Cleansing the Liver for Spring

The liver performs over 500 known functions everyday. It operates as a chemical factory producing hormones, enzymes, and bile. It is a filter that neutralizes toxins and a “battery” that stores back-up nutrients. It’s the largest internal organ in the human body, and it has the ability to regenerate itself fully, even if 75% the original liver is lost!

Liver cleansing as we know it today unites Egyptian, South American, and Chinese traditions that date back 1000 years. The Ancient Egyptians cleansed their livers monthly. For the five days following the full moon, a simple mixture of fresh squeezed lemon juice and light olive oil (just two tablespoons of each) was taken in the morning before eating. In South America, the local bitter Boldo tree leaves were steeped to create a tea that settles the stomach and rejuvenates the liver.

Traditional Chinese medicine expresses the importance of springtime liver cleansing with a lovely metaphor. Spring is known as the Season of the Wood Element. A healthy liver is like a tree swaying in the wind. The tree is flexible because proper nutrients are flowing to all areas of its trunk and branches. If the tree is unhealthy, a strong wind will snap off the branches cut-off from the plant’s life force. A healthy liver ensures balanced blood flow, digestion, and emotions. An unhealthy liver is liable to snap like the dead branches of a tree. When the liver is stressed, it must neglects one or more of its jobs. It’s said that 1 in 10 Americans suffers from an imbalanced liver and that the problem is only getting worse. Why? The American life is filled with foods and other toxins that tax the liver. Here are some the results :

Allergies
Anger
Chronic Stress
Constipation
Frustration
Hormonal Imbalance
Headaches
Lack of Energy
Migraines
PMS
Poor Digestion
Poor Sight
Skin Problems
Stiffness
Tight Muscles
Weak Immune System

Right now is the best time to start a cleansing program. Traditional Chinese medicine marks March 11-May 22 as the official bracket dates for the Season of the Wood Element. If this is your first time going on a liver cleansing diet, ease into your detoxification program. Warm up with an herbal formula. You might try the Ancient Egyptian’s lemon juice and light olive oil mix. Then, eliminate alcohol, fried food, saturated fat, fast food, junk food, and processed foods. Foods to include are in tune with the season. Raw and fresh food are best, especially the following:

Artichoke
Beets
Bitter Melon
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Collard Green
Cauliflower
Dandelion Leaves
Fresh Parsley
Fruit Juice
Ginger
Kale
Lemon
Saffron
Turmeric
Watercress

Try this diet for 3 days if it’s your first time on a liver cleansing diet. Experienced liver cleansers can go up to 14 days on this diet. In China, an angry person is said to have a dirty liver. Your clean liver will help you achieve mental clarity, relieve stress, increase energy, improve digestion, and bolster your immune system. As toxins leave your body, you’ll begin to feel light and joy enter in. Remember to ease back into normal foods, especially greasy fatty foods that can cause cramping.