About 1 in 10 Americans in the United States have some form of eczema, and nearly 3 in 4 adults are clinically overweight or obese—which is roughly 170 million people. On top of that, About 50 million Americans are affected by acne, including 45 percent of adult women between the ages of 21–30 and 12 percent of men.
As you can see, these problems are extremely common and impact a large portion of the U.S. population and there are a few culprits: a highly processed, sugar-filled diet, medication, stress, and overall poor lifestyle choices.
All these things put a tremendous amount of stress on the liver and kidneys.
The liver and kidneys are two of the main organs in the body responsible for filtering and eliminating toxins.
The Liver:
- Breaks down hard-to-excrete, fat-soluble toxins into less toxic, water-soluble substances so they can be excreted through sweat or the bowels.
- Produces bile, which helps you break down fat in food and absorb necessary fat-soluble vitamins.
- Manufactures anticoagulants.
- Detoxifies excess estrogen.
- Sends some glucose to cells and store some glucose as glycogen.
- Stores certain minerals, such as copper and iron, as well as certain vitamins.
The Kidneys Are Responsible For:
- Excreting water-soluble toxins
- Filtering the blood
- Excreting excess salts and vitamins
- Balancing blood pressure by releasing an enzyme called renin
- Balancing mineral levels
- Making urine
- Supporting red blood cell production
Both the liver and kidneys play extremely important roles in the body, and when these organs become congested, sluggish, or overworked, many health issues and symptoms can begin to arise.
Not-So-Obvious Signs of Liver Congestion
Since the liver and kidneys are responsible for many functions in the body, when they are congested or working sluggishly, symptoms can show up in many ways.
Some of the most common and noticeable signs can be seen in your weight and skin—particularly stubborn weight gain, eczema, and acne.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and acts as a protective barrier. However, it not only shields the internal system from harmful substances outside the body but also serves as another medium through which the body can detox, (the sweat glands, pores etc.) When the liver and kidneys are overwhelmed, toxins can be eliminated through the skin.
In Chinese medicine, the skin is referred to as a mirror of the body’s current state. If someone is experiencing acne or eczema flare-ups, it can be a signal that there is internal inflammation, gut issues, repressed emotions, or liver/kidney stress. Depending on what part of the face or body the skin condition appears correlates to whichever organ is under stress.
For example, if someone has acne across the face (also known as the butterfly zone) that can signify two things:
Stomach heat stagnation (if accompanied with other symptoms like constipation, bloating) or lung heat flare stagnation (sore throat, persistent cough, aversion to heat in general) .
To reduce heat, they would opt to change the diet and have only “cooling” non spicy, acidic foods like cucumbers, kale, bak choy and avoid heat inducing foods.
However, in the case of eczema, it can mean something else. For example, if someone has severe dry flaky eczema on the back of the neck, it can signify longstanding (emotional and physical) stress and liver and gallbladder/bladder stagnation (if the skin is dark and flaky, also a lack of blood circulation) and is a sign of chronic internal heat- or in modern terms, inflammation.
If the liver and kidneys are able to function properly and are given proper nourishment, many of these symptoms wouldn’t manifest this way. Every organ, vessel, capillary in the body is connected to each other in a beautiful, complex way, but the key to healthy skin mind and body overall is by supporting and providing nourishment to these vital organs.
Other Signs of liver/ kidney stagnation can include:
- Poor sleep quality
- Circles under the eyes
- Fatigue
- Hormonal imbalances
- Muscle and joint pain
- Headaches
- Digestive issues, such as bloating or difficulty digesting fat
How to Ease the Load Off Your Liver and Kidneys
The key to rebooting your liver and kidney health is by doing a total overhaul of your lifestyle—stop consuming sodas and highly processed foods and, if possible, reduce medications. Instead, replace those foods with nutritious vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Below are some applicable tips:
-
Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Sleep is the most vital time for the body to detox. Getting proper hours of sleep is the first step. -
Have Regular Bowel Movements
Regular bowel movements help the body eliminate waste efficiently, allowing -
Avoid Liver Stressors: Coffee, Alcohol, and Stress
Reducing common stressors can help ease the load on the liver. - Remove Processed Sugars
Processed sugars like high-fructose corn syrup, white sugar, and agave all put strain on the liver and pancreas. - Drink 2 Liters of Water Per Day-Although it sounds basic, having adequate water consumption is vital for liver function and detoxification. Water is used to create bile in the liver and it is important for blood volume – so if the blood doesn’t have enough water content, it becomes thick, sluggish and cant reach the liver to detox properly
supplements to support liver and kidney
The liver and kidneys require many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in order to function properly.
- Vitamin C and beta-carotene — These are among the most important nutrients for supporting liver function.
- Kidney & Liver Rejuvenate Herbal Formula --- This Japanese five-herb supplement is meant to support kidney and liver health, including help with chronic kidney disease. Kanzo (licorice) is included to support the liver by helping reduce liver damage and supporting liver function (like lowering liver enzyme levels and supporting regeneration). Keihi, working like Kanzo, is included for anti-inflammatory support that helps protect the kidneys and helps rejuvenate the liver. Chorei supports normal kidney function and is included for kidney stone prevention. Bukuryo is added to help with kidney function and edema, and it also supports liver detoxification. Takusha is included to help prevent CaOx kidney stones by supporting urine balance, and it’s also described as protecting liver cells (potentially helping against hepatitis and cirrhosis).
To find out more about this unique formula click here and get 10% off your first purchase.
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