Do you ever feel sluggish, lethargic, or not quite right?  You could be in need of a detox, and your liver in particular could benefit.

What are Toxins?

There are many toxic chemicals and substances in all areas of our environment – much more than there were years ago.  In fact, harmful substances can be found in processed foods, in the air, in the water, in the home, and in the environment itself.  Many of these toxins are unable to be disposed of by the body and they are thus stored in various parts of the body such as the glands, bodily tissues, and the cells.  Detoxification, of the liver especially, removes harmful toxins from the cells and tissues and allows the body to restore its normal functioning, preventing illnesses.

Why Detoxify the Liver?

The liver plays a vital role in the body for things such as detoxification, fat regulation, hormonal balance, digestion, and circulation.  When you consider all of this, you can see why it is necessary to detoxify the liver so that it is able to keep performing at its peak.

If the liver is not performing at its peak, you may find that you suffer from things such as allergies, pre menstrual syndrome, constipation, chemical sensitivities, and even obesity.  If the liver is sluggish, you may also find yourself feeling uncomfortable after meals or find it difficult to tolerate fatty foods.

Signs of a liver that is not working correctly include:

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Poor concentration
• Irritability
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Allergies
• Rashes or hives
• Food sensitivities

Detoxifying the Liver

To regain optimum functioning of your liver, a detoxification is necessary.  This is because the liver is actually connected to the gut through the portal blood system.  If your digestive tract is not working correctly, more toxins will flow through to the liver and cause problems.  To detox the liver, you should follow a liver cleansing detox diet, drink plenty of filtered water, eat foods or take supplements that support the liver, neutralise the damaging free radicals in the body, get plenty of sleep, and follow other detoxifying measures such as lymphatic massage and infrared saunas.  Using a specific liver cleanser such as a lipohepatrophic cleanser can promote and encourage the process of protecting, detoxifying and rebuilding the liver.

Herbs for the Liver

There are several herbs that can help to cleanse the liver (see herbal medicine).  Some of these are:

• Milk thistle – is one of the best known herbs for supporting the liver and treating liver diseases.  The active agent in milk thistle is silymarin – an antioxidant that reduces the production of free radicals and can act as a toxin blocker.
  
• Licorice root – the extract of licorice root has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
  
• Globe artichoke – this herb contains cynarin which is similar to silymarin and this herb stimulates the liver tissue to regenerate.