The Liver

In Chinese medicine, the liver is called ‘the general of the army’, in charge of many bodily functions.  Chinese Medicine attributes many symptoms to liver dysfunction, including agitation, anger, insomnia, headaches, nausea, abdominal swelling, poor nails, dry red itching eyes and muscle and tendon stiffness.

Liver dysfunction may be subtle but can cause symptoms nevertheless.  Blood tests for liver function are not very sensitive and, belying their name, are an indication of liver damage rather than liver dysfunction.  Thus blood tests may be within normal limits or only slightly elevated in early or mild liver impairment.

Indicators of liver dysfunction may include a coated tongue and bad breath in the morning, headaches, nausea (especially after a fatty meal), poor digestion, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, abdominal bloating, swelling and weight gain.

Poor detoxification of metabolites in the blood stream may result in a variety of effects.

• Allergic conditions such as hay fever, asthma, hives and skin rashes may be aggravated.
• Brain function can be affected, resulting in mood changes, depression, poor concentration and memory.
• Intolerance to prescription drugs may be increased, resulting in an increased incidence of side-effects.
• Tolerance to alcohol may be reduced, resulting in a feeling of drunkenness after a very few drinks and an undeserved hangover next morning.

The liver is one of the busiest organs in the body and has numerous tasks.

• The liver acts as a storehouse for a number of substances including glycogen, iron, copper, vitamin A, vitamin D and many of the B complex vitamins.
  

• The liver regulates fats circulating in the bloodstream.  It manufactures bile which is secreted by the cells of the liver into the bile duct and then drains into the small intestine.  Between meals the bile flows into the gall bladder where it is stored and concentrated.  In response to a meal, the gall bladder contracts and bile flows into the intestine.
  

• As well as manufacturing cholesterol, the liver converts excess dietary fat for excretion into the intestine via the bile.  If there is adequate dietary fibre, cholesterol is bound to that fibre and excreted in the faeces.  If dietary fibre is inadequate, more cholesterol is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream and recirculated through the body.
  

• The liver regulates carbohydrate metabolism.   A healthy liver converts excess dietary sugar to glycogen which is stored in the liver until needed.  This is released, as required, to maintain blood sugar levels.  Inadequate storage capacity or production may result in low blood sugar and hypoglycaemic symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, light headedness and cravings.
  The liver can also manufacture carbohydrates from fat or protein if supply is low.
  

• The liver detoxifies many substances.   It metabolises and biotransforms drugs and toxins into harmless metabolites; usually by converting them to a water soluble form which can then be excreted via the kidney.
  

• The liver regulates blood protein metabolism.   It manufactures many proteins such as albumin, blood clotting factors and carrier proteins such as HDL, LDL and SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin.)  Carrier proteins transport fats, iron, hormones and pharmaceuticals in the bloodstream.
  

Thus a healthy liver is essential for a wide range of bodily functions from a healthy libido to a healthy heart.