Ann N. Martin
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 The prime symptom that indicates liver disease is jaundice, which presents as yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes. Other symptoms may include lack of appetite, weight loss, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, urination, and an enlarged abdomen. The only way to ascertain if liver disease is involved is to have a complete workup on your pet that includes a liver function test.
The researchers found no statistical difference in relative liver weight or liver enzyme activity between the group receiving 50 mg. |
Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith
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 This is a common, often "silent" liver disease that resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage. Most people with NASH feel well and are not aware that they have a liver problem. Nevertheless, NASH can be severe and can lead to cirrhosis. The guilty party? Too much processed food and sugar.
Scientists are beginning to see more cases of NASH as obesity numbers climb; in the past ten years, the rate of obesity has doubled in adults and tripled in children. |
Tom Bohager
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 The most common cause of liver disease in the United States is alcohol consumption. Hepatitis is also a common liver disease.
Considering the important role the liver plays in our bodies, it is critical to keep it healthy and functioning. Enzymes can be used to support liver health by improving digestion and nutrient absorption, managing the digestion of fats, strengthening the immune system, and reducing inflammation if the liver is under attack during illness. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 The Life Extension Foundation calls it "serious medicine against liver disease," and I agree. The liver contains a high amount of SAMe, and one of the body's most important antioxidants—glutathione—is synthesized from it. Glutathione is absolutely central to keeping the liver healthy and helping it to do its many jobs, including detoxification. SAMe is seriously depleted in liver disease and has been shown in research to improve liver-function tests. And remember methylation (see page 309)? SAMe's outstanding properties as a methylating agent help keep liver membranes fluid. |
Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
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 High globulin levels may indicate kidney or liver disease, autoimmune disease, infection, cancer, or chronic inflammation. Low globulin levels may indicate immune system dysfunction, malnutrition, liver or kidney disease, or blood disorders.
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): These may be abnormally high in heart attack and liver disease, as well as other diseases. LDH plays an important role in energy production in cells.
Total protein: These levels are used in the evaluation of nutritional status, liver synthetic functions, kidney syndromes, malabsorption, and cancers. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| The first stage of liver damage as a result of alcohol is the accumulation of fat in the liver (alcohol-induced fatty liver disease). Betaine, because of its lipotropic effects, has demonstrated significant protective benefits to the liver in both animal models and human clinical studies. For example, betaine has been studied in clinical trials conducted in Germany, Italy, and France in the treatment of alcohol-related liver disease. Some success was noted in these studies, but the popularity of betaine for alcohol-related liver disease has been supplanted by SAMe and milk thistle extract. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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 I added up the number of reports of liver disease reported in all of the studies reviewed above and found that for every four people saved from a heart attack, one person developed serious liver disease. There are also problems with a current proposal by the makers of Mevacor to sell it over the counter. Liver monitoring is recommended for anyone taking Mevacor; without a physician, however, how do you monitor your own liver function? By drawing your own blood and sending it to the lab?
Statins also may increase the risk for depression. |
Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.
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 Unlike pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapy, black cohosh is considered to be a menopause tonic that is safe for women with estrogen-dependent cancers, uterine bleeding, fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis, liver disease, gallbladder disease, or pancreatitis. Recently concern has arisen regarding the effect of this herb on the liver over the long term; further research is under way to investigate this issue.
Range and Appearance
Native to North America, black cohosh is a hardy perennial that prefers moist or dry woodland environments. It grows from 3 to 8 feet in height. |
| Nevertheless, to be safe, avoid coltsfoot in cases of liver disease or a history of alcohol abuse. And until further research is done, it would be wise not to use coltsfoot during pregnancy, while nursing, or continuously for longer than six weeks.
Range and Appearance
Coltsfoot, a perennial native to Eurasia but widely naturalized, grows in zinc-rich, clayey soils in waste places and along roadsides. It grows from 4 to 12 inches tall. Its downy, grayish stems are covered with leaves resembling scales. The flowers are yellow and terminal. |
Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D.
