White blood cells help shape gallstones

Doctors have known what gallstones are made of—cholesterol and calcium salts, if you're curious—for a long time. But they didn't know exactly how everything was glued together, until a study published in September in the journal Immunity. Scientists examined "sludge," fluid taken from human gallbladders.

"We studied the formation of gallstones and found that white blood cells are responsible for the clumping of crystalline matter in the gallbladder," says Martin Herrmann, PhD, an immunologist at the University Hospital Erlangen in Germany. "The clumped material then forms the more or less spherical aggregates, which appear as gallstones. The knowledge of this process could open up new treatment options for recurring gallstone disease in the future."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/15-things-we-learned-about-the-human-body-in-2019/ss-BBX8dwd#image=10

What causes liver pain?

Determining what causes liver pain can be difficult, considering that the brain perceives abdominal pain from many organs in what experts call an “ill-defined” way. Still, advances in medicine have helped the medical community come to a better understanding of what causes pain in the liver area.

Written by Bel Marra Health
Published on June 1, 2017

Research tells us that the liver’s pain receptors are located on the organ’s surface, and the pressure a person feels when they experience liver pain is likely from a capsule that covers the organ. The pain is usually felt in the upper right part of the abdomen. Often, people who experience discomfort complain about pain right under their rib cage. No matter what the causes of pain in the liver might be, the condition typically involves swelling, inflammation, or enlargement of the liver. Injury can lead to liver pain, but some causes of liver pain can be linked to various disorders.

People often confuse liver pain with other abdominal pain, but again, actual liver pain is signified by discomfort in the upper right abdomen. There are still some situations where right upper quadrant pain is caused by gallstones or pancreatitis. It is important to see a doctor to get a proper assessment.

What causes pain in liver area?

The causes of liver pain continue to be studied and, sadly, statistics show that liver disease is a common problem. The American Liver Foundation estimates that one in 10 people are impacted by liver disease.

The liver is one of the largest organs in the body and it performs an important function. It converts nutrients from our diet into substances that the body can use or store. The liver also gathers toxic substances and aids in releasing those substances from the body. When the liver is under stress for any reason, it can be very uncomfortable and dangerous.

Here’s a close look at the different potential causes of liver pain:

Cirrhosis

This is a condition that occurs when the liver cells and tissues deteriorate, impacting the function of the organ. A viral infection or excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to cirrhosis. Hepatitis B, C, and D have also been associated with liver cirrhosis.

Liver cancer

A liver tumor can cause pain in the abdominal area. Medical screening usually detects it. The pain is often constant and dull, but sometimes it can be sharp pain. Rates of liver cancer are increasing in the U.S due to the rise in the cases of cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There is a cancer that can develop in the ducts of the liver called cholangiocarcinoma.

Fatty liver disease

This is caused by an accumulation of too much fat in the liver cells and it is usually a result of poor diet. Does fatty liver disease cause pain? The answer is yes, but in many cases, the pain is mild. The condition does include a lot of other unpleasant symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, and even confusion. Alcohol abuse can lead to fatty liver disease but so can infections, toxins, and obesity.

Liver cysts

When fluid builds up in the liver, a cyst can form. Pain is only experienced when the cyst is chronic. The discomfort is usually felt at the top of the abdomen and tip of the right shoulder. The exact cause is unknown.

Hemochromatosis

This happens when excessive iron deposits damage the liver along with other organs. Hemochromatosis can lead to fatal hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Wilson’s disease

Excessive copper building up within the liver causes Wilson’s disease. It is a disease that is incurable and can cause a lot of health complications.

Enlarged spleen

When the liver experiences infections, the spleen can become enlarged. This puts pressure on the liver.

Reye syndrome

This is a rare and serious condition that leads to swelling in the liver and brain. It most often impacts children and teenagers who have had a viral infection such as the flu or chickenpox. Confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness have been experienced with Reye syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, aspirin has been linked to this syndrome. Children recovering from flu-like symptoms or the chickenpox should not take aspirin.

Hepatitis

There are different types of hepatitis, but it generally refers to inflammation of the liver. It is often caused by a viral infection, but it can also be the result of ingesting toxins, from drinking too much alcohol, or the result of taking certain drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 4.4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis and many more people don’t even realize they have the condition.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Excessive drinking has long been linked to liver problems. Over time, heavy drinkers can experience scarring and cirrhosis along with many visible symptoms including fatigue, poor appetite, fluid build-up in the abdomen and the legs, yellow colored skin (jaundice), red spider-like blood vessels on the skin, impotence, and confusion. When cirrhosis progresses to end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant may be required.

Hepatic artery occlusion

A block in the flow of blood through the liver organ. It can be caused by thrombosis, a blood clot due to hypercoagulability disorder, severe atherosclerosis, or vasculitis. It can also be the result of an embolus, which is a free floating blood clot that travels from another part of the body and becomes lodged in the hepatic vasculature. Symptoms usually present when cell damage due to restricted blood supply occurs. Symptoms may include right upper quadrant, fever, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice.

