In Sanskrit, the liver is called Yakrit, which means “where every process happens,” and that couldn’t be more accurate.
As the largest organ in the body, the liver carries out hundreds of vital functions, from detoxifying harmful substances to creating new blood and building up your immunity. One of its most amazing abilities is its capacity to regenerate itself, ensuring it can keep us going strong even when damaged. Without the liver, we wouldn’t be able to break down food, process fats, or transform nutrients into energy.
The Liver’s Most Important Jobs
The liver holds many jobs in the body; below are the most important:
- Blood Production and Detoxification: The liver not only produces fresh blood but also filters toxins and chemicals from it. Special liver cells, called hepatocytes, act like little sorting centers, deciding what nutrients get processed, what needs to be eliminated, and what goes back into the bloodstream. The liver also breaks down old red blood cells and helps maintain the right amount of blood in your body.
- Bile Production: The liver produces about 800 to 1,000 ml of bile every day, which helps break down fats so they can be absorbed in the small intestine. Extra bile gets stored in the gallbladder until needed.
- Metabolizing Proteins, Fats, and Carbs: The liver turns proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into energy that your body can use.
- Immune System Support: It produces factors that help fight off infections and create proteins responsible for blood clotting—without this, even a small cut could be deadly.
- Balancing Hormones: The liver helps regulate sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and stress hormones like cortisone, ensuring your body stays balanced.
- Glucose Storage: The liver helps manage your blood sugar by converting glucose into glycogen for storage, and then releasing it when your body needs energy.
- Detoxifying the Body: The liver makes toxins less harmful and ensures they’re flushed out, protecting you from harmful substances.
- Thyroid Health: The liver produces proteins that help transport thyroid hormones throughout your body and break them down when they’re no longer needed. If your liver isn’t functioning properly, your thyroid can suffer, leading to problems with metabolism and energy.
- Produces Albumin: A protein that helps carry hormones, drugs, and fatty acids throughout your body.
- Processes Bilirubin: Breaking down red blood cells and ensuring the body gets rid of excess bilirubin (which, if left unchecked, can cause jaundice).
- Manages Immune Responses: The liver identifies and destroys harmful bacteria, viruses, and other invaders.
When the liver’s ability to handle these jobs is compromised, whether due to poor diet, toxins, or disease, the ripple effect can impact nearly every system in the body. One key role of the liver is to keep hormone levels in check, so when it’s struggling, you can experience everything from thyroid issues to mood swings.
Liver Health Issues
Many health problems can prevent the liver from functioning properly, including:
- Cholestasis: This occurs when bile flow is limited or blocked, often due to drugs, pregnancy, or a blockage like a tumor.
- Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver caused by viruses, alcohol, or toxins. Hepatitis can lead to liver failure and cancer if untreated.
- Cirrhosis: Hardening of the liver due to scar tissue, often caused by alcohol abuse or hepatitis.
- Fatty Liver: Fatty liver, also known as hepatic steatosis, is when too much fat builds up in your liver cells. Normally, the liver has a small amount of fat, but when that fat makes up more than 5-10% of the liver’s weight, it becomes a concern. There are two main types: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which is often tied to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, and Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD), caused by excessive drinking. Both can lead to more serious liver issues if left untreated, like inflammation, fibrosis, or even cirrhosis.
In its early stages, fatty liver often doesn’t have noticeable symptoms, but as the condition progresses, you might start feeling fatigued, discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen, or unexplained weight loss.
As your liver health worsens, symptoms can become more severe, leading to jaundice, swelling, or confusion.
Thankfully, early intervention through lifestyle changes—like improving your diet, exercising, and limiting alcohol—can help reverse or prevent further damage to your liver.
Over 45% of adults and 25% of children have non-alcoholic fatty liver!
How the Seasons Affect the Liver
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of energy, or Qi, throughout the body. During spring especially, the liver’s energy is most active, but it can also become unbalanced, especially with strong winds that stir up “liver Qi”. This can lead to issues like hay fever, where the liver disrupts the lungs, causing symptoms like itchy noses, sneezing, and sniffles.
