DETOX YOUR LIVER

The liver and the spleen are our filtration systems. This system's main function is to keep poisons from entering the body, which includes environmental chemicals and food source chemicals. In order to have a healthy filtration system, we have to keep it free of products that clog it. When the filtration system is clogged, you may feel very tired. You may have rashes that come out through the skin because the body will use the skin as a filtration system when the liver and spleen are stuck.

A clogged liver and/or spleen can create a feeling of exhaustion as well as a feeling of flu-like symptoms. Another symptom of an unhealthy filtration system can be recognized as inability to think and focus. Pains and infections can also be a part of liver/spleen issues including headaches and sinus infections.

Things to avoid to heal the Liver and Spleen

Avoid water that is treated with any chemical (this includes almost all public water systems). Make certain that your well is healthy. Water is our most important resource and we should drink four to six cups daily. Dark colored sodas should also be avoided.

Artificial sweeteners are chemicals and have to utilize the liver in order to get through the system. Natural sweeteners are a much better choice to the body including pure maple syrup, barley or rice malt, sucanat, Florida cane crystals, molasses, agave and the herb stevia. As a matter of fact, diabetics do exceptionally well on stevia and agave. (Word of caution, however. I find that the actual herb Stevia works best here. There are many processed stevias that don't test as well. The herb stevia is a green color).

Other artificial ingredients should also be avoided like colors and preservatives in food. They serve no purpose except to aggravate our filtration system.  Environmental chemicals should be limited. These include poisons, chemical fertilizers, polishers, chemical cleaners, and harsh perfumes. Basically, anything that has a chemical smell can do damage to an already over-burdened liver and spleen.

Not all, but many medications are filtered through the liver. Make sure you are familiar with side effects of drugs that you may be using.

Herbs & supplements that are beneficial to the Liver and Spleen

My favorite two herbs that help to de-clog the liver and spleen are dandelion root, burdock root or yellow dock root. I know that most people use Milk Thistle, but for the general cleaning in the beginning, dandelion root, burdock root and yellow dock seem to work more effectively.

Burdock root and yellow dock root are more potent and should be considered when skin problems have erupted, as this is a clear indication that the clogging is considerable, or for people who have abused their liver over long periods of time. Dandelion root and yellow dock root are available in tea, capsule or tincture form. Milk thistle can be introduced after cleansing to help strengthen the liver/spleen area. Yellow dock root also helps detoxify the lymphatic system. It is helpful for chronic sinus and mucus membrane problems.

If the liver/spleen is very toxic, as you begin a detoxification program, you may feel ill for a day or two (something like you). If this should happen, begin very slowly, such as 1/4 cup of tea for a day or two and increasing slowly up to a full cup by the end of the week. If you are using a tincture, begin with one drop and work slowly up to five drops within a week or two.

The important thing to remember is this is your healing journey and you can adjust it as you see fit.

Red Clover can also be beneficial as a detoxifying herb especially when hormonal issues are also evident.

For very toxic systems, Michael's Products makes a few combination formulas that test out very well including one called L.V.R. and the other called Hepatic Factors. With severe digestive disorders, a tincture may be more appropriate to help get the herbs into the system more effective.

Herb Pharm makes a combination called "Healthy Liver" that I often use in

this case. When working with children, Herb Pharm makes a Dandelion Root Glycerite tincture that is safe and effective for all ages as well as pregnant moms.

Physical symptoms of Liver and Spleen imbalances

The most common complaints from those with liver and spleen imbalances include "I can't think or focus". An imbalance in this area will definitely aggravate our ability to learn, think or focus properly. Exhaustion can also come into play here along with the feelings of flu symptoms and skin rashes. Any skin rash is an indication of liver and/or spleen imbalance, including poison ivy! Do you ever notice how some people are so allergic to it and other's never get it.

Headaches and mucus membrane issues can signify liver/spleen imbalances.

Ceanothus americanus

Jersey tea root (botanical name Ceanothus americanus), which forms the basis for the homeopathic remedy ceanothus, is a shrub that is indigenous to North America. This shrub species is also commonly known as New Jersey tea, wild snowball, mountain sweet (spelt as mountain-sweet or mountain sweet too) and different varieties of red root (including redroot and red-root). The name Jersey tea was actually coined during the time of the American Revolution as the leaves of this shrub were used as a substitute for the tea, which was imported.

The Ceanothus americanus shrub usually grows up to a height of anything between 18 inches and 42 inches. The shrub grows slender branches, while its root system is chunky having fibrous root hairs on the surface. However, the root system of Ceanothus americanus is solid, strong and woody that penetrates deep underneath the ground. In fact, the root system of this shrub can occasionally grow very large when growing in the nature. This aspect actually helps the roots to avoid or make up from the damages caused by their constant exposure to wildfires. This shrub bears flowers that grow in clusters on long, supplementary peduncles (flower stalks). The fruits of Ceanothus americanus are dehydrated, dehiscent (fruits that open up spontaneously to release seeds) seed capsules.

