From a very young age, in school, we are taught the basic functions of the different organs of our body. Science classes engaged us at the time and educated us in the basics of the physiology of the human body. We all know that our most important organ, the one that everyone knows how it works, is the heart. But, are you sure? Although this organ is essential to life - like most major organs - there is another organ that has a huge impact on our health. The latter is not as much in evidence as the heart and yet .... We rarely talk about it in traditional allopathic medicine, but in naturopathy or even in traditional Chinese medicine, it is the key to our well-being:

The liver

Together with the intestines and the gallbladder, this organ is part of the digestive block. Located on the right side of the body, just below the last rib and the diaphragm, the liver is the warmest organ in our body but also the largest. Indeed, the liver measures more or less 30 centimeters for a weight approaching 1,5 kilos and its functioning generates a temperature which can reach the 40 degrees while functioning correctly. Moreover, the simple fact of putting a hot water bottle on the liver at the end of the day, for 15 to 30 minutes, will provide significant liver support. Think about it and adopt this new reflex in your daily routine.

The functions of the liver:

Hepatocytes, the cells of the liver, perform many functions that are essential to life and good health. Indeed, the main functions of the liver are the following:

• The liver helps and supports the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. In fact, the liver converts glucose into glycogen which is then released into the bloodstream. At the same time, lipids will be transformed into triglycerides. The liver therefore plays a role in the body's energy needs.
• Also, it ensures the synthesis of many proteins.
• The liver allows the storage of certain nutrients and vitamins essential to life but also the distribution of these.
• It produces bile continuously, a yellow liquid that plays an indispensable role in the digestion process
• Its role of detoxification should be more often highlighted because it ensures its role of degradation of toxic products and thus ensures a good elimination of toxins and toxics that disturb our health. The liver is therefore a filter organ that we could not do without.

How do you take care of your liver?

Plants rich in silymarin, for example, will be very interesting to protect the liver but also to regenerate it. Indeed, it is not without interest to know that the liver has a very important capacity for regeneration. Silymarin is extracted from the seeds of a plant called "milk thistle", a very common plant in Europe. Already commonly used in allopathic medicine, it has also been put forward in many natural treatments for pathologies related to the liver or simply to support its work.

Other plants can accompany and support the liver: Artichoke, Black Radish, Desmodium, Boldo, Dandelion, etc... Let's also add all the plants and foods with a bitter taste because it is known for its ability to detoxify and purify the body. Moreover, the bitter taste will accompany the digestive functions which, themselves, will facilitate the intestinal peristalsis.

But plants are not the only therapeutic tools to help this precious organ that is the liver: foot reflexology, acupuncture, accupressure, shiatsu, ... These different methodologies are based on ancient principles of Chinese medicine, which is itself based on the concept of meridians. Incredible methods to become an actor of his health and avoid and or eliminate the various toxins that pollute our body but also our mind ....