Enraged?

Love Your Liver

Rage is all the rage right now. The world is on fire, and so is your liver. Every day, it’s another horror, and we can only process so much before we become overwhelmed. 

• Headaches

• Pain

• Fatigue

• Digestion issues

• Skin issues

• Brain fog/executive dysfunction

• Allergy issues

These are just some of the symptoms of your body being overloaded. Our liver is a powerhouse, and it can handle a lot until it can’t.

The liver filters the blood of toxins, but that’s not all it does. The liver is responsible for protein and nutrient metabolism, glucose regulation, bile production (and storage via the gall bladder), production of cholesterol to carry fats, it stores vitamins and iron, and supports the immune system. It also breaks down many of the pharmaceuticals you take to distribute them into circulation. <<Note: This is a very simplified account of liver function. 

When we think about “toxins,” most people think of heavy metals or things that are poisonous to the body. Companies that want to sell you their detox products want you to believe that your liver is overloaded with toxins it cannot process, so you need a harsh cleanse to purify the liver and the body. 

This belief is more toxic than your liver. Life is already harsh; your liver needs nourishment and support. 

So what are the toxins the liver processes?

• Metabolic waste products–these are waste products left over from digestion, etc.

• Hormones

• Pharmaceuticals

• Emotions

  • Wait…what? 

It’s not just physical– Yes, the liver processes waste and toxins from the body, but it also

processes emotions, anger specifically. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), excess energy/congestion in the liver is called liver fire and causes headaches. When the liver is overloaded and cannot clear metabolites fast enough through its usual channels (blood and urine), it will push excess to the largest excretory organ in the body–the skin. The liver flow can become stuck when overloaded, causing constriction/tension in the blood vessels, which leads to further stagnation. The physical and the emotional layers upon each other. 

What we need is motion–fluidity, of not only the blood through the vessels but of our feelings. 

So, where do we start?

That’s a good question, and the answer always begins with: Gently. 

Gentleness is the key 

What are the Detoxification pathways? Physical–Emotional–Spiritual

1. Physical - 

   1. Lymphatic system

   2. Circulatory system via the liver/digestion

Physical pathways and Herbs that support

Lymphatic system–

• Cleavers, violet leaf, red clover, calendula

Digestive-Liver–

• Dandelion root, milk thistle, burdock root 

Skin–

• See liver herbs, calendula

Urinary/kidneys–

• goldenrod, marshmallow root, stinging nettles(Seed and leaf), cornsilk

Lungs–

mullein, reishi mushroom

Food and Herbs can help.

• Bitter foods like dandelion greens, radicchio, dark chocolate, and coffee

• Bitter Herbs – gentian, motherwort, dandelion, artichoke 

• Bitters - herbal preparations you take before or after meals

Energetic Detoxification Pathways

2. Emotional -  crying, talking, any process that promotes release, such as energy work, cranial work, massage, EFT, acupuncture, movement therapies, yoga, therapy/counseling, journaling…

3. Spiritual - meditation, counseling, journaling, journey work, earthing/grounding

Symptoms do not arise in isolation. Physical imbalance can affect emotional and spiritual well-being, just as emotional stagnation and spiritual disconnection can manifest physically in the body.The human body is multidimensional. Every layer of our being influences the others.

This awareness is critical, especially right now. Lasting change happens through small, repeatable, consistent actions. Start gently and build from there.

This may look like adding a bitter green to your salad, taking a bitters formula with meals, or using dandelion root tincture a couple of times a day. It may look like permitting yourself to stop. To rest more. To walk barefoot in the grass.

Choose one thing and embrace it.

Healing is an inside job. What’s coming at us from the world is not changing for us. We must learn to support and love ourselves in spite of it.

Herbal Consultations

Apothecary