The Liver/Emotion Connection
Our liver plays a much bigger role than just filtering toxins—it’s deeply connected to our emotional health, especially regarding anger. When the liver is out of balance, it’s often linked to feelings of frustration, stress, and irritability. On the flip side, when it’s in harmony, the liver energy allows us to feel expansion—a sense of growth and moving forward in life.
When we’re not aligned with what we’re doing, or feel stuck in a rut, our liver energy can become stagnant. And when that happens, we start to feel it emotionally and physically. Think about those moments of stress or frustration that come with a tight neck and shoulders, PMS, digestive issues, or menstrual problems. That’s your liver’s energy being blocked.
Holding onto anger can make this even worse. Anger is a natural emotion, but when we hold onto it unnecessarily—like grudges or explosive tempers—it only harms us. There’s an old saying, “Anger is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” It may sound extreme, but it’s true. When we let anger simmer, we prevent ourselves from moving forward, growing, and expanding into better things.
As spring is the season of the liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you might notice yourself feeling more irritable during this time if your liver is out of balance. It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on what triggers your anger and decide whether it’s time to let go of certain situations or people that no longer serve you.
Smoothing the Flow of Qi, Blood, and Emotions
In TCM, the liver’s main job is to keep everything flowing smoothly—whether that’s Qi, blood, or emotions. When this function gets impaired, we experience stagnation, which can lead to physical issues like masses or tumors, as well as emotional problems. Maintaining emotional balance depends on keeping the liver in check. It’s okay to feel emotions, but holding onto them can lead to health issues. Sometimes, you just need to let go.
The Liver’s Role in Women’s Health
The liver is a key player in women’s health, especially when it comes to the menstrual cycle. A well-functioning liver ensures a pain-free and regular period by regulating and storing blood. When the liver is out of balance, it can lead to PMS, cramps, headaches, and painful periods.
Supporting Your Digestion
Your liver also plays a big role in digestion. It helps the stomach process food and supports the Spleen in transforming food into energy and blood to nourish the body. When the liver is sluggish, you might experience poor appetite, bloating, or digestive issues like belching and diarrhea.
Eyes, Nails, and Tendons
In TCM, the liver is also linked to the eyes, nails, and tendons. Healthy liver function is reflected in clear eyes, strong nails, and flexible tendons. Issues like dry or itchy eyes, brittle nails, or muscle spasms can be signs that your liver isn’t functioning at its best.
The Liver-Gallbladder Connection
The liver and gallbladder are partners in TCM, responsible for detoxifying the body, regulating emotions, and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi. The gallbladder helps store and release bile, which is essential for digestion and breaking down fats. Together, a healthy liver and gallbladder promote better digestion, balanced emotions, and a more efficient detoxification process.
When these organs are in balance, you may notice:
- Less stress and frustration as emotions flow more smoothly.
- Better digestion and nutrient absorption with improved bile function.
- Clearer thinking and better decision-making, as the liver’s influence on the eyes is said to enhance both physical and metaphorical vision.
- Healthy circulation of blood ensures your body receives the nutrients and oxygen it needs.
- Improved sleep patterns, especially between 1-3 am, the time when the liver is most active.
- More balanced hormones, as the liver plays a crucial role in processing and regulating hormones.
How to Support Your Liver and Gallbladder Health
Taking care of your liver and gallbladder is essential for both your physical and emotional well-being. By ensuring the smooth flow of Qi, promoting healthy digestion, and detoxifying your body, you’re supporting your overall vitality. The liver and gallbladder are key to achieving the mental and physical balance necessary for a healthier, happier life. So, take the time to nurture these vital organs—your body and mind will thank you for it.
Below are supplements to optimize your liver health.
Accelerated Liver Care™
Accelerated Liver Care is more than just a liver supplement—it’s a well-crafted blend of powerful, time-tested herbs from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, South American rainforest botanicals, and modern nutraceuticals. This formula goes beyond basic liver support to deliver a comprehensive solution that addresses everything from detoxification to overall well-being.
What Makes Accelerated Liver Care Unique?
What sets this formula apart is its holistic approach. Every herb and nutrient is chosen for its unique ability to work in harmony with others, enhancing their effects. The blend is designed to help:
- Detox and Purify: By clearing “Damp Heat” and “Toxic Heat” from the liver and gallbladder, the formula ensures the smooth flow of energy, or Qi, throughout the body, balancing and rejuvenating your system.