While the medicinal use of the shrub in homeopathy was initially discovered way back in the 19th century, it was only after 1900, following extensive researches, that the plant was identified as a therapy for pain as well as swelling of the spleen.

The herb Ceanothus americanus possesses several therapeutic properties, including expectorant, astringent and anti-spasmodic. In homeopathy, the homeopathic remedy ceanothus, derived from the shrub Ceanothus americanus, is used to treat health conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis and colds. In addition, use of this homeopathic medicine may also facilitate in lowering blood pressure.

PARTS USED: Fresh leaves from the flowering plant.

USES

The homeopathic remedy ceanothus is primarily used for treating pain, enlargement/ swelling, inflammation or a feeling of fullness in the left side of the abdomen. The cutting pain experienced by the patient worsens when he/ she is lying on the left side. Individuals who require this homeopathic remedy are those who feel unpleasantly cold and require sitting close to a source of heat to keep them warm.

Basically, ceanothus is a remedy for health conditions related to the liver and spleen as well as treating chronic bronchitis. In homeopathy, ceanothus is considered to be a therapy for health problems occurring on the left side of the body. This homeopathic medicine is used to treat chronic bronchitis accompanied by copious secretion.

In addition, ceanothus is the most appropriate homeopathic remedy for people suffering from complaints of the liver and the spleen. This homeopathic medicine is also effective in treating spleen disorder due to malaria. In such cases, the patient experiences soreness, inflammation as well as swelling of the spleen with fullness on the left side of the abdomen. Such patients also endure nippiness as well as tremors mainly along the spine and they also suffer from breathing trouble (dyspnoea) as well as palpitation when they exert themselves. All these symptoms worsen or the patients are discomforted when they are in motion or lie on their left side.

Besides curing these conditions and related symptoms, the homeopathic remedy ceanothus is extremely beneficial in treating jaundice accompanied by pain and fullness in the region around the liver. As aforementioned, this homeopathic medicine is also effective in alleviating liver and back pain caused by the condition. In addition, ceanothus is also recommended by practitioners of homeopathic medicine to treat other health conditions, such as diarrhea, amenorrhoea (absence of menstrual periods), dyspepsia (indigestion) and leucorrhoea (white or yellowish discharge from the vagina).

As discussed earlier, this homeopathic remedy is especially useful for healing any type of spleen problem and it appears as if, in homeopathy, ceanothus was prepared for curing the health conditions related to this particular organ. This homeopathic medicine is indicated for treating deep seated pain in the region where the spleen is located.

In addition, ceanothus is also useful in healing deep stitches in the region of the spleen as well as enlargement of the organ, conditions that worsen when the patient is exposed to humid weather. It is also effective in healing chronic spleen pains - either on the entire left side that is accompanied by breathing problems or shortness of breath. Usually, any stitch in the region of the spleen requires any of these homeopathic remedies - sulfur, chelidonium, conium, berberis or ceanothus. On the other hand, homeopaths recommend the use of cimicifuga for treating neuralgic pains in the region of the spleen that are accompanied by problems of the uterine.

Chemical analysis of the shrub Ceanothus americanus has shown that it possesses expectorant, astringent and sedative properties. In fact, the homeopathic remedy ceanothus prepared from this plant is an excellent therapy for any sort of spleen disorder, as it acts directly on the spleen to cure all complaints. This medication is especially useful for treating enlargement of the spleen.

In addition, the homeopathic remedy ceanothus is also useful in treating health conditions, such as asthma, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, dysentery. In addition, ceanothus is also an excellent wash for sore mouth owing to fevers as well as canker in the mouth or throat.

Using this homeopathic remedy facilitates in lessening tender, swollen tonsils. For this, the sufferer needs to gargle with a potent herbal tea prepared from Ceanothus americanus at intervals of two hours.

In homeopathy, ceanothus is generally recommended for people who suffer from the enlargement or swelling of the spleen. Known as splenitis, patients suffering from this condition experience pain in the entire upper left side area. Individuals suffering from splenitis also endure subconscious pain in the left hypochondrium (the left side of the abdomen), copious as well as yellowish deteriorating leucorrhoea (a white or yellowish release of mucous material from the vagina). They also experience severe liver pain and back aches.

The homeopathic remedy ceanothus is very useful in treating diarrhea. Ceanothus is also extremely beneficial for individuals who suffer from the constant urge to urinate. The urine passed by such people is green, foamy and contains bile as well as some sugar.

SOURCE

Jersey tea root (botanical name Ceanothus americanus), which is used to prepare the homeopathic remedy ceanothus, is native to the United States as well as Canada.