Liver is responsible for digestion of food, hormone production, metabolism, detoxification of the body, maintenance of the volume of blood, regulation of the factors affecting blood clotting, production of bile juices and regulation of glucose, cholesterol and proteins. Liver also produces enzymes and proteins which make new tissues and repair the damaged ones. Cirrhosis, fatty liver, fibrosis, hepatitis, jaundice, hepatoma, cholestasis, and cancer are some of the diseases that affect liver.
Herbal Remedies for liver diseases
Herbal remedies can cure most liver disorders without serious side effects. The most important home remedy is a balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits. Fresh vegetables such as carrots, spinach, papaya, cucumber, cabbage, mushrooms, sprouts, tomatoes, beets, squashes, bitter gourd, egg-plant, radish and beans should be included in the food. These fresh vegetables detoxify liver and are immensely useful in restoring liver health.
Milk Thistle seed extract is immensely beneficial for liver regeneration; it protects liver from toxins. Artichoke and Dandelion too, have the same healing properties as Milk Thistle. Extracts of Milk Thistle, Artichoke and Dandelion will restore liver faster. Equally useful is a mixture of powdered coriander seeds, dried ginger and black salt. Roast a bottle gourd on fire, mash it and squeeze out the juice, mix sugar candy and drink it. Turmeric is an antioxidant herb that protects liver from toxins. It increases bile output, enhances its solubility and thus prevents gallstones.
Eclipta Alba is very beneficial for treating liver; consume the juice extracted from all parts of the plant, and mixed with honey. Picrorhiza Kurroa is a useful herbal remedy for liver disorder. Consume a mixture of its powder and honey. Fig is another effective herbal remedy; rinse and crush its four leaves with some amount of sugar candy, and consume this decoction. Roast some cumin seeds, mix it in a cup of buttermilk and consume it. Take lime Juice with a pinch of rock salt. A spoonful of Olive oil added with a few drops of lemon, before breakfast, will also be effective. Gentian, Linden as well as neem-leaves are also helpful in curing various liver diseases. So is Eleuthero. Licorice and Bupleurum are good remedies for viral hepatitis. Schisandra protects liver from damage and helps to improve overall health.
Liver Cleansing
Liver Flush, a liver cleansing technique, is used for removing excess fatty acids and toxic substances from liver. Mix fresh citrus juices, 1-2 cloves of garlic, ginger root juice and one tablespoon of olive oil; shake and drink. Liver flush is commonly done in the spring and the autumn.