The Master Detoxer of Your Body- The Liver
What the liver does and how we can support it
We all have organs yet how many of us actually know what each organ does?
We are disconnected from our bodies now more than ever. Our Western medical system has us thinking that we should see a different doctor and take a different prescription medication for each of our ailments when, in reality, the body works as one.
Instead of seeking the answer within ourselves, we feel like we need to seek an outside source for answers. Because we lack the proper knowledge of what our organs do, the only people we can turn to are Medical doctors.
But isn’t this our personal responsibility to know what each part of our body does and how it contributes to our overall health? The person that cares most about our health will always be us. The moment we realize that is the moment we become empowered to seize responsibility for caring for it.
After my friend Lindsay sent me some herbal tea blends, I came to the realization that my knowledge of my organs is very limited. The blends included one for the liver and another for the kidneys, neither of which I knew how to use! I was left with the questions of when does my liver need to be supported and what do my kidneys even do?
In this article, I want to explore more about our liver. What purpose does it serve? How does it relate to the rest of our body and how can we support it? The liver does more than detox alcohol out of our system!
The Role of the Liver
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the root cause of all imbalances in the body is a dysfunctional liver. TCM considers it the master organ, controlling everything from digestion to immune function to hormone production. It also says that it is the organ that governs a woman’s health above all others.
The liver’s main role is to detox harmful substances out of the body. Because alcohol is a known toxin, the liver helps metabolize it and rids it from our system by secreting bile. However, the liver does more than this.
The liver is also key in nutrient absorption and digestion. It helps to metabolize nutrients and store vitamins and minerals by using bile. So if your liver is working too hard to excrete toxins, your body may not have enough key minerals and nutrients to perform properly.
Signs of Liver Dysfunction
According to TCM, the following signs are signal that your liver might be struggling:
waking up between 1 am and 3 am
irritability and anger
teeth grinding
headaches
hip issues
thyroid problems
feeling stuck in a certain stage of life
I’ve recently noticed myself waking up between 1 am and 3 am, which is one reason I began diving into liver health. While I think it can be hard to identify when your liver needs extra support, it never hurts to build support into your daily routine.
How to Support the Liver
If you are suffering from the following symptoms, or you are just wanting to improve the health of your liver, you can use the following natural remedies.
Herbal Blends
Herbalism is a lost art that we are finally beginning to come back to in the Western world. Herbs are a powerful way to support your body, especially the liver. Roasted chicory root, orange peel, and turmeric are all herbs that help with the creation and release of bile. Most bitter herbs will help with bile secretion and the breakdown of fats. This is why digestive bitters are a common intervention when suffering from digestion issues!
My favorite herbal blend for supporting my liver is the Liver Support Tea from Symbi. This includes milk thistle seed, dandelion root, ginger root, red clover, and marshmallow root.
Lindsay, the Founder of Symbi, says:
“The Liver support tea blend utilizes herbs that are potent supporters of detoxification but are still easy on the body. I love all of the herbs in this blend as they synergistically support your body’s natural detoxification pathways, but in particular, dandelion root is a star herb. This typical yard “weed” supports both liver and estrogen detoxification making it an outstanding choice for many!”
Dandelion root contains caffeic acid which helps your liver function properly as well as inulin which helps control blood sugar levels. I actually make a big batch of pure dandelion root tea every day for adequate mineral intake and to help with digestion!
Milk thistle seed contains silybin and silychristin, two compounds that are known to be anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants. They are becoming more and more common as a natural treatment for fatty liver disease.
If using the Symbi blend, it is recommended to drink a few cups of tea each day for 10 days as a liver cleanse.
Castor Oil Packs
Castor oil packs are one of the most ancient healing rituals, dating back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greek medicine. It was specifically used by Hippocrates, one of the fathers of modern medicine.
One of my favorite quotes from him is “It is far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.” He recognized that medicine was about looking at the body as a whole, and the different aspects that make someone themselves.
Castor oil packs combine the use of castor oil with a piece of organic cloth fabric. You place the cloth, slathered in oil, over the area you wish to treat. Castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid, a potent anti-inflammatory. When applied on the right side of your body, where the liver is located, it absorbs and helps with deeper sleep, hormone production, and bowel movements.
I bought my castor oil pack from Queen of Thrones, and have been loving it. I try to do it 2-3 times each week and leave it on overnight for maximal results.
Minimizing Toxic Load
Because the liver is known as the master detoxer, anything toxic to the body will pass through the liver. The higher your toxic load, the harder your liver is working. Living in the modern world, we come in contact with toxins every day. This is why it’s so vital that we change the things we can control to reduce toxic load.
Here are some easy swaps you can make:
Replace your cleaning supplies with Branch Basics
Ditch the candles and hormone-disrupting fragrances for essential oils
Swap out plastics for reusable glass containers and bottles
Stop using non-stick pans and opt for cast iron or stainless steel
Wear natural fibers like cotton and linen instead of polyester and rayon
It can be intimidating at first when you realize just how many things in your life are considered toxic. You don’t need to make all of these swaps at once. Take it slow and replace things as they run out. The most important thing is being aware of how these things affect our bodies and then making more conscious decisions!
Take Action: Begin reducing the amount of toxins you expose yourself to on a daily basis. Choose one of the swaps from above and implement it as soon as possible. I recommend starting by swapping out some of the conventional products you use every day like deodorant, dish soap, or laundry detergent.
If you have any questions about non-toxic products that we would recommend, please leave us a comment below!
We’d also love to know what organ you would be interested in learning about next.
Get outside and enjoy some sunshine ☀️
Madison