Liver Drugs 4
Natural Medication And Herbs For The Liver
A beautiful analogy of what your Liver is to your body, has been given by GlobalHealingCenter.com through an article written by Dr. Edward Group that states: “Imagine a fish tank with a motorized water filter. If the filter is clogged with toxins from the tank, the entire tank becomes filled with the same contaminants. In our system, the filter is the liver, the tank is the body, and the fish that has to live in it is you.”
Many may not realize the importance of this organ. It sits silently somewhere in our abdominal region and works tirelessly to keep our system active. Imagine how important the functions of the liver are: whatever you eat, drink or inhale, is directed to the liver, where it assimilates the food, either converting it into energy or storing it in the form of fat. Without the liver, a bunch of other important organ functions would not take place. That is why it is SO important to keep it running smoothly.
Sometimes we don’t realize we are damaging this vital organ. Whatever you eat needs to be digested properly so that it can assimilate through the liver well. When you eat processed foods, the couple of seconds that your tastebuds get to dance with the artificial flavor and preservatives is soon lost when your liver has to bear the brunt of your carelessness. To keep it healthy, you need to approach nature as much as possible. She is the Mother, who knows what is suitable and best for her child. Here we give you, briefly, Natural Medication And Herbs For The Liver that will help you keep a healthy liver for longer:
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle
A herb that has been used for centuries now, the Milk Thistle is one of the most important herbs that helps with liver health. How? It prevents toxins from being absorbed by the liver. Only the good stuff is allowed to be assimilated. Not only the liver, but other organs of the body are protected by this ancient herb.
Dandelion Root
Dandelion Root
This herb is another favorite when it comes to liver health. Apparently it helps build up bile in the system so that toxins are washed out faster before being treated by the liver. Flushing out toxins effectively is essential for prolonged health of the body. The last thing you want is harmful chemicals spreading in your system. This is where this herb works.
Artichoke Leaves
Artichoke Leaves
Artichokes are fantastic veggies for overall health. Did you know that the leaves of the artichoke plant are fabulous for liver health as well? Like the dandelion, they too help with creation of bile in the system and flush out the toxins that may get stored in the liver.
LIVER FAILURE
The Liver is the only organ that has the natural regenerative capacity. Liver Failure is the irreversible damage to the normal liver tissue where there is scarring of the liver tissue and is beyond the liver’s regenerative capacity. Liver Failure is also called end-stage disease. The main causes for this condition are excess alcohol consumption, viral infection and fatty liver disease.
Causes
The liver produces substances to fight infections in our body. It also helps in getting rid of toxins from our body. It also helps in clotting of the blood, in the nutrient absorption process and also stores energy for our body for later use.
The liver damage may be acute due to following reasons.
- Overconsumption of alcohol
- Viral Infections (Hepatitis B, C and D)
- When the biliary ducts are blocked and bile backs up, it damages the liver
- Autoimmune disorder, where the healthy liver tissue is attacked by the body’s immune system leading to liver failure
- Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease, where fat builds up in the liver, gradually causing liver damage
- Genetically inherited factors
- Over dosage of drugs/toxins
- When the heart doesn’t pump adequately, blood backs into the liver causing liver failure.
How does the damage happen?
When there is cell damage due to any of the above reasons, the liver produces scar tissues as a result of cell damage and becomes bulged
Initially, though the liver is bulged, as the disease progresses, it begins to shrink in size.
As the scar tissues are hard, they press the blood vessels in the liver and causes interruption to the blood circulation in the liver
The liver gradually dies.
Symptoms of Liver Failure
The following symptoms are seen in Liver Failure
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Weight loss due to lack of appetite
- Lack of sex drive
- Other symptoms are felt only when the disease has progressed:
- Fluid retention in abdomen
- Accelerated heartbeat
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Hair loss
- Edema
- Fever
- Muscle cramp
- Blood vomit
- Darker urine
- Staggering
- Nose bleed
- Breathlessness
Complications Due To Liver Failure
Because of scar tissue formation, the blood vessels in the liver get compressed causing high blood pressure in the liver. This is called portal hypertension and can cause bleeding in intestines and fluid accumulation in the body
As the liver loses its ability to filter toxins from the blood, the toxins are left to build up in the blood stream. Due to this, there is a confused behavior in the individual and he/she always feels sleepy.
Due to portal hypertension, the fluids in the body get accumulated in the abdomen. The kidney gets a wrong signal that there is dehydration and tries to hold the fluid. The fluid gets collected in lungs, legs and abdomen.
Liver failure also gradually causes kidney failure
Although liver failure on the outlook looks like a disease that might affect those who consume too much alcohol, it is not actually so. Lifestyle habits, Diet, Genes and Virus too play an important role in liver problems.
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TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS FOR LIVER PROBLEM
There can be a number of causes for the liver problem like genetic, infections, alcohol abuse and medicine overdose. Therefore a number of tests are required to find the cause for the disease. Before ordering for tests, the history of the patient, if he is using alcohol and the family history of liver problem are known along with this a physical examination is also done. Physical examination of the abdomen, skin, brain, heart and lungs may show indications for liver problem.
