Fatty Liver

What is a fatty liver? Fatty liver is the build-up of excess fat in the liver cells. It is normal for your liver to contain some fat however, if there is more than 10% of your livers weight present in the liver, then you have fatty liver and this can develop into more serious complications. Fatty liver disease is quite common in Western countries. Statistics indicate that it affects around one in every 10 people. It is caused by a build-up of fats in the liver, which replace the healthy tissue and trigger enlargement of the rest of the liver cells. The Liver then becomes slightly enlarged and heavier due to this additional fat. What are the Symptoms? Fatty liver (also known as steatosis), may cause no damage, but sometimes the excess fat leads to inflammation of the liver and results in a condition, called steatohepatitis, causing liver damage. Sometimes, inflammation from a fatty liver is linked to alcohol abuse; known as alcoholic steatohepatitis. Otherwise the condition is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or abbreviated - NASH. If the disease gets worse, you may experience fatigue, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, weakness; confusion, jaundice (when your skin or even eyes start to become yellow), and some people may experience fever. The immunity is often impaired and often elevated cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Weight loss appears to be a problem and excess weight commonly accumulates around the abdominal area. Headaches and migraines are also another symptom that can be present. In some cases people may present with type 2 diabetes. Fatigue is often present and a typical unwell feeling all round. Discomfort over the liver is often noted in particular during palpation during examination and gallstones composed of cholesterol and bile salts could be present along with an elevation of the liver enzymes. An inflamed liver may become scarred and hardened over time resulting in cirrhosis, which is a serious condition often resulting in liver failure. How Does the excess Fat get into the Liver?

Transfer of fat from other parts of the body Increase in the extraction of fat sent to the liver via the intestine Alcohol consumption over many years, as mentioned above, resulting in liver

damage. Can occur in middle-age Poor liver function where the liver cannot break down/remove fat at a fast enough rate so fat then builds up. Diabetic patients who do not drink alcohol. When high triglycerides or cholesterol are present. Overweight people eating excess calories (here the liver cannot process and break down fats efficiently therefore too much fat will accumulate). Rapid weight loss and malnutrition may also lead to fatty liver. Certain illnesses, such as tuberculosis, intestinal bypass surgery for obesity and some drugs such as corticosteroids.

However, some people develop fatty liver even if they have none of these conditions. Why you need a Healthy Liver and What the Liver actually Does!

The liver is the largest organ in the body. In Oriental medicine it is considered the hottest organ in the body and resonates to a Yang energy (male). The emotions of anger and aggression are stored at the cellular level of the liver and if allowed to accumulate here due to the emotional nature of the person this can, in fact, have negative impact on the overall physiological function of the liver. The liver is our Filtering and detoxifying Factory. It has a huge job to do. When it is congested with excess fat it cannot filter, cleanse and detoxify the bloodstream efficiently and so the blood becomes overloaded with toxins and fat carrying these deposits around the body in an attempt to feed and nourish all the cells of your body, i.e. tissues, organs and muscles etc. This picture alone should allow you to see how disease including autoimmune disorders can manifest! Your Liver is responsible for the metabolism of fats, hormones, any foods, substances, drugs, chemicals that you ingest and is responsible for neutralising or converting them into other forms by special enzymes. This includes the air you breathe and your digesting your emotions! The bile produced by the liver is stored in the gall bladder and then used to help break down dietary fats. A healthy liver is able to regulate fat metabolism and burn fat by moving excessive fat out of the body through the bile into the gut. A healthy liver can achieve weight loss and maintain balanced weight easier, but if you have a fatty liver you may find it harder to loose weight despite all diets. This is due to the fatty liver storing far more fat when in fact it needs to burn off the fat! When it is overloaded with excess fat, it simply cannot function properly as it becomes completely clogged up with excess fat in the cells. This is when serious health disorders can manifest. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A. D. E and K need bile in order to be absorbed by the body. Your liver also converts carbohydrates into glucose for instant available energy and then converts glucose into its storable form (glycogen). When the blood sugar levels drop (hypoglycemia), glycogen is then converted back into glucose. The liver changes ammonia (a toxic by product of protein metabolism) into urea, which is then excreted in the urine. Amino acids from protein foods are sent to the liver for the production of body proteins such as hormones. Your liver is involved in constant hormone metabolism and assists in maintaining hormonal equilibrium. A healthy liver also means a strong healthy immune system. Tests used to diagnose fatty liver disease include:

Medical history, including the patients drug and alcohol consumption. Physical examination palpation. Blood tests to check liver enzymes called liver function tests. Blood test to check blood triglyceride levels (however, this test isnt considered conclusive as some cases of fatty liver do not present with raised blood triglycerides). Tests to rule out other liver diseases, such as haemo chromatosis or viral hepatitis, which may cause similar symptoms

Ultrasound, CT scan or MRI of the liver, which helps to rule out other conditions that mimic the symptoms of fatty liver disease, such as a liver tumour or obstruction of the bile duct. Biopsy often only advised if other tests are inconclusive, or if non-alcoholic steatorrhoeic hepatitis is suspected, or if tests reveal a significant degree of liver dysfunction.