- Break Down & Prevent Stones: If you’ve ever dealt with gallstones or fatty liver issues, this formula helps keep things flowing, breaking down stones and supporting liver health.
- Gallbladder Pain Relief: Eases discomfort in the gallbladder while helping to keep bile moving freely.
- Boost Detox Pathways: This blend speeds up both phases of liver detox, helping your body clear environmental toxins, bad hormones, and pollutants more effectively.
- Improve Liver Function: It boosts microcirculation within the liver, promoting better oxygen and nutrient flow to support optimal function.
- Balance Blood Sugar & Cholesterol: Naturally helps to manage blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol for better heart and liver health.
- Protect Against Infections: Contains anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties to safeguard your liver from infections.
- Emotional Balance: Helps relieve emotional tension, anger, and frustration, which, according to traditional medicine, are linked to liver health.
The Ingredients in Accelerated LIver Care that work synergistically with each other to make each ingredient more effective than on its include:
Kukti (Picrorhiza kurroa)
This powerhouse herb has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat liver issues like jaundice and fatty liver. Kukti’s ability to activate autophagy (the process by which your body clears out damaged cells) makes it incredibly effective in reducing fat buildup in the liver, helping it regenerate and stay healthy.
Phyllanthus (Chanca Piedra)
Known as the “Stone Breaker,” Phyllanthus, combined with Jin Qian Cao, is amazing for breaking down kidney stones and gallstones. It also fights bacteria like Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach ulcers, and helps with digestive issues and diabetes management.
TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid)
TUDCA is like having an all-in-one hero for your liver and digestive system. It promotes bile flow, helping your liver flush out toxins and regenerate faster. What’s great about TUDCA is its protective benefits for brain and nerve cells, making it a multi-functional ingredient that supports liver health while boosting cognitive function.
Eclipta (Bhringaraj)
A revered herb in Ayurveda, Eclipta is known for promoting lush, healthy hair but is also a liver powerhouse. It detoxifies the liver by clearing excess heat and improves blood circulation, enhancing both skin radiance and liver function. Plus, it’s great for managing cholesterol levels and calming the mind.
Jin Qian Cao
Jin Qian Cao, or Gold Coin Herb, is one of those hidden gems in Traditional Chinese Medicine that packs a real punch when it comes to liver health. It’s especially known for clearing “Damp Heat” from the liver, making it a go-to for dealing with gallstones and even jaundice. This herb is also great for tackling kidney stones. What’s cool about Jin Qian Cao is how it teams up with Phyllanthus and Tudca to help dissolve gallstones and give your liver a serious detox boost. Since it works on the liver and gallbladder meridians, it pairs perfectly with Bupleurum and Milk Thistle, making it a powerful addition to any liver-supporting routine.
Bupleurum
This herb has been a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years, known for its powerful detoxification properties. Bupleurum helps the liver process and eliminate toxins, supports adrenal function to boost energy, and has anti-inflammatory properties that may even help prevent liver cancer.
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle is the ultimate protector of the liver, loaded with antioxidants like silymarin. This herb not only helps repair liver damage but also acts as a shield against toxins from alcohol, pollution, and heavy metals. It’s been used for centuries to treat conditions like hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis.
Skullcap
Skullcap (Scutellaria), from the mint family, has been a staple in both Eastern and Western medicine for its powerful health benefits. In Accelerated Liver Care, we use a highly concentrated extract of Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), standardized to 85% baicalin, the active compound responsible for its healing effects.
Skullcap does much more than support liver health. It’s been used for centuries to promote bile flow, fight inflammation, and protect against infections. Studies show it can fight cancer cells, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and support heart health. It’s even shown promise in treating epilepsy and muscle spasms. The bright yellow color of our baicalin extract is a sign of its purity, ensuring you get the most potent benefits for both liver function and overall health.
Pau Pereira
Native to South America, this rare herb is packed with anti-cancer and antiviral properties. Dr. Mirko Beljanski’s research found that Pau Pereira targets and destroys cancer cells without harming healthy ones. Plus, it’s known for treating viral infections like hepatitis and others by stopping viruses from replicating.
