facts about the liver and some useful herbs

The liver is the largest internal organ. It is located under the ribs on the right side of the abdomen. The liver is about the size of a football, weighs 3 to 4 pounds and performs more than 500 vital functions. The liver acts as a filter that removes waste products and toxins from the blood. It acts as storage for iron as well as some vitamins and minerals. It produces bile that aides in digestion and regulates levels of hormones, cholesterol and sugars. Everything we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through the skin eventually reaches the liver. Its 300 billion cells control a process called metabolism, in which the liver breaks down nutrients into usable byproducts. These byproducts are delivered to the rest of your body by the bloodstream. The liver also metabolizes toxins into byproducts that can be safely eliminated. Some of these byproducts are routed into the bloodstream and carried to the kidneys, which filter them so that they can be excreted in urine. Others are carried away by bile, a yellow or greenish fluid produced by the liver. These byproducts flow through bile ducts to the gallbladder and intestines so that they can be excreted in feces. Separating nutrients from waste is one of the liver's most important functions, but it is not the only function. The liver is also a storage depot for sugar (glucose), which is released when we need energy.It is very important to take good care of the liver.

Some useful herbs for the liver are:
Milk Thistle.The active and liver-protecting part in Milk thistle is called silymarin. Silymarin which consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps restore liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed, reduces inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has effective antioxidant effects. Milk thistle is also useful in the prevention and/or treatment of various liver problems including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs and industrial toxins.
Dandelion root. Dandelion root contains a large number of nutritive salts that make it useful as an herbal remedy for a variety of conditions. The medicinal use of dandelion root dates back to tenth century Arabia, where it was used to treat liver conditions. Dandelion root stimulates bile secretion. The liver is the largest filter in the body. This self cleaning filter removes its debris by dumping it into the bile. The bile then flows into the intestinal tract and is eliminated in the stool. Therefore, the greater the bile flow, the greater the cleansing of the liver. The high choline content of the root is one ingredient which helps this tonifying effect. Dandelion root contains a bitter, milky juice that is thought to be capable of energizing the body. It also has properties that can detoxify the body and purify the blood.
Licorice root. Licorice root both protects the liver and promotes healing in this vital organ. The herb's anti-inflammatory properties help calm hepatitis-associated liver inflammation. Licorice also fights the virus commonly responsible for hepatitis and supplies valuable antioxidant compounds that help maintain the overall health of the liver. Licorice helps the body clear viral infections, and helps the liver to clean itself. When processed into glycyrrhetinic acid, Licorice root has a powerful anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effect which works to slow the deterioration of the liver and alleviate symptoms commonly associated with hepatitis.
Nettle Leaf. Nettle leaf functions as a health-building tonic partly because of its impressive nutritional profile: It’s rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, carotenoids, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Because nettle has diuretic properties, it also increases urination and helps to flush the urinary tract of organisms that contribute to infections. Nettle leaf is an excellent cleanser and aids the liver in its functions.
Schisandra. From the fruit of schisandra, seven active liver enzyme-lowering ingredients have been currently isolated. Schisandra fruit also contains various lignans, mainly schisandrins, which have been found to prevent liver damage, stimulate liver repair and preserve normal liver functioning. These properties appear to be related to the various anti-oxidant abilities of the schisandrins.
These herbs ( Milk Thistle (200 mg), Dandelion (200 mg), Licorice (50 mg), Nettle Leaf (50 mg) and Schisandra (50mg) ) together forms Liver Combo. Read more!