Portal vein thrombosis

Occurring due to blockage of the portal vein: the vein that supplies blood to the liver from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and intestines. This blockage causes pressure in the portal vein to increase, called portal hypertension, which can cause the spleen to enlarge. These dilated veins can bleed profusely. Blockage of the portal vein can also lead to fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Pyogenic liver abscess

A pocket of pus that forms in the liver due to bacterial infection. Pus is composed of white blood cells and dead cells that typically form when your body fights an infection. Normally, the body drains the infection, but in the case of an abscess, the pus collects in a pocket inside the liver. Abscesses are usually accompanied by swelling and inflammation and can cause pain and swelling in the abdomen. Pyogenic liver abscesses can be fatal and should be treated right away.

Cholestasis

A condition where the flow of bile (digestive fluid produced by the liver) is impaired at some point between the liver cells and a segment of the intestine. Bile is subsequently absorbed by the body instead of being excreted into the digestive system, leading to an increase of the substance bilirubin in the blood stream. Symptoms of cholestasis include jaundice, dark urine, light-colored stool, and generalized itchiness.

Hepatic cysts

A relatively common occurrence in the liver but can be a sign of a more serious health issue. Cysts are thin-walled sacs filled with air, fluid, or semi-solid material. Symptoms generally depend on the cause and may include bloating, pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and poor appetite.

Liver condition pain can be treated depending on the cause. In many cases, a patient’s diet will be examined. The liver does have some ability to repair itself if we are kind to it. Research on the livers of mice has shown that inadequate protein can lead to a decrease in liver volume and that adequate protein added back into the diet can reverse some damage.

Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and lowering cholesterol, are good ways to protect your liver. While some people may be advised to take medication to treat liver pain, it is advisable not to self-medicate. For instance, over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen can react negatively in people with liver problems.

Related: What causes liver pain after drinking?

https://www.belmarrahealth.com/causes-liver-pain/

Coffee: The Good News...and the Bad News

November 1, 2014

This post is on Healthwise

Here's a shocking statistic—90% of Americans need a drug just to get through the day. If they don't get it, many suffer withdrawal symptoms. That may sound like an exaggeration, but think about the caffeine that nearly all American adults get in their coffee, tea and soda each day. Caffeine is a drug—and a potent one.

It is true that caffeine increases energy and alertness—and may even help fight certain chronic diseases (see next column). In large amounts, however, caffeine can lead to nervousness and agitation—along with high blood pressure, rapid heartbeats and even panic attacks.

More on Coffee’s Health Benefits

1. Coffee Drinkers Live Longer
2. Caffeine: All-Natural Solution for Dry Eyes
3. 5 Cups of Coffee a Day Can Be Good for You!
4. Good Buzz: Coffee Helps Protect Against Endometrial Cancer
5. A Cup of Decaf May Prevent Memory Loss
6. Coffee Helps Prevent Constipation After Surgery
7. Coffee Combats Parkinson’s Disease
8. Coffee Helps Migraines
9. Coffee Protects Against Liver Cancer
10. Best and Worst Drinks for Preventing Kidney Stones

The facts about caffeine…

IT'S EVERYWHERE!

With caffeine now included in so many different beverages and foods, it's easy to consume much more than you realize.

Do the math: The average US adult drinks about three cups of coffee a day, with anywhere from 75 mg to 200 mg of caffeine in an eight-ounce cup (decaf has about 12 mg­ or less per cup).

Tea drinkers get 67 mg in an eight-ounce cup of generic black tea brewed for three minutes and 43 mg from the same size generic green tea with an equal brewing time (the caffeine content increases the longer it's brewed).

And do you have a soft drink now and then? A Coke or Pepsi (regular or diet) has about 35 mg of caffeine per 12-ounce serving. Some energy drinks have more than double that amount.

The dark chocolate you may enjoy—in part for its health benefits—has about 20 mg per ounce (the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it will contain).

Meanwhile, the Excedrin that you may take for headaches adds another 65 mg per tablet.

What you may not realize: The FDA advises getting no more than 400 mg of caffeine a day, but you could be getting a lot more than that.

HOW CAFFEINE HELPS

An increasing body of evidence shows that caffeine—whether it's from coffee, tea, colas or some other source—has positive health effects. Key examples…

• Less cognitive decline. In a 2012 study, 124 participants with mild cognitive impairment (which often precedes Alzheimer's disease) had memory tests at the start of the study and again two to four years later. Those who had caffeine levels consistent with three daily cups of coffee did not develop Alz­heimer's, while those who developed dementia had caffeine levels that were, on average, 51% lower.

The study did not prove that caffeine is protective. Coffee, for example, contains other chemical compounds that might protect brain cells. But it's possible that the increased alertness from caffeine could make people more likely to pursue social and intellectual activities that improve brain health.

• Fewer gallstones. Two important studies found that coffee drinkers were less likely to develop gallstones (20% less likely in women and 40% in men) than people who don't drink coffee. The reason is not yet known, but it's possible that gallbladder contractions triggered by caffeine reduce buildups of stone-forming cholesterol and bile pigments. Drinkers of decaf didn't get the same benefit.

