Class Notes from Lesson 4-7 Constitutional

 Lesson 4-7: The Liver 3, treating deficiencies and excess

Herbs that stimulate liver, tonics, increase liver metabolism by increasing hepatocyte enzyme production, increasing bile synthesis and liver cleansing, improving fat absorption into the lymph or increasing blood supply to hepatic artery.

Oregon Grape and/or barberry, pleurisy root. blue flag iris (small doses)... pleurisy root and iris increases bile. Iris best for skinny, "soft" people. Chelidonium, Chelone, Euonymus, Leptandra and phytolacca are all strong and harsh - liver irritants.

Aristolochia watsonii and one other, I didn't really catch... didn't even know what he said until later.

Yellow dock and ocotillo for dull ache in prostate, uterus, urination... lymphatic congestion.. portal congestion.

Constant anxiety causes chronic constriction of hepatic artery. Use yellow dock for that or for alcoholism.

Prickly Ash Zanthoxylum increases blood supply to liver and intestinal tract.

Start people on herbs, then ad diet complexity. Start with tonics.

... now I'm craving White Castle... gosh those are the best sliders... the onions make it! .. and goulash... and fajitas...

I guess my liver is okay - I almost never crave sweets... maybe a cookie or bit of ice cream after supper. I'd rather eat cured sausage and pickles than anything else.... or a big bowl of chili!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently, liver deficiency leads to a reductionist diet.... fish especially? Liver deficiency manifests in strict, simple, bland diets. Healthy humans are omnivorous generalists.... not vegetarians or vegans or pure carnivores. We are like bears, raccoons and pigs... and I love to eat bears, raccoons and pigs.... I We are not meant to live on twinkies or tofu or "veggie burgers" which are actually dogfood with lots of toxic additives.

Liver excess is one of the few excesses that should be treated. Liver excess is "build it up and store it". More muscle, more fat, more bone, more connective tissue. Very anabolic. Liver works hard to store rather than metabolizing food. Moist, sometimes oily skin, hives from food or drugs. Fever with sweat when sick. Deficient don't sweat when sick. Anabolic stress type. Crave proteins and fats. Always seem a little hot. Moist. oily skin.

I guess I tend more toward the anabolic, liver excess. Well, that is no surprise... my testosterone levels have always been very high... plenty of muscle, little fat... lots of "fire" in all regards... hard to sleep. Yes, a salad is an excuse to eat blu cheese dressing.... with smoked oysters and bacon, capers, sardines and pickled hot peppers!

MM was a speed addict. I'll never understand that. Any amphetamine gives me an awful headache.

He says that people with liver excess only eat fat and protein, no colored vegetables. So I guess I'm okay. I eat the cornucopia, and crave it! ... I eat the full Chinese buffet.... liver excess tends to plain meat and potatoes.

Liver excess can present in stubbornness and anger.... sometimes gout.

Liver excess may be corrected by adding some veggies to the diet..... I'm good on this one.

Dandelion and burdock can help with liver excess.

Here is the link to the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine Course

https://www.swsbm.com/school/