The Liver and Liver Stones
Each year, millions of people in the United States have gallstone-related pain. However, it may surprise many of these individuals to discover they are, in fact, experiencing the presence of liver stones. Liver stones are the less publicized cousins of the gallstone, as the two are essentially the same. Ultimately, location defines the difference between the two. To help reduce the risk of suffering from this painful condition, everyone should understand how the liver functions and what can be done to support its health.
The Location and Purpose of the Liver
The liver is the largest gland in the body and it's located at the beginning of the small intestine. The gallbladder, for comparison, is located behind the liver, near its base. The main purpose of the liver is to produce bile, which is an essential secretion for breaking down digested lipids into smaller particles so fats and fat-soluble vitamins can be absorbed by the small intestine.
The liver forms bile from water, electrolytes, and other molecules including cholesterol, bilirubin, bile acids, and phospholipids. Adults produce between 400 and 800 ml of bile each day and it's stored in the gallbladder until required.[1] Besides manufacturing bile, the liver works as a filter to detoxify and purge harmful chemicals (such as alcohol) from the body.
What are Liver Stones?
Liver stones are commonly formed whenever an excess of cholesterol exists in the body. When excess dietary cholesterol is present, the remainder often crystallizes into small, pebble-shaped masses. Researchers in Germany have discovered that heredity may also be a contributor to the condition. The scientists believe they have isolated a gene within the body that greatly increases a person's chances of forming liver and/or gallstones.[2]
General Statistics about Liver Concerns
- Physical injuries to the liver are responsible for just a small percentage of all hospital admissions.
- Pharmacological drug reactions are a common form of liver injury and can cause liver disease.[3]
- More than 900 prescription drugs are known to cause injury to the liver. Toxicity is the leading reason for withdrawing a drug from the market.[4]
- Liver and gallstones are present in 10 to 20 percent of the population.[5]
9 Herbs That Promote Liver Cleansing
The top nine herbs that promote liver cleansing include:
- Milk thistle seed
- Chanca piedra
- Borotutu
- Reishi mushroom
- Yellow dock root
- Dandelion root
- Turmeric
- Chicory root
- Peppermint leaf
Check out this article for a more detailed list of the top 9 herbs for liver cleansing.
4 Common Diseases of the Liver
Due to the liver's role as the body's detoxifying system, much of what we eat and drink can greatly affect its health. Here are some of the more common diseases of the liver:
1. Cirrhosis
Damage to the liver causes scarring which further prevents the liver from functioning the way it should. Common causes of cirrhosis include alcoholism and hepatitis. About 5 percent of cirrhosis patients develop liver cancer and end up receiving liver transplants due to excessive scarring.
2. Fatty Liver
"Fatty liver" is a common condition in people who drink too much alcohol. The liver becomes enlarged by the accumulation of fat cells. Usually, the only symptom presented is a slight discomfort within the abdomen. The condition normally improves if the person in question ceases drinking alcohol.
In addition to alcohol-induced fatty liver, there is also non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that typically presents the exact same symptoms but without alcohol as the cause. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often related to insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) and obesity, so weight loss and managing carbohydrate intake may be helpful.
3. Hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis (liver inflammation) is also caused by the intake of too much alcohol and is often a precursor to cirrhosis and eventual liver failure. If detected early enough, damage to the liver may be somewhat reversed. Viral hepatitis, on the other hand, attacks the liver directly. Actually several different types of viral Hepatitis exist.[6]
4. Gilbert Syndrome
Gilbert Syndrome is caused by a defect in the uptake of bilirubin into the liver cells. Gilbert Syndrome can be very difficult to identify and is sometimes confused with liver disease.
Symptoms of a Sluggish Liver
When your liver isn't functioning at peak performance, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Chronic Fatigue
- Depression
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Digestive difficulties
- Chemical sensitivities
It's interesting that the symptoms for impaired hepatic detoxification are commonly the same as those attributed to patients suffering from exposure to toxic chemicals.
Can Any Organisms Harm the Liver?
