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o) Dreams
Chapter 17 in Simple questions states that if the Liver is in Excess, dreams of being angry will occur. Chapter 80 states
that if the Liver is Deficient, dreams of fragrant mushrooms will occur; if the dreams occur in the spring, they will be
about lying under a tree without being able to rise.
Chapter 43 of the Spiritual Axis states that if the Liver is Deficient dreams of forests in the mountains will occur.
Western Functions of the Liver
The liver performs hundreds of functions, but only a brief discussion of some of these will be presented.
One of its most important functions is the conversion of food into substances and energy required by the body. It has
several roles in carbohydrate metabolism. The liver
synthesizes glucose from certain amino acids, lactate or
glycerol (gluconeogenesis). It forms glycogen from
glucose (glycogenesis) and stores it. Muscle tissues can
also do this. When energy is required it breaks down the
stored glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis) and releases
it into the blood. People with liver damage may
sometimes lose the ability to control glucose concentration
in the blood and need a regular supply of sugar.
The liver plays a significant role in protein
metabolism, synthesis as well as degradation into amino
acids. It produces albumin, the major osmolar component
of blood serum.
Lipid metabolism, such as: cholesterol synthesis, the
production of (fats) triglycerides (lipogenesis,) and the
synthesis of many lipoproteins.
It plays an important role in fighting infections, particularly those arising in the intestines. The liver contains more
than 50% of the body’s supply of macrophages, called Kuppfer cells.
The liver makes enzymes and proteins which are responsible for many biochemical reactions in the body - for
example, those involved in blood clotting and repair of damaged tissues.
It produces red blood cells production up to the 32nd week of gestation; then the bone marrow almost completely
takes over. The liver is a major producer of thrombopoietin, a glycoprotein hormone that regulates the production of
platelets by bone marrow.
It produces and excretes bile for emulsifying fats. Some of the bile is secreted into the duodenum and some is stored
in the gallbladder.
The liver also produces an insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a polypeptide protein hormone that plays an
important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults.
64 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volume 2, Issue No. 1