The Live Blood Screening (LBS) test would allow you to see how the Liver is functioning, whereas the conventional blood test (Liver Function Test) will only show damage despite it being called a liver function test. LBS are often conducted by some Naturopaths or specific Labs with qualified technicians who specialise in LBS and other allergy/Immune tests. I refer people to a specialised Lab and full reports are issued which will also indicate how other organ/systems are working. Treatment If alcoholism is the cause, the excess fat can disappear, usually within 6 weeks, when people stop drinking. If the cause is not identified and remedied, fatty liver can have serious consequences. For example, if excessive alcohol use continues or a drug causing fatty liver is not stopped, repeated liver injury may eventually lead to cirrhosis. Treatment focuses on minimizing or eliminating the cause of fatty liver. People should stop drinking, lose weight, or take measures to control diabetes, work to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels whilst being aware that many drugs such as cholesterol lowering drugs can exert toxic effects on the liver cells. Observing diet and making lifestyle changes maybe a healthier option here. How Can Natural Therapy Help? Herbal and homeopathic remedies are given to detoxify the system, strengthen the liver by aiding regeneration of liver cells. Depending on the chronicity of the problem these remedies could be taken up to 6 months or more. Often some detox homeopathic remedies are changed over a period of time depending on the detox program. St Marys Thistle is what Id call the Prime Herb to give anyone with a Fatty Liver and is quite safe to stay on for a longer duration for protection and maintenance, since even the air we breathe is highly polluted, especially in cities. The diet needs to be addressed and more spring or filtered water consumed along with fresh vegetable juices. Food should be fresh and ideally prepared by yourself, avoiding all packaged, takeaway, fatty foods, or foods containing preservatives, sugar, oils and margarine etc. Free range poultry and eggs and if possible organic foods consumed with avoidance of dairy and saturated fats. Appropriate amino acid supplements would also be prescribed for your detox regime, these are very important to assist in regeneration and the detoxification pathway. A detox regime (contrarty to recent TV programs), does not mean you must abstain from solid foods, your diet contains fresh healthy meals in conjunction with specific remedies to help eliminate toxins and improve the entire metabolic function. Patient compliance over a few months with the correct remedies prescribed can achieve optimum health again. Consistency is the Key here, skipping a few days here and there will not allow any remedies to work efficiently for you. I have seen some excellent results with people who presented with Fatty Liver. I dont feel changing the diet alone and eliminating the substance/alcohol etc is sufficient, I firmly believe that natural remedies when prescribed professionally can generate healing at a very deep cellular level regenerating liver cells. However, if someone is experiencing alcohol addiction they would also require counselling and support to enable them to follow a detoxification and regeneration program.

Remedies can also be prescribed to assist in the addiction and withdrawal. underlying emotional factors here need to be addressed and supported.

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Weight loss regimes and control of diabetes is also essential to achieve positive results. It is worth pointing out that weight loss should be gradual and not rapid otherwise this will also be detrimental and contribute to fatty liver and liver cell damage. Anyone who experiences a detoxification and regeneration program will not only resolve, regenerate and heal the fatty liver, but achieve vital energy, a healthier and slimmer body and optimum health for future. Your Liver has the capability when supported and nurtured to regenerate the cells in 6 weeks. However, that does not mean one stops taking prescribed remedies at 6 weeks, what you aim to do is detoxify the entire system right down to the cellular level, creating a stronger immunity, organ function and cleaner blood. By being consistent you may discover that particular cravings and addictions will no longer exist. Lyn Craven is a Practitioner of Naturopathy, Bowen Therapy, Energy/Reiki Therapist, Meditation Teacher, and a Corporate Health Presenter/Consultant. Helping people manage stress and resolve repetitive injuries, back pain, achieving greater balance, more energy and healthier lives. Lyn is a health researcher/writer of various topics for Health magazines and has produced a meditation CD assisting people manage stress. She runs a private practice in Sydney and conducts workshops in Sydney & Sunshine Coast. She can be contacted on 0403 231 804 or