Yes! Liver flukes (Trematodes) are a type of flatworm which infects the digestive system and other organs in the body. Adult flukes have external suckers which allow it to attach and leech nourishment. Trematodes normally enter the body through the act of eating uncooked fish or plants and fish from fluke-infested waters.
Trichinosis is another type of parasitic disease that can harm the liver. Trichinosis is contracted from eating under-cooked meat (usually pork) and it affects the bile ducts that drain the liver. A condition known as schistosomiasis occurs when parasites enter the body through the skin, usually from walking barefoot in infested fresh water. The organisms travel through the body, settling in the small veins of the liver.
Ultimately, schistosomiasis results in cirrhosis of the liver due to the scarring caused by the inflammation. Many people may not realize Hepatitis A is a virus that enters the liver as an organism. The most common way to contract Hepatitis A is to eat food prepared or handled by someone who didn't thoroughly wash their hands after using the bathroom.
What Diet Promotes A Strong Liver?
Apoor diet is a major contributor to most liver conditions. High alcohol intake is the most common form of dietary danger to the liver. However, you can improve your diet a number of ways to promote overall liver function.
- A diet too high in protein may cause a condition called hepatic encephalopathy or "mental confusion". While the exact cause of hepatic encephalopathy is still unknown, it is theorized that when the body digests high amounts of proteins, excessive ammonia is formed, which affects the central nervous system. Your doctor should always be consulted before altering the protein in your diet.
- A diet high in calories, especially carbohydrates and trans and saturated fats, can equally result in liver concerns. Excess caloric intake can lead to fatty deposits within the liver.
- Watch your Vitamin A intake, as it is high in saturated fat and cholesterol and can be toxic to the liver when taken in large amounts. However, emulsified vitamin A does not contain fat or cholesterol. Emulsified vitamin A is a liquid form of the vitamin derived from the carotene found in green and yellow vegetables and also found in egg yolk. Emulsified vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant for supplementing your diet. Vitamin A also helps promote cell differentiation and supports the body's normal immune system response.
The best diet for the liver is one low in protein and also sodium. Eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables will help to keep your body, especially your liver from overtaxing itself. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of your diet should consist of dark green leafy vegetables and orange, red, purple, and yellow colored fruits and vegetables. A diet high in trans and saturated fats causes the liver to work extra hard, so reducing your intake of those fats is critical to a healthy liver.
Avocados are an excellent choice for promoting liver health. Many varieties of raw seeds such as flaxseed, sunflower, and alfalfa seeds are beneficial in this regard. Certain oils (primrose, black currant seed, and cold-pressed olive oil to name a few) assist the liver as well.
Choosing a Liver Cleansing Supplement
Along with a healthy and cleansing diet, you must routinely cleanse your liver to promote optimum function and health. A number of liver and gallbladder cleansing products can be found in health stores and on the Internet, but the most effective of these are manufactured with only organic and wildcrafted herbs and are produced using proprietary processes.
Liver cleansers produced with these methods, such as Liver Health, provide you with herbs extracted using vegetable glycerin rather than alcohol, thus making them the safest and most effective class of supplements for supporting your health improvement initiatives.
References (6)
- Bowen, R. Secretion of Bile and the Role of Bile Acids In Digestion. VIVO Pathophysiology, Colorado State University. Accessed 15 Apr 2020.
- Research team discovers gallstone gene [news release]. 2007. University of Bonn, Germany. Accessed 15 Apr 2020.
- Drug-induced liver injury. US Gastroenterol Hepatol Rev. 2010 Jan 1;6:73-80.
- Mehta N, et al. Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity. Medscape. Updated: 3 May 2019. Accessed 15 Apr 2020.
- Carr, Anitra C., and Balz Frei. "Toward a New Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin C Based on Antioxidant and Health Effects in Humans." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 69, no. 6, 1999, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3343155/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
- Viral Hepatitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Updated Apr 8 2020. Accessed 15 Apr 2020.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
Dr. Edward Group, DC
FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATEDr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.
