The liver is one of the body’s vital organs, performing a wide range of detoxification functions.
Harmful substances absorbed into the body through food and pharmaceuticals are detoxified in the liver; therefore, when the liver is damaged, the body’s metabolism becomes disrupted, lipid peroxidation levels rise, and lipofuscin accumulates in the skin and internal organs. If toxic substances enter various tissues and organs without being adequately detoxified, they can further impair liver function.
In addition, when we get injured, the wound often clots and forms a scab quickly—this is also thanks to the liver. The liver also plays a role in glucose metabolism, among other functions. Therefore, protecting the liver is of utmost importance for our health!
Staying up late and drinking alcohol are the most harmful to the liver.
Staying up late harms the liver.
Nowadays, staying up late has almost become the norm. Even when it’s already very late and our bodies are exhausted, we still can’t bring ourselves to sleep—our bodies seem to be unconsciously waiting for a certain moment, only reluctantly drifting off once they’ve reached their absolute limit, well past midnight or even one in the morning…
Research indicates that staying up late can harm the liver. This is because, in an upright posture, hepatic blood flow decreases by 40%, whereas lying flat promotes a richer supply of blood to the liver. According to traditional Chinese medicine’s meridian theory, between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. each night, the liver–gallbladder meridians are at their peak in terms of qi and blood circulation—making this the optimal time for nourishing the liver’s blood and also the period when the liver begins its detoxification process.
However, liver detoxification occurs primarily during deep sleep. Staying up late prevents the liver from effectively eliminating toxins, hindering the production of fresh qi and blood. Over time, this leads to insufficient nourishment of the liver, making already damaged hepatocytes difficult to repair and even more prone to further deterioration, thereby causing significant harm to the body.
Over time, this can lead not only to rough skin, increased fatigue and lethargy, frequent bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat, and heightened internal heat, but also to impaired liver detoxification, resulting in a significant rise in toxin levels in the bloodstream.
Drinking alcohol damages the liver.
Alcohol is one of the major risk factors for liver disease.
Alcohol is primarily metabolized and detoxified by the liver; prolonged, heavy consumption inevitably increases the liver’s workload, leading to hepatic injury and potentially resulting in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
During hepatic metabolism, alcohol also generates acetaldehyde, an intermediate metabolite that is toxic to hepatocytes, gradually damaging the liver. Over time, this can lead to alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic cirrhosis, and other conditions; if left undetected and untreated, it may progress to hepatocellular carcinoma.
Excessive alcohol accumulation in the liver can damage hepatocytes and impair liver function, leading to a decline and disruption of the liver’s detoxification, excretory, and metabolic processes. This can result in insufficient fat oxidation, giving rise to alcoholic fatty liver disease; if left unchecked, it may progress to cirrhosis and even hepatic ascites.
The mechanism by which Ganoderma lucidum protects the liver
Both China’s pharmacological classics, the Shennong Bencaojing and the Compendium of Materia Medica, record: “Lingzhi tonifies liver qi and calms the spirit.”
Modern pharmacological studies have also confirmed that Ganoderma lucidum can enhance the antiviral defenses of hepatocytes, making it more difficult for hepatitis viruses to enter these cells and inhibiting viral replication within them. Furthermore, Ganoderma lucidum boosts the ability of hepatocytes to synthesize DNA, RNA, and proteins, promotes the regeneration and repair of damaged liver cells, and improves overall liver function and detoxification capacity. It demonstrates excellent therapeutic efficacy in treating hepatitis caused by a variety of etiologies.
Lingzhi contains ten major classes of bioactive compounds, including its unique lingzhi polysaccharides and lingzhi acids. Its hepatoprotective and detoxifying mechanisms are as follows:
1. Lingzhi can enhance human immunity, making the body less susceptible to infection by hepatitis viruses of types A, B, C, D, and others.
2. Ganoderma lucidum can increase the permeability barrier of hepatocyte membranes, thereby preventing various hepatitis viruses from entering hepatocytes and inhibiting their replication within these cells.
3. Lingzhi can promote the repair of hepatocytes damaged by food, alcohol, medications, and other factors, accelerate hepatocyte regeneration, and restore liver function.
4. Lingzhi can inhibit free radicals generated by alcohol, drugs, fats, and other substances, thereby protecting hepatocytes from damage.
5. Lingzhi promotes lipid metabolism and lowers cholesterol levels, reducing the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and helping to prevent and treat fatty liver disease.