• Less Parkinson's disease. Caffeine intake has been linked to lower incidence of Parkinson's disease, and recent research found that symptoms, such as tremors and stiffness, eased in people with Parkinson's who consumed 100 mg to 200 mg of caffeine twice a day (roughly two to four cups of coffee).

• Headache relief. A strong cup of coffee or tea can help ward off a migraine by constricting blood vessels in the brain. Caffeine also offsets the widening of blood vessels that occurs during migraines. Not surprisingly, you'll see caffeine listed on the labels of painkillers, including not only Excedrin but also Anacin and Midol.

• Better workouts. Caffeine helps mobilize fatty acids for endurance, so it could improve a workout. But be sure to drink water before, during and after exercise because caffeine can cause dehydration.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS

Even though it's almost impossible for an adult to overdose on coffee, tea or other beverages with caffeine, the FDA has warned consumers to avoid any powdered form of caffeine sold on the Internet. One teaspoon of the powder, which was recently linked to the death of a teenager, contained the equivalent of 25 cups of coffee.

You probably know that even "safe" amounts of caffeine, such as that found in a few cups of coffee, can lead to sleep problems (especially when consumed within six hours of bedtime) and can cause unpleasant effects, such as jitteriness, in some people. Caffeine also may increase risk for…

• High blood pressure. Caffeine from a cup or two of coffee can temporarily increase the heart rate by as much as 10 to 20 beats per minute in sensitive individuals. This isn't a problem in healthy adults but could be dangerous for those with hypertension. An increased heart rate also can trigger heartbeat irregularities (arrhythmias) in some people.

• Impaired glucose regulation. Some studies have found that people with type 2 diabetes who consume two to three cups of coffee may have higher-than-expected surges in glucose (blood sugar) after meals. People with diabetes should talk to their doctors about their use of caffeine, especially if they are having trouble regulating blood glucose.

But just to show you how complicated caffeine research can be, a recent study found that coffee consumption reduced risk for type 2 diabetes. Is it the caffeine or something else in the coffee? Research is ongoing.

• Stress. Caffeine increases adrenaline, a hormone that's already elevated during times of stress. The effect can be magnified if you happen to drink even more coffee during stressful times.

There's some evidence that caffeine also can trigger panic attacks in people who have had them previously. Even if you don't have a history of panic attacks, large amounts of caffeine (more than 300 mg, or about three cups of coffee) at one time can trigger them.

• Incontinence. Caffeine increases urine production, and studies have linked coffee intake to urinary incontinence.

Takeaway for everyone: To minimize your risk for caffeine-related health problems, consider spreading your coffee intake out over several hours or alternate it with decaf or water.

HOW BIG A BUZZ?

Americans get most of their caffeine from coffee, but it's tricky to predict how much you'll actually get. The exact amount depends on the coffee variety, how it's roasted and even how it's prepared. Some surprising facts…

• The inexpensive bulk coffees in supermarkets, made from robusta beans, can have double the caffeine of the more expensive arabica beans (used in specialty coffees from Costa Rica and Sumatra, for example).

• Dark-roasted coffees have a strong taste but actually have less caffeine than lighter varieties.

• Drip coffee has more caffeine than percolated or coffee made with a French press. A "cup" of espresso has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of percolated coffee, but the espresso cup is only about two ounces. The higher concentration causes the caffeine to be absorbed more quickly, giving an "espresso buzz."

Source: Wilkie A. Wilson, Jr., PhD, a neuropharmacologist and research professor of prevention science at the Social Science Research Institute at Duke University, where he is also a faculty fellow at the Center for Child and Family Policy, both in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Wilson is coauthor, with Cynthia Kuhn, PhD, and Scott Swartzwelder, PhD, of Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy (Norton).

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/coffee-the-good-news-and-the-bad-news

Go to Healthwise for more articles

9 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore (4)

8. Swelling in the Legs

The big worries: An accumulation of fluid (called edema) in the extremities can be caused by a number of conditions, but the one that most concerns doctors is heart failure, when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body needs. When that happens, blood backs up in the veins, causing fluid to accumulate in the body's tissues. "Swelling of the legs, especially if it is persistent, should never be ignored," says Gordon F. Tomaselli, M.D., director of the division of cardiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Heart failure is suspected when both legs are affected and the patient also has shortness of breath, fatigue and chest tightness.

What else it might be: A vein problem known as venous insufficiency can also cause swelling. Normally, valves in the leg veins keep blood flowing back to the heart, but in those with venous insufficiency, these valves are weakened, causing a backup of blood. "If valves are the problem, swelling usually goes away when you lie down," Tomaselli says. Compression stockings can help. Swelling can also result from hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone).