Artemisia Capillaris
Artemisia Capillaris, also known as yin chen hao, is a powerful herb with a long tradition of supporting liver health. Rich in beneficial compounds like scoparone and quercetin, it aids in detoxifying the liver, boosting bile flow, and addressing conditions such as fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help protect the liver from damage, reduce inflammation, and combat infections like hepatitis B. The herb also shows potential in preventing liver fibrosis and even inhibiting liver cancer by inducing cell death in cancer cells. Additionally, Artemisia Capillaris helps improve cholesterol levels and has been used for centuries to treat jaundice, making it an all-around powerhouse for liver health and overall well-being.
Andrographis
Andrographis is a bitter herb native to South Asia with a rich history in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Often called the “Indian echinacea,” it’s packed with powerful compounds like andrographolides that deliver strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral benefits. This herb is particularly effective at boosting immunity and fighting infections, making it a go-to remedy for colds, flu, and respiratory issues. It helps reduce fever, calm inflammation, and combat viral infections. Research also points to its potential anticancer, heart health, and anti-diabetic properties. In Accelerated Liver Care, a concentrated extract of Andrographis works synergistically with other herbs to detoxify the liver by clearing heat, toxins, and microbes. Its protective benefits even extend to guarding against foodborne illnesses, making Andrographis a powerful ally for overall health.
Calcium D-Glucarate
Calcium D-Glucarate is a powerful detoxifier that supports your liver in eliminating harmful toxins. During the liver’s detox process, Calcium D-Glucarate converts into glucaric acid, which binds to toxins, making them water-soluble and easier for your body to flush out.
It also prevents certain enzymes, like beta-glucuronidase, from breaking this bond and allowing toxins to be reabsorbed back into your system. In essence, Calcium D-Glucarate not only helps your body detox but ensures that toxins are fully excreted, making it a great ally for keeping your body clean and healthy!
Thai Black Ginger
Thai Black Ginger, also known as Krachai Dum, is a powerhouse herb in traditional Thai medicine, loved for its ability to boost physical performance and endurance. Packed with 5,7-Dimethoxyflavone, it helps the body use energy efficiently by supporting mitochondrial and ATP function, improving circulation, and even promoting fat burning. It’s also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, offering impressive liver protection—more than Milk Thistle. Plus, it aids digestion, enhances nutrient absorption, and supports glucose metabolism, making it a fantastic all-around health booster.
Why Accelerated Liver Care Stands Out
- High Potency Extracts: The formula includes 10:1 concentrated extracts, ensuring that every herb’s active components are maximized. This means more bang for your buck—10 pounds of raw herbs concentrated into just 1 pound of the most effective ingredients.
- Synergistic Blend: The herbs aren’t just thrown together. The formula has been meticulously tested to ensure each ingredient enhances the others, giving you a well-rounded and powerful solution for liver health.
- Rigorous Testing: Every ingredient undergoes rigorous testing for purity and potency, ensuring you’re getting high-quality extracts like 85% baicalin from Chinese Skullcap and 80% silymarin from Milk Thistle.
- Liver & Gallbladder Focus: Designed to target specific meridians for optimized liver and gallbladder function and detoxification.
- Scalar Technology: Enhanced with scalar frequencies to further improve effectiveness and liver support.
Holistic Benefits Beyond the Liver
Not only does Accelerated Liver Care support detoxification and liver regeneration, but it also:
- Promotes Better Digestion: By improving bile flow, the formula aids digestion and prevents bloating.
- Supports Hair, Skin, and Nails: Eclipta and Milk Thistle help enhance the health of your skin and hair, making them stronger and more vibrant.
- Balances Emotional and Mental Health: With ingredients that reduce stress and calm the nervous system, it helps you feel more emotionally balanced and focused.
- Protects Against Chronic Inflammation: Many of the herbs included, such as TUDCA and Bupleurum, are rich in anti-inflammatory properties, helping to keep systemic inflammation at bay, which is linked to many chronic diseases.
