Symptoms:
The whites of the eyes yellow, then the mucous membranes, and then the skin generally.

Cause:
When, for various reasons, the liver cannot handle the load placed upon it, bilirubin builds up. This is a yellow-brown substance which results from the breakdown of old red blood cells. The liver must constantly remove bilirubin from the blood; and, if this is not done, bilirubin begins collecting in tissues all over the body, the urine is darker, and the stools are lighter because the bilirubin it usually contains is not present.

But red blood cell destruction can also cause it. Blood tests identify whether the problem is obstruction or RBC destruction.

Jaundice is not itself a disease, but rather a symptom of one. It can point to pernicious anemia, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and hemolysis (which is an abnormal destruction of red blood cells). Jaundice can also be caused by a blockage of the bile duct system in the liver, because of gallstones or a tumor. More rarely, it is caused by a parasitic infestation, such as tapeworm, hookworm, a flea, or mosquito carrying a viral infection.

Treatment:
• Eat only raw fruits and vegetables for a week. Then eat 75% raw foods for a month. Take fresh lemons daily during that time.

• Both alcohol and tobacco are very hard on the liver.

• Drink fresh vegetable juices.

• Treatment includes exposure to ultra violet light in order to speed up elimination; vitamin C, to bowel tolerance; and vitamins A, E, and selenium.

• Silymarin, extracted from the milk thistle, helps repair damage to the liver. It is well-worth taking.

• Go on a liver flush. This is done by drinking apple juice alone for 3 days, followed by drinking a cup of olive oil and a cup of lemon juice.

• Helpful herbs include burdock root, agrimony, celandine, red clover, licorice, dandelion, and chionanthus.