Natural Health: As I give up alcohol for January — is there a supplement I could take to help?

Plus: What can I do to help warts on my hands?

Milk Thistle (silybum marianum) has long been to help repair and regenerate damaged liver cells. It also protects from further damage by scavenging for the free radicals which cause ageing and tissue damage

I’ve decided to give up alcohol for January. Is there a supplement I could take to help my liver detox?

The liver is a vital elimination organ that filters toxins such as bacteria, viruses, and environmental pollutants from your blood.

Fortunately, the liver can regenerate itself. Doctors report that when half of the liver is removed from a donor for transplant, the absent portion will grow back.

A simple but effective measure is to adopt a specific nutrition plan, such as the liver cleansing diet developed by Dr Sandra Cabot ( liverdoctor.com) which supports toxins release and eases the workload of the elimination organs.

Milk thistle has long been used in Europe to help repair and regenerate damaged liver cells. It also protects from further damage by scavenging for the free radicals which cause ageing and tissue damage. 

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is another supplement with an affinity for the liver. It addresses liver damage, maintains healthy lung function, and enhances the immune system. 

Several additional herbs assist in toxins excretion and support the elimination organs to resist toxins upon re-exposure. 

Common herbs besides milk thistle used for detoxification include dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis), buchu (Barosma betulina), echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), and elder (Sambucus nigra).

Our lymphatic system is critical in maintaining optimal immune levels and fighting disease, but also helps remove cellular debris and toxins from the body.

Exercise is one way of getting the lymph moving — particularly skipping, jumping on a trampoline, walking, cycling, swimming, and other forms of aerobic exercise. 

Using a natural bristle body brush (dry) every morning before you shower will also help. 

Use brisk strokes and always work towards the heart. Finally, remember to drink water regularly throughout the day to help flush your system and assist in the removal of toxins.

Essential oils assist the body’s natural elimination response by stimulating the liver, lungs, lymphatic system, kidneys, bowels, and sweat glands. 

Oils known for their detoxification properties include juniper berry, carrot seed, lemon, sweet fennel, angelica root, cypress, grapefruit, geranium, mandarin, rosemary, peppermint, and sweet orange. 

These oils can be combined or individually by adding to a base oil for massage, a bath, a vaporiser or oil burner, or neat on the soles of the feet. 

You can even add a drop of your chosen oil(s) to the bristles of your body brush before dry skin brushing. Always use essential oils with caution, and never take them internally.

I’ve started to get flat warts on the back of my hands. I’m in my 70s and wonder if this could be age-related.

Flat warts, also known as plane warts, verruca plana, or juvenile warts, are small flat-topped warts that typically affect the hands, legs, or face. 

While small, they can occur in any number, from a single wart to hundreds, and may be pigmented. 

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which there are more than 100 different subtypes — the type of HPV can determine whereabouts on the body the warts appear.

Age does play somewhat of a role in the development of warts, where superficial skin cells multiply too rapidly. 

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often effective in treating dermatological conditions. Anecdotal reports suggest that warts of all kinds have been healed in less than a month through regular acupuncture treatment (in some cases taken with Chinese herbal remedies).

In TCM, skin conditions are seen as an outward expression of your internal health. 

A good practitioner will read the state of your internal organs through methods such as pulse and tongue diagnosis.