Monday, December 22, 2008

Natural Liver Detoxification: Herbal Remedies

By Codi Heart

Truthfully, I did not enjoy writing this article. I started out as usual sitting myself down comfortably in front of my laptop, an especially deep ashtray on the desk to the left of the computer. I conveniently located my over sized cup of very sugary coffee in close proximity to my headache medication. I did however begin a search on the internet to learn all I could regarding liver detox.

My knowledge about medical information is sparse. Unlike so many others I do not remember to take medications and I never research every aliment that I am diagnosed with. Halfway through my coffee and puffing on my second cigarette, I learned that the two gallstones I have had for a while are actually solidified substances that were in the liquid bile secreted by my liver, probably because it contained too much cholesterol, bile salts or bilirubin. If they move, my medium-sized gallstones could block the flow of bile from my gallbladder. These could generate a gallbladder attack accompanied with lots of pain.

The situation described above will happen once the natural process of liver detoxification are unable to contain all of the toxins in someone's body. The toxins come from smoking cigarettes, a poor diet, environmental toxins, and too much caffeine mixed with paracetamol found in painkillers. I stopped reading at that point, made a second cup of coffee and decided on the subject of this article.

Ideally, natural detoxification should include three components: exercise to help blood circulation flow, a liver-friendly diet and herbal detoxification. Writing about liver-friendly diets is boring. Everyone knows this, but so is exercise. However, since they are beneficial to the functioning of your liver you should read about herbs below. The majority of these herbs are easily accessible, inexpensive, and are not complicated to use.

* The chemical cyranin enhances the liver's manufacture of bile as it fortifies the bile duct, this chemical is found in the leaves of Globe artichokes. Since artichokes can mobilize fat stored in the liver they are used for lowering cholesterol.

* Dandelion stimulates the livers detoxification function by increasing bile production and flow. Choline is a chemical that adds strength to the liver. Large amounts of this are in it, as well as calcium, iron, potassium, and phosphorus. The most beneficial part of this herb are the roots, which you can make tea from by boiling them.

* Milk Thistle, Latin for Silybum Marianum L, is an herb recommended for liver function problems that are caused by drug and alcohol abuse.

* Eating rosemary will help with the functioning of your liver and minimize inflammation that may later cause liver disease because it contains to helpful acids caffeic and rosemarinic. It has been found that Rosemary extract can increase or accelerate the function of liver enzymes, and can flush toxins from the liver.

* There are numerous choices of spices, like Turmeric, that have liver cleansing properties. It contains oils such as curcuminoids, that help reduce any build-up of toxins in the liver by increasing the livers output of glutathione, a powerful enzyme that helps the liver rid itself of toxins. Turmeric is a slightly peppery root that gives a special flavor and a warm yellow color to rice, beans, vegetables, chicken and fish. It is a traditional mainstay of herbal therapy that is believed to shrink enlarged hepatic ducts, ducts that carry bile from the liver to the common bile duct leading to the small intestines and it may even be useful in the treatment of serious liver conditions such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.

* Chicory is a well-known coffee substitute. Bile production and liver cleansing are made possible by utilizing the components contained within its flowers, seeds and roots. You will find that in addition to reducing the work that is required on the liver, it also acts as a diuretic and laxative. An easy way to consume this herb is to add fresh chicory leaves to salads or to drink chicory tea or chicory coffee.

Herbs alone cannot help a natural liver detox. It must be combined with a healthy diet and life style, such as avoiding alcohol, drugs, smoking, and exercising regularily. With that I am going to end, I need to go inventory my kitchen cabinets and run to the store. I know I have Turmeric and Rosemary.

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