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 INDICATIONS AND USAGE
¦ Raised levels of cholesterol
Soybean is used for less severe forms of hypercholesterolemia, improvement of subjective complaints, such as loss of appetite and feeling of pressure in the liver, in toxic/ nutritional liver disease and chronic hepatitis.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. Side effects include occasional gastrointestinal effects, such as stomach pain, loose stool, and diarrhea. |
Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.
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| In cases of bowel inflammation, liver disease, or diarrhea, use only under the guidance of a qualifed health-care practitioner. The crude (raw) extract is more likely to have side effects (diarrhea, stomach pain, skin rash) than the dried, purified product.
Range and Appearance
Native to Asia and Africa, guggulu is a small tree reaching only 4 to 6 feet in height. Its stems are covered with thorns. A yellowish resin (known as gum guggul) exudes from the stems. The tree is leafless for much of the year; when leaves appear they occur in groups of one to three leaflets. |
Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D.
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 Other kinds of hypoglycemia include fasting (postabsorptive) hypoglycemia, which could be due to underlying pathological conditions such as certain tumors, liver disease, critical illnesses, hormonal deficiencies, organ failure, genetic conditions, too much alcohol, or certain medications, and relative hypoglycemia, a rare condition that infants can get and that can be treated in the hospital.
Reactive hypoglycemia, however, is not usually related to an underlying disease. |
Bottom Line Health
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| If you have liver disease or drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day: Take aspirin or another NSAID. Acetaminophen can harm the liver in some people.
Important: Don't give aspirin to anyone younger than age 15—it can cause Reye's syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes swelling of the brain and degeneration of the liver.
Myth 5: A fever means you're contagious. Not so. A person who has an upper respiratory tract infection may be contagious early on, when he/she has a runny nose but no fever. |
Marshall Editions
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 They should not be used if pregnancy is a possibility, or if liver disease is present.
Physical therapy: Hydrotherapy (also called balneotherapy) is effective for soothing pain and is one of the oldest treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. It is often used in conjunction with other treatments. Thermotherapy is the application of heat or cold to sore joints, which can ease pain. Exercise is also usually recommended by a physiotherapist. A light daily routine to improve joint mobility, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and function is ideal. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Others, such as crystals of the amino acid leucine, can indicate severe liver disease.
•RBCs. High levels of RBCs in the urine can indicate trauma to the kidney or urinary tract, cancer or urinary tract infections.
PREVENTING ERRORS
The automated instruments that are used to analyze blood are precise, and most CBCs are accurate. Similarly, few mistakes are made in a typical urinalysis, but errors can occur.
Best ways to avoid lab errors...
•Make sure your doctor or hospital uses an accredited lab. |
Marshall Editions
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| Acetaminophen is another treatment option, but do not take this drug if you have liver disease or if you drink alcohol regularly. Aspirin can also lower a fever, but again, the potential for gastric irritation is high in susceptible individuals. Aspirin should not be given to anyone under 16 years of age.
Keep cool: Drink cool beverages to relieve any symptoms of dehydration that may occur with a fever. Dehydration may be the cause of the fever, and rehydrating may resolve it. Cool baths are also effective, as are rubbing alcohol and witch hazel massages. |
| Illnesses that mimic CFS include anemia, celiac disease, liver disease, lupus, low thyroid function, and multiple sclerosis. Although the basic underlying cause remains uncertain, research suggests that CFS is triggered by a combination of factors, including a genetic susceptibility and repeated infections, particularly of a flu virus. |
| When used topically there has been little evidence of adverse reactions; however comfrey root should not be taken internally because it has been shown to cause serious liver disease.
BLISTERS
DIAGNOSIS
A blister is a raised area of skin that becomes filled with a clear, sterile fluid. Blisters affect everyone at one time or another, and are usually caused by friction when something rubs against the skin. For example, they commonly occur on the feet when breaking in new shoes. Blisters generally heal naturally and do not require treatment, especially if they are unbroken. |
Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D.
