Liver disease is serious and requires treatment and regular monitoring by a liver specialist. A liver specialist is known as a hepatologist and you need to be referred by your family doctor or general practitioner. Over nearly 40 years of practicing medicine I have seen many patients develop severe liver disease, which sadly could have been prevented by early detection and early referral to a hepatologist. There needs to be more awareness of liver disease so that patients can be treated early so that we can prevent cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Make sure you have your liver function checked annually with a blood test. I have presented my ideas on how to help those with liver diseases using nutritional medicine, which I have been using for many years with good success rates. However my recommendations do not replace the care of your own doctor and you should remain under the care of your own doctor whilst using nutritional therapies. If you have any questions you may contact my naturopath, Christine, on 623 334 3232 or email us at [email protected]

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

This is an inflammatory condition of bile ducts resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the flow of bile causing damage to the liver cells. The bile ducts within the liver become inflamed. The disease more commonly affects middle-aged women. The onset of symptoms is gradual, most commonly with fatigue and itching skin as the first symptoms. Long-standing bile obstruction is believed to lead to liver cirrhosis. This is an autoimmune condition and is often associated with other autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Raynauds syndrome, CREST syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. The incidence is 3 to 15 cases per million per year. "This disease has many similarities to sclerosing cholangitis and essentially the dietary and supplement program is the same for both diseases. As with sclerosing cholangitis, excellent results and long term control of this disease can usually be achieved with nutritional medicine. High doses of vitamin E (1000 IU twice daily) should be taken to reduce liver scarring. A powerful liver tonic containing natural synergistic nutrients to support liver function should be taken long term. This is available in capsule or powder form."

What are the symptoms of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis?

The Symptoms include:
  • itching
  • jaundice
  • enlarged liver
  • abdominal pain
  • fatty deposits under the skin
  • soft yellow spots on the eyelids
  • fatty stools

Tests

The tests that are performed that diagnose this condition are a liver biopsy and mitochondrial antibodies blood test (positive in about 95% of cases).

Recommended books

General recommendations

  • Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
  • Avoid deep fried foods.
  • Avoid gluten (found in wheat, rye, oats and barley).  This is essential in order to improve the immune system.
  • Reduce alcohol intake.
  • Drink 70 ounces (2 liters or 8 - 10 glasses) of filtered water each day.
  • Avoid artificial sweeteners - see www.dorway.com
  • Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin D replacement therapy adds fat-soluble vitamins lost in fatty stools.
  • Follow the principles of The Liver Cleansing Diet in Dr Cabot's Liver Health Guide.  Make these principles a way of life.

Supplements to Support Liver Function

LivaTone Plus Capsules and/or LivaTone Plus Powder 
A specific liver tonic which contains a high dose of the herb Milk Thistle with a high standardized concentration of the active ingredient silymarin. This liver tonic would also contain additional supporting nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Selenomune Capsules

Selenomune contains 200 mcg of organic selenium combined with high doses of other immune boosting minerals per capsule.

MSM Plus Vitamin C powder
MSM (Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane) is an organic form of the mineral sulphur. Sulphur is a vital component of healthy bile. Sulphur is needed to produce the powerful liver antioxidant called glutathione. Vitamin C will neutralize free radicals generated during the phase 1 detoxification pathway in the liver. Toxic chemicals are far less dangerous if there is plenty of vitamin C in the liver. Natural Vitamin E
Vitamin E is required to protect cell membranes from free radical damage. Make sure you use vitamin E supplements which are natural (d-alpha-tocopherol); synthetic forms (dl-alpha-tocopherol) are derived from petrochemicals and are not well utilised by the body.
Any powdered supplements could be stirred into fresh raw vegetable juices containing carrot, celery and beet made with a juice extracting machine.  My book Raw Juices Can Save Your Life is an excellent source of juice recipes for various conditions.

Orthodox medicine

Dr Cabot has known about the incredible healing power of raw juices from a very young age. Her grandmother's life was saved by raw juicing back in the 1930s. Raw juices are an incredibly powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin.
Appropriate juice recipes include:
Liver Tonic Juice Liver Cleansing Juice these recipes can be found in my Raw Juices Can Save Your Life book.

Orthodox medicine

Cholestyramine (or colestipol) may reduce the itching by reducing blood levels of bile acids, and clearance of bile acids in the skin. Ursodeoxycholic acid (actigall or ursodiol) may also improve clearance of bile from the blood stream. Liver transplant for primary biliary cirrhosis prior to liver failure has been successful.  

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any diseases.