Now that the festive time is here again, please be aware that over indulgence of alcohol and rich fatty/sweet foods can over time affect how your liver works.

Fatty liver is the build-up of excess fat in the liver cells, which replace the healthy tissue and trigger enlargement of the rest of the liver cells. It is normal for your liver to contain some fat however, if there is more than 10% of your liver’s weight present in the liver, then you have fatty liver and this can develop into more serious complications. 

Excess fat gets into the liver by:

 • Transfer of fat from other parts of the body

• Increase in the extraction of fat sent to the liver via the intestine

• Alcohol consumption over many years, as mentioned above, resulting in liver damage.

• Can occur in middle-age

• Poor liver function where the liver cannot break down/remove fat at a fast enough rate so fat then builds up.

• Diabetic patients who do not drink alcohol.

• When high triglycerides or cholesterol are present.

• Overweight people – eating excess calories (here the liver cannot process and break down fats efficiently therefore too much fat will accumulate).

• Rapid weight loss and malnutrition may also lead to fatty liver.

• Certain illnesses, such as tuberculosis, intestinal bypass surgery for obesity and some drugs such as corticosteroids.

However, some people develop fatty liver even if they have none of these conditions.

Symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Weight loss in some cases

• Those already over weight may experience problems losing weight since fat accumulates around the abdominal area.

• Abdominal discomfort

• Headaches/migraines

• Confusion

• Jaundice

• Fever

• Impaired immunity

• Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides

• In some cases, people may present with type two diabetes.

• Discomfort over the liver is often noted

• Gallstones could be present

• Elevation of the liver enzymes

• General “unwell” feeling all round.

• An inflamed liver may become scarred and hardened over time resulting in cirrhosis, which is a serious condition often resulting in liver failure.

Why is a Healthy Liver important?

The liver is the largest organ in the body. In Oriental medicine it is considered the hottest organ in the body and resonates to a Yang (male) energy also storing the emotions of anger and aggression at the cellular level, which if unresolved due to the emotional nature of the person can, in fact, have negative impact on the overall physiological function of the liver.

The liver is our “Filtering and detoxifying Factory”. When congested with excess fat it cannot filter, cleanse and detoxify the bloodstream. Blood becomes overloaded with toxins and fat carrying these deposits around the body in an attempt to feed and nourish all the cells of your body, i.e. tissues, organs and muscles. Here is where disease and autoimmune disorders can manifest.

Your Liver is responsible for the metabolism of fats, hormones, food, substances, drugs, chemicals that you ingest and for neutralising or converting them into other forms by special enzymes. This includes the air you breathe and your “digesting” your emotions!

Bile produced by the liver is stored in the gall bladder, which is then used to help break down dietary fats. A healthy liver is able to regulate fat metabolism and burn fat by moving excessive fat out of the body through the bile into the gut so you can achieve weight loss and maintain balanced weight easier, but if you have a fatty liver you may find it harder to loose weight despite all diets since the liver stores more fat than burning off fat.

Fat-soluble vitamins such as A. D. E and K need bile in order to be absorbed by the body.

Your liver also converts carbohydrates into glucose for instant energy, then converts glucose into its storable form (glycogen). When the blood sugar levels drop (hypoglycemia), glycogen is then converted back into glucose.

The liver changes ammonia (a toxic by product of protein metabolism) into urea, which is then excreted in the urine.

Amino acids from protein foods are sent to the liver for the production of body proteins such as hormones. Your liver is involved in constant hormone metabolism and assists in maintaining hormonal equilibrium along with a strong immunity.

Diagnosis:

• Medical history, including the patient’s drug and alcohol consumption.

• Physical examination – palpation.

• Blood tests to check liver enzymes – called liver function tests.

• Blood test to check blood triglyceride levels (however, this test is not considered conclusive, as some cases of fatty liver do not present with raised blood triglycerides).

• Tests to rule out haemo chromatosis or viral hepatitis, which may cause similar symptoms

• Ultrasound, CT scan or MRI of the liver, which helps to rule out liver tumour or obstruction of the bile duct.

• Biopsy often only advised if other tests are inconclusive, or if non-alcoholic steatorrhoeic hepatitis is suspected, or if tests reveal a significant degree of liver dysfunction.

• The Live Blood Screening (LBS) test allows you to see how the Liver is functioning, whereas the conventional blood test (Liver Function Test) will only show damage despite it being called a “liver function test”. LBS are conducted by some Naturopaths or specific Labs with qualified technicians who specialise in LBS and other allergy/Immune tests providing comphrensive reports to yourself and treating practitioner, which also indicate how other organ/systems are working.

Treatment:

If the cause is not identified and resolved, fatty liver can have serious consequences. If excessive alcohol or drug use continues, repeated liver injury may eventually lead to cirrhosis. People should stop drinking, lose weight, or take measures to control diabetes, work to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels whilst being aware that many drugs such as cholesterol lowering drugs can exert toxic effects on the liver cells.

How Can Natural Therapy Help?

Herbal and homeopathic remedies are given to detoxify the system, strengthen the liver by aiding regeneration of liver cells. Depending on the chronicity of the problem, these remedies could be taken up to 6 months or more. Remedies are changed over a period of time depending on your requirements. St Mary’s Thistle is an important herb to give anyone with a Fatty Liver and is quite safe to take over a longer duration for protection and maintenance. The diet needs to be addressed and more spring or filtered water consumed. Food should be fresh, ideally prepared by yourself, avoiding all packaged, takeaway, fatty foods, or foods containing preservatives, sugar, oils, margarine with avoidance of dairy and saturated fats. Appropriate amino acid supplements help in the regeneration and the detoxification pathway. A detox regime (contrary to recent TV programs), does not mean you must abstain from solid foods; your diet contains fresh healthy meals in conjunction with specific remedies to help eliminate toxins and improve the entire metabolic function. Food alone will not do this.

Consistency is the “Key” here; skipping a few days here and there will not allow any remedies to work efficiently for you.

If someone is experiencing alcohol addiction, they may require counselling and support to enable them to follow a detoxification and regeneration program. Remedies can also be prescribed to assist addiction and withdrawal. The underlying emotional factors here need to be addressed and supported.

Weight loss regimes and control of diabetes is essential and it is worth pointing out that weight loss should be gradual and not rapid otherwise this can be detrimental and contribute to fatty liver and liver cell damage.

Anyone who experiences a detoxification and regeneration program will not only resolve, a fatty liver, but also achieve vital energy, a healthier and slimmer body, with optimum health for future. Your Liver has the capability when supported and nurtured to regenerate the cells in 6 weeks. However, that does not mean one stops taking prescribed remedies at 6 weeks, what your aim to do is detoxify the entire system right down to the cellular level, creating a stronger immunity, organ function and cleaner blood. By being consistent, you may discover that particular cravings and addictions will no longer exist.

Lyn Craven is a Practitioner of Naturopathy, Bowen Therapy, Energy/Reiki Therapist, Meditation Teacher, and a Corporate Health Presenter/Consultant. Lyn is a health researcher/writer of various topics for Health magazines and has produced a meditation CD assisting people manage stress. Lyn runs a private practice in Sydney and conducts workshops in Sydney/Noosa plus locum consults in Noosa Qld. For appointment contact: 0403 231 804 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.lyncravencorporatehealth-naturopath.com