9. Sudden or severe abdominal pain

The big worries: Sudden abdominal pain could signal that an aortic aneurysm — a bulge that develops in the aorta, frequently in the abdominal area — has ruptured. "If the aneurysm ruptures, the pain tends to be sudden and severe and typically centralized around the belly button," says Richard Desi, M.D., a gastroenterologist with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Alternatively, sudden pain can indicate a perforated viscus (a hole in the stomach, intestine or other hollow organ), often due to an ulcer. Intestinal ischemia, which happens when blood flow to the intestines slows or stops, starving tissues of oxygen, can be a culprit, too. "It's more common in older, sicker patients who have heart failure or atrial fibrillation," says Brian Putka, M.D., a gastroenterologist with the Cleveland Clinic. Each of these conditions is life threatening, requiring emergency surgery.

What else it might be: Abdominal pain is frequently due to gallstones, which are hard, pebblelike deposits that get lodged in a gallbladder duct, resulting in sharp pain as well as nausea and vomiting. Diverticulitis — inflammation or infection in small pouches of the large intestine — can be another cause of sudden, severe pain, along with changes in bowel habits, fever and nausea. Although irritable bowel syndrome can trigger painful spasms in the colon, the pain tends to come and go over time and may also cause constipation, diarrhea or alternating bouts of both. Appendicitis is a less likely candidate for sudden abdominal pain in those over 50, as the condition is less common with age. When it does occur, however, expect gradually worsening pain in the right-lower quadrant of the abdomen.

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-12-2012/symptoms-you-should-never-ignore.4.html

Detox To Help The Gallbladder

Dr. Michael Cutler | Feb 18, 2013

We all know someone who has had or will have a gallbladder attack. There are some common questions about the gallbladder, bile and biliary stones that patients repeatedly ask me. I’d like to answer these questions and give you some practical information so you know how to handle gallbladder troubles.

The Gallbladder And Bile

The gallbladder is a small bag (3 inches to 4 inches long) that acts as a catch basin for bile made by your liver. It also concentrates bile and secretes mucus into this bile. Bile, which has an alkaline pH of 7.6 to 8.6, contains salts, water, cholesterol, bilirubin (blood hemoglobin by-product) and other compounds. Bile is a marvelous substance that serves two main functions. First, it carries away the by-product of your liver’s detoxification process, collecting it into larger and larger ducts until it finally empties via the common duct into your small intestine. Then, the bile in your small intestine allows you to digest and absorb fatty foods that don’t get fully dissolved by your stomach and pancreatic digestive enzymes.

Gallstones

Bile is a very strong substance that makes the stomach contents yellowish green and turns stool brown or green. Well, toxic compounds sit in the gall bladder and can coalesce to form small (2 mm to 7 mm) or large (8 mm to 20 mm) stones. Since the gallbladder neck is only 6 mm in diameter, a large stone can get stuck in there when the gallbladder contracts to push out bile, the natural action triggered when a high fat content is detected in your intestinal tract. Stones may consist of 80 percent or more cholesterol (cholesterol stones) or 20 percent or less bilirubin and calcium (pigment stones). Cholesterol stones are five times more common than pigment stones.

Why do stones form? Problems start when the cholesterol (or pigment) gets too concentrated and there are not enough bile salts and water to keep them soft. This happens largely because the gallbladder does not contract firmly, doesn’t empty completely or doesn’t contract frequently enough (kind of like a constipated condition in the gut). You can see how a cleansing diet can improve this. Other contributing factors include a concentration of proteins that promote cholesterol crystallization into stones as well as conditions that produce too much bilirubin, such as sickle cell anemia or liver cirrhosis.

Stone Problems

Painless stones are the norm. They cause adverse symptoms only when a stone is pushed into the narrow gallbladder outlet (cystic duct) where it connects to the large common duct. The classic biliary colic (gallstone attack) is a rather rapid (30-minute) onset of right upper abdominal pain, nausea and possibly vomiting. The gallbladder may also become swollen and then infected (cholecystitis), adding fever to the symptoms of pain and nausea.

Conservative Management Of Gallbladder Pain

What can a person do who is experiencing these symptoms? Most people will go to a hospital emergency department for pain control and also to get clear on the diagnosis. If a simple ultrasound does not show stones with dilated cystic duct or gallbladder wall, then a cholescintigraphy scan (HIDA scan), in which a radioactive tracer attached to iminodiacetic acid is watched as it gets excreted into bile and then observed for normal gallbladder uptake, can be done. This scan detects acute gallbladder infection or obstruction in more than 90 percent of cases, but it is not so accurate if it is a chronic problem.

For people who avoid hospitals at all costs, it is important they watch for signs (jaundice) and symptoms (fever) of cholangitis and pancreatitis. If gallstones block the common bile duct (backing up the liver) and infection develops, it is called ascending cholangitis, which leads to a drop in blood pressure and mental confusion. If gallstones block the pancreatic duct, then pancreatitis develops.