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| CARDUI MARIAE FRUCTUS
¦ Loss of appetite
¦ Liver and gallbladder complaints
The drug is used for dyspeptic complaints, toxic liver damage, supportive treatment in chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic cirrhosis. It is also used as an antidote to Death-Cap poisoning.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
CARDUI MARIAE HERBA AND FRUCTUS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. |
Marshall Editions
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| NATUROPATHY
Some causes of bad breath include constant postnasal drip from sinusitis, alcoholism, kidney failure, diabetes, liver disease, and some medications. These should be dealt with by a doctor. If you have bad breath for more than a few days, your dental practitioner or doctor should be able to help.
Diet: Toxins stored in the digestive tract can cause bad breath. Base your meals on a diet of whole grains, raw or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds. These will improve your digestive system and help get rid of toxins. |
Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
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| Bilirubin levels may be elevated in people with liver disease or a blocked bile duct, as seen with gallstones.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): This reflects the breakdown of protein (nitrogen containing compounds) and is eliminated by the kidneys. An elevated BUN level may be caused by kidney disease or by poor blood flow to the kidneys, as in congestive heart failure, dehydration, or hemorrhage into the gastrointestinal tract. A decreased level may be seen in liver failure, malnutrition, or anabolic steroid use. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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| It should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women or by patients with anemia or liver disease.
SPIRONOLACTONE
An aldosterone receptor antagonist that works by altering hormones, spironolactone is sometimes used as a second-line treatment for acne. Side effects include vomiting, dizziness, headache, irregular periods, hair growth, deepening of the voice, and, more rarely, confusion, movement problems, and blurred vision. It too should never be taken by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding or by patients with liver or kidney disease.
So are there alternatives? |
Ray D. Strand
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 A lower dose may also create toxicity if the patient has liver disease. Signs of vitamin A toxicity include dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, gingivitis, anorexia, nausea, fatigue, and irritability.
Accidental ingestion of a single large dose of vitamin A by children (100,000-300,000 IU) can cause acute toxicity. This may present as headache, vomiting, and stupor because of the increase in intracranial pressure. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 Besides your food intake, there are dozens of reasons why your neurotransmitters may get out of whack, among them: diabetes, liver disease, thyroid imbalance, autoimmune disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, blood pressure-lowering medications, birth control pills, tranquilizers and stimulants. Depression and anxiety can also be caused by blood sugar imbalances, sex hormone imbalances, food and chemical sensitivities, and toxins, so it might be helpful for you to read about these in my book, 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health (McGraw-Hill, 2004). |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
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 Another study stemmed from the report that a drug used to relieve nausea helped reduce fatigue in severe liver disease. A recent double-blind placebo-controlled trial indicated that a drug in this class, tropisetron, could relieve FM pain. Interestingly, this drug has the same mechanism of action as alosetron, the selective 5-HT3-receptor antagonist used in treating diarrhea-predominant IBS. So while tropisetron does not appear to be helpful for gastrointestinal pain, it may help widespread pain. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 In Europe, phosphatidylcholine is used to treat liver disease, and many nutritionists recommend it as part of a liver support program. Most liver metabolism occurs on cell membranes, and phosphatidylcholine is the universal building block for cell membranes. Phosphatidylcholine helps protect the liver from a wide range of toxic influences. And choline is also needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, one of the major neurotransmitters in the body. |
Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
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| Seemingly unrelated afflictions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, liver disease, and eye inflammation have been reported, but medical doctors still aren't sure exactly why. Drugs are usually prescribed to help control the symptoms of Colitis for as long as possible. Unfortunately these drugs aren't very effective, and about one-third of all patients diagnosed with this disease eventually have their colons removed. The majority of these surgeries are unnecessary and could be avoided with regular intestinal cleansing.
Who is at risk for Ulcerative Colitis? |
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