THE LIVER AND OVERALL HEALTH

What is the liver?
It is the largest organ of the body that affects many of our bodily functions and metabolism in health, stress conditions and disease. It is remarkable as it is the organ that can regenerate itself. The liver is a critical organ because it acts as the filter to our body. With the exception of minute fat particles called chylomicrons, all other substances initially pass through the liver during digestion. It removes or modifies toxic substances, clears compounds such as drugs and hormones from the blood and clears other toxic substances, such as endotoxins and bacteria left over from infections.

It is the first organ to receive blood from the intestines and filters over one quart of blood per minute. It manufactures cholesterol and also well as bile at about 800-100 ml every 24 hours. Bile is necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble substances and digestion. The liver also plays an important role in lipid metabolism, storage of vitamins and minerals and the destruction of worn-out red blood cells.

Your overall health is dependent upon the healthy functioning of your liver. When the liver fails to function all other organs to some extent fail to function optimally. Our modern lifestyles contribute to our liver working overtime. The typical diet of processed and packaged foods, environmental toxins, alcohol, prescription and recreational drug use; fatty foods and carbonated beverages all contribute to deterioration of the liver. Simply put, the liver is responsible for removing much of the waste from our bodies. If the waste cannot be removed it becomes difficult to function. Some investigators believe that liver damage follows a spectrum: progressing from inflammation and swelling to fatty degeneration, cirrhosis and cancer. Because the liver can still function with up to 80 percent deterioration, symptoms are often vague and may not be noticed until damage is severe. Blood tests and liver biopsies on people with no apparent liver problems showed that all had a degeneration of liver cells, a high degree of fat infiltration, much scar tissue and other abnormalities

LIVER DISEASES
Alcohol induced liver disease is common, yet preventable. There are three types of alcohol induced liver disease: 1) Fatty liver, 2) alcoholic hepatitis and 3) alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcohol and cirrhosis are a roulette game--not all serious alcoholics develop cirrhosis, though some social drinkers do. Women do not process alcohol as efficiently as men and are thus more likely to develop cirrhosis from drinking. Alcohol is a toxin that damages the liver directly. It can cause excessive accumulation of fat inside the liver cells, enlarge the liver, cause inflammation destruction of liver cells, jaundice, spider-like veins in the skin as well as destruction of liver tissue and scarring, hypertension and liver cancer.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Inflammation usually produces swelling, tenderness, and sometimes-permanent damage. Hepatitis is caused by a number of things including alcohol, drugs, chemicals, and viral infections. If the inflammation of the liver continues at least six months or longer, it is called chronic hepatitis. Currently there are at least five different viruses known to cause viral hepatitis, the most common being types A, B and C.
Chronic hepatitis is gaining on alcohol as the leading cause of cirrhosis. Although hepatitis A, spread through contaminated water and food and excreted in stools, does not cause cirrhosis, other forms are not so benign. If a hepatitis B or C infection is not completely eradicated through treatment, the chronic hepatitis that remains can eventually lead to cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B, transferred through body fluids such as saliva and blood, progresses to cirrhosis about 5 percent of the time. One in every 250 people is a carrier of hepatitis B, and 30 to 40 percent of them have no symptoms. It is estimated that one in every 20 people will contract hepatitis B--one-third of them without symptoms. In fact, a simple test can determine whether a person has hepatitis, which is a good idea for those in doubt, because future problems are just as likely even if no symptoms are present. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for those at risk, including adolescents and health care workers.

Hepatitis C: About 3 - 4 million Americans are infected with HCV, and many of them do not even know they have it. Hepatitis C is harder to contract. It is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have this disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. It is usually transmitted via contaminated needles or transfusions of infected blood, and in some cases it has been transmitted sexually. It often becomes chronic in 80 to 85 percent of patients, and up to 30 percent develops cirrhosis. It is estimated that 4 million people have hepatitis C, many of them silent carriers, and the number is growing rapidly. According to the American Gastroenterological Association, the usual treatment is a course of interferon alpha, which enables invaded cells to be more readily recognized and killed by T lymphocytes and inhibits virus production within infected cells. This treatment is often unsuccessful, however, and has unpleasant side effects including flu like symptoms. Even those patients whose liver enzymes normalize completely after the interferon treatment, indicating they are cured, often relapse, meaning the disease was quiescent for a time. Without conclusive success with traditional therapies, many people utilize alternative therapies.

