Liver revisited

[Guest guest]

The heaviest organ in our body is liver. Medical astrology considers

liver health governed by strength of planet Jupiter in natal chart.

Nearly 800 different chemical reactions take place here, and its work

can be considered equivalent to at least ten giant petrochemical

plants.

 

Author has posted many articles about liver in past. One such

detailed article is covered in one chapter of Iron rules of health

series. But liver is such an important organ of the body, that it

deserves some repetition also.

 

If you open any book on acupressure/puncture, it is noteworthy that

treatment points for most diseases include Liver, Gall bladder and

spleen points. Out of 19 points for PCOS, 13 belong to these organs.

 

Liver secrets bile from its spongy tissues, which ayurveda recognizes

as Ranjak pitta, leading to production of Haemoglobin. Bile gets

stored in Gall bladder and has an important fuction of causing

hunger, to maintain blood sugar balance. Thus it also maintains heat

and energy. When liver under functions, the first symptom is lack of

hunger, bloating, gas, acidity. Though digestion of carbs starts from

saliva itself, the final digestion is caused by secretions from liver

and pancreas. In cases of indigestion, first investigation should be

carried out by palpating liver area.

 

Spicy, pungent, sweets, excess fats, dairy, caffeinated drinks,

alcohol and nicotine and even long fasting also causes damage to

liver secretions. The worst enemies of the liver are allopathic

remedies, 90% of which are hepatotoxic, as a cursory glance at drug-

data book will show. When metabolism becomes skewed, the excess fat

stored as tri-glycerides in liver. This clogs the bile secreting

channels, reducing the bile secretion. Liver also filters many

environmental toxins, and those which cant be eliminated via kidney,

skin, colon they are stored inside liver itself. These ultimately

become gall stones. Formation of such deposits also reduces

digestion, causing bloating, gas, acidity etc. How do we judge liver

clogging. By noting hardness during palpation or excess fat deposits.

When a finger is pressed in navel, it requires deep insertion to feel

pulse at nabhi chakra. More the depth, larger the fat deposit. Body

knows that storing fat around liver is going to slow down metabolism.

But other sites are already saturated, so only warehouse is liver now.

 

Since liver also manufactures some hormones which regulate sex

hormones, the PCOS is strongly linked to fat deposits around liver,

conventionally termed truncal obesity. Thus liver is strongly

involved in fertility, perhaps that may be the reason astrologers

assigned Jupiter as the Kakaka for liver health. Role of

Glycoproteins in fertility also supports the wisdom of acharyas. And

in last few years, youth in the age range 20-30 are coming with

truncal obesity, disturbed sex hormones, with reduced masculine

hormones. They have erectile dysfunction, enlarged breast and very

thin mustache and fairly low hairgrowth of masculin pattern.

Correcting liver function brings the balance.

 

There are thirtytwo herbs which help liver function, all of them also

recognized as blood purifiers. Kalmegh, Kadu, Chirait, Berries,

Bhringraj, Bhuiamalaki, turmeric, Neem, aloe-vera are leading herbs.

Author has brought these out in earlier postings, devoting complete

posts to aloe vera, bhringraj etc.

 

Liver is a miracle organ, regenerates itself if given some

relaxation. Fasting on fruit juices is a easy approach for most.

Liver responds quickly to swaras (fresh juices) of these herbs and

best way to detoxify the liver is to take fresh juices of some of

these herbs at a herbal farm. Liver and spleen have a harmony between

them and generally both under-function together. When diseases

properly belonging to spleen, allergies, reduced platellate count are

encountered, liver treatment was simultaneously needed for rapid

relief.

 

While foods have been clssed as satvic, rajasik etc. it is

experienced that satvic foods load the liver to the minimum. But one

should remember that food can change its guna if eaten in wrong

manner or quantity. See archives for food tests. Thus excess stuffing

will turn a satvic food into tamasic one, as remarked by Swami

Sivanand saraswati. Tamasic foods slow down liver. In the same

spirit, meditation, certain mantras, aasanas, breathing techniques

enhance liver function.

 

Spring is just round the corner and Vasant rutu has already started

in India. This is best time to detoxify liver using various

approaches.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Bhate;

 

An ill friend shared this week her question perhaps you can answer.

She is very delicate, probably mid 60's in age, has had much stress in

her life though a dancer then yoga teacher now. Gall bladder removed

perhaps 2 decades or more ago, has been unable to digest well since

especially fats, contrary to the advice of the allopathic surgeon who

removed without her ok! IN any case, she has done a liver cleanse

common in west of 5 days special ingesting including epsom salts to

pass stones. Many, the last 2 days some large ones. Her question -

why all of them brown? She thought they should be green. I am not

clear on her diet, and she has difficulty finding right things.

 

Warm Regards;

Ysha

[Guest guest]

>Many, the last 2 days some large ones. Her question -

> why all of them brown? She thought they should be green. I am not

> clear on her diet, and she has difficulty finding right things.

 

Stored fats (Cholesterol, Triglycerides) lead to green ones. Many a

time, the toxins from environmental and allopathic drug processing mix

with green ones and lead to maroon color. In later case, foul smell

identifies them as proper toxins. The fouls smell is unlike the one

emitted by stools issuing after indigestion.

 

Stronger the foul smell, more dificult the disease to tame.

 

Hope this answers her question.

[Guest guest]

Among the panchakarmas to be done from a preventive aspect, the one

that is mentioned to be done at the start of the Vasant rutu

(present period upto start of April in India) is Vaman.

This is beneficial especially to those suffering from chronic

conditions of asthma, allergic cough, skin disease & indigestion.

Also it is meant to throw out the vitiated kapha built up during the

Hemant/Shishir rutu (November to February in India).

So it is advised to even healthy people as a preventive act.

We plan to conduct Vaman camps for people in and around Mumbai very

soon. Those interested can write to me at selexms

 

Vd. S.M.Shirodkar

M.D. (Ayu.)

Royal Ayurveda

http://www.geocities.com/selexms/

 

 

> Spring is just round the corner and Vasant rutu has already started

> in India. This is best time to detoxify liver using various

> approaches.

>