30 Home Remedies to Prevent Liver Cancer and Treat its Symptoms
The liver is a large organ that sits near to the belly and works alongside your gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines to digest and absorb your food. Its main job is to filter blood from the gut before circulating it around the rest of the body. Your liver is also important for detoxifying and breaking down any chemicals in the blood such as drugs, alcohol and toxic pollutants. Keeping the liver healthy is important and it is the best way to prevent liver cancer.
A healthy liver will be able to regenerate its dead cells. However, if your liver becomes damaged or chronically inflamed, it will struggle to properly heal itself. If left untreated, his can lead to a range of conditions including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
Unfortunately, there’s no way of compensating for the long-term loss of liver function. Liver dialysis may help for a little while but it isn’t a suitable long-term solution. In most cases, the only option, in the long run, is a complete liver transplant. This is why it’s so crucial that you take proper care of your liver. After all, it’s much better to prevent liver cancer than to need to cure it.
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
Live cancer can often develop as a result of cirrhosis and hepatitis B infections. The symptoms don’t usually appear until a much later stage of the disease, which can make it hard to detect. However, some common symptoms can include the following:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Buildup of fluid in the abdominal area
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Fever
- Itchiness
- Abnormal bruising or bleeding
If you have liver cancer, or if you know someone who has it, these home remedies can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms. We know that having cancer is a scary thing. It’s important that the patients keep their head up. Try to think positive. Give them comfort, spend time with them, buy them gifts, and let them know that it’ll be okay– no matter what happens.
Home Remedies to Prevent Liver Cancer and Reduce the Symptoms
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Avoid Processed Pork
Several studies and reports have linked excessive pork consumption to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This is thought to be because most U.S raised pigs are fed on grains and seed oils which contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids. This can cause inflammation when consumed in high quantities and so can create a higher risk of liver cancer.
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Avoid Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener included in the recipes for more than 6,000 products. Studies have identified a link between the sweetener and liver cancer. Check the ingredients of your processed foods and avoid ones that contain a high level of aspartame.
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Regular Detoxes
Every day we come into hundreds, if not thousands of pollutants. They’re in the air, water and food that we put into our bodies so it can be very difficult to avoid them completely. What we can do though, is detox our bodies to reduce any build-up of toxins. Cleansing your liver is also one of the most effective ways of removing toxins from your body as it also helps to improve your liver’s regenerative capabilities and reduces the risk of cancer.
To learn how to naturally detox your liver, read our article 24 Home Remedies to Detox the Liver.
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Turmeric
Turmeric is a great home remedy to prevent liver cancer. It has antioxidant properties which help to reduce damage by free radicals which can harm your liver cells and cause them to grow uncontrollably into a cancer tumor.
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Papaya
Papaya is one of the safest natural remedies for liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis. To keep liver-related conditions at bay, combine half teaspoonful of lemon juice with two teaspoonfuls of papaya juice and consume it every day.
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Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy which helps to detoxify the liver so that it can regenerate properly and reduce the risk of cancer. You can mix some apple cider vinegar with a spoonful of honey in a glass of water. Drink this mixture twice a day.
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Indian Gooseberry
Indian gooseberry, sometimes known as amla, is rich in vitamin C which is vital to ensuring optimal liver function. Eat 3-4 raw Indian gooseberries a day or drink a glass of amla juice to get the benefits.
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Spinach and Carrot Juice
A mixture of spinach and carrot juice makes a great home remedy to prevent liver cancer. Combine equal parts of both juices in a glass and drink once a day. The rich level of vitamins and minerals can help maintain liver function and regeneration which helps to fight off the development of cancer.
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Apples and Leafy Vegetables
Apples and leafy vegetables have a high level of antioxidants which helps to prevent any damage by free radicals which would otherwise lead to cancer. The pectin in these foods also helps to remove toxins from your digestive system, protecting the liver and keeping it healthy.
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Dandelion Root Tea
Dandelion root tea is another great home remedy because it helps to maintain healthy liver function. Boil a small amount of dandelion root in some water for five to ten minutes before straining and drinking the liquid.
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Licorice Tea
Licorice is another great herbal tea infusion that helps to reduce your risk of liver cancer. Like other remedies on our list, it can help to promote healthy liver function, keeping your liver cells healthy and reducing the risk of developing cancer. Simply boil a little licorice root in some boiling water before straining. You can then drink the tea as a refreshing herbal drink. Two cups a day should be enough to see an improvement in the condition of your liver.
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Flax Seeds
Flax seeds contain high levels of hormones called phytoconstituents. These are the same hormones that can be found in your blood and help to reduce liver strain. Adding crushed flax seeds to your salads or as a topping on toast, you can naturally boost the health of your liver by removing some of the strain. You can also add it to some yogurt or cereal to increase your intake.
