Liver and its functions:
The liver is the largest organ in the body. Its most important function is to remove toxins from the blood circulating throughout the body. The liver is the major organ responsible for the detoxification of the body, and thus susceptible to accumulating lost of toxins within it also over time . Liver has great rejuvenation capacity, it is the organ that can naturally regenerate itself, like in the case of liver transplants.
Liver regulates chemical levels in the blood and excretes bile. This helps carry away waste products from the liver. After leaving the stomach and intestines blood passes through the liver, where it processes this blood and breaks down the nutrients. The liver metabolizes drugs also, into simpler forms that are easier and nontoxic to use for the rest of the body. There are more than 500 vital functions have been listed that the liver does. Some of the well-known functions include the following:
- Bile production and excretion of waste.
- Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs.
- Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
- Enzyme activation, these enzymes helps to speed up certain chemical reactions in the body.
- Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals.
- Synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and clottingfactors.
- Blood detoxification and purification. It cleans the drugs and other poisonous substances from the blood.
- Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage and to balance and make glucose as needed.
- Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins.
- Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content, also storage of iron.
- During protein metabolism conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea.
- Resists infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream.
The liver plays a very crucial or essential role in separating the waste from the useful stuff and aid in throwing it out of the body. After separating and breaking down the harmful substances are excreted into Bile or Blood. Bile by-products are excreted as feces from the intestines and blood by-products are excreted out as urine from the
kidneys. If anything goes wrong with liver factions this cleansing system gets disturbed and the body can get packed with toxins.
Some of the common liver pathologies
Different types of the liver disease result from different causes. Liver disease may result from:
- Viral infections: Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are diseases caused by a viral infection.
- Problems with your immune system: When your immune system mistakenly attacks your liver, it can cause autoimmune liver diseases.
- Inherited diseases: Some liver problems develop because of a genetic condition.
- Consuming too many toxins: Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the result of misusing alcohol. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) results from consuming too much fat. NAFLD is becoming more common as rates of obesity and diabetes rise.
Common sign and symptoms of liver pathologies
Sign and symptoms vary with the root cause and the severity.
- Pale or yellow discolouration of skin and eyes
- Abdominal pain and heaviness especially on the right side.
- Easy Bruising of skin.
- Changes in the color of your urine or stool.
- Fatigue and disinterest.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Burning sensation on different body parts.
- Edema and skin issues.
The general line of treatment for liver issues;
For the management of any liver pathology, first step is to know the root cause and its pathogenesis of damaging liver. With the early diagnosis and effective Ayurvedic treatment approach, one can prevent liver disease, avoid serious liver damage and prevent liver failure.
At Ketav’s Ayush Health Paradise we follow two kinds of therapies in liver pathologies. One is Shodhna – which means detoxification or cleansing and the second one is Rasayana — nourishing therapies that help in rejuvenation and getting back to their normal physiology.
The treatment plan includes classical Ayurvedic Panchkarma therapies, oral medications, Yog, Meditation, and Ahara (food) Vihara (life style).
Above is the general line of treatment, in case of all liver issues. Our main focus remains to remove the toxins which are damaging the liver and stop the inflammatory changes then and there. After breaking the pathology rehabilitation or rejuvenation therapies, aid to recover the damages.
Treatment plans vary with the severity of the disease, the strength of the patient, associated co-morbidities, age, immunity, the constitution of the patient, cause, etc factors. There is many individualized approaches to a treatment plan to achieve maximum results.
An Ayurvedic Panchkarma detoxification of the liver is the most safe and effective way with added benefits of overall health and feeling of a well being.