Mankind has to deal with increasing toxicity in our food system, more so nowadays than ever before than in any other century. Each year millions of tons of toxic waste are discarded into the earth’s eco-system which will eventually enter our food chain. Fishes from the sea have increasingly been tainted with toxic heavy metals. Food are now loaded with preservatives to extend their shelf live. Farm animals are fed with growth hormones to make them grow faster so that businessmen can make faster and more profits. These animals are injected with antibiotics to ensure they live to maturity but these antibiotics are harmful to humans. The residues of these hazardous chemicals constantly appear on our tables. Farm produce are not free from incredibly toxic pesticides when they appear on our food table.

The foods produced by our fast food industry contain a highly toxic compound called HNE (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal) which is very harmful to our livers. Our sedentary life styles and heavy consumption of alcohol, deep fried foods and our over dependence on toxic drugs (that only provide symptomatic treatment) manufactured by irresponsible greedy corporation has not helped either. Our livers now have to work much harder to break down the chemicals that have crept into our food chain. If you talk to gastroenterologists today they will tell you that the condition "Dysfunction Liver" affects more than 50% of people over the age of 50!

Many health experts and scientists now believe modern-day medicine has become sidetracked into treating the symptoms of diseases and not the causes. We have failed to treat our dysfunction liver effectively. When we failed to take care of our liver we virtually ignored the hardest-working organ in the body.

Although there are laws to govern the use of antibiotic and growth hormones, that does not guarantee farmers and growers comply 100%. Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic. The profit motive attracts people to ignore or turn a blind eye to many of these malpractices. Even though there are many chemicals that may be present in animal tissues that have no established safe concentrations, it does not mean that they are not harmful.

Our 21^st century livers are constantly challenged and put under pressure. They are over worked and under cared. In fact those over 50 have signs of liver dysfunction: liver spots, lethargy, skin disease, erectile dysfunction, cholesterol problems, fatty liver, loss of appetite, exhaustion and fatigue.

The functions of the liver are:

• It manufactures proteins

• It synthesizes, stores and metabolizes fats  

• It metabolizes and stores carbohydrates

• It produces and secretes bile

• It eliminates the potentially harmful biochemical products produced by the body

• It detoxifies and removes drugs, alcohol and environmental toxins

As a detoxifier, it breaks down all forms of toxic chemicals like ammonia, metabolic waste, drugs, alcohol and chemicals, so that they can be excreted. Once this function is affected, the body will slowly show signs of “disapproval”.

Symptoms of a dysfunction liver:

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss  

• Lethargy

• Fatigue

• Loss of interest in sex

• Prone to anger

• Poor health

• Immunity problem like itchy skin

• Mental problem like forgetfulness or problem in concentration

Keeping the Liver Healthy

They are many ways one can detox the body to keep our systems healthy. Some of them are:

• Fasting

• Cleansing the intestine and colon

• Taking antioxidant products for general cleansing

• Liver detox

The liver is a processing and filtration plant. Like any mechanical filter, it needs to be serviced regularly to ensure that it works at its optimum all the time. Therefore it needs to be cleansed regularly. It is better to do general maintenance then to do it once in a blue moon.

Some of the best herbs to detox the liver are Scutellaria Baicalensis, Bupleurum Scorzonerifolium, Artemisia Scoparia and Radix Glycyrrhiza Glabra. Numerous researches have been done on these herbs and it has been proven by modern scientists that the herbalists were correct in their understanding of the use of these herbs. The best and safest method is to use holistic products that have been used by hundreds of millions of people stretching over the centuries to effectively treat the problem. Herbs like Herba Lysimachia Christinae, Radix Scutellaria Baicalensis Radix Bupleurum Scorzonerifolium, Folium Artemisa Scoparia ad Glychrrhiza Glabra have scientifically been proven to treat liver problems caused by pathogenic influences.

Scutellaria Baicalensis:

1) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Scutellaria baicalensis has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Research showed it  selectively and effectively inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo and can be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for HNSCC.  4037-4043,

2) Clinical studies by western scientists have proven that Scutellaria baicalensis can be used to induce liver regeneration. Research showed that Scutellaria baicalensis stimulated the proliferation of cultured hepatocytes. 444-455

3) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Scutellaria baicalensis has strong anti-oxidant (anti-cancer) properties. Research showed that most of the anticancer activities of Scutellaria baicalensis can be recapitulated with four purified constituents that function in part through inhibition of the androgen receptor signaling pathway.  3905-3914

4) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Scutellaria baicalensis have anti-inflammatory functions, high scavenging activity and protects liver and red blood cells from lipid peroxidation. 60151

5) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that saikosaponin-a, -d, baicalin from  Scutellaria baicalensis are potent antitumor components and therefore is an ideal antioxidant. 86(1):91-5

6) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that the flavones,  5,7,2'-trihydroxy- and 5,7,2',3'-tetrahydroxyflavone, of Scutellaria baicalensis showed remarkable inhibitory effects on skin tumor and  is suitable for detoxification. 40(2):531-3.

7) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Scutellaria baicalensis' components, baicalein, baicalin, and wogonin, may become an attractive and promising treatment for bladder cancer because of its strong antioxidant effect. 55(6):951-5

Radix Bupleurum Scorzonerifolium:

1) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scrozonerifolium has strong anti-oxidant (anti-cancer) properties. The result of in vivo study showed that Bupleurum scrozonerifolium could suppress growth in A549 subcutaneous xenograft tumors. 183-93

2) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scrozonerifolium has strong anti-oxidant (anti-cancer) properties. Research showed that the crude acetone extract of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium has anti-proliferation activity and apoptosis effects on human lung cancer cells.  2409-20

3) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that saikosaponins, the main active constituents of Bupleurum spp., possess immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor and anti-viral activities. Research showed that saikosaponin d possesses potent cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.  705-9

4) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scrozonerifolium improves cell function. 111-8

5) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that two lignans, isochaihulactone and chaihunaphthone, from Bupleurum scrozonerifolium has  immunosuppressive functions. 1375-9

6) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scrozonerifolium protects and improves liver function. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-oxidant activity and enhanced the liver cell regeneration. 442-8

7) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scrozonerifolium has strong antioxidative and in vitro hepatoprotective activity. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activity and enhanced the liver cell regeneration. Research showed that the roots of  Bupleurum scrozonerifolium can be used to treat liver diseases. 1003-8

Artemisia Scoparia:

1) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Artemisiae species were proven to have immunosuppressive principles. 41992

2) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Artemisa Scoparia is effective for treating hepatitis (liver cirrhosis). Research showed that scoparone from Artemisa Scoparia decreases the production of the inflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2 in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression. 203-8 

3) Another group of scientists wrote "these data indicate that the plant Artemisia Scoparia is hepatoprotective and validate the folkloric use of this plant in liver damage. Research showed the protective action of the plant extract against CCl4-induced liver damage.  41001

4) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Artemisia Scoparia  has strong hepatoprotective function against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. 75379

5) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that the flavonoid rutin from Artemisia Scoparia  has strong hepatoprotective function against drug-induced (paracetamol) hepatotoxicity. 90212

6) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Artemisia Scoparia  has strong hepatoprotective function against drug-induced (Acetaminophen) hepatotoxicity.  12519

7) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Artemisia Scoparia  has strong hepatoprotective function against chemical-induced (carbon tetrachloride) hepatotoxicity. Research showed that Artemisia Scoparia inhibited fibrosis and lipid peroxidation induced by carbon tetrachloride.  33139

8) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Artemisia Scoparia  has strong antioxidative and cytoprotective actions. Clinical studies showed that the strong antioxidative functions of Artemisia Scoparia effectively protected liver tissues against the dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis.  06248

Glycyrrhiza Glabra:

1) Clinical research by western scientists from Hong Kong have shown that Glycyrrhiza glabra has strong anticarcinogenic capability. Glycyrrhiza glabra was able to inhibit the metabolic activation of hepato-toxin, a critical factor in the pathogenesis of chemical-induced carcinogenicity. 12767692

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Glycyrrhiza glabra has strong cell protective function from oxidative stresses. Research showed that dihydroxyfumarate-induced mitochondrial peroxidation was prevented by isoflavans from Glycyrrhiza glabra.  14953

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that glycyrrhizin from Glycyrrhiza glabra may prevent tissue injury caused by MAC not only in chronic hepatitis but in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 92245

4) Previous clinical research by western scientists have shown that (R)-4-(3,4-Dihydro-8,8-dimethyl)-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b']dipyran-3yl)-1,3-benzenediol (glabridin), a flavonoid present in licorice extract, have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective activities. This research showed that glabridin inhibits NO production and iNOS gene expression by blocking NF-B/Rel activation and that glabridin was shown to have anti-inflammatory functions.   1187-1194

5) Double blind clinical research by western scientists over a period of 10 years have shown that active compounds in licorice root can be used to help prevent and treat chronic viral hepatitis C (liver inflammation). 1494–1500

6) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that glycyrrhizin, a major component of a herb (licorice), has been widely used to treat chronic hepatitis B in Japan. 14808

7) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that glycyrrhizin has inhibitory effects on immune-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatocytes and on nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B, which activates genes encoding inflammatory cytokines in the liver and can be used to treat hepatitis. 87634

8) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that the decrease of elevated transaminase levels by glycyrrhizin is mediated in part by inhibition of immune-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatocytes (glycyrrhizin improves liver functions).  42643

9) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that glycyrrhizic acid from licorice is able to inhibit cytotocity produced by aflatoxin B1 (it is a fungal toxin which is a powerful liver carcinogen). 7692

10) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that the flavonoid of licorice, flavones, flavonals, isoflavones, chalcones, bihydroflavones and bihydrochalcones, have antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumer and inhibiting HIV activities.  593-7