Recurring Difficulties

However, the pains of acute or recurring gallstone attacks are quite easy to pinpoint because they are localized to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and they occur after fatty meals. The simple remedy at first is to fast from fatty food and stay well hydrated so the gallbladder will not contract to expel bile. Best would be to go on a fresh juice fast for two days and ease back slowly into solid foods over the next five days. The more permanent solution, if you want to avoid surgical removal, is to shift your diet away from cholesterol (animal fat), saturated fat, trans-fatty acids and refined sugar toward raw veganism. Then dissolve and/or expel the stones naturally. There are various ways to dissolve them, but results are variable:

• Take prescription Actigall (ursodeoxycholic acid) for many months to reduce cholesterol absorption and help dissolve cholesterol stones. A clinical study ^[1] showed it worked quite well in about half of subjects to reduce or eliminate chronic cholesterol stones.
• Take ascorbic acid (vitamin C) tablets to help convert cholesterol to bile acids. While high-dose vitamin C has been shown to reduce the risk of gallstones, it only marginally helps gallstones to naturally dissolve. ^[2]
• Consume soy lecithin supplements. Reportedly, they help dissolve gallstones, though I could not find any clinical trials reported in scientific literature.
• Eat food high in fiber, which binds cholesterol in the intestinal tract and potentially could bind and break down gallbladder stones, too.

There are ways to expel them, as reported by many testimonials, but without rigorous scientific proof. Here is the “flush” protocol I recommend:

You Will Need:

2 cups cold virgin olive oil
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Peppermint oil (from your health food store)
Pineapple or V8 juice
Measuring cup or tablespoon-sized measuring spoon
Pitcher of water

Directions:

Noon: Stop eating all solid food.
6.30 p.m.: Stop drinking all fluids.
7 p.m.: Drink ¼ cup of olive oil followed immediately with 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Lie down and relax for 15 minutes and get ready to repeat this again.
7:15 p.m.: Repeat the exact dosage (¼ cup olive oil and 1or 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice) and continue repeating every 15 minutes until you have swallowed the entire pint of olive oil. If there is any lemon juice left, then drink it all.
Several hours later: When you have finished the olive oil and lemon juice, lie on your right side and go to sleep for the night. You can expect to have an urge for a bowel movement around 2 a.m. or not until the next day. Your stool will likely contain stones.

If you have terrible nausea or vomiting sensations, use peppermint oil in the olive oil, or chase the olive oil with a small amount of V8 or pineapple juice until you can resume taking the plain olive oil and lemon juice. Try waiting 30 minutes between doses if it gets hard to swallow the olive oil and lemon juice. In some individuals, the powerful action of the lemon juice causes the stones to dissolve before they are passed out of the body. If you have only greenish liquid bowel movements, the treatment has been effective.

To feeling good for life,

Michael Cutler, M.D.
Easy Health Options

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[1] Thistle JL, Hofmann AF. Efficacy and Specificity of Chenodeoxycholic Acid Therapy for Dissolving Gallstones. N Engl J Med 1973; 289:655-659. Online at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM197309272891303

[2] Gustafsson U, Wang FH, et al. The effect of vitamin C in high doses on plasma and biliary lipid composition in patients with cholesterol gallstones: prolongation of the nucleation time. Eur J Clin Invest. 1997 May;27(5):387-91.

Source: http://easyhealthoptions.com/uncategorized/detox-to-help-the-gallbladder/

Therapeutic Benefits of Milk Thistle

Therapeutic Benefits of Milk Thistle: Boost Your Lymphatic System

Danica Collins |

Did you know…

that milk thistle is not only a natural treatment for liver disorders…but also slows the growth of skin, breast and prostate cancer…and prevents and treats gallstones?

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a flowering plant belonging to the daisy family. It is named for the milky white fluid that oozes from its leaves when squeezed. Its ripe seeds are used to make an herbal nutrient that has been used for over 2,000 years, as a natural remedy for liver and gallbladder disorders, such as hepatitis C, jaundice, and cirrhosis.

It has also been used to treat malaria, melancholy, and the plague—and is believed to reduce the effects of toxins, such as poisonous mushrooms.

Benefits of milk thistle’s therapeutic properties originate from a compound know as silymarin, which is made up of 3 flavonoids with superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Silymarin repairs and detoxifies the liver by producing new liver cells—defending against toxic damage, improving overall liver function, and removing waste build-up.

Promotes Circulatory, Lymphatic and Cardiovascular Health—and Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease

The 20th century ushered in a host of milk thistle health benefits beyond its original therapeutic usefulness as a liver detoxification aid.

Today, the benefits of milk thistle is used to:

• Lower cholesterol levels, which improves cardiovascular health
• Decrease the proliferation of cancer cells in breast, lung, colon,prostate, cervical and renal cancers
• Lessen cell damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatments
• Prevent Alzheimer’s disease
• Stabilize blood sugar levels
• Defend against premature aging
• Protect against sun damage and other problematic skin conditions
• Fight free radical damage with its antioxidant properties
• Treat menopausal symptoms
• Remedy intestinal and indigestion issues
• Treat the symptoms of death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) poisoning

Benefits of milk thistle protects the entire circulatory system by helping the liver flush out toxins from the blood, thereby keeping the blood moving easily through the bloodstream.

Prevents and Treats Cancer—and Boosts Lymphatic System

Early studies in test tubes and laboratory animals have shown that the silymarin compound in milk thistle may help prevent and treat cancer. Human studies are, of course, necessary to discover the role silymarin may play in cancer prevention and treatment in people.

