TO YOUR HEALTH
Supporting Liver Detox With Functional Medicine and TCM BY HELENA AMOS, M.AC., L.AC., EURO. PHYSICIAN
into the bloodstream. Conditions like gallstones or biliary sludge can LPSHGHJDOOEODGGHUIXQFWLRQUHGXFLQJELOHÀRZDQGFRQVHTXHQWO\DI - fecting fat digestion and toxin elimination. Because the liver is such a fundamental part of the body’s overall UHJXODWLRQ WKHUH DUH PDQ\ IDFWRUV WKDW FDQ D̆ HFW LWV DELOLW\ WR SUR - FHVVDQGHOLPLQDWHWR[LQVḢ FLHQWO\2IFRXUVHWKHSUHVHQFHRIFHUWDLQ medical conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or fatty liver disease GLUHFWO\LPSDLUWKHOLYHU¶VDELOLW\WRGHWR[LI\+HUHDUHVRPHRIWKHRWK - er more common causes of liver dysfunction and detox disruption. • Poor Diet & Hydration and Overconsumption: +LJKLQWDNH RI SURFHVVHG IRRGV ² UH¿QHG VXJDUV XQKHDOWK\ IDWV DQG DGGLWLYHV — combined with a diet lacking essential nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, antioxidants) can impair liver function. The other side of this equation is that not consuming enough detox-supporting foods, e.g., cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and various herbs, can hinder the liver’s natural detox processes. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to OLYHU GDPDJH DQG GHFUHDVHG GHWR[L¿FDWLRQ FDSDFLW\ 0HDQZKLOH LQ - DGHTXDWH SURSHU K\GUDWLRQ FDQD̆ HFW EORRG YROXPH DQGFLUFXODWLRQ which are essential for transporting toxins to the liver for processing. 7KHNLGQH\VDOVRSOD\DFUXFLDOUROHLQGHWR[L¿FDWLRQDQGGHK\GUDWLRQ can impede their functioning. • Chronic Stress & Sedentary Lifestyle: Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, which can negatively impact liver function and UHVXOW LQ LQÀDPPDWLRQ 6WUHVV DOVR RIWHQ OHDGV WR XQKHDOWK\ FRSLQJ
The need to cleanse in Spring is natural. After a long winter of hiber- nation, stagnation and overindulgence in holiday and comfort foods, snow days, and nights bingeing your favorite entertainment, the body LVUHDG\IRUDWKRURXJKGHWR[LQJDQGUHVHW,WGRHVWKLVQDWXUDOO\HYHU\ GD\ZLWK\RXUOLYHUWKHERG\¶VSULPDU\¿OWUDWLRQV\VWHPZLWKPXFK assistance from your gallbladder. Together, the liver and gallbladder UHSUHVHQW WKH G\QDPLF GXR RI GHWR[L¿FDWLRQ $V VXFK LW¶V FULWLFDO WR understand how they work, and what healthcare approaches are avail- able to keep them balanced and healthy. ,QWKHPRVWEDVLFXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKHOLYHUFRQYHUWVWR[LQVLQWRZDVWH SURGXFWVFOHDQVHV\RXUEORRGDQGPHWDEROL]HVQXWULHQWVDQGPHGLFD - WLRQVWRSURYLGHWKHERG\ZLWKVRPHRILWVPRVWLPSRUWDQWSURWHLQV,W does this by regulating most chemical levels in the blood and excreting ELOH²DGLJHVWLYHÀXLGFUXFLDOIRUWKHGLJHVWLRQDQGDEVRUSWLRQRIIDWV Bile helps carry away waste products from the liver. All the blood leav- ing the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which is then processed, broken down, balanced, and used to create many nutrients and proteins for the rest of the body; and it excretes toxic metabolites IURPSUHVFULSWLRQGUXJVIRRGDGGLWLYHVDQGPRUH0RUHWKDQYLWDO IXQFWLRQVKDYHEHHQLGHQWL¿HGZLWKWKHOLYHU 7KHJDOOEODGGHUWKHOLYHU¶VJUHDWHVWSDUWQHUSOD\VDVLJQL¿FDQWUROH LQWKHGHWR[L¿FDWLRQSURFHVVSULPDULO\E\VWRULQJDQGUHOHDVLQJELOH Bile is the ultimate conduit for waste elimination, including for cho- lesterol, environmental toxins and heavy metal, which therefore sup- ports nutrient absorption and a healthy gut microbiome, while also preventing toxic substances from being reabsorbed from the intestine
continued on page 22
Girish Kalva, M.D., Functional Medicine Physician
Dr. Kalva brings 25+ years of experience to the National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) medical team. (V/EPZEMWFSEVHGIVXM½IHMR-RXIVREP1IHMGMRIERH3FIWMX]1IHMGMRI As a functional medicine physician, Dr. Kalva treats the root cause of health issues for long term results and better health.
• Hypothyroid • Integrative primary care • Men’s health • Mold, toxic illness • Pain • Weight loss • Women’s health
• Anti-aging • Anxiety, depression • Brain health • Cardio-metabolic conditions • Digestive and
Girish Kalva, M.D.
gastrointestinal health • Hormones, infertility
National Integrated Health Associates 5225 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 402,Washington, DC 20015 www.NIHAdc.com • Call (202) 237-7000
PATHWAYS—Spring 25—21
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker