SAVE SYMPTOM
The liver detoxifies the blood, manages blood sugar and fats, clears hormones, metabolizes fats and nutrients, supplies the body with antioxidants that reduce inflammation, and performs many more functions.
Fad liver cleanses abound - but very often these damage an already weakened liver. It is critical you know when to strengthen, and when to cleanse the liver. A weak or deficient liver should be strengthened. A congested liver should be cleansed.
Liver Deficiency in strongest in Autumn. The most likely time of liver deficiency is August through September.
Foods to nourish and restore the liver are
Liver congestion is most likely in the spring. In early spring the body begins to release winter fat into the blood. The enriched blood becomes thick, causing stagnation and congestion of the liver & gallbladder. Gallbladder attacks are more common in early spring so favor cholagogues at that time in your diet to flush out bile sludge.
You may experience waves of bitterness, discouragement and a sense of failure in February. Try not to take these 'liver emotions' too seriously. Instead, these emotions offer an important cue that the liver needs cleansing in February.
Foods to decongest the liver include
Sources of toxicity and liver stress could be due to environmental toxins, recreational drug use, chronic infection, or fermentation of food in the digestive tract. Common hepatotoxins also include pharmaceuticals, the birth control pill, and many others. Other common toxins include:
When the gallbladder cannot release bile properly, the stools will be light colored or gray. The complete obstruction of bile is a life threatening condition.
Chronic inflammation (hepatitis) of the liver leads to fibrotic changes that cause loss of function, liver degeneration& cirrhosis, and ultimately death. All causes of liver inflammation should be taken seriously.
In this process, the liver and spleen have a functional relationship. The spleen is said to store red blood cells, and can be compared metaphorically to a "sack of rubies." The liver, on the other hand, regulates blood sugar and sugar storage, and can be compared to a "sack of potatoes." This is why the liver gets fatty when the diet is rich.
To recap, the liver creates heat in blood plasma (rasa) which is yellow in color. This heat stimulates rakta, which is red in color. The spleen is pure rakta. The function of rakta is to supply oxygen to all the cells, which keeps metabolism strong, as a fire burning brightly.
Volatile or unstable emotions are a sign of a blood imbalance and a distressed liver. Vata people may be distracted by the moment, and and susceptible to quick mood changes. Pitta people are highly sensitive, and may have strong reactions when slighted.
Anger, irritability, ambition, and analytical thinking are physical as well as mental. The liver, when overburdened, creates internal heat in the body. This heat predisposes one to a fiery and analytical nature. Frustration is linked with a congested...
Normally, you cannot feel your liver. However, when the liver is inflamed, you may notice soreness in the area. A liver abcess, such as Amebic liver abcess, can cause dull pain on right side of the body just above the abdomen and behind the right rib...
The body releases toxins through the digestion, urine, skin & lungs. Rashes may result when there are too many toxins, or the liver becomes otherwise aggravated. Some rashes may be infectious and require a visit to a medical doctor. All rashes are...
Yellowish skin can be a sign of liver distress and excess bilirubin in the blood. This may come from Vata deficiency, or an infectious process (Pitta). If the skin becomes very yellow, it is a sign of jaundice and should be treated immediately.
A yellow tongue indicates the liver is overwhelmed and excess bilirubin in the blood. It is often a sign of inflammation or infection somewhere in the body.
Orangish skin is skin that appears orange in color. This is a condition known as cartenosis. It may be mistaken for jaundice, which is a yellow...
Hepatitis is a condition of liver inflammation. There are many types of hepatitis. Hepatitis may be viral, bacterial, fungal, due to parasites, or due to excessive alcohol or pharmaceuticals, drugs, and poisons. Typical symptoms include nausea and...
The spleen has two main functions in the body. The first is to filter the blood by removing microbes as well as dead or damaged red blood cells. The spleen also produces white blood cells for the immune system. Ayurveda considers the spleen (along with...
Fatty Liver is a condition characterized by a buildup of fat (triglycerides) in the
Chronic inflammation (hepatitis) of the liver leads to fibrotic changes that cause loss of function and ultimately death. The liver is adept at regeneration. Even if half the liver is removed, it will grow back. Once cirrhotic, however, the liver...
Alcohol sensitivity could indicate liver weakness. Liver is weakened by the presence of chronic toxicity due to stress, intense emotions, infection, gas, or bloating.
Introduction Do people think of you as being hypersensitive and reactive - to food, chemicals, emotions, or situations that don't go your way? Food and chemical sensitivity can impact your life satisfaction in many difficult ways....
