Good food, massage and detox good for your liver
By Carolyn Schoner
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Hemochromatosis is a rare disease of iron metabolism, characterized by excess iron deposits throughout the body.
Hepatomegaly, skin pigmentation, diabetes mellitus, and cardiac failure may occur.
The disease most often develops as complications of some hemolytic anemia, such as sickle cell anemia; multiple transfusions are required for the treatment. Cirrhosis also accompanies metabolic disorders that cause the deposition of minerals in the liver — two of these disorders are hemochromatosis (iron deposits) and Wilson’s disease (copper deposits).
The disorder that interferes with the body’s ability to break down iron, and the result is too much iron being absorbed from the gastrointestinal track. Too much iron build-up (particularly in the liver) causes the liver to swell. This disease can be genetic or can be caused by receiving a large number of transfusions, which boost the iron levels.
Primary hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in the United States affecting one in every 200 to 300 Americans. It affects more men than women and is common among Caucasians of Western European decent. The earlier the condition is diagnosed the better, because this disease will affect other organs.
The treatment usually is phlebotomy — a removal of one-half liters of blood from the body each time until the iron levels are reduced. This may require months or even years. Less frequent phlebotomy is needed after iron levels are reduced.
Symptoms can be fatigue, hair loss, immune dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, changes in skin color and explosive diarrhea. Normal absorption of iron from food in the intestinal tract is 8–10 percent. In people with hemochromatosis the absorption is four times as much as normal levels. This iron cannot be excreted and reaches a toxic level in the organs, such as the heart, liver, spleen, pancreases, skin, joints and glands. The toxic levels in tissues get so high that the organs cease to function.
There is no known cure at this time.
With that said, there are a few things a person can do to the support the liver. I believe everyone should do a liver detox every spring and people who have had an anti-biotic should do a liver detox afterwards. People with hemochromatosis should do a liver detox four times a year at the solstice and the equinox, the universal energy at these times of year are strong and we should be take advantage of energy. I like a mild liver detox that you can find that in a good health food store; if you cannot find it, contact me. We are coming up on the autumnal equinox in a few weeks and it is a good time for liver detox.
Foods that relieve a swollen liver include olive oil, lemons, and limes. Avoid fatty foods, eat less and eliminate foods that damage the liver: these include food high in saturated fats, cheese, eggs, cream, fatty meat, food with additive, processed food, refined foods, and all intoxicants.
Foods that stimulate the liver include all members of the onion family, mustard greens, basil, turmeric, ginger, dill, horseradish, rosemary, lemon balm and rosemary. Too many extremely pungent foods, such as hot peppers, can damage the liver. Anti-stagnancy foods are mild: beets, peach, cherry cabbage, turnip root, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprout, and alfalfa sprouts.
Foods that harmonize the liver include springtime foods, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Because the season for the liver is spring, always do a liver cleanse in the spring regardless how many times you do a cleanse throughout the year. Honey used sparingly is helpful to curb craving, especially if combined with apple cider vinegar. During a detoxification stay away from refined sugars; use instead, stevia, unrefined cane juice granules, whole sugar cane, and licorice, date sugar, molasses, and rice syrup.
Foods that reduce excesses of the liver: the most powerful common remedy for quickly removing liver stagnation and the accompanying depression and indigestion is vinegar. The flavor of vinegar is both sour and bitter and has detoxifying, highly active properties. Put one teaspoon of apple vinegar in a cup of water and add honey. If the vinegar is too strong replace it with lemon or lime, this combination will have a cooling effect on the liver.
Foods that help in cooling the liver: Aloe Vera juice, chlorophyll-rich foods, lettuce, cucumber, watercress, plum, millet, tofu, mushrooms and rhubarb root.
Foods that accelerate liver rejuvenation: chlorophyll-rich foods, Aloe Vera juice or gel, wheat grass or barley grass juice, spirulina, wild blue green algae and chlorella.
Because people with hemochromatosis have problems with their red blood cells, foods that stimulate the production of red blood cells are good: beets and beet greens. Food that contains proteins also contain large amounts of iron; phytoproteins are better but they still have iron. Always eat organic foods. Because the red blood cells are created in the marrow of the bone, eat gelatin. I use Knox gelatin found in the grocery store because it supports bone marrow. Another good source is round bones with the marrow in them, you can find them in meat department of the grocery store (sometimes you have ask or order them from the butcher.) There will be a slight cost. I put them in soup or stews; when they are cooked eat the marrow. It is very important to maintain your red blood cell count.
These foods are not cures but they support the liver and help the liver in detoxifying the itself, tissues and other organs.
A Chinese Fable
Chin Ling loved his Rice Wine. After years of abuse he began to have symptoms of liver problems. When he went to the doctor, the doctor said, “Chin Ling you stop drinking Rice Wine or you die.” “But I love my rice wine, I can not live without it.” The doctor persisted, “You stop or die.”
Chin Ling went home and thought bout his situation, he said. “I no give up rice wine and I no die.”
Chin Ling every morning massaged his liver and said. “I love and honor my liver, you healthy and I can live a long healthy life.” He did this every morning massaging his liver in elliptic circle one hundred times.
Chin Ling lived to be 101 years of age and he never stopped drinking his rice wine.
What is going on here? Yes, it is a fable, but there is some truth within its lines.
First — Positive Thinking
Second — Future Intentions
Third — Belief: He never gave up
Foremost was the massage. Today we call what he did Visceral Manipulation. The liver moves or is rotated in oblique or elliptical orbit, in moves very slowly in a counter-clockwise motion. Visceral massage is done with a flat hand following the shape of the liver and done very slowly.
Visceral Manipulation works to heal and relax the liver when done slow and easy with positive intentions and a belief. It is part of Energy Medicine.
Some massage therapist do Visceral Manipulation; if you can’t find one contact me.
Remember the liver is the most important organ in the body.
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http://www.englewoodedge.com/2010/09/04/good-food-massage-and-detox-good-for-your-liver/