Spring Is Almost Here...Time to Cleanse your Liver!

Well, it’s that time of year again. The time when holistic physicians love a good spring cleanse; not a whole house cleaning, but rather a cleansing of your liver, also known as a “liver cleanse” or “liver detox.”

To be clear, a liver cleanse or detox is not specifically designed for people going through drug or alcohol rehab, although a cleanse might be beneficial in those instances, too. Rather, I'm speaking of a gentle liver cleanse that is great for adults (not children) who want to wash away those winter blues and prepare their body for summer.

What exactly is a liver cleanse and who needs one?
To answer this question, let’s first begin by understanding the function of the liver in the body. Without going into too much detail, the liver is an organ inside the body that is responsible for making and breaking down hormones, processing toxic substances in the body, storing glucose along with certain vitamins and minerals, and making cholesterol. But that’s not all the liver does; there are a host of other metabolic functions in which the liver is involved. Don’t worry… I won’t bore you with specifics.

To a naturopathic physician, the liver is considered to be the “workhorse” organ of the body. If your liver is functioning optimally, then you’re probably someone who considers yourself to be in good health. However, if your liver is functioning at a sub-optimal level, you might be dealing with a few unwanted symptoms.

Let’s explore some of those symptoms.
Since your liver is responsible for regulating hormones, it’s easy to see where a “sluggish” liver might be implicated in menopausal, perimenopausal, and PMS symptoms. Yes, the bloating, irritability, and/or hot flashes you might be experiencing can be alleviated! Also, if you are experiencing fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, blood sugar challenges, or indigestion, your liver might be to blame.

Let’s take a look at some toxicity symptoms that might arise as a result of a poorly functioning liver. Remember, one of the main functions of the liver is to detoxify substances in the body.

Here we go…
Toxins are all around us. We breathe in air pollution, eat processed foods loaded with preservatives, absorb chemicals from household cleaners through our skin, and come in contact with pesticides in the environment.
Since we are all genetically different, and therefore, react to toxins in unique ways, the symptoms of toxicity can be quite nonspecific. These symptoms can also mimic a variety of other health conditions, which can be identified by your doctor. However, if you are dealing with a lingering health condition and have yet to find a solution, you might consider toxins as a “root cause” of your ailment.
Common symptoms of an excessive toxic burden might include:
-Fatigue
-Depression
-Headaches
-Cognitive problems: brain fog, memory challenges
-Neurological issues: dizziness, balance problems, tremors

Other health issues where a liver cleanse might be beneficial.
While toxins do not specifically cause the following conditions, they can affect the expression of symptoms by way of taxing the liver. If your liver is unable to detoxify substances adequately, more toxins will be free to travel throughout your blood causing your immune system to work harder. So, it makes sense that by lowering the toxic load in your body, you can help alleviate or prevent some symptoms associated with the following health issues:
-Allergies
-Asthma
-Chronic fatigue
-Diabetes
-Obesity
-Chemical sensitivities including any adverse physical, mental, and/or emotional reactions.
-Fibromyalgia
-Fertility issues
-PMS
-Menopausal/perimenopause and other hormonal symptom.
-Auto immune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, etc.

Why cleanse during Springtime?
In reality, a liver cleanse can be undertaken at any time of the year. Historically, holistic practitioners have felt that spring and autumn are the best times to cleanse. A springtime liver cleanse is especially useful because winter tends to place a strain on the body. These cleanses can help alleviate dry skin, and clear out the consequences of sugary foods and alcohol that were consumed during the cold weather months (not to mention during the Holidays), and cleansing will ultimately prepare your body to better handle those dreaded springtime allergies!

On a personal note, I have found that simply eliminating wheat products during spring and summer has helped reduce my grass and weed allergies. This is because wheat can cross-react with grasses causing our immune systems to overreact, and thus, worsening spring allergies. And yes, during a liver cleanse, you will be required to eliminate a few foods to help your liver function at a more optimal level.

Many patients have asked me why I prefer a gentle, more doable, liver detox as opposed to some of the popular, more restrictive cleanses in the marketplace. The reason is simple and also logical. The severe multiple-day “fasting” detoxes, lemonade-type cleanses, and other similar cleanses touted in the media are quite harsh on the body. This has led me (and other holistic physicians) to ask the question, “Why would you want to shock your body in that way?“

This type of radical change from your normal eating habits can cause your adrenal glands to become stressed and fatigued. This process might then create stress on other organs within your body.

As naturopathic physician, my goals are to keep my patients safe, and to reduce stress in the body because it has been well-documented that stress creates illness. Therefore, a more gentle liver cleanse will support your body to function at its best, and your overall health will reap its benefits. *Note: A liver cleanse might be contraindicated for certain people due to their medical conditions, medications taken, and health history; therefore, you should check with your doctor before undergoing any type of liver cleanse.

Dr. Lesa Werner is a licensed naturopathic physician with offices in Simsbury, CT and Hartford, CT. For parts 2 & 3 of this series, please visit her “health blog” at www.drlesawerner.com