Symptoms
Many naturopaths believe that indications that your liver is "sluggish" or not functioning as well as it could may include:
- Intolerance of alcohol and/or fatty foods
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Acne and other skin conditions such as psoriasis
- High cholesterol and blood lipid levels
Other more serious symptoms may indicate the presence of more complex conditions requiring professional treatment (such as hepatitis). These include:
- Jaundice (yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes)
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Severe generalised pain in the abdomen, or localised to the liver region
- Swelling and hardness of the liver (hepatomegaly)
- Dark urine with a strong smell
- Stools may be unusually light or dark in colour; floating stools may indicate that fats are not being properly broken down by the liver and gall bladder
- Hair loss
- Swollen feet or legs
- Red palms
- Confusion, sleep disturbance, and occasionally mental disturbance
- Generalised itching over the whole body
