum, cherry, strawberry, loquats…Avoid habitual consumption of fried, frozen and precooked. You have to prefer fresh productspreferably organically grown, and the steamed, boiled or grilled.it suits reduce salt intakeas well as alcoholic beverages. It is important drink enough water.make some day of fasting or based on fruit (in particular, the cure of grapes) It also helps purify the liver.

Medicinal plants to cure the liver

To prevent or treat liver disorders, phytotherapy uses Plants that alleviate the overload of the liver, helping it in its cleansing tasks or that favor its regeneration. These are three of the most effective.

milk thistle

It would be said a plant that seems to have arisen to help the liver. Various investigations indicate that its components, particularly the silymarinhas antioxidant properties (ten times more powerful than vitamin E), detoxifying and regenerating the liver cell.

Patients with hepatitis, cirrhosis or fatty liver significantly improved their symptoms after taking standardized milk thistle extract for two months. Apparently there is no danger of toxicity even in longer treatments.

It is also used in case of mushroom poisoning poisonous or to prevent liver damage from taking certain medicationssuch as antiretrovirals in AIDS.

Artichoke

Its active ingredients (organic acids, cynarin, cinaropricin…) create a synergy that helps regulate various liver functionsespecially the formation of bile and detoxifying functions.

While is true that the complete extract of the fresh plant is the most active presentationpart of its properties can be used eating it regularly. The active components of the artichoke are found mainly in its leaves, but also in the flower heads that are eaten.

Dandelion

This plant decongests the liver and improves its functionsdue to its qualities to produce and release bile.

They can take the fresh leaves in salad, or a decoction: 30 g of leaves or roots are boiled per liter of water for 20 minutes and left to macerate for 4 hours. You can drink a cup before meals.

Since not only the liver is drained, but also other organs such as the kidney and intestines, it is a quite complete organic purification if followed several days (1-2 weeks).

The role of emotions in liver health

Just as the liver is involved in the digestion of food, it also appears to be involved in the “digestion” of certain emotions. A liver problem can also indicate that there are emotions that are difficult to digest.as if a “sour” or “acid” remainder remained in the psychic sphere.

Envy, greed or silent sorrows can affect you. But perhaps anger is the most harmful emotion. According to traditional Chinese medicine, anger steals energy from the liver. when it is expressed outwards and makes it more prone to certain pathologies if it is kept inside.

Cultivating the joy of living and harmony with the environment is a good way to support the liver.

This psychosomatic relationshipwhich is beginning to be considered by current medicine, was also taken into account by the ancient Greek medicine from the time of Hippocrateswho distinguished two “humours” related to the liver: the “yellow” bilewhose predominance gives rise to temper bilious or “choleric”analogous to temperament pitta of Ayurvedic medicine; and the “black” bilewhich favors the temperament “melancholic”.

Dr. John Diamond, one of the fathers of the kinesiology, claims that the liver meridian weakens with unhappiness and strengthens with joy.