Liver Disorder Alternative Treatment:

Common Liver Function Tests

A series of special blood tests can often determine whether or not the liver is functioning properly. These tests can also distinguish between acute and chronic liver disorders and between hepatitis and cholestasis.

The most commonly performed blood tests include:

• Serum Bilirubin Test – Elevated levels of bilirubin often indicate an obstruction of bile flow or a defect in the processing of bile by the liver. Bilirubin is produced by the liver and is excreted in the bile.
• Serum Albumin Test – Below-normal levels of albumin, a protein made by the liver, are associated with many chronic liver disorders.
• Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Test – Elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme found in the bile, usually indicate an obstruction of bile flow, liver injury, or certain cancers.
• Serum Aminotransferases (transaminases) – This enzyme is released from damaged liver cells.
• Prothrombin Time (PTT) Test – This test measures the time it takes for blood to clot. Blood clotting requires vitamin K and a protein made by the liver. Liver cell damage and bile flow obstruction can both interfere with proper blood clotting.
• Alanine Transaminase (ALT) Test - This enzyme is released from damaged liver cells.
• Aspartate Transaminase (AST) Test - This enzyme is released from damaged liver, heart, muscle, or brain cells.
• Gamma-glutamyl Transpeptidase Test - This enzyme is produced by the liver, pancreas, and kidneys and released into the blood when these organs are injured.
• Lactic Dehydrogenase Test – This enzyme is released when organs such as the liver, heart, lung, or brain are injured.
• 5’-Nucleotidase Test – This enzyme is released by the liver when the liver is injured due to bile duct obstruction or impaired bile flow.
• Alpha-fetoprotein Test – This protein is produced by the fetal liver and testes, indicating hepatitis or cancer.
• Mitochondrial Antibodies Test – The presence of these antibodies can indicate primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, and certain other autoimmune disorders.

More than 25 million people in the United States suffer from liver and gallbladder diseases, according to the American Liver Foundation. And, more than 43,000 die of a liver disease each year.

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. It is also one of the most important ones. The biliary system -- consisting of the bile ducts and the gallbladder -- and the pancreas are all closely associated with the functioning of the liver.

Some liver, biliary, and pancreatic disorders are congenital. Others can be prevented. In any case, whether these diseases are congenital, injury-related, viral-induced, or alcohol-induced, they can be devastating to a person's health and require professional care. See Below:

• Fatty Liver
• Alcoholic Hepatitis
• Alcoholic/Chronic Cirrhosis
• Virus-Induced Liver Disorder / Hepatitis

There are 5 main types of the hepatitis virus that have been identified.

Hepatitis A – This type of hepatitis is usually spread by fecal-oral contact, including:

• Touching an infected person's stool
• Consuming food made by someone who touched infected stool
• Drinking water made dirty by infected stool -- a problem in developing countries
• Having anal sexual intercourse with an infected person
• Hepatitis A Diet - When it comes to diet, it is very important to avoid eating Toxins and Foods That Kill. Now, important part of your diet should also be Water Cure. Your Diet should contain: Foods That Heal, Vegetable Juices, Fats That Heal and Unrefined Sea Salt. Also, try to understand food tolerance. You can not find the right Hepatitis A diet, unless you fully understand and learn about food tolerance.

Hepatitis B – This type of hepatitis spreads mainly through contaminated blood and blood products, sexual contact, and contaminated intravenous needles. Hepatitis B can lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

• Vitalliver - The Chinese Medicine for Hepatitis Vigconic immuno-modulating suppositories are made from the essence of natural herbs and antlers, with minimal toxic side effects. They exert their efficacy by altering the immune system to clear off the virus. This is somewhat similar to what Chinese herbalists call "restoring harmony" (fu zheng gu ben) and "eliminating pathogens and toxins" (qu xie jie du).

Hepatitis C – The symptoms of this type of hepatitis are generally less severe than hepatitis B. Hepatitis C spreads through contaminated blood or blood products, sexual contact, and contaminated intravenous needles. With some cases of Hepatitis C, no mode of transmission can be identified. In addition, people with alcoholic liver disease also tend to develop hepatitis C.

• Preliminary studies in animals show that milk thistle may help protect the liver from injury by a variety of toxins ("poisons" such as drugs, viruses, alcohol, radiation, and poisonous mushrooms) and limit the damage from them. To date, the most reliable, and also quite preliminary, studies on people show that milk thistle does not cure liver disease, but that it may improve the way the liver works in patients with cirrhosis. However, there is no current evidence to indicate that milk thistle directly affects HCV.
• In Germany, where many herbs are regulated and prescribed like drugs, health authorities have approved milk thistle as a complementary treatment (given in addition to conventional drugs) for cirrhosis, hepatitis, and similar liver conditions. But a great deal of research still is needed before this alternative therapy could be considered a standard treatment option in the United States.

Hepatitis D – This form occurs together with hepatitis B, making the hepatitis B infection worse.

• Treat the same as Hepatitis B. Vitalliver - The Chinese Medicine for Hepatitis Vigconic immuno-modulating suppositories are made from the essence of natural herbs and antlers, with minimal toxic side effects. They exert their efficacy by altering the immune system to clear off the virus. This is somewhat similar to what Chinese herbalists call "restoring harmony" (fu zheng gu ben) and "eliminating pathogens and toxins" (qu xie jie du).

Hepatitis E – This form is similar to hepatitis A and occurs most frequently in underdeveloped countries.

• Treat the same as Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A Diet - When it comes to diet, it is very important to avoid eating Toxins and Foods That Kill. Now, important part of your diet should also be Water Cure. Your Diet should contain: Foods That Heal, Vegetable Juices, Fats That Heal and Unrefined Sea Salt. Also, try to understand food tolerance. You can not find the right Hepatitis A diet, unless you fully understand and learn about food tolerance.

For information on Cancer of the liver, see the listing under Cancer.

For more information on Liver Disorders: Dr. Mercola 3/19/2005