LIVER%20GALLBLADDER HEALTH REMEDIES


The liver%20gallbladder is called Yakrit & Pittakosha in Ayurveda.
Liver & Gallbladder (Yakrit & Pittakosha) Ayurveda

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"When in doubt, treat the liver' says a popular adage in natural medicine. The liver performs so many functions, it's no wonder why it's named the "live-er" - it is the organ that helps you live.

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.

Get the Signs & Symptoms of Liver & Gallbladder Imbalance

Deficient Liver

The liver and kidneys are the organs that "age" us. When your liver is deficient, your blood plasma becomes dry and loses both oiliness and sweetness. A Vata condition, your blood will be thin and lacking in fats, proteins, and sugar. Nourishment to your tendons and blood vessels is curtailed, your joints become stiff, and muscles become spasmodic and numb. A deficient liver can aggravate anxiety & worry. Liver deficiency can also create shakiness and erratic emotions. Most nutrients pass through your body without being assimilated if the liver is weak. In this case your liver should be restored and nourished.

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

Congested Liver

When your blood plasma is too rich with sugars, fats, or proteins, your blood becomes thick and the lymphatic system congested. Due to the thickness and richness of blood, your liver and gallbladder (Pittakosha) become congested, a Kapha condition. A congested liver leaves you feeling sluggish, the muscles flabby and lacking in tone, and causes weight gain. Liver congestion creates suppression of emotions.

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

  • Bitters, Alteratives: Dandelion Root, Guduchi, Aloe vera
  • Apple cider vinegar (ACV) - Like all sours, ACV flushes the lver and gallbladder. ACV also has malic acid which is hepatoprotective.
  • Blood Thinner: Turmeric, Ginkgo, Manjistha
  • Reduce fats, reduce weight
  • Eliminate liver and kidney congesting foods such as white flour, white sugar, dairy especially cheese & ice-cream, & deep fried foods.
  • Avoid cold drinks and foods which chill the liver and kidneys.
A congested liver may benefit from a cleanse with cholagogues.

Toxic Liver

The liver is responsible for neutralizing toxicity. With exposure to so many chemicals in the environment, we live in an age where the liver is under attack.

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:

  • Nitrosamine - Carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco and nitrates.
  • Acetominophen - Found in tylenol.
  • Chemotherapy drugs (doxorubicin)
  • Hexane - A common compound in glues for shoes, leather products, and roofing. Used to extract food grade oils such as soybean oil, and in degreasing. Added to gasoline. Lackof regulation by the FDA has led to controversy.
  • Benzene - Aromatic carcinogen found in many materials
  • Aflatoxin - Produced by a mold that appears on peanuts or corn.
If the liver lacks the strength to detoxify the blood, the toxins will be released through the kidneys & skin, causing rashes, & bladder infections. A toxic liver can make a person angry and aggressive. If your liver is toxic, you also want to avoid tomatoes & gourds which have mild toxicity. If the source of liver toxicity is fermentation in the small intestine, the intestines should be cleaned with triphala, amalaki, or haritaki.

The Liver, Inflammation & Heat

Liver imbalances tend to create heat and irritability throughout the body. When imbalanced, the liver releases bile salts into the blood, which has an irritating effect on the body and nervous system. Additionally, liver imbalances cause the immune system to become over reactive and produce reactive oxygen species, leading to more inflammation. For these reasons, the liver and gallbladder are considered the home of Pitta dosha. Signs of Pitta aggravation are often the first symptoms of liver imbalance.
Get the Signs & Symptoms of Liver & Gallbladder Imbalance
If you are overheated due to liver imbalance, follow a Pitta Balancing Diet. Avoid citrus fruits, cinnamon, chocolate, caffeine and other hot, spicy foods that irritate the liver. Avoid tomatoes and reduce any conditions that increase the toxic burden on the liver. The summer is the most likely time of liver heat & irritation.

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.

Food, Lifestyle, and Herbs that Cool the Liver

Liver & Emotions

When balanced, the liver regulates the graceful flow of blood physically and emotions mentally. The liver is the most emotionally sensitive organ and its weakness is often connected to emotional instability. The liver, when disturbed, is emotionally reactive and sensitive. It is a proud organ and easily insulted by intensity and imperfection. Pitta drive & discipline often aggravates and exhausts the liver, with the result that Pitta is Ayurveda's most volatile dosha. Pleasant, soothing remedies help calm a distrustful, paranoid liver.

Liver and Blood

In Ayurveda, the liver is said to generate the red part of the blood (rakta dhatu). Yet, western medicine says blood is made in the bone marrow. How can these differences be resolved? Bile components are produced in the liver from broken down red blood cells (a mala or waste product of blood). Some of these bile components are released into the blood, which "heats" up the blood as bile components are generally a bit irritating. When excess, these bile components can also cause some yellow discoloration of the skin, eyes, and teeth, a condition called choleric heat in Greek medicine. This 'heat' can be said to active the blood, and even blood production. Thus, the liver creates rakta.

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.

Conclusion

The liver is called the liver because it is essential for living. Your ability to assess and maintain liver health is essential to your well-being.

Herbal Actions Affecting Liver%20Gallbladder

BerberineA bitter compound having strong chologogue, alterative, and anti-microbial properties. Lowers dopamine.
BetaineUsed to reduce homocysteine in the blood, which supports proper liver function and prevents fatigue and blood clots. Improves muscle stamina and weight loss.
BitterBitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying.
CholagogueCholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.
HepatoprotectiveAn herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
LivotonicAn herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.
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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Fatty Liver is a condition characterized by a buildup of fat (triglycerides) in the

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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...

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Alcohol sensitivity could indicate liver weakness. Liver is weakened by the presence of chronic toxicity due to stress, intense emotions, infection, gas, or bloating.

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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....

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Gallbladder inflammation may imply presence of sludge, a gall stone, cancer or obstruction of the biliary ducts, among other conditions.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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Gray or light colored stool may have insufficient bile for digestion.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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A ruddy/rough complexion indicates toxic blood. An orangish or greenish sallow complexion can also indicate gall bladder stagnation or acid reflux.

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Lumps and bumps could be lipomas, cancer, or other diseases. Lipomas indicate a problem with fat metabolism and lipid congestion of the lymphatic system.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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Eczema is skin inflammation caused by hypersensitivity to allergens & irritants. Comparison of Eczema & Psoriasis Both: Dry heat with high Pitta

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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Many people smoke without thinking, leading to addiction. As a first step to quitting, Ayurveda recommends smoking slowly and with full attention.

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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.

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WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?

Ayurveda strengthens the body while opposing disorders. It takes a holistic, systemic approach that looks at the whole body. Ayurveda shows how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using diet, lifestyle adjustments, and herbs. It shows a person how to optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing.

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Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of biocharaceristics (gunas). For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.

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.

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To get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.
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