More benefits of milk thistle also aids the lymphatic system, which is a major component of immune health. The spleen, often referred to as the “heart” of the lymph system, is particularly affected by milk thistle. These benefits of milk thistle have been shown to effectively treat spleen disorders such as an inflamed spleen, which is the result of an overworked and sluggish liver.

Many health experts believe that a 200 mg daily dose of milk thistle promotes overall intestinal health, treating digestive problems, such as constipation. Constipation occurs when the intestines contract too slowly to adequately move waste into the colon for elimination.

Milk thistle produces a laxative effect by encouraging the production of bile, which is responsible for breaking down fats and cholesterol in the intestines—and stimulating bowel movements. By increasing bile production, the benefits of milk thistle also decreases the risk of developing gallstones.

Milk thistle is also a demulcent, which means it softens and moisturizes the mucous membranes, healing inflamed intestinal walls and calming the symptoms of digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It likewise soothes inflamed gallbladders, helping to clear away stagnation by removing the gunk that can obstruct gallbladder ducts. Milk thistle is also used to treat and prevent gallstones—as it helps to slowly dissolve these hard, mineralized stones.

Before implementing milk thistle as part of your healthcare regimen, consult the advice of a physician. Side effects are mild and may include stomach upset, diarrhea and rash.

Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have been diagnosed with prostate, uterine or breast cancer. You must also avoid supplementing with milk thistle if you are taking any blood thinning, allergy, anxiety, cholesterol, seizure, or cancer medications.

Source: Therapeutic Benefits of Milk Thistle: Boost Your Lymphatic System

Health Benefits of Spinach Include Improving Memory

Jim Healthy

The standard American diet (SAD) depletes your body of the fiber, amino acids and B vitamins that keep your brain and memory strong and clear. Never fear — health benefits of spinach to the rescue!

This humble green is a powerhouse of folate and other B vitamins, L-tyrosine and fiber. It’s the perfect combination to improve neurotransmitter function and guard against the chronic inflammation that leads to cognitive decline and memory loss.

1. Spinach is high in brain-friendly folate. B vitamins play a starring role in the memory healing diet. Folate, in particular, helps synthesize and regulate the chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which send messages between brain cells.

An Australian study of more than 200 women found that a diet high in folate and vitamin B6, such as that found in spinach and other dark leafy greens, helped improve mental ability and short-term memory.

2. Folate reduces inflammation that harms brain function. Folate lowers the amount of homocysteine, a dangerous pro-inflammatory amino acid, in your body. According to a study published by the American Journal of Psychiatry, high levels of homocysteine disrupt the function of neurotransmitters, which can lead to cognitive decline.

3. Load up on folate-filled spinach for memory health. Folate deficiency is serious. Symptoms include mental fatigue, nonsenile dementia, anxiety, depression, forgetfulness and confusion.
The poor Western diet, based on refined carbohydrates, sugar, unhealthy fats, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, rapidly depletes your body’s store of B vitamins. Just 1 cup of steamed spinach contains more than 65% of your Daily Value (DV) for folate and more than 20% of your DV for vitamin B6.

4. L-tyrosine in spinach improves mental focus. L-tyrosine is an amino acid critical to synthesizing dopamine and norepinephrine, the neurotransmitters responsible for keeping your brain alert and focused. Dopamine affects your mood, while norepinephrine offers a mental lift and improves learning, problem-solving ability and memory function.

A recent study found that tyrosine helped improve memory during the incre
ased stress of multitasking. One cup of steamed spinach provides 20% of your DV for tyrosine.

Besides being one of the health benefits of spinach, tyrosine is also found in wild salmon, yellowfin tuna, meat, poultry, whole grains, yogurt, avocados, beans, walnuts and seeds.

5. High-fiber spinach reduces inflammation. There’s an important connection between eating high-fiber foods and healthy brain function.

While the typical SAD diet leads to an increased risk for inflammatory diseases and conditions like memory loss, a high-fiber cognitive decline and loss of memory, the low-GI diet, high in fiber, prevents the wild swings in blood sugar and insulin levels that lead to chronic inflammation.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that elderly people who ate a diet high in dietary fiber scored higher in cognitive tests than those who did not. One cup of boiled spinach contains more than 17% of your DV for dietary fiber.

Cautionary note: Spinach contains oxalates, naturally occurring substances that can crystallize and cause health problems when too concentrated in body fluids. Spinach also contains purines, which if eaten in excess cause uric acid to build up, leading gout and kidney stones. If you have kidney or gall bladder trouble, you may want to avoid eating spinach. Consult your doctor for more information.

Jim Healthy is founder of the popular website MyHealingKitchen.com and is its current Food Editor. He is the co-author The Healing Kitchen (Bottom Line Books, 2011), Arthritis Interrupted (Jim Healthy Press, 2009), and The 30-Day Diabetes Cure (Jim Healthy Press, 2010).