Out of 100 people with hepatitis C:
· 75 to 85 persons may develop long-term infection
· 70 persons may develop chronic liver disease
· 15 persons may develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years
· Less than 3% of persons may die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis)
· Hepatitis C is a leading indication for liver transplants.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR LIVER HEALTH:

Thymus Extracts:
Thymic peptides are available in whole powdered form, in synthetic packets and in liquid vials. The liquid vials contain the widest variety of low molecular weight thymic peptides. The synthetic packet is only a single peptide and the powders are generally full of fibrous and unwanted tissues. The liquid provides the peptides in the most undenatured state possible.

Virtually all of the literature appearing in peer-reviewed journals involving the use of thymus extracts has used liquid varieties.

Thymus extracts have shown clinical support for immune system function and for hepatitis.

Frozen liquid thymus extract is proven to increase lymphocyte proliferation.

In a recent survey of 90 hepatitis C sufferers, 36 found Frozen Thymus extract helpful and only 3 found it not helpful. The others remained unsure.

The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine reports, " The effectiveness of the thymus extract in treating viral hepatitis is reflective of broad-spectrum immune-system enhancement, presumably mediated by improved thymus gland activity."

How to take it: Take 2 vials (7 ml) per week. Thaw vial in your hand and pour half of the vial under your tongue. Hold for 5 minutes, and then swallow. Repeat with other half. Frozen Thymus Extract is best taken on an empty stomach (half hour before, or, two hours after eating).

Liver Extracts:

Stuary Lanson, MD: "for those patients who have problems with their detoxification systems, I employ the frozen liver extract as a standard treatment. Also I use this extract for those suffering from various hepatitis illnesses, move particularly for viral hepatitis C.

Dr. B.H. Ershoff of USC showed that raw liver has excellent antifatigue effects, as shown in by rats regarding strength and energy. The results were so overwhelming that liver extracts are popular with athletes and bodybuilders.

Michael E Seckinger, certified nutritionist and President of the Optimum Nutrition Center says, "I used frozen liver extract to support a health situation of a 62 year old man with liver atrophy. With many serious health concerns the patient also experienced some further complications with his blood sugar, although he was already taking insulin. A healthy diet plus liquid liver extract keeps him in balance.

"Growth factors regular the liver regeneration process by providing both stimulatory and inhibitory signals for cell proliferation" Drs. N. Faust, AD. Laird et al from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown University, RI.

In another study, hospitalized male patients with impaired liver function received either liver extract or a placebo. Those that received the liver extract showed a 60% improvement by clinical assessment. They did not show any local or general side effects.

• Liver extracts have shown promise with serious liver conditions, either alone or in combination therapies.

• Liver extracts have also been shown to enhance normal, healthy liver enzymes levels.

• The best liver extracts have the fat-soluble components removed.

• Quality liver extracts contain growth factors that signal cellular communications for optimal functioning and cell proliferation.

• Liver extracts have been shown treat chronic liver diseases

• Liver extracts have also been used in homeopathic preparations to fight influenza.

• Liver extracts enhance the ability to improve fat utilization, tissue regeneration and are hepatoprotective.

How to take it: Take 1-2 vials (7 ml) per week. Thaw vial in your hand and pour half of the vial under your tongue. Hold for 5 minutes, and then swallow. Repeat with other half. Frozen Liver Extract is best taken on an empty stomach.

NUTRIENT SUPPORT

Vitamin C

How to take it:
At least 2,000mg per day, Linus Pauling recommended 10,000 mg per day. Dr. Robert Cathcart recommends intravenous Vitamin C for hepatitis of 40-100 g daily. When taking orally, take only 2000 mg at any given time. When supplementing with high doses of Vitamin C it is possible to take enough to "bowel tolerance" and then slightly decrease. Vitamin C is best taken with meals or snacks. Although any type of Vitamin C is appropriate, Ester C appears to provide an excellent form of C in the form of Calcium Ascorbate. This special form is easily digested and decreases the incidence of stomach upset.

NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine)
NAC is thought to act as a precursor to the important antioxidant, glutathione. Gluathione levels are often diminished with liver problems. Other approaches to treatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), or other -SH donors, are based upon the knowledge that, in chronic hepatitis C (as in other liver diseases), oxidative stress increases and plasma and liver GSH concentrations decrease. NAC has been shown to antidote acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning, Mercury poisoning, and even Arsenic poisoning. Mercury is especially important because of the increasing evidence linking Mercury amalgam dental fillings with the onset of degenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. NAC chelates, i.e. "grabs" heavy metals and removes them from the body. NAC has been shown to be a protective agent in many diseases and conditions such as pollution, damage from smoking or other chemicals in which free radicals play a role. Rats given NAC were completely protected against cigarette smoke caused DNA cross-linking.

How to take it: Oral NAC (800 mg), although having little effect alone, enhanced the response to IFN. Do not exceed 1200 mg per day.

Alpha Lipoic Acid
Several qualities distinguish alpha-lipoic acid from other antioxidants. Dr. Lester Packer has described it at various times as the "universal," "ideal," and "metabolic" antioxidant. It neutralizes free radicals in both the fatty and watery regions of cells, in contrast to vitamin C (which is water soluble) and vitamin E (which is fat soluble). Alpha-lipoic acid also plays an important role in the synergism of antioxidants. It directly recycles and lengthens the lifespan of vitamin C, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10.
How to take it: It is best found in softgels. Take 300-600mg per day with meals.

HERBAL SUPPORT

Milk thistle originally is from Europe, but now it also is grown in the United States. Its scientific name is Silybum marianum. The ingredient that experts believe is responsible for its medicinal qualities is called silymarin. Silymarin appears to promote the growth of some types of cells in the liver. Studies suggest that it can block various types of toxins from entering and injuring liver cells as well as preventing inflammation of the liver. Most all hepatitis C sufferers who take herbal support find Milk Thistle an important part of their routine.

How to take it:
200 mg, twice daily of standardized Milk Thistle extract (containing 80% silymarin). Since Milk Thistle is fat-soluble it is best taken with meals or snacks.

Licorice root: Herbalists use tea made with licorice root to manage some of the effects hepatitis has on the liver. The scientific name for licorice root is Glycyrrhiza glabra, and its active component is called glycyrrhizin. Studies suggest that licorice root displays antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice root does come with a warning, however. If taken regularly (more than 3 grams of licorice root a day for more than 6 weeks, or more than 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizin a day), this herb can cause the following conditions in some people: high blood pressure, sodium and water retention, low potassium levels in the bloodstream, and disturbance of an important electrolyte balancing system in the body

How to take it: 200 mg per day. Be sure it is standardized for glycyrrhizin and is root rather than leaf.

Dandelion
The late naturopathic physician, John Lust, stated in his Herb Book that dandelion root is good for all kinds of liver problems, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice and toxicity in general, as well as getting rid of gallstones. Dandelion has been used to stimulate bile flow support and liver health. It is also a mild laxative.

How to take it: It is often taken as a tea: 1 tbsp of cut plant per cup of water. You can even include the leaves in a salad. 90 mg capsules -- three times per day.

Artichoke
The artichoke (cynara scolymus) has a long folk history in treating many liver diseases. The artichoke head, leaves and root contain several active components important for improving digestion, liver functions and cholesterol levels. The active ingredient in artichoke is cynarin.
The pharmacology of artichoke demonstrates "dual action" liver protecting and regenerating effects, and promotes the outflow of bile from the liver to the gall bladder. It acts as a choleretic. A choleretic is a substance that increases the formation and flow of bile. Bile is a thick, yellowish-green fluid excreted from the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the intestine to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. This is very important because if the bile is not being transported adequately to the gallbladder, the liver has an increased risk of being damaged. . Artichoke can also decrease the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver. Often cholesterol levels are high because of impaired conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. Low bile acid levels send a powerful signal to the liver to provide more cholesterol. Artichoke extract stops this signal to the liver to make more cholesterol.

Artichoke extract has been shown to enhance detoxification reactions as well as protect the liver from damage during detoxification in the liver the toxic substance is often initially converted to an even more toxic form. Without adequate protection, every time the liver neutralizes a toxin, it is damaged in this process. Artichoke extract has been shown to provide this valuable protection.

How to take it: 250 mg capsules, one with each meal per day.

Other herbs to consider:
Burdock, Yellow Dock, Lemon Balm, Aloe Vera, Motherwort, Yarrwp and Agrimony.

Important nutrition notes:
1) Do not take iron supplements
2) Avoid Cod Liver Oil
3) Abstain from mood altering chemicals, alcohol, smoking and NSAIDs
4) Avoid stressful events and situations