Liver/Gallbladder

I have wanted to address this issue for a long time, and when one of my clients asked me about a Liver Cleanse, it gave me the opportunity to do so.What do you know about the liver, other than being told that drinking a lot of alcohol destroys it? Let’s study the LIVER!  (My research sources of information are from Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, and The Detox Miracle Sourcebook by, Robert Morse, N.D.)

The liver is the largest organ in the body, approx. 21 to 22.5 cm. in its greatest diameter, 15 to 17.5 cm. in its vertical height, and 10 to 12.5 cm. in its depth, weighing 1200 to 1600 gm. It is located on the right side of the body beneath the diaphragm, level with the bottom of the sternum. It is proportioned near the stomach, small intestine, adrenal gland and upper portion of the right kidney. The liver has four lobes, five ligaments, five fissures, five sets of vessels, and secretes 800 t 1000 ml. (almost a quart) of bile in 24 hours. The BLOOD SUPPLY comes from the hepatic artery, a branch of the celiac artery and the hepatic portal vein, which drains the intestine.

As you can see, the liver is a vital organ in our bodies. Quoting Robert Morse, N.D. “Your liver can be compared to a huge chemical factory that supplies a whole city with its functional (metabolic) needs.”

WHAT DOES THE LIVER DO?
1.  The liver stores and distributes to include various amino acids, glucose, Vitamins A, D, E and K, your fat-soluble vitamins. It also stores iron and copper.

2.  The liver converts other fats and stored amino acids in glucose as the body needs it – for fuel and energy. It converts excessive proteins consumed into the urea to be excreted by the Kidney.

3.  The liver synthesizes Vitamin K & other clotting factors and non-essential amino acids for growth and repair functions; cholesterol for use in cell membrane walls, steroid production and anti-inflammatory purposes, etc.

4.  The liver detoxifies – through the immune system; metabolizes hormones, chemical drugs and other chemicals; it produces enzymes to help with this process.

WHAT IS HARMFUL TO THE LIVER?
Acidosis, alcohol, toxic chemicals, drugs, and coal-tar products like aspirin, which severely destroys the liver’s tissues. Although most people don’t know this, the liver is “tied to the mind and when the liver is inflamed and/or impaired – so is your mind, creating low self-esteem and anger.”

Another little known fact is that the GALLBLADDER and the LIVER are working partners. The GALLBLADDER, situated on the underside of the right lobe of the liver, is a “holding tank” for bile which is produced in the liver. As the bile is stored in the gallbladder, the body removes water from it, making it concentrated. Bile is needed for digestive purposes, and is used by the body as an alkalizer, anti-inflammatory, and emulsifier of fats. It also works with the pancreas. Knowing all this makes me cringe, when someone tells me they have had their gallbladder removed – usually it is because they had gallstones – but gallstones can be eliminated naturally. They really believe they don’t need their gallbladder. NOT TRUE! I have found that invariably, down the road of aging other organ issues crop up, such as heart and kidney failure. When the gallbladder is removed, the Liver and surrounding organs have to work twice a hard to compensate for the work the gallbladder does to keep up a healthy liver and keep it in good repair.

IN SUMMARY: We consume food and drink for the purpose of obtaining fuel for our body, for building and repairing material for our cells, and when all goes well, the blood carries the nutrients, building blocks and fuels to the Liver and Gallbladder, then to the Heart, and into the general system for its needs. I hope this information helps you, my readers, to understand how the liver and gallbladder works for you, in order for you to enjoy good health.

You will be reading the next blog first – which addresses the Liver Cleanse question…however, read this because you need to understand how the liver and gallbladder works, first.

Happy reading and God Bless!