Liver Congestion isn’t a western medical term. But it is a concept many practitioners who practise integrative medicine utilize to help their patients.
A congested liver is one that has been working hard and has a greater toxic load than it can handle. This results in a back-up of toxins in your tissues. A liver detox helps your liver to clear the toxins out of your whole body.
These signs usually point to liver congestion, especially if you have several of them. Check through the lists below to assess where you are at right now:
MOOD AND ENERGY
Short temper: easy frustration, maybe flares of anger
Waking in the night, especially between 1 and 3 am
Sluggish on waking in the morning
Energy consistently below par
Foggy thinking
Overall feeling of being “stuck” in life
APPEARANCE
Skin eruptions: acne, rashes, itching
Yellowish cast to the skin
Swollen flabby reddened sides of tongue
Swelling of extremities
Easy bruising
EYES - the eye is associated with the liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Itching, burning, reddened eyes
Dry eyes,
Blurred vision
Excess or deficiency of tears
Muddy or yellowish whites of eyes
FINGERNAILS
Dry and brittle
Yellow and discoloured
DIGESTION
Constipation
Intolerance of fats in diet
Nausea after eating fats
Twinging gallbladder discomfort
Poor appetite
MUSCULOSKELETAL
Problems with tendons or ligaments
General aches and pains
Headaches, especially dull pain across the forehead
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Breast tenderness
Menstrual irregularities
PMS
Fibroids
LIFESTYLE
Living or working in a toxic environment
Living close to a major highway or airport
Living in a polluted town or city
Daily consumption of alcohol
Eating fast food (remember Supersize Me?) and ultra-processed foods
MEDICATIONS: Using any medications, especially:
Antidepressants
Birth control pills
Painkillers, especially Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
Antibiotics
Oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Statins
Cimetidine (for reflux)
Accutane
If several of these things apply to you, it’s time to be good to your liver. Try a spring liver detox. After that, check the list again to assess your improvements.
Curious about your marvelous liver and want to learn more? Our Liver Masterclass is for you: check it out here!