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Avocados
Avocados are packed full of healthy fats like omega-3 which makes them great for improving the health of your cells and reducing the risk of cancer. They also contain compounds which help to cleanse the liver of toxins, helping to keep it healthy.
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Walnuts
Walnuts contain many of the same compounds as avocados, including omega-3. This makes them just as good at promoting healthy liver function.
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Stay Hydrated
Getting enough water not only helps to cleanse and detox your liver but it can also help to reduce some of the symptoms of your cancer and its treatment. Detoxing your liver helps to keep it healthy and reduce the risk of developing cancer. If you’ve already been diagnosed with liver cancer, staying hydrated can help to reduce nausea, dehydration, and dizziness which can occur as a result of your cancer or chemotherapy.
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Watch What You Eat (And When You Eat It)
To combat nausea that can occur as a symptom of liver cancer of as a result of your chemotherapy. Try eating small meals on a regular basis, rather than eating fewer, heavier meals. You might also be better avoiding fried, spicy and salty foods as these can increase nausea.
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Peppermint
Sucking on peppermint candies and drinking a cup of peppermint tea is another great way to tackle nausea that can be caused by your cancer or chemotherapy.
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Ginger
Ginger is another great home remedy for reducing the symptoms of nausea because it can combat nausea. Try sipping some non-alcoholic ginger ale or ginger tea to ease your feeling of nausea.
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Exercise
One of the most common symptoms of liver cancer is fatigue. Fatigue can also affect the majority of people undergoing chemotherapy as part of their cancer treatment. Many experts believe that getting plenty of regular exercises can help to reduce fatigue by increasing the production of endorphins in the body. It may seem difficult to exercise when you’re undergoing treatment, but even a simple walk will help.
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High Fiber Foods
If you’re suffering from liver cancer or undergoing treatment you may find that you experience constipation. Getting plenty of fiber into your diet by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help to tackle this symptom. Staying hydrated will also help to soften your stools.
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Avoid Tobacco
Tobacco in any form can increase your risk of contracting cancer. Even if you don’t smoke or chew tobacco, being around smokers and breathing in their smoke can increase your risk. Cutting tobacco out of your life and avoiding it however you can help to decrease your risk of developing cancer.
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Avoid Obesity
Being obese or overweight can often increase your risk of developing cancer. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet with lean meats and plenty of fruit and veg. This will help you maintain a healthy weight, particularly when combined with regular exercise. Cutting back on refined sugars can also help.
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Get Immunized
A huge part of cancer prevention is protecting yourself from certain viral infections such as Hepatitis B. This particular disease can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. It can be passed on through sex, sharing needles or any other exposure to infected bodily fluids. Being immunized can prevent you from contracting the illness and therefore lower your risk of cancer.
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Acupuncture
There are a number of studies which have shown acupuncture to be an effective home remedy for nausea. As nausea is common for people suffering from or being treated for liver cancer, acupuncture could be a great home remedy for such individuals.
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Milk Thistle
This Mediterranean herb has been used to treat a number of liver problems over the centuries. It’s thought that it can help reduce toxicity in the blood, helping to improve liver health and reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.
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Mistletoe
This is another herb that research is starting to be looked at in terms of treatment for liver cancer symptoms. Studies are still ongoing but so far, the results are looking promising.
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Massage
Many patients with liver cancer develop an edema. This is a swelling that occurs as a result of fluids building up in the body. This can affect the function of your legs, ankles, and feet, causing them to be painful, stiff or sore. Massaging these areas can help to relieve the effects of an edema and relieve the swelling.
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Safe Sex
Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be passed on through sexual intercourse, they also both increase the risk of developing cancer. Practicing safe sex by using condoms and alerting your partner if you know you have hepatitis B or C is the best way to prevent the disease being passed on. You could also get immunized against hepatitis B as we mentioned earlier.
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Over-ripe Bananas
An article from 2009 identified the antioxidant effects of over-ripe bananas. This could help to reduce damage done by free radicals and keep the cells of your liver healthy. Any damage by free radicals can cause damage to your DNA and cause your cells to replicate uncontrollably. This can then lead to the growth of a cancer tumor. Therefore, by eating over-ripe bananas could help to lower your risk of cancer.
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Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea is well known for its aromatic smell and flavor. Research has also shown that it could have anti-cancer properties. It seems to be especially effective in esophageal, liver and skin cancers.
Which of these home remedies will you use to prevent liver cancer or to treat its symptoms? Comment below!
References
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/prevent-liver-damage/
https://www.onlymyhealth.com/health-slideshow/10-home-remedies-for-liver-diseases-1412148815.html
https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-ways-to-prevent-liver-cancer-514174
https://livercancer.newlifeoutlook.com/alternative-medicine/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention/art-20044816
https://www.everydayhealth.com/liver-cancer/liver-cancer-alternative-therapies.aspx