Give your liver a helping hand

Second only to the brain in complexity, the liver is a powerful organ and one that should be routinely cared for.
Function of the liver

• The liver receives blood directly from the stomach, pancreas and intestines via the portal vein and filters out the nutrients taking them into its own cells to be processed. The liver also receives freshly oxygenated blood and filters out wastes and other poisons and converts them into substances which can be safely carried out of the body.
• It converts carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into simple glucose (blood sugar) or stores this fuel as glycogen, it also breaks down and converts fats for distribution and storage.
• The liver breaks down old blood cells and recycles the iron, it also makes bile, which is stored in the gall bladder, and secreted into the small intestines to help break down fats.
• The liver produces many different hormones and proteins, which affect the way the body grows and heals.
• Many vitamins and other nutrients like iron are stored in the liver and released when needed.
• Poisons such as alcohol and drugs are detoxified in the liver.

The Liver is vital for many reason

Many people suffer with the symptoms and signs of a dysfunctional liver for years, and yet the treating doctor/practitioner does not recognize the significance of these symptoms. The result is that the symptoms get treated while the underlying problem of an inefficient liver is ignored or only partially treated. The patient's symptoms deteriorate, and increasing doses of drugs such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, immune-suppressants, pain killers, cholesterol lowering drugs etc, are needed.

Chinese doctors have long considered the liver to be the most important organ in the body and indeed they call the liver, the "General of the Army" of the body.

Liver Weakness Signs and Symptoms

NERVOUS SYSTEM - Metaphysically the liver is known as the "seat of anger". Depression, anger, irritability, frustration, violent anger, poor concentration, recurrent headaches (including migraine) associated with nausea.

IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION - Allergies, sinusitis, hay fever, asthma, dermatitis, hives, etc, multiple food and chemical sensitivities, skin rashes and inflammations, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, recurrent viral, bacterial and parasitic infections.

HORMONAL IMBALANCE - side effects to hormone replacement therapy or the contraceptive pill, chronic menstrual problems, scanty menstruation, severe menopausal symptoms.

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS - Constipation, poor digestion, hemorrhoids, gas, bloating, gall stones.

ABNORMAL METABOLISM OF FATS - Excessive weight gain, which may lead to obesity, inability to lose weight even while dieting, sluggish metabolism. Lumps of fat in the skin (lipomas and other fatty tumors), neck and breast.

CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE DISEASES - Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis.

External signs

* Coated tongue.
* Bad breath.
* Skin rashes.
* Itchy skin (pruritus).
* Excessive sweating.
* Offensive body odour. 
* Dark circles under the eyes.
* Yellow discoloration of the eyes.
* Red, swollen, itchy eyes (allergic eyes).
* Acne rosacea - (red pimples around the nose, cheeks and chin).
* Brownish spots and blemishes on the skin (liver spots).
* Red palms and soles which may also be itchy and inflamed.
* Flushed facial appearance or excessive facial blood vessels (capillaries/ veins).

Unfortunately blood testing has no real way of telling us the health of our liver. But it has been discovered that by the time you reach the age of 30 your liver is probably functioning at 75% of its ability at best.

If you have been using prescription drugs, for any length of time, your immune system may be exhausted, and it's essential to rejuvenate and flush your liver to release stored toxins.

The health and vitality of all body systems depend on the health and vitality of the liver. It's not something we think about all the time, but the common problems of an abused or toxic liver will speak to you with many symptoms.

Because we are constantly bombarded by toxins in our air, water and food, it is a good idea at least 3 to 4 times a year to renew the health of a clogged and overworked liver with a detoxification regime.

Give your Liver a helping hand

A search on the internet and you will find all sorts of websites selling pills and potions to flush your liver. If you are new to the idea of a Liver Cleanse then I suggest you speak to a trained Naturopath and a colonic hydrotherapist first. Before you even think about doing a liver cleanse, you will need an initial colon hydrotherapy, during which your colon hydrotherapist will assess you. You can then follow on with a liver cleanse. It's extremely important that you cleanse your bowels first and eliminate toxins, before cleansing the liver. 

Coffee Enema For Liver Detoxification

The use of coffee in enemas for liver detoxification purposes is well known. I first came across it while working on a lecture tour for the Gerson cancer therapy which has been recommended by holistic and alternative medicine professionals for many years.

The coffee enema is used to detoxify the liver and not the colon. It is a low-volume enema that remains only in the sigmoid colon. There is a duct between the sigmoid colon and the liver called the entero-hepatic circulation system. When the stool reaches this point, it contains many toxins, which are sent to the liver for detoxification.

The caffeine that is absorbed into the entero-hepatic system causes the liver ducts, including the bile ducts, to empty into the sigmoid colon. Releasing the toxins in the liver ducts, makes room for toxins from the body to enter the liver for detoxification.

The alkaloids in the caffeine (kahweol and cafestol palmitate) stimulate the production of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase which facilitates the liver detoxification pathways. Two other chemicals in the caffeine (theophylline and theobromine) dilate the blood vessels and counter inflammation of the gut.  The coffee enema is safe even for people who are sensitive to caffeine because the coffee remains in the sigmoid colon, where it will not be absorbed.

The benefits

This was my first liver cleanse, however as I had already gone through Colonic Hydrotherapy a few months previous, the process was familiar. This time I was a little more relaxed so the treatment worked much quicker. Afterwards I felt very clear headed, more aware, a sense of clarity, I noticed a few weeks later that my usual PMS symptoms (sore breasts and heavy periods) had gone and my usually flushed cheeks had lost their redness. I certainly felt much better and my digestion has significantly improved. If you can over come the initial worry about having a procedure like a liver cleanse I think you will find the health benefits far out weigh the initial embarrassment, and as I see my grandparents going through the endless cycle of medication, side effects and hospital visits,  I personally will be doing everything I can to maintain a healthy body inside and out.

Thanks to Fiona Corliss, Kent and East Sussex  www.insideoutcolonics.co.uk