Further Related Reading:

• Arteries Love The Health Benefits of Avocados
• Functions of B12 Can Prevent Memory Loss During Aging
• Benefits of Folic Acid Proven to Help With Depression

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/health-benefits-of-spinach-include-improving-memory

Liver Cleanse and Gallbladder Flush (Video)



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iHealthTube.com - How To Do The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush with Andreas Moritz

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From: iHealthTube Admin	Added: 9/4/2009
Time: 4:16	Views: 59293

Andreas Moritz explains how you can do the amazing liver cleanse and gallbladder flush described in his book of the same title. He explains how and what you’ll need to do it.

Video content provided by iHealthtube, an online video site that educates consumers on a wide range of natural health topics.

http://www.ihealthtube.com/aspx/viewvideo.aspx?v=2db3c5d810519561

15 Ways to Love Your Liver

There must be FIFTEEN WAYS TO LOVE YOUR LIVER

1. Put the six-pack back, Jack Half of all the alcohol consumed in America is consumed by only ten percent of the population. One in three adult Americans is a heavy drinker, with a sufficient liquor habit to be indistinguishable from an alcoholic. Such behavior wrecks livers.

Cirrhosis Cirrhosis of the liver is a rather rare disease, except among alcoholics... who make it the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.! And it is 4th or 5th, in large cities among adult men. It usually takes a half quart of whiskey daily for ten years to abuse the liver to the point of cirrhosis.

The fibrous tissue that replaces normal liver in cirrhosis causes decreased liver function. Of course this leads to fluid buildup, jaundice and perhaps cancer of the liver. Cirrhosis is fairly easy to arrest by stopping alcohol. But cure is difficult and generally considered impossible. Well, as they say in the Marines, the difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer.

Reversing cirrhosis is reduced to being merely very difficult if you employ the Gerson program (referenced below) and very high doses of vitamin C and B-complex vitamins. Corticosteroids (such as Prednisone) are commonly tried but the side effects are undesirable, and the drug is probably ineffective.

Prevention is the way to go: stop drinking. Sure, as W. C. Fields said, "It's easy to give up drinking; I've done it a thousand times.' But consider this: Fields, the highest paid comic of his time, who drank over a quart of hard liquor a day, was dead at age 66. That's not so funny.

2. Avoid the virus, Iris Hepatitis Acute viral hepatitis, or "infectious hepatitis" is now called hepatitis A. "Chronic," "long incubation," "serum," and "posttransfusion" are now called type B. Non-A non-B may be more than one agent. All respond remarkably well to very large doses of vitamin C, the B-complex vitamins and the Gerson therapy, described below.

3. Take a lot more "C," Lee Vincent Zannoni at the University of Michigan Medical School has shown that vitamin C protects the liver. Even doses as low as 500 milligrams daily helps prevent fatty buildup and cirrhosis. 5,000 mg of vitamin C per day appears to actually flush fats from the liver. (Ritter, M. "Study Says Vitamin C Could Cut Liver Damage," Associated Press, October 11, 1986) And vitamin C over 50,000 mg/day (not a misprint) results in patients feeling better in just a few days, and actually eliminates jaundice in under a week. (Cathcart, Robert F. III (1981) The method of determining proper doses of vitamin C for the treatment of disease by titrating to bowel tolerance. Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry. 10:125-132.) Frederick Klenner, MD, found that such huge doses of vitamin C had his patients recovered and back to work in under a week. (Klenner, Frederick R. (1971) Observations on the dose of administration of ascorbic acid when employed beyond the range of a vitamin in human pathology. Journal of Applied Nutrition. 23(3 and 4), pp 61-68, Winter.) These and additional references are found in the highly-recommended book by Melvyn Werbach, M.D. (1988) Nutritional Influences on Illness. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing.

Immediate and detailed information on vitamin C dosage and administration, written by medical doctors, will be found at

http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/ortho_c.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/klenner_table.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/klennerpaper.html    

4. Don't trust in a shot, Dot Even if you choose to vaccinate, it is immeasurably reassuring to remember this: Dr. Klenner showed that very large doses of vitamin C (between 500 to 900 mg per kilogram body weight per day) can cure hepatitis in as little as two to four days (Smith, L. H., ed. Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C, Life Science Press, Tacoma Washington, 1988, pp 22-23).

5. Take vitamin B, Dee Especially vitamin B-12, which significantly reduces jaundice, anorexia, serum bilirubin, and recovery time. (Jain, A.S.C., Mukerji, D. P (1960) Observations on the therapeutic value of intravenous B-12 in infective hepatitis. Journal of the Indian Medical Association. 35:502-5; also Campbell, R. E. and Pruitt, F.W. (1952) Vitamin B-12 in the treatment of viral hepatitis. American Journal of Medical Science, 224:252) B-12 is most effective if administered by injection, which your doctor can easily arrange. If injection is not an option, there is an intra-nasal gel that improves absorption. B-12 is non-prescription, utterly non-toxic, and has no contraindications and no negative side effects.