With Accelerated Liver Care, you’re not just improving liver function—you’re boosting your overall wellness. From supporting your immune system to enhancing skin radiance, this supplement is a game-changer for anyone serious about long-term health.
Sara Banta’s Accelerated Liver Flush Cleanse
You can support your liver and gallbladder daily with Accelerated Liver Care, and add in a Liver Cleanse 3-6 times a year. Sara Banta’s Accelerated Liver Flush Cleanse incorporates Accelerated Liver Care with other supplements to prep the liver and gallbladder to release the hundreds of gallstones into the toilet!
The Cleanse is a powerful way to reset your liver and gallbladder for better health and vitality. Here’s how these supplements can make a real difference:
- Flush Out Gallstones: No more dealing with painful cramps and inflammation—this cleanse helps naturally flush gallstones from your system.
- Lower Liver Enzymes: Bringing down AST and ALT levels indicates improved liver health and function.
- Repair Liver Cells: It works to replace damaged liver cells with healthy ones, helping to reverse fatty liver disease and restore proper liver function.
- Detoxify: Thousands of toxins and pollutants, including those from drugs and alcohol, are eliminated, reversing years of damage.
- Reduce Cholesterol: Flush out unhealthy cholesterol, which improves cardiovascular health and helps prevent future issues.
- Clear Obstructions: It opens up blockages in the liver and gallbladder, ensuring smooth bile flow and better digestion.
- Boost Immunity: A healthier liver means a stronger immune system, helping your body fight off illness more effectively.
- Regenerate Liver and Gallbladder: The cleanse supports the regeneration of these vital organs, promoting long-term health and vitality.
By adding these Liver Cleanse supplements to your quarterly routine, you can give your liver and gallbladder the boost they need to keep you feeling your best.
Diet To Support Liver Health
When it comes to supporting your liver, the right foods can make a big difference. Here are some top choices that can help keep your liver functioning at its best:
- Organic Produce: Eating organic is key. Foods sprayed with pesticides, GMOs, and glyphosate put a strain on your liver, leading to insulin resistance, fatty liver, and even heart disease. Non-organic foods can hinder your liver’s ability to properly metabolize healthy nutrients, so going organic ensures your liver isn’t overburdened.
- Whole Foods: Ditch ultra-processed foods filled with sugars, artificial ingredients, and inflammatory seed oils. These only back up your liver, worsen insulin resistance and clog detox pathways. On the flip side, whole, unprocessed foods help cleanse and support your liver naturally.
- Fatty Fish: Fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines are rich in omega-3s, which work wonders for reducing inflammation and promoting liver health.
- Citrus Fruits: Packed with vitamin C, oranges, lemons, and limes helps detoxify the liver and boost the production of glutathione, a key antioxidant. Starting your day with warm lemon water is a refreshing way to wake up your liver.
- Green Tea: This antioxidant powerhouse, full of catechins, protects your liver from damage and improves its function. A cup of green tea in the morning is one of my go-to’s.
- Artichoke: Artichoke leaf extract is great for increasing bile production, protecting the liver from damage, and helping it regenerate.
- Wild Animal Protein: Opt for wild meats like bison, elk, lamb, and wild-caught fish, which nourish your body without the harmful amyloid proteins found in conventional meats. These proteins are linked to liver stress, gut imbalances, and even cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s.
- Vegetables Without Oxalates, Sulfur, and Mold: Not all veggies are created equal. Some contain plant toxins that can hinder your liver’s detox processes and contribute to inflammation, joint pain, and even brain fog. For a full list of safer options, check out the Accelerated Food Guide.
- Organic Coffee: Believe it or not, coffee is great for your liver! Moderate consumption has been shown to reduce the risk of liver diseases, including fatty liver, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Coffee can also lower liver enzymes, provide antioxidants, and detoxify your liver—just another reason to enjoy your morning brew!
Taking care of your liver health will exponentially impact your overall health, preventing many diseases, increasing energy, managing weight, and so much more.
Sara Banta
Sara Banta is a Stanford University Graduate with a Degree in Economics and Psychology, and a certified Natural Supplement Expert & Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sara is the Founder of Accelerated Health Products and host of the health & wellness podcast, Accelerated Health Radio.