Gallbladder inflammation may imply presence of sludge, a gall stone, cancer or obstruction of the biliary ducts, among other conditions.
Sensitivity to bright lights, especially at night, indicates a Pitta disorder in the liver with Pitta toxins. These toxins tend to dilate blood vessels and the pupil of the eye. Could also be a deficiency in Riboflavin.
Gallbladder removal surgery is called a cholecystectomy. When bile gets thick, heavy, and sticky, gall stones from. Since Kapha people tend to have thicker fluids than the other doshas, they are prone to gallstones and the most likely candidates for a...
Blurry vision may happens when the iris is dilated due to blood toxicity, or when the muscles that regulate the lens are weakened due to strain, starting a computer screen, etc.
A bowl of double dark chocolate ice-cream before bed comforts the soul, but could also lead to a gallbladder jammed with stones. About 1/2 a million people...
The liver becomes congested when fibers replace healthy lung parenchyma and liver comes fatty. Liver blood congestion can back up and cause portal and pulmonary hypertension. The liver repairs and regenerates itself at night. Good sleep hygiene is...
Gray or light colored stool may have insufficient bile for digestion.
Yellow or green stool indicates quick transit time through the bowels. A light brown stool (the color of cardboard or lighter) may be lacking sufficient bile, a sign of Vata type dryness in the liver. This is especially true if the light colored stool...
The virus that causes Mononucleosis remains dormant in the body lifelong once contracted. It can continue to aggravate the immune system and cause allergies and auto-immune disorders.
Psoriasis vulgaris (common psoriasis) is a skin disorder characterized by hyperactive skin cell production. People with psoriasis produce new skin cells and shed old ones at a rate of about 10 times faster than most people, which leads to persistently...
A ruddy/rough complexion indicates toxic blood. An orangish or greenish sallow complexion can also indicate gall bladder stagnation or acid reflux.
Lumps and bumps could be lipomas, cancer, or other diseases. Lipomas indicate a problem with fat metabolism and lipid congestion of the lymphatic system.
Numerous moles may be a sign of liver stress. Where moles are associated with heat, oiliness and sourness, liver spots are associated with liver bitterness and dryness.
Liver spots are a sign of a deficiency in the liver, or of the livers ability to move blood in the skin. Where moles are associated with heat, oiliness, and sourness, liver spots are associated with liver bitterness and dryness.
Bruising easily is a sign of high Pitta in Ayurveda. Capillary beds may be dilated due to a heat condition in heart or liver, general inflammation, or irritating toxins in the blood. Platelet count may be low. Malabsorption of vitamins C and K may be a...
Rosaceae is an inflammation and dilation of capillaries typically around the nose and cheeks. Demodex mites are present in 80% of cases - these mites trigger an immune response that causes rosaceae. For this reason, some consider rosaceae to be an...
A whitehead may also be painful. All painful whiteheads are due to a localized infection. Whiteheads can result from excessively sweet Kapha blood, or blood that is too high in sugar or fat content mixing with fiery Pitta toxins. The fiery toxins...
Dermatographism, the ability to 'draw' on the skin, is a sign of capillary vasodilation due to Pitta type toxicity. It may indicate lymphatic stagnation as well.
Eczema is skin inflammation caused by hypersensitivity to allergens & irritants (atopy). Dry eczema tends to increase during winter months when the skin is very dry due to cold. Although eczema is a sign of Pitta aggravation it may be caused...
The body releases toxins through the digestion, urine, skin & lungs. Rashes may result when there are too many toxins, or the liver becomes otherwise aggravated. Some rashes may be infectious and require a visit to a medical doctor. All rashes are a...
The body releases toxins through the digestion, urine, skin & lungs. Rashes may result when there are too many toxins, or the liver becomes otherwise aggravated. Some rashes may be infectious and require a visit to a medical doctor. All rashes are a...
The body releases toxins through the digestion, urine, skin & lungs. Rashes may result when there are too many toxins, or the liver becomes otherwise aggravated. Some rashes may be infectious and require a visit to a medical doctor. All rashes are a...
Cystic acne may form in a person with a watery kapha constitution has a clogged pore, their body may form a cysts around the irritant.
The constituents of some plants are used for their psyco-tropic qualities. Ultimately, these powerful herbs leave toxicity in their wake, particularly affecting liver function.
Many people smoke without thinking, leading to addiction. As a first step to quitting, Ayurveda recommends smoking slowly and with full attention.
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
