I have a very dear friend whose liver is failing her. I have some potions that I know to help but was wanting to know if anyone else had any Ideas towards anything that may help her. blessed be
Any teas or herbal supplements containing ginseng, aloe vera, fennel, lavender, dandelion, and yarrow.
Be careful when using these herbs yourself, for you could damage something further.
For a good detox, take green tea with dandelion leaves (baby dried ones and a very small amount - one leaf or less) and some dried lavender (1-3 leaves).
Also, make sure that you encourage her to eat baby dandelion leaves. They are known for helping liver health, detoxifying the liver, and strengthening it.
Make sure that you do NOT pick the leaves off of a public place, but if you have them at a store, or in a private patch of farm land/ garde, then that is fine. You do not want anything to be in the plant that the plant got from the soil that could harm you.
It depends on why and how it is failing her. But milk thistle is the only herb I know of that can actually build liver cells and reverse damage from severe alcoholism and other toxins. You need to make sure it is quality milk thistle though. The capsules are what are commonly used.
Detox right now isn't a good idea because it will make the liver work harder. She needs to stay away from such things as coffee, because it will provoke the liver. It is probably working hard enough right now.
I would also suggest bee pollen supplements, again quality is very important. Be sure to reference check the company. It is a "super food" that has more vitamins, minerals, and other essential constituents that it will actually help to sustain the body while cell damage is being repaired and accelerates cell activity so it is repaired faster. The only reason someone would not be able to take bee pollen is if they have an allergy to bee stings.
Externally, I would suggest using castor oil packs on the liver. It increases circulation. I've heard of great results using them. Although people claim it "detoxes" I don't believe an external application can cause that. I think the results are seen due to forcing blood to travel to the area. More circulation means a faster healing process. I personally use castor oil on bruises, sprains, etc. I've never had a need to try it on anything serious *knocks on wood*.
can you please tell us more info on her and her history? fill this out
Name or initials (no real names, must be anonymous)
Gender
Age
Occupation
Marital status and children if applicable
Weight
Height
Primary complaint
Ask the person what their main reason for wanting help is. They may have many other health concerns, but knowing what the main thing that is bothering them can be quite telling. Try to be as specific as possible here. Instead of listing “pain” list what type of pain, the frequency, duration etc.
Secondary complaints
Any other complaints that they might have.
Medications they are taking
This needs to be very specific. The name of the drug, the amount they take and how long they have been taking it.
Western Medical Diagnosis
Have they been diagnosed with any diseases or conditions by a doctor?
Serious Illness, Hospitalizations, Accidents or Surgeries
What, when, etc.
Diet
Ask people what they ate that day. The day before. What are their favorite foods? What are their least favorite foods? What are the healthiest things they eat? Least healthy things? Ask specifically about foods that we know cause problems. Do they eat processed foods, canned foods, sugar, coffee, sodas, etc. What foods do they specifically avoid?
Digestion
Asking a point blank statement about someone’s digestion will probably not get you far. Questions have to be specific. Do you have gas or bloating? Heartburn? Ulcers? Always give frequency and severity. Do they have a low or high appetite? Gallstones? Hemorrhoids, pain after eating?
Ask about bowel movements! How many times a day? Are the stools loose or well formed? Do they smell particularly strong? Is there mucus or blood in the stool? Do they have to strain or do they have a severe urgency?
Urination
How often do they urinate during the day? (If their main complaint revolves around urination (UTI, etc) then you may need to ask more questions here. Do they have clear copious urine, scanty urine, is it strong smelling? Do they have edema? Kidney stones? Do they get frequent urinary tract infections?
Sleep
How many hours a night do they sleep. Do they wake rested? When do they go to sleep? When do they wake up? Do they wake up during the night? If they have troubled sleep ask specific questions about when they sleep and when they wake up.
Cardiovascular health
Palpitations, medical problems, family history, shortness of breath, varicose veins, bleed easily, bruise easily, edema, high blood pressure, low blood pressure
Exercise: Ask them specifically what they do, how many times a week? Is it moderate? Weight training? Yoga?
Emotional Health: What emotions do they feel most frequently? Are they happy with their life?
Immune system
How often do they get a cold or flu? Do they have seasonal allergies? Have they been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease? Cancer? Do they have food allergies?
Skin, hair, teeth and nails
Do they have rough skin, dry skin, rashes? Do they have healthy hair? Have they noticed sudden loss of hair? Do they have healthy teeth and gums? Mouth sores? Dry mouth, excess saliva, painful jaw?
Temperature
Do they tend to feel warm? cold? Is there a particular part of their body that they notice is warm or cold? Do they get flashes of heat? Night sweats? Feelings of heat in the evening?
Energy levels
Are they satisfied with their energy levels? Is there a high point and/or a low point for them during the day.
Respiratory Health
Do they have a chronic cough? Shortness of breath? Dry throat? Sneezing, stuffy nose, asthma, bronchitis, chronic runny nose?
For women…
Are they menstruating? Peri-menopausal? Menopausal?
If menstruating, how long is their entire cycle? (28 days? 31 one days, etc) Is it regular or irregular? How many days do they menstruate? Do they have a heavy or light flow of blood? What color is it? red? pink? brown? Is there clotting? Do they have cramps? (How severe, how long, etc) Breast tenderness? Mood swings? Do they have a low libido?
Do they have STDs? HIV? HPV?
Have they been diagnosed with any reproductive diseases? Pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, endometriosis, cervical dysplasia? Do they have any vaginal discharge? vaginal dryness?
Have they been pregnant before? How many children? Are they currently pregnant (what trimester)? Breastfeeding?
For men…
How is their prostate health? Do they have any pain in the prostate or penis or groin? Do they have pain upon ejaculation or urination? Do they wake up in the night to pee? Have they been diagnosed with BPH? Do they have any problems getting and/or maintaining an erection? Do they have a low libido?
Do they have STDs? HIV? HPV?
Anything else?
At the end always ask, “Are there any other concerns you would like to share with me?”
