The ancient Babylonians considered the liver the seat of the soul. It is, in fact, the largest organ in the body and integral to every bodily function.
Functions of the liver
- Processes nutritional products for absorption by the cells.
- Provides sanitation and recycling services.
- Removes toxins and waste material from the bloodstream
- Breaks down no-longer required products such as hormones for reuse and the recovery of their constituent material.
- Produces bile, essential for the digestion and absorption of fats.
- Converts glucose to glycogen and stores it for later conversion, as needed, to glucose, to again be released into the blood. In this way the liver has an important role in balancing the blood sugar
- Makes and stores vitamin A.
- Breaks down haemoglobin from dead red blood cells.
- Is responsible for the production of substances which control blood clotting.
The challenges to the liver are at times overwhelming. Additives, emulsifiers, preservatives, chemical waste, food colourings, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides sprayed on our crops, antibiotics and hormones pumped into our meat, all put an enormous strain on the detoxification processes of the liver.
The liver, for the herbalist, is regarded as the central organ of the body; In fact, seldom does a sufferer visit a herbalist without receiving some form of attention for the liver, whether his problem is a skin complaint, migraine headaches, an auto-immune disease, or cancer. The herbalist knows that by treating the liver first and foremost she is influencing every tissue in the body.
There are many herbs that can be used for the liver:
All civilizations throughout history have been aware of the important action of bitter remedies. Known simply as “bitters”, these plants work by reflex action from the bitter taste receptors on the tongue, directly stimulating the entire digestive system and triggering the production and flow of bile through the liver. One example of a bitter remedy is Dandelion Root (Taraxicum Radix Officianalis), another is Wormwood (Artemissia Absinthian).
The 5 day Liver Flush
The liver shake
Ingredients
- Juice of one lemon
- Juice of 2 oranges / 1 grapefruit
- 2-3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
- One clove of garlic
- ½ teaspoon of Cayenne pepper
Instructions
Liquidise all the above ingredients and sip slowly.
Follow immediately with the Liver Tea.
The liver tea
Ingredients
Equal parts of the following:
- Peppermint
- Liquorice root
- Fenugreek seeds
- Aniseed
- Fennel
Instructions
Put 2 heaped dessert spoons of the tea in a pan, add 1 pint of water, and add to it 2 slices of fresh root ginger. Bring to the boil and simmer for 7 minutes.
Start each day with The Liver Shake, following it straight away with The Liver Tea. After this, it is recommended that you do a coffee enema in order to assist your body in its job of detoxifying – thus minimising unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness. You will experience symptoms according to how toxic your system is. You may just feel invigorated – each person is different.