The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (29 page)
Authors: Stacey Chillemi,Dr. Michael Chillemi D. C.
Acupuncture
In traditional Asian medicine, the liver is the organ that is most affected by stress, anger, and frustration. Stagnation of liver energy and blood by emotions, alcohol, and spicy and fatty foods can lead to breast tenderness and abdominal bloating and cramping. Acupuncture, exercise, expressing emotions, and breathing exercises can help to relieve stagnation.
Diet
- Reduce sugar and salt intake. This is especially useful for bloating and swelling of the hands and feet, breast tenderness, and dizziness. Increase foods rich in potassium, such as fish, beans, and broccoli.
- Eat small, frequent meals to help stabilize blood sugar.
- Eliminate caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety, depression, and breast tenderness.
- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fish.
- Avoid alcohol
- Decrease intake of fatty foods and red meat.
Exercise
Regular aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling reduces anxiety, pain and water retention and improves concentration and mood. In one study, the frequency but not the intensity of exercise was associated with a decreased rating of premenstrual symptoms.
Relaxation
Breathing exercises, meditation, aromatherapy, and yoga are some natural ways to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Many women feel more assertive and attuned to their needs in the weeks before menses. This can be used constructively by allowing personal time to relax, expressing emotions, and giving priority to your needs and what nourishes you.
Other Treatments
Uva Ursi
St. Johns Wort
Kava Kava
Wild Yam
Black Cohosh
Dandelion
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The term "liver disease" applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or stop the liver from functioning.
Liver disease is a collection of conditions, diseases, and infections that affect the cells, tissues, structures, or functions of the liver.
The liver is an important organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen.
The liver:
Filters the blood
Makes bile, a substance that helps digest fat and excrete certain fatty substances
Processes and hooks fats to carriers (including cholesterol), and storing sugars, helping the body transport and save energy.
Makes important proteins, such as most of those involved in blood clotting
Metabolizing many medications, such as barbiturates, sedatives, and amphetamines
Stores iron
Stores copper
Stores vitamins A and D, and several of the B vitamins
Makes important proteins like albumin that regulate fluid transported in the blood and kidneys.
Helps break down and recycle red blood cells
If the liver becomes inflamed or infected, its ability to perform these functions may be impaired. Liver disease and infections are caused by a variety of conditions including viral infections, bacterial invasion, and chemical or physical changes within the body. The most common cause of liver damage is
malnutrition
, especially that which occurs with
alcoholism
.
Symptoms of liver disease may be acute, occurring suddenly, or chronic, developing slowly over a long period. Chronic liver disease is much more common than acute. The rates of chronic liver disease for men are two times higher than for women. Liver disease may range from mild to severe depending on the type of disease present.
Symptoms
Symptoms partly depend on the type and the extent of liver disease. In many cases, there may be no symptoms. Symptoms that are common to a number of different types of liver disease include:
Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
Darkened urine
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Unusual weight loss or weight gain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Light-colored stools
Abdominal pain in the upper right part of the stomach
Malaise, or a vague feeling of illness
Generalized itching
Varicose veins (enlarged blood vessels)
Fatigue
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Low grade fever
Muscle aches and pains
Loss of sex drive
Depression
Causes
Congenital birth defects, or abnormalities of the liver present at birth
Metabolic disorders, or defects in basic body processes
Viral or bacterial infections
Certain medications that are toxic to the liver
Nutritional deficiencies
Trauma, or injury
Liver diseases most likely to be seen in children include:
Galactosemia
– is an inherited disease in which the body cannot tolerate certain sugars in milk. These sugars can build up, causing serious damage to the liver and other organs of the body.
Alagille's syndrome
- is a condition in which the bile ducts narrow and deteriorate, especially during the first year of life
Alpha 1- antitrypsin deficiency
- a genetic liver disease in children that can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver
Neonatal hepatitis
- it is hepatitis that occurs in a newborn during the first few months of life
Tyrosinemia
- a disorder that causes serious problems with liver metabolism
Hemorrhagic telangiectasia
- a condition in which thin blood vessels allow frequent and easy bleeding of the skin and digestive tract
Reye's syndrome
- a condition that causes a buildup of fat in the liver. This condition has been linked in some cases to use of aspirin, especially in conjunction with chickenpox, influenza, or other illnesses with fever.
Wilson's disease
- an inherited condition that causes a buildup of the mineral copper in the liver
Thalassemia
- a group of hereditary anemia’s, or low red blood cell counts
Biliary atresia
- a condition in which the bile ducts extending from the liver to the intestine are too small in diameter or are missing
Chronic active hepatitis
- an inflammation of the liver that causes severe scarring and interference with liver function
Cancer of the liver
- it may result from cancer in other parts of the body that have spread to the liver
Liver diseases most likely to be seen in adults include:
Cirrhosis
- a serious condition that causes tissues and cells in the liver to be replaced by scar tissue.
Type I glycogen storage disease
- it causes problems in controlling blood sugars when a person fasts
Porphyria
– a condition that causes a malfunction in how the body uses porphyrins.
Hemochromatosis
- a condition, which causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. The iron buildup causes damage to the liver and other organs.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- a condition that causes the bile ducts of the liver to narrow due to inflammation and scarring
Sarcoidosis
- a disease that causes a buildup of lesions within the liver and other organs of the body
Gallstones
- may block the bile duct
Hepatitis
- an inflammation and infection of the liver caused by any of several viruses
Cystic disease of the liver - causes lesions and fluid-filled masses in the liver
Alcohol-related liver diseases include:
Fatty liver disease
- this causes an enlarged liver.
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic cirrhosis
Prevention
Some, but not all, liver diseases can be prevented. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccines.
Other ways to decrease the risk of infectious liver disease include:
Practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands well after using the restroom or changing diapers
Avoiding drinking or using tap water when traveling internationally
Avoiding illegal drug use, especially sharing injection equipment
Practicing safe sex: Practicing safer sex provides less protection.
Avoiding the sharing of personal hygiene items, such as razors or nail clippers
Avoiding toxic substances and excess alcohol consumption
Using medications only as directed
Using caution around industrial chemicals
Eating a well balanced diet following the food guide pyramid
Getting an injection of immune globulin after exposure to hepatitis a
Using recommended safety precautions in healthcare and day care work
Diagnosis
A doctor can determine whether a person's symptoms, medical history, and physical exams are consistent with liver disease. Hepatomegaly, an enlarged, firm liver, and other signs of liver disease may be found on examination.