6. Eat veggies and greens, Gene The fiber and abundant nutrients in vegetables are a sure way to improve the health of practically any organ you can name, especially the liver. Vegetables are esentially fat-free. And, they are rich in the B-vitamin folic acid. (Folic, like in foliage. Neat, huh?) Folate has been shown to help shorten the recovery time for viral hepatitis. (Campbell, R. E. and Pruitt, F. W. (1955) The effect of vitamin B-12 and folic acid in the treatment of viral hepatitis. American Journal of Medical Science, 229:8)

7. Eat your food raw, Paw Or at least as much of it as you can. Max Gerson, M.D. believed that cancer in general is a disease of the liver even if occurring elsewhere in the body. Gerson's nutritional therapy is a raw-foods protocol that is often very effective against cancer, as well as lesser diseases. Cancer in the liver itself is often due to environmental toxins, such as dry-cleaning fluids. I have personally seen a terminal liver cancer case (and the patient had indeed been a dry cleaner for many years) vastly improved with the Gerson program. Full dietary details are provided in his book A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases.

8. Get off the drugs, Doug Illegal drugs of all sorts (and not a few prescription drugs as well) are rough on the liver. This includes anabolic steroids. The liver is the main chemical detoxification center for your entire body. Don't push it; quit now before your liver quits on you.

9. Eat less fat, Matt The liver is the largest gland in the body, weighing in at about 4 pounds. Diseases of the liver may result in diminished ability to emulsify fats. Your liver normally makes 250 to 1,000 ml (over a quart!) of bile DAILY. Most (about 80%) of your bile salts are reabsorbed by the intestinal tract and returned to and recycled by the liver. This is how your body, with about 3.6 grams of total bile salts in it, can secrete 4 to 8 g of bile salts per single fatty meal. Gross, huh?

Fatty liver is much more common than you would expect. 25% of people have this condition, according to the Merck Manual, 14th ed. Fatty liver is the most common response of the liver to injury. It typifies the alcoholic's liver upon admission to the hospital. The Merck Manual indicates "no specific treatment" (p. 830) and says it likely indicates other problems, such as alcohol, drugs or malnutrition (oh, my!) Treatment certainly includes cessation of alcohol intake. Therapeutic juice fasting gives the liver an opportunity to use all those extra built-up fats.

10. Use safe sex, Tex If you are not in a monogamous relationship, you are at increased risk for hepatitis.

11. Wash your hands, Stan Good grief, is that so hard to do? After a bowel movement, that paper you use to clean up with is thinner than a politician's election promise. Do you really think the tissue keeps you hands squeaky clean? To put it another way, do you think it keeps someone else's hands clean enough for you? No? Then wash your hands with soap and hot water! I read once that over half of all physicians don't wash their mitts after using the toilet. I hope this is not true. My supposition is that it is, however. When heads of state, billionaires, or doctors use the john, they are about as likely as you to do what you do. Think about that in your spare time today. And wash.

12. Prevent that stone, Joan Now here's an obvious argument for vegetarian diet, as only animal foods contain cholesterol, and cholesterol forms gallstones. Some people manufacture excessive cholesterol, and this can be controlled through intelligent use of therapeutic vegetable juice fasting and large doses of vitamin C, both of which significantly reduce cholesterol production.

13. Spare the bile, Kyle About 33 ml of bile is stored in the average gallbladder. Many animals (rats, for instance) do not even have one. In addition to bile salts for emulsification, bile contains the pigment bilirubin, neutral fat, phospholipid, assorted mineral salts... and high concentrations of cholesterol.

The gallbladder is more than a storage receptacle. Bile is concentrated in the gallbladder. Also, water is removed, and resulting concentrated cholesterol level may be too much to remain in solution and cholesterol gallstones may precipitate out. In addition to hurting, gallstones obstruct the bile duct and thereby interfere with fat digestion. One indicator: light-colored stools. Why? Bilirubin, the bile pigment, darkens them to brown-green. Otherwise, stools would be manila to grayish-white in color. Ugh. Low-fat meals probably help prevent future gallbladder problems.

14. Eat lecithin, Tim Phospholipids in bile help emulsify cholesterol. Lecithin therapy is therefore almost certainly worth trying for threatened gallstones. Three to five tablespoons daily is more likely to be effective than a few capsules. Even a large 1,200 mg capsule contains only about 1/8 tablespoon lecithin because of size limits and added carrier oils. Lecithin is harmless and without side effects. Bulk granules run between $8 and $15 per pound. Lecithin is non-prescription, and available at any health food store.

15. Be sure to read, Steed References and Sources Cited:

Gerson, Max A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases, Totality Books, Del Mar, CA

Ray, O. and Ksir, C. Drugs, Society and Human Behavior, Mosby, 1990, chapter 9

Vander, Sherman and Luciano Human Physiology

Werbach, M. (1988) Nutritional Influences on Illness. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing.

Williams, Sue R. (1993) Nutrition and Diet Therapy, seventh edition. St. Louis: Mosby.

Copyright 2003 and prior years by Andrew W. Saul.

Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html ) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

For ordering information, Click Here .

http://www.doctoryourself.com/liver_15_ways.html