Tests for liver disease diagnosis are of three types: Laboratory, radiological and biopsies.
Laboratory Tests
Extensive blood work is done where the following blood parameters are examined.
- Aspartate Amionotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) liver enzymes are found in raised levels in case of liver inflammation or injured liver. These are also raised in cases of alcohol induced liver disease and in fatty liver diseases.
- Bilirubin level in blood is examined. High levels of conjugated and unconjugated bile indicates liver problem.
- Protein and albumin levels in the blood are checked to see if they are in the appropriate range.
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Alkaline Phophatase enzyme levels are raised in case of liver disease.
- Low levels of Total blood count of the white blood cells, red blood cells and the platelets is an indication of the liver disease in its advanced stage.
- Rate at which the blood clots is monitored. Protein formation is hindered by the damaged liver tissues leading to the fail of clotting mechanism thus forming the risk of easy bleeding and bruising.
- Pancreatic lipase test is done as the inflammation in the pancreas is an indication of liver disease.
- Liver problem is associated with kidney dysfunction. Blood urea, creatinine, and electrolytes are checked.
- Blood test to detect Hepatitis viruses is performed.
- Ascitis is the collection of fluid in the abdomen. Ascitic fluid test may reveal cancer cells in patients with liver cancer.
Radiological Tests
These tests help in detecting the liver diseases.
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan help in looking at the liver tissues in detail specifically without exposing other areas. Any abnormalities are shown in the CT.
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure where a tube fitted with a camera is directed into the gastrointestinal tract to look for any pathology in the bile and pancreatic ducts.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) produces most advanced images and helps in detecting liver problems and other abnormalities like tumours and blockages. It is used when the CT is not very clear.
- Ultrasonogram (USG) produces sound waves which help detect any pathology in the liver. Any abnormalities like blocked ducts, tumours are also detected.
Liver Biopsy
With the help of local anaesthetic agent, pieces of liver tissues are extracted with the help of a needle. An USG or a CT scan is used to guide the needle into the liver. The microscopically examined tissue sent to the laboratory confirms the presence of liver disease. Liver biopsy can also be done using the laparoscopic surgery method.
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VITAMINS FOR A HEALTHY LIVER
Our Human body requires various types of vitamins on a daily basis to keep functioning at its best. The Liver, in specific, needs almost all these vitamins to remain healthy and to carry out its everyday routine functions. There are also some precautions to be taken while choosing these vitamin supplements, as they do more harm than help. Let us discuss about each of these Vitamins and the vital role they play in the wellness of the liver.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a very good antioxidant. An antioxidant is very important for the body because it prevents free radicals (that are generated from normal metabolic processes, sun light, etc.,) from damaging the organs. Antioxidants are a boon that binds with these free radicals, neutralize them, thus preventing damage to the organs.
In the case of liver, free radicals in the body cause liver scarring. Hence, an antioxidant is required to prevent the free radicals from scarring the liver. Vitamin A does the job.
Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) also detoxifies the liver.
But caution needs to be taken while consuming Vitamin A. People who already have liver cirrhosis should be more cautious about the dosage of Vitamin A. But Vitamin A can be taken in the form of Beta Carotene.
Vitamin A is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, fish, liver and tropical fruits.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B-12 is a non toxic vitamin and has no contraindications or negative effects. It helps in the detoxification process. Vitamin B-12 is also used to treat Jaundice and viral Hepatitis. But Vitamin B-12 is more effective in the form of injection rather than oral supplement as it is not well absorbed due to gut flora.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is also a very good anti oxidant that prevents the free radicals from destroying the healthy liver tissues. In fact, Vitamin C protects the liver. Even very low doses of Vitamin C help to prevent fat from building up in the liver. Normal dose of Vitamin C helps to flush the fats from the liver. It has also been studied that high doses of Vitamin C helps in eliminating Jaundice. But the doses are determined by a doctor depending on the Bowel tolerance.
Vitamin C is also recommended for people with problems related to toxicity and oxidative stress (due to free radical).
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits like oranges and berries.
Vitamin D
Though Vitamin D is not directly used to treat Liver problems, it has been found that more than 90% of the people with Liver disease have Vitamin D deficiency. Hence, Vitamin D is prescribed for those with advanced liver disease to prevent osteoporosis and other bone related problems.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant used to neutralize free radicals. Vitamin E also protects cell membranes, softens the existing scar tissue of liver, which in turn helps in the regeneration of fresh tissues. Another job of Vitamin E is to protect Vitamin A from damage by free radicals.
But care should be taken on the dosage of Vitamin E. Also, usage is natural Vitamin E Is essential.
Vitamin E is naturally found in Pumpkin, Sunflower oil, Sesame Oil, Mangoes, Papaya, tomatoes.
Vitamin K
People with chronic liver conditions are more prone to bruising and bleeding as the liver cells are unable to produce enough of clotting factors. Vitamin K is prescribed for such kind of problems as it helps to reduce the deficiency of clotting factors and helps in reducing bruises and bleeding.
Vitamin K is found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, mint, wheatgrass and alfalfa sprouts.
Choosing the right Vitamin and the correct dosage is very important for keeping the liver healthy and managing the liver problems.
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