Surviving the Middle Class Crash

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is connected to tendon matters, eye matters, and the nervous system, in addition to the traditionally known digestive function and enzyme releases. It also is the organ associated with anger especially, but emotions in general too. When one is weepy, irritable and when anger flairs easily, suspect liver congestion. This is not illness at all, in the traditional medical sense: Instead, think of a water filter which has been clogged, and which needs to be cleared. A minor matter that can easily be taken care of with herbal and dietary intervention. 

 

It’s an amazing organ, almost with an intelligence of its own. The liver secretes bile, a bitter yellow fluid that breaks down fats and cholesterol. It also secretes enzymes, which by definition break down foods (the function of enzymes in general). By storing glycogen, a metabolite of glucose (blood sugar), the liver somehow knows when to release that glycogen, thus playing a sometimes overlooked role in blood sugar regulation. It breaks down hormones, thus preventing excesses of hormones from circulating in the blood, affecting moods, regulating (indirectly and as secondary role-player) body functions as these excess hormones are broken down, and more. The liver also stores many vitamins, releasing them at times when the body needs them. And it cleanses the blood, assisting allergy control. What a powerful and seemingly knowledgeable organ, eh? To boot, it’s self-regenerating too: Cut out 75% of the liver and that one-fourth of the liver will grow back, regenerating an entire new organ. 

 

The beauty of herbalism is that it works hand-and-glove with mainstream medicine. Each discipline fills in gaps for the other. Where mainstream medicine is superb in operating on the liver, for example, and administering immuno-suppressive medications to stop the immune system from attacking a transplanted organ, it also does not have any medications to regenerate and cleanse the liver.  

 

That is where, as master phytotherapist David Hoffman points out, the green world has lots to offer. Lots, indeed. There are liver “cooling” (anti-inflammatory and sedative) herbs, liver “warming” (stimulating) herbs, liver “protectants” (which build liver tissue), those herbs that promote bile flow and enhance cleansing, anti-viral herbs (yes, you got that right), and more. Liver cleansing and tissue regeneration are keystones in herbal therapy.

 

 

Milk Thistle:  

 

Animals administered with sylimarin and sylibin (milk thistle constituents, or chemical components) prior to being fed the poison amanita mushroom cap, which causes liver hemorrhage, have shown 100% protection from the poisonous fungus*. People administered with those same chemical constituents up to 48 hours after eating the poison amanita mushroom show as much as a 50% reduction in fatalities. (Note: The extract is much more potent than the herb alone, as is always the case with any herb. And note that those surviving the fatal amanita mushroom were fed the isolated constituents, not the herb alone). Milk thistle promotes the growth of new liver tissue, promotes bile flow, is gently cleansing, and has a “neutral” thermal temperature according to TCM (meaning that it will neither stimulate an irritated liver nor slow down a sluggish one). It also promotes the flow of mother’s milk and is “perfectly safe” for nursing mothers.** It has mild diuretic effects. No drug-herb interactions have been noted with milk thistle.**

 

Boldo: 

 

This liver-cleansing herb stimulates bile flow, thus helping to reduce cholesterol and fatty acid deposits. It is used to break up gallstones* and the demulcent (soothing) and antiseptic components of the herb may assist cystitis.* The herb may also be used as an aid to slimming*. Laboratory rats administered with boldine (a chemical ingredient of boldo) showed inhibited liver microsomal enzymes* and many different forms of anti-oxidant protection. Boldo induces the release of calcium ions from skeletal sites where muscles attach*, suggesting that the herb may help to break up bone spurs. Caution: Because of volatile oils, the herb can irritate the kidneys and should be avoided by individuals with kidney disease.**

 

Dandelion root:

 

Stimulates bile flow, has mild diuretic effects, cleanses the liver, and has a “cool” thermal temperature***. According to TCM, to “cool” any organ means to soothe irritation, calm down hyper-activity or hyper-secretion, replenish with nurturing fluids, etc. Thus, a person with a liver that has been stressed by over-work from a heavy toxic load will benefit from dandelion root tea or extract. The herb is indicated in biliary tract obstruction**** although there is a risk of colic in this situation, which requires an herbal physician’s care. May cause hyperacidity in some individuals by stimulating secretion.**** 

 

Garlic: 

 

Inhibits blood platelet aggregation and is a vasodilator****, helps to break down fats in the blood, cleanses the liver, is mildly antiseptic and a popular food item (pesto is great for your health!) Chop it twenty minutes prior to cooking, instructs Christopher Hobbs in person, and the waiting period promotes the release of the garlicins, active chemical constituents in the herb. Contra-indication: May interact with other blood-thinning medications, because garlic is itself a blood thinner. 

 

Lemon and bitter greens: 

 

Sour and bitter flavors promote the flow of bile, aiding digestion and cholesterol breakdown. There are conflicting theories about sweetening these tastes in herbal schools of thought, points out Christopher Hobbs in personal training. Some herbalists maintain that sweetening fresh-squeezed lemonade is just fine for stimulating bile flow, while others suggest that it’s not merely the chemistry of the bitter or sour flavors, but the sour taste itself which signals bile release from the liver. Either way, I suggest that for any therapy to be effective, it must be not only palatable but tasty. To stick with it, I suggest sweetening the lemonade if that is how you are more likely to drink it, and use a honey-sweetened salad dressing for your bitter greens. 

 

Drink fresh-squeezed lemonade, or eat mesclun salad mix, dandelion greens, arugula or other bitter greens about twenty minutes prior to meals, says Christopher Hobbs in personal training, and bile flow will be stimulated. This, in turn, breaks down fats and cholesterols, while promoting healthier digestion and possibly helping people to slim down a bit, as part of a greater weight-loss management program. To break down fats and cholesterol, avoid fatty and cholesterol-loaded foods while being sure to use healthy oils in cooking. Crisco, lard, margarine, hydrogenated fats in baked goodies, and whipped cream substitutes are far more artery-clogging than butter: Avoid them like the plague.

 

 

Suggestions for further reading: 

 

Hobbs, Christopher “Natural Therapy for your Liver” a superb book detailing the functions of the liver from mainstream and Chinese medical perspectives alike. Lists thermal temperatures of herbs (cooling, neutral, warm, etc), charts liver enzymes and which herbs stimulate or inhibit those enzyme productions, discusses fats and oils in the diet, and more. Very well written as a lay-friendly read with scientific depth, which will satisfy a doctor’s interests as well. 

 

For information about healthy dietary oils, see also Linda Rector Page’s “Healthy Healing” book (in health food stores nation-wide as reference material), 11th edition. You can photocopy the article in the book and keep it at home.  

 

*Williamson, Elizabeth, Bsc, PhD, MRPharmS, FLS “Potters Herbal Cyclopedia” 

 

**Hoffman, David, FNMIH, AHG “Medical Herbalism” 

 

***Hobbs, Christopher L.Ac, “Natural Therapy for your Liver” 

 

****Hobbs, Christopher L.Ac and Kraft, Karin MD “Pocket Guide to Herbal Medicine”

 

 

© 2008, Kathryn Smith