Alternative Medicine Remedies for Overworked Liver & Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system consists of the lymphoid organs, including lymph nodes. It aids in eliminating waste from the body. Waste collects in the lymph nodes and moves to the kidneys, skin, lungs and colon so it can be expelled. The liver produces bile, which is necessary for digestion and expels toxins and waste. These organs become overworked and can lead to symptoms of sluggishness, digestion issues and headaches.

Lymphatic System Home Remedies

There are several effective ways to boost your lymphatic system at home. Try dry brushing. Beginning at the outer limbs and working to the body's center, gently use a brush to massage your skin, allowing sweat glands to open pores and let your body breathe.

A massage, sharing the same principle as dry brushing, is also a good way to stimulate the lymphatic system. Elevate the feet for a few minutes and massage the outer points of the body, working toward the center. You can also ask a professional therapist for a lymphatic massage.

Take a break from preservatives. Avoid highly processed foods because they cause fluid retention and swelling. Also avoid foods that contain monosodium glutamate, as well as commercial soup or sauce bases and broths, gelatin, and anything hydrolyzed. Focus instead on drinking eight to 10 glasses of pure water every day and add fresh vegetables and foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, broccoli and salmon, to your diet. Also squeeze half a lemon into a cup of warm water each morning and drink.

Homeopathy for Liver

If you are tired each morning, irritable, constipated or have gas or bloating, your liver may be overworked. Other signs are morning headaches, digestive headaches, pain on the right side and skin problems.
There are several homeopathic remedies for a sluggish liver, according to Nicole Duelli, a certified classical homeopath. The herb chelidonium majus is helpful with gas, right-side pains and irritability. Lycopodium helps with bloating and morning sluggishness. Nux vomica and natrium sulphuricum are other herbs to try. Duelli recommends contacting an experienced homeopath for liver problems, since they tend to be chronic. Remember that some herbs should not be taken in raw forms, but should be diluted to work safely.

Home Remedies for Liver

Your liver is more likely to be overworked if you drink large amounts of alcohol or eat a lot of processed, fatty foods.
Juice fasts are a good way to cleanse. Drink the juice of two whole oranges every day for at least three weeks. Another option you can try is to soak roasted cumin seeds in buttermilk for one half-hour, add a pinch of salt and drink. Make sure you swallow the seeds. Try making a juice using three parts carrot juice to one part cucumber juice. Drink this daily. A cup of dandelion tea each morning can also help by stimulating bile production and aiding the liver in blood purification.
Milk thistle is another excellent way to help your liver. Milk thistle not only detoxifies the organ, but also helps with new cell growth. Take two capsules daily.