Liver detoxification in Manual Osteopathic Therapy

In the world of wellness, the liver is the body’s natural detox powerhouse. It filters toxins, processes nutrients, breaks down hormones, and manages blood sugar - making it essential for our overall health and vitality. However, when the liver becomes congested due to any stress, impact or trauma, its detox function can be impaired - even if you are eating clean and healthy. This is where manual osteopathic therapy steps in. MOT is a holistic manual therapy that focuses on restoring the body’s natural balance through gentle manipulation of muscles, joints, fascia, and organs. When it comes to supporting the liver, MOT offers a unique approach that goes beyond diet and supplements - by physically enhancing the environment in which the liver operates.

Osteopathic support for the liver is often part of a broader, whole-body strategy - looking at the musculoskeletal, circulatory, nervous, and visceral systems in tandem. 

One of the key and direct osteopathic techniques for liver health is visceral manipulation - gentle hands-on work that helps the liver and its surrounding organs move freely. Every organ in the body has its own natural rhythm in how its moves and interacts with each other. And any restriction in its movements can lead to congestion and poor drainage. By encouraging normal mobility, osteopathic therapy can help reduce the amount of pressure on the liver, thus enhancing its ability to process and eliminate toxins more effectively.

Improving circulation and lymphatic flow are crucial for liver detox. If circulation is impaired, the liver can struggle to receive fresh oxygenated blood or remove waste products efficiently. As one of the foundational techniques of MOT, it can stimulate the lymphatic system to support toxin elimination and optimize lymphatic flow, clearing the pathways so that the liver can do its job without being clogged up.

The liver’s function is also deeply influenced by the autonomic nervous system - especially the parasympathetic side. Chronic stress or trauma can lead to sympathetic dominance, which disrupts digestion, liver enzyme production, and detox pathways. By using osteopathic craniosacral techniques to regulate the nervous system, it can calm down the stress response and improve vagus nerve function. Shifting the body into a state more conducive to healing and detoxification.

The liver is anatomically connected to the diaphragm, ribs, spine, and other digestive organs. Poor posture or “tweaks” in the skeletal system can restrict liver function mechanically. By restoring structural integrity with osteo-articulation, such as rib mobilization and correction of the spinal restrictions, the liver gets the physical space and support it needs to function optimally.

The liver works hard behind the scenes to keep you healthy, while MOT offers a gentle, effective, and natural way to support this vital organ, not just by targeting symptoms, but by treating the root causes of dysfunction. Whether you are on a detox journey or simply aiming to optimize your wellbeing, incorporating osteopathic treatments can be a powerful step toward balance, vitality, and better health.

~ Derek Chiu, MOT, RMT

Detox - a Natural Way to Support Your Body and Promote Radiant Skin

Our skin is often a reflection of our overall health. If you frequently experience acne or blemishes, it might signal an underlying issue. This could range from dysbiosis—an imbalance of harmful versus beneficial bacteria in the gut—to a lack of microbial diversity. It could also be linked to poor dietary choices, where excess sugar and processed ingredients trigger inflammation throughout the body. Additionally, if your liver isn’t adequately supported, it may struggle to detoxify harmful metabolites, further affecting your skin and overall health.

In North America, it’s common to prioritize convenience over nutrition when it comes to food choices. After a long workday, the thought of shopping for groceries and preparing a meal can feel overwhelming, leading many to reach for quick, processed foods. Unfortunately, these convenience foods often provide empty calories that contribute to inflammation, bloating, and, over time, more significant health issues.

This is why it’s important to occasionally give your body a break from these habits. Nourishing your body with nutrient-dense foods can help build strong cells and support vital bodily functions. By supporting your liver, you reduce the burden of detoxifying not only the natural byproducts of your metabolism but also the toxins introduced through processed foods.

A detox doesn’t necessarily require supplements, but they can be helpful in supporting liver function and elimination pathways, such as sweating, regular bowel movements, urination, and respiration. By aiding your body’s natural detoxification processes, you can reduce inflammation, as there are fewer toxins your body needs to defend against. Additionally, many detox supplements contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), further decreasing inflammation.

A way you can do a gentle detox is by eating only whole foods - so nothing processed. If you are currently doing this and are still experiencing skin issues, you can also try eliminating foods that tend to cause sensitivities. You can discover your food sensitivities by doing the Elimination Diet, or by doing a Food Sensitivity Test with your Naturopathic Doctor (read more about Food Sensitivities here).

If you are still not noticing any improvements, I would recommend seeing a Naturopathic Doctor to help guide you since there’s most likely something else going on. To book an appointment with Dr. Charmagne, you can click the link below.

Happy Detoxing!

~Dr. Charmagne

Related blogs:

Understanding Food Sensitivities

Detoxifying to Support New Beginnings - Part 1

Insulin Resistance and Your Immune System

References:

Conforti C, Agozzino M, Emendato G, Fai A, Fichera F, Marangi GF, Neagu N, Pellacani G, Persichetti P, Segreto F, Zalaudek I, Dianzani C. Acne and diet: a review. Int J Dermatol. 2022 Aug;61(8):930-934. doi: 10.1111/ijd.15862. Epub 2021 Aug 22. PMID: 34423427.

Meixiong J, Ricco C, Vasavda C, Ho BK. Diet and acne: A systematic review. JAAD Int. 2022 Mar 29;7:95-112. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2022.02.012. PMID: 35373155; PMCID: PMC8971946.

Melnik BC. Linking diet to acne metabolomics, inflammation, and comedogenesis: an update. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015 Jul 15;8:371-88. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S69135. PMID: 26203267; PMCID: PMC4507494.

Liu, Y., Zhao, Y., Gao, X., Liu, J., Ji, F., Hsu, Y. C., … Nguyen, M. H. (2022). Recognizing skin conditions in patients with cirrhosis: a narrative review. Annals of Medicine, 54(1), 3016–3028.

Supporting Lung Health During Poor Air Quality

With the forest fires, we have been experiencing lower air quality. It was the worst this past Monday, with Environment Canada issuing a special air quality statement stating that most parts of the Calgary would be experiencing an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) of 10, with higher numbers in the NW of the city. Right now the AQHI is at a 4, which is considered moderate risk to increase symptoms of pre-existing illnesses, such as asthma, or experience symptoms like difficulty breathing, coughing or irritated eyes (Alberta Environment and Parks). 

From Alberta Environment and Parks

I know I've been clearing my throat and coughing more over the past few days, and I know I'm not the only one. Alberta Health Services gave a few recommendations to help decrease your exposure to the smoke.

Alberta Health Services has advised the following for those who are susceptible to smoke, when the AQHI is high:

• Monitor your symptom and minimize physical activity outdoors

• Stay indoors with windows, doors and air circulation fans/vents closed - including in the car

• Run your car fan on re-circulate mode to avoid drawing in outdoor air

• Turn off air-conditioners or fans that bring outside air inside

• Turn down furnace thermostats and furnace fans to the minimum setting. Do not attempt to extinguish pilot light.

• Switch all floor registers to closed position.

• Close fire place dampers on wood burning fireplaces.

Here is a few more things you can do to support your lungs, clear out some of that built up mucous, and help your lungs feel like new. 

Get an air purifier 

These help clean out the pollutants in the air so that you can breath clean air. These are especially helpful if you have any pre-existing illnesses that make you sensitive to air quality. You can get these at places like Home Depot, Canadian Tire, etc. You could also opt for plant air purifiers, The Mind Unleashed has a beautiful infographic summarizing a study published by NASA that listed a number of plants that helped clean the air of various pollutants and toxins, such as formaldehyde. Though, you will need a few plants around your room before you start noticing a difference. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and found in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants protects the body from free radicals that can damage cells and as a result, damage organs. A higher intake of vitamin C protects the body by reducing the air pollution-induced oxidative stress in the body. Researches at Imperial College in London studied a population of patients hospitalized, the air quality, and the patient's levels of vitamin C. They noticed that there was a 35% increased risk of hospitalization for breathing-related issues for people with COPD or asthma for every 10 mcg/m3 increase of coarse particulate matter in the air. This number was 1.2 higher for people with low vitamin C levels.

N-acetylcystine (NAC)

NAC is used in the body to make glutathione (along with glycine and glutamine), which is often called the master antioxidant or the "Mother of All Antioxidants" of the body. It is one of the most abundant antioxidants in the body, is found along the extracellular epithelial lining fluid, and respiratory cells (from the trachea to the alveoli in the lungs) (Hindawi Biochemical Research International), with highest concentrations found in the liver. As a result, it is able to defend the body similarly to vitamin C, by protecting the body from free radicals and pollution-induced oxidative stress (PLOSone). Glutathione is a very strong anti-inflammatory in the body; therefore, it will be able to quell the inflammation that happens to lungs in the presence of pollution and other irritants. NAC is also a muoclytic - meaning that it helps make mucus less thick and stick, so it is easier to cough it up - which is nice if you've been having a hard time.

Olive Oil or Fish Oil

These two are known to help the cardiovascular system as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, and as a result, studies were conducted to see if it could help with the respiratory system as well. Fish oil was found to be able to prevent and decrease the inflammation caused by pollution-related oxidation (The Guardian). Patients that took olive oil were able to increase tissue plasminogen activator right after they were exposed to concentrated ambient particulate. Plasminogen activator is a protein that is involved in breaking down blood clots (Medical News Today), protecting the vascular system from atherosclerosis as a result of endothelial (inner lining) dysfunction from the air pollution.

Smoking Cessation

For those who smoke and are looking for a way to stop smoking, there are apps you can use to help you through this portion of your journey. Consumers Advocate listed 2 apps that they like here, and they seem like really good apps that can help you track and see your progress - which is always exciting. The above recommendations can help support your lungs, but with constant exposure to the cigarette smoke, it won’t be as helpful.

Happy breathing!

- Dr. Charmagne