Articles

Liver Cysts

by Dr. Sandra Cabot

Summary

A cyst is the medical term used to describe a space of roundish or sac-like shape in some part of the body. It may be empty or contain watery or mucous types of fluid.

It is not uncommon to find one or several small cysts in the liver when a patient has an ultrasound scan or CAT scan of the abdomen for some reason.

The vast majority of these cysts are found by chance as they do not produce any symptoms.

It is important to rule out 'Hydatids' disease. This condition occurs when humans ingest dog tape worm - Echinococcus granulose which can invade the liver causing cysts. This may occur in areas where sheep and cattle raising are done. These can be differentiated from simple cysts, which is important as they may require treatment to avoid rupture. Good standards of hygiene and regular worming of dogs can prevent these infections.

What causes cysts?

These "simple cysts" usually arise because a small area of liver cells die or degenerate. The most common cause is advancing years and poor diet and lifestyle. Sometimes these cysts can be full of "fatty material" in those with a fatty liver. These cysts do not represent liver disease because the liver, being such a huge organ, has plenty of other areas containing healthy cells to enable liver function to remain normal.

Are they common?

Solitary or multiple liver cysts are common, especially with advancing age - they have no special significance unless they are diagnosed as cancerous. Liver function is generally normal. Occasionally these cyst may cause pain but for the most part they do not cause any particular symptoms.

Can they be cured?

If your doctor finds that you have one or several of these degenerative types of liver cysts (simple cysts), do not become alarmed. Obviously you do not want to develop many more of these cysts and thankfully it is easy to stop them from multiplying. In many cases it is possible to gradually shrink the cysts using nutritional medicine.

Recommended Dr Cabot books:

"The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book"

"The Liver Cleansing Diet"

"Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"

Treatment

It is important with these conditions to have a strong functioning immune system - this can only come from having a strong functioning liver.

Diet

Follow the vital eating principles for a healthy liver found in either "The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book" or Make these principles a way of life.

General recommendations

Those with simple liver cysts should avoid all dairy products, which is easy to do on the Liver Cleansing Diet. Dairy products are mucous forming foods - this will exacerbate the cysts . Dairy foods contain traces of antibiotics, steroids and artificial growth hormones as this is what the herds are treated with in today's high tech dairies to prevent disease and boost milk production. As with humans where substances go through into breast milk it is the same for cattle - only they neglect to tell you this in the advertisements when they
are telling you how great milk is. If you need further info on this please visit www.notmilk.com

Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.
Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the livers workload.
Avoid ALL alcohol.
Drink 2 liters of water each day.
Avoid artificial sweeteners see www.dorway.com (use 'Stevia" the natural herbal sweetener if you wish to avoid sugar altogether.

Juices

DR Cabot has known about the incredible healing power of raw juices from a very young age. Her grandmother"s life was saved by raw juicing back in the 1930s. Raw juices are an incredible powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin. Appropriate juice recipes found in DR Cabot's "Raw Juices Can Save Your Life" book.

Recommended juices are:
"Liver Tonic Juice" page 116
"Liver Cleansing Juice" page 116
"Antibiotic juice"p 45
"Immune Dysfunction"p103