Can Liver Cleansing or Detox Encourage Weight Loss
The health of our liver is so much more important than many of us may know, and especially when it comes to weight loss. Liver health and weight loss are not talked about often enough, and it’s often glanced right over when it comes to formulating a weight loss plan.
However, a healthy liver and weight loss are so closely related that having poor liver health can cause weight loss resistance, and having a sluggish liver can directly lead to weight gain.
The bottom line here is that if you are trying to lose weight, and may be frustrated with your results so far, it’s time to show your liver some love.
Liver detoxification is needed in order to maintain proper liver health, and as we now know, this is a vital component of achieving successful, long-term weight loss. A liver detox can help clear the built-up toxins in the digestive system, boost the metabolism, and ultimately help you lose weight naturally.
How Does a Healthy Liver Encourage Weight Loss According to Chinese Medicine?
Let’s dive a little deeper into the connection between a healthy liver and weight loss, and specifically how Chinese Medicine can help boost liver function and help speed up successful weight loss.
First, it’s important to understand that the liver acts as the frontline organ defence. The liver helps to flush out toxins we are exposed to in the foods we consume and to environmental toxins, we come in contact with on a daily basis. The liver will help prevent these toxins from passing into the bloodstream and making us sick.
When your liver is healthy, it can help promote food absorption and proper digestive health. With proper digestion comes a speedier metabolism, which is important for successful and long-term weight loss.
A healthy liver can also help promote fat burning as it produces bile that can help break down fat. When the liver is overburdened due to a big toxic load, the body will not be as efficient when it comes to digestion and fat breakdown which may not only lead to weight gain but can also make you feel downright sluggish and bloated.
And, since a healthy liver can help push out toxins from the body, it, in turn, can help reduce water retention.
So, how can Traditional Chinese Medicine Help? In principle of TCM, a healthy liver also helps to maintain normal Qi and blood circulation. This also promotes harmony between the spleen and liver organ systems and can help you achieve your optimal weight.
When your liver is working appropriately, your metabolism, digestion, and toxic excretion will certainly benefit, and weight loss will naturally follow.
Does Cleansing Liver Help With Weight Loss?
If you’ve been trying to lose weight and feel like you have been doing all of the right things but are seeing little to no success, your liver health may need a boost as a poor liver function can prevent weight loss. If your liver isn’t functioning optimally, your metabolism and digestion will be sluggish, and your body isn’t going to be burning fat or flushing toxins out as efficiently as it could.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the health of the liver is vital, and a healthy liver is needed to move Qi (energy) as well as blood to other organs in the body for nourishment. (1) When there is liver toxicity, it can lead to Liver Qi and Yin deficiency as well as blood stagnation. A decrease in Liver Qi means that the secretion of bile may also decrease which can reduce how efficiently your body burns fat. (2)
Liver Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency can lead to the following:
- Increased fat accumulation
- Reduced metabolic rate
- Increased fluid retention
- Eventually, Liver Qi deficiency may not only prevent weight loss but also induce weight gain.
- Liver Qi deficiency can also cause an increase in sweet food cravings which can lead to weight gain. (3)
What are signs that your liver is struggling?
If you are suffering from an unhealthy liver, especially when you are having Liver i Stagnation, or liver Qi stagnation associated with other kinds of deficiency, you may see these signs that are warning you to take good care:
1. Pain or discomfort anywhere along the sides of the body
2. Mood swings and frequent sighing
3. Becomiry and being easily frustrated
4. Menstrual irregularities and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
5. Digestive imbalance: feelings of fullness, mucous in the stool, and gas
To learn more about the symptoms of having a struggling liver, read the blog for detailed information. However, the symptoms appearing may differ from one person to another, it is better to consult a TCM specialist for more professional diagnosis. Get a free consultation here.
Learn more about TCM’s view on the liver function directly from our expert team!
How to Detox Your Liver With Chinese Medicine to Achieve Weight Loss?
With the health of the liver being so critical for not only weight loss, but the overall health and balance of your body, it’s important to detox your liver, and you can support liver detox and health with Chinese Medicine.
Here are some ways Traditional Chinese Medicine can help support liver detox and thus help support weight loss.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture for liver detox is another great, natural way to help promote liver health and weight loss. Acupuncture can help restore the flow of energy (Qi) as well as blood through the body. This can help your body absorb nutrients as well as remove toxins. If you are not able to have acupuncture sessions at clinics, you can also conduct acupressure at home, learn about the acupressure points for weight loss in this blog.
Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbs to cleanse liver are also drug-free and affordable options. They can be taken either in pill form or tea form.
A popular one used for detox is Goji Berry. It has the benefits of supporting your Live function in detoxification. Additionally, it is useful to improve immune system health and even support fertility in both men and women.
Chinese Motherwort, or Yi Mu Cao, is also a frequently used herb for encouraging liver cleansing. With the benefits of nourishing and boosting blood circulation, it can help with a women’s menstrual health at the same time.
Similarly, Dong Quai is known for regulating menstrual cycles but you should know that its benefits in supporting liver cleansing are also strong. It can promote our metabolism which is important for the body to flush out wastes and toxins.
To better lose your weight with healthier liver functions, read about other Chinese herbal tea for weight loss here.
Lifestyle & Diet
Recommended liver cleansing weight loss diet Tips.
Last but not least is making some simple but very effective lifestyle and dietary changes. Liver health is very much dependent on a healthy diet, so be sure to include plenty of liver cleansing foods in your diet including sour foods, ginger, and turmeric. Turmeric is especially helpful as it can help liver enzymes flush out toxins while it also contains potent antioxidants that can help repair liver cells at the same time. (4) Sour foods and bitter greens are also great such as dandelion greens, nettle, and arugula as they can help promote healthy liver function and support digestion (5) Ginger can also be great for liver detox and has been found to reduce inflammation and reduce insulin resistance. (6)
Exercise is also a great way to promote liver detox, and cardio can be especially helpful. Try to move your body at least four to five times per week to give your liver a boost.
Herbal Medicine to Support Your Detox
Liver Maintenance
Liver Maintenance is natural supplement designed specifically to improve Liver function and Liver health. By improving Liver function these herbal blend supplements that are inspired by the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gently improve metabolism, reduce Liver stress and symptoms of liver stress.
The Bottom Line
A healthy liver is one of the most important aspects of being able to successfully lose weight. So, if you have been trying to lose weight and are frustrated with your success so far, take some steps to support your liver. You can learn more about Chinese Medicine for weight loss from this blog. The better your liver health, the easier it will be to lose weight and keep it off long-term. Plus, the healthier your liver, the better you will feel!
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
