In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s overall balance and health. It is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) and blood throughout the body. A well-functioning liver ensures that these energies circulate freely, which is essential for maintaining physical and emotional well-being.
Liver Stagnation
Liver stagnation occurs when the flow of Qi and blood within the liver becomes impaired. This stagnation can result from various factors such as stress, poor diet, lack of physical activity, or emotional imbalances. In TCM, the liver is also closely linked to the smooth flow of emotions. Prolonged stress or anger can disrupt this flow and lead to liver stagnation.
When the liver is sluggish, it can result in a range of symptoms, including joint pain or burning joints. This is because stagnation can cause an accumulation of “dampness” or “heat” in the body, which may lead to inflammation and discomfort in the joints. The stagnant Qi and blood can also affect the body’s ability to nourish and lubricate the joints effectively.
Detoxification and Liver Health
The liver is a crucial organ for detoxification, as it filters toxins from the blood and processes them for elimination. When the liver is functioning optimally, it efficiently removes these harmful substances, contributing to overall health. However, when liver function is compromised due to stagnation or overload, it can impair the body’s detoxification process.
A sluggish liver may struggle to process and eliminate toxins, which can exacerbate feelings of fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety, mood swings, joint pain, general malaise and other symptoms. Supporting liver health through proper detoxification practices can alleviate these issues and improve overall well-being.
Detoxification programs have come along way since the 60s and 70s. I worked deeply within the supplement industry for over seven years, and I learned a lot about how companies market their products, each one claiming to be better than the best. Out of all the choices available to you and me, there are only a few companies I trust with my liver health.
The first company I trust is Standard Process. Actually, I consider Standard Process more of a farm than a supplement company. They are a whole food supplement company, meaning their supplements are made from organic and regenerative foods they mostly grown on their farm in Wisconsin.
Standard Process created a whole food based detox shake made out of pea protein, oats, pumpkin seeds, dandelion, burdock, barley, buckwheat, beets, Spanish black radish and other real foods. The burdock, beets and radish are fabulous for the liver and gallbladder. The shakes are easy to take, yes, really do taste good, and rev up the liver’s ability to detox. After 28-days, you will be surprised how different you feel. Circle Membership includes access to purchase Standard Process’s real food supplements at a discount. Being healthy shouldn’t be such an expensive endeavor.
Another company I completely trust for detoxification is Ortho Molecular. Their liver detoxification program is called Core Restore. This program is a combination of a Core Support detoxification shake plus two products called Mitocore and Phytocore. Core Support is a unique detoxification program because it actually focuses on cleaning out the “back end” of the liver by supporting Phase 2 detoxification first.
Many people actually have no trouble at all with Phase 1 detoxification, but struggle with Phase 2 detoxification. This is where the toxins actually leave the liver. Instead of just encouraging overall liver detoxification, Core Restore cleans out Phase 2 pathways, thus the liver is better prepared to receive more toxins coming into Phase 1 detoxification. This helps the overall energetic flow proceed through the liver. Another plus to Core Support is that it is rice protein based. Some people find pea protein difficult to digest, so if this is you, you may want to switch to a detox shake that is just rice based. Circle Membership includes access to this professional brand of supplements as well.
Foods to Support Liver Health
Let’s not forget how important food is for daily liver function. Incorporating specific foods into your diet can support liver health and alleviate symptoms associated with liver stagnation. In fact, I always encourage a diet change which includes the below foods with one of the above detoxification programs. Here are some recommendations based on TCM principles and general dietary advice:
- Beets: Beets are known for their ability to help detoxify the liver and improve its overall function. They contain betaine, which supports the liver’s ability to process fats and toxins.
- Leafy Greens: Vegetables like spinach, kale, and dandelion greens help to cleanse the liver and promote the flow of Qi and blood. They are rich in nutrients that support liver function and detoxification.
- Lemon: Lemon juice can stimulate bile production, which aids in the digestion of fats and supports liver detoxification.
- Garlic: Garlic has sulfur compounds that help the liver detoxify and eliminate harmful substances. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit joint health.
- Green Tea: Rich in antioxidants, green tea can help protect the liver from oxidative stress and improve its detoxification capabilities.
- Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are excellent for supporting liver function. They contain compounds that aid in detoxification and reduce liver inflammation.
Herbs to Support Liver Health
Let’s not forget about the very medicine nature still gives us: medicinal herbs. Here, Standard Process got it right: burdock, dandelion, Oregon grape root, artichoke and milk thistle are all wonderful herbs to help support liver function and reverse stagnation. This is because these are bitter herbs, and bitter herbs encourage bile formation within the liver and release of bile from the gallbladder.
Ginger, gentian root, wormwood and tangerine are also wonderful bitter herbs to encourage bile flow and movement of liver Qi. This formula can often be found in formulations to help with digestion.
If you have symptoms of slow liver detoxification and want to detox properly, check out my 28-day Revolution video here. This explains a little bit more about detoxification and how to choose a good detoxification product. If you want to know everything I know about toxins, detoxification and how to support all the organs of detoxification, become a Basic Member for access to my educational videos.