How to Get Rid of Liver Problems and Prevent Liver Disease with Ayurveda

Liver detox is one of the most commonly known forms of detox. You may have heard of diet plans and supplements that allegedly work wonders on this vital organ, but have you ever been acquainted with the benefits of Ayurveda? If you are bothered by symptoms like high cholesterol, jaundice, swelling and digestive concerns, then read on.

Ayurvedic remedies are holistic, customised and all-natural. When it comes to liver detox, your Ayurvedic practitioner will tailor a treatment plan to aid your liver in the detoxification process and also tonify your entire system. But before we get into the actual process and self-help tips, let’s take a closer look at the liver and its function.

Get to Know Your Liver

The liver is a large, prominent organ that sits on the right side of the abdomen. This organ is meaty, rubbery and, when healthy, has a reddish-brown colour. It sits above the gallbladder, pancreas and intestines and works with them to digest and metabolise food.

The liver is also a major filter of the body and is thus intricately connected to the lymphatic system. It works hard day and night to filter the blood, metabolise fat and drugs, and rid the body of chemicals while it simultaneously makes proteins, works to prevent blood clotting, and secretes bile (an essential fluid that is sent to the intestines to aid digestion).

However, the liver can become congested and compromised, especially as we age or gain weight. This is often due to a virus but also toxin overload, particularly in the form of fat. In this case, a liver detox may be urgently needed. Think of such a detox as an equivalent to cleaning the filters in your clothes dryer; if you fail to do so, your dryer will eventually become dysfunctional and break down.

But what causes the liver to react this way and how can such a ‘breakdown’ be prevented?

Causes of Liver Damage and Disease

There are certain lifestyle factors that may result in an impaired liver. Your liver may suffer a toxin overload and cell damage due to:

• Chronic alcohol over consumption
• Chronic medication consumption
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Over activity with little to no eating
• Being overweight
• Over acidity due to bad diet (overeating cheese, red meat and fats)
• Over acidity due to a virus

If any of the above reminds you of yourself AND you are dealing with liver-related symptoms, then it may be a sign that you need to detoxify your liver as soon as possible.

Liver Damage Symptoms to Look Out For

The human body has a way of warning us of a problem. We call these warning signs symptoms and should never fail to overlook them. It is the body’s unique way of demanding your attention before it’s too late.

Symptoms of a liver dysfunction may present themselves in various ways, such as:

• Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Abdominal pain with swelling, nausea or vomiting (due to fatty liver disease)
• High cholesterol levels
• High white blood cell count
• Low red blood cell count
• Impaired immunity
• Digestive problems
• Ankle and leg swelling
• Varicose veins
• Change in stool colour (pale or blood-tainted)
• Dark urine
• Loss of appetite
• Chronic fatigue
• High bilirubin levels
• Easily affected by heat and sun exposure

If left untreated, early liver-related symptoms may progress into fibrosis (mild scar tissue formation), cirrhosis (advanced scarring), or even carcinoma (cancer) of the liver.

Thankfully, an Ayurvedic practitioner can identify the root cause of your liver-related symptoms and recommend a natural, holistic detox procedure. But how is this done?

Ayurvedic Liver Detox Process and Self-Help Tips

In our YATAN Holistic Ayurvedic Centre, we have been successfully helping patients detox through Panchakarma for two decades. Panchakarma is a popular Ayurvedic rejuvenation experience that can be tailored for you specifically by a professional Ayurvedic practitioner. In the case of liver detox, you may be treated externally or internally, depending on the underlying cause of your Ama (toxin) accumulation. Common treatments include:

• A Panchakarma detox
• An enema (Basti) made from a Ayurvedic herbal concoction

Your detox experience, however, does not end at the Ayurvedic Clinic. We recommend implementing the following detox tips once you have already consulted your Ayurvedic practitioner:

1. Self-massage your liver as this will prevent the organ from becoming stiff and congested.
2. Drink warm lime water every morning for 11, 21 or 41 consecutive days as advised by your Ayurvedic practitioner. You can add honey for a more pleasant taste.
3. Up your water intake. Aim for 8-10 cups of water per day, but do keep in mind that water can also be found in foods like watermelons and cucumbers, both of which are effective liver detox aids.
4. Try Ayurvedic herbs like Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), an Ayurvedic herb known for its liver-detoxifying properties as well as its plethora of benefits on the entire system. Bhringaraj (Eclipta prostrata) is another powerful anti-toxin that repairs liver cells while protecting them from harmful chemicals. Always consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for dosage recommendations on each herb.
   
5. Eat radishes and asparaguses which are liver-friendly foods that aid in detoxification and cell rejuvenation. Eating chokos in the morning will also balance liver cells.
6. Eat foods rich in copper like black grapes, carrots and beetroots, which will aid in pigmenting the liver.
7. Snack on probiotic yoghurt to prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). New evidence supports that 300g of probiotic yoghurt eaten daily reduces weight and body mass while preventing liver disease.
8. Try Yoga ‘Master Cleansing’ known as Sunkhprakshalana. This a whole-day procedure that includes dietary preparation and a specific sequence of Hatha postures. Your Ayurvedic practitioner can provide instructions.

Looking for a customised, all-natural and drug-free way to detox your liver?  Contact us for a free no-obligation Ayurveda consultation today!

All information and resources referenced in this article, including medicinal preparations, exercise and dietary recommendations, are based on the opinion of the author. All content is intended to inform and encourage the reader to seek professional advice if the aforementioned conditions and symptoms are present. No information in this article should be considered a diagnosis or prescription