Symptoms of liver disease, fatty liver signs and natural liver support
Tired all the time. A heavy feeling under your right ribs. Urine darker than it should be. The liver rarely complains loudly, so its early signs are easy to miss. Learn the symptoms of liver disease, the causes most common in Nigeria, which tests to ask for, and where our NAFDAC approved liver detox tea fits in.
Baozem Detox Tea
Also sold as Zemora Detox Tea. Same liver support formula.
- A blend of natural herbs chosen for liver health and detox
- 30 tea bags. Taken twice daily, morning and evening
- Designed for a course of at least 30 days
What are the symptoms of liver disease?
Early liver disease often causes no symptoms at all. When symptoms appear, the most common are tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and discomfort in the upper right side of the belly. As damage gets worse, signs include yellow eyes or skin (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools, itchy skin, swelling in the legs or belly, and bruising easily. Yellow eyes, vomiting blood, black stools or confusion need a hospital the same day.
Where is the liver, and what does it do?
The liver is your largest internal organ. It sits in the upper right side of your belly, tucked under your lower ribs, in both men and women.
Everything you eat, drink or swallow passes through your liver. It filters your blood, processes food, makes bile to digest fat, stores energy and breaks down medicine and alcohol.
Where liver pain is felt. Liver discomfort usually shows up as a dull ache or heaviness under the right ribs, sometimes spreading to the right shoulder or back. The liver itself has few pain nerves, so many people with liver disease feel no pain at all.
Filters the blood
Removes waste, toxins and old blood cells.
Makes bile
Helps your body digest fat.
Stores energy
Holds sugar and releases it when you need it.
Clears medicine
Breaks down drugs and alcohol so they can leave the body.
Makes proteins
Including those that help your blood clot.
Repairs itself
A healthy liver can regrow damaged tissue, if the cause stops in time.
12 warning signs of liver damage
The early signs are vague and easy to blame on stress or malaria. The later signs are more specific and more serious.
Early signs
- 1. Tiredness and weakness that rest does not fix
- 2. Nausea and loss of appetite
- 3. Dull ache or heaviness under the right ribs
- 4. Unexplained weight loss
Later signs
- 5. Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
- 6. Dark urine, like tea or cola
- 7. Pale or clay-coloured stools
- 8. Itchy skin with no rash
- 9. Swollen legs, ankles or belly
- 10. Bruising or bleeding easily
- 11. Small red spider-like veins on the chest or face
Go to a hospital now
- 12. Confusion, unusual sleepiness or slurred speech
- Vomiting blood or passing black stools
- Yellow eyes with fever or severe belly pain
- A belly that swells quickly
These can mean the liver is failing or bleeding. It is an emergency. Do not wait to see if a tea or a home remedy helps.
What your urine colour can tell you
| Urine colour | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Pale yellow | Normal, well hydrated. |
| Dark yellow | Usually you need more water. It should lighten within a day of drinking more. |
| Brown, tea or cola coloured | Can be a sign of liver disease, when bilirubin builds up in the blood and spills into urine. See a doctor, especially if your eyes look yellow or your stools are pale. |
| Red or pink | Possible blood in the urine. Needs a doctor. |
Fatty liver: symptoms, causes and whether it can be reversed
Fatty liver is the most common liver problem in the world, and it is rising in Nigeria with weight gain and diabetes.
What it is. Fatty liver means too much fat has built up inside the liver cells. Doctors now call the most common type MASLD, short for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. It used to be called NAFLD. When alcohol is the cause, it is called alcohol-related fatty liver.
Fatty liver symptoms. Most people have none. It is often found by chance on an ultrasound or a blood test. When symptoms show, they are usually tiredness and a dull ache or fullness under the right ribs. Symptoms are the same in women and men.
What causes it. Extra weight around the belly, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a diet heavy in sugar and fried food, little exercise and regular alcohol.
Is fatty liver dangerous? On its own, simple fatty liver is usually not harmful. In some people it leads to inflammation, then scarring (fibrosis), then cirrhosis. That is why it should be checked and not ignored.
Can fatty liver be reversed? Yes, in its early stages. Losing about 5% of your body weight reduces liver fat. Losing 7 to 10% can reduce inflammation and even some scarring. For a person who weighs 90 kg, that is about 5 to 9 kg. Cutting out sugary drinks and alcohol and walking daily are the strongest steps you can take.
What causes liver problems in Nigeria
Some causes are the same everywhere. A few matter much more here.
Hepatitis B and C
The leading causes of serious liver disease in Nigeria. About 8 in every 100 Nigerian adults carry hepatitis B, and most do not know it. It spreads through blood, sex, and from mother to baby at birth.
Fatty liver
Linked to belly fat, diabetes, high blood pressure and a diet heavy in sugar, fried food and refined carbohydrates.
Alcohol
Regular drinking, including beer, spirits and strong local brews, damages liver cells over time.
Medicine and unregistered mixtures
Too much paracetamol can injure the liver. So can some unregistered herbal mixtures and "agbo" of unknown content. Use only NAFDAC registered products, and never mix many remedies at once.
Aflatoxin in stored food
Mould on poorly stored groundnuts, maize and grains produces aflatoxin, which harms the liver and raises liver cancer risk, especially with hepatitis B. Throw away mouldy or shrivelled nuts and grains.
Other causes
Autoimmune liver disease, blocked bile ducts, heart failure and some inherited conditions are less common causes.
Which liver tests to ask for in Nigeria
These tests are offered at most hospitals and diagnostic centres. Together they show how your liver is doing and why.
| Test | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Liver function test (LFT) | A blood test for ALT, AST (also called SGPT and SGOT), ALP, bilirubin and albumin. Raised levels show the liver is under stress. |
| Hepatitis B test (HBsAg) | Shows whether you carry hepatitis B. Every Nigerian adult should know their result. |
| Hepatitis C test | An antibody blood test, followed by a confirmation test if positive. |
| Abdominal ultrasound | Shows fatty liver, liver size, and lumps or stones in the gallbladder. |
| FibroScan | Measures how stiff or scarred the liver is, without a needle. Offered at some specialist centres. |
Hepatitis B vaccine. If your hepatitis B test is negative, ask about the vaccine. It is safe, given in three doses, and protects you for life in most cases.
Liver myths many Nigerians believe
Some popular "liver" remedies do nothing for the liver at all.
"Andrews Liver Salt cleans the liver"
Despite the name, Andrews Liver Salt is an antacid and mild laxative for indigestion and constipation. It does not treat the liver. People with kidney problems, high blood pressure or a low-salt diet should ask a pharmacist before using it.
"Yellow eyes are just malaria"
Malaria can cause yellow eyes, and so can hepatitis, gallstones and liver failure. Yellow eyes always need a test, not a guess.
"A detox weekend resets the liver"
The liver detoxifies the body every day by itself. What helps it most is removing what harms it: alcohol, excess sugar, extra weight and unregulated mixtures.
"If I feel fine, my liver is fine"
Hepatitis B and fatty liver can damage the liver for years without symptoms. Only tests can tell.
Best foods for liver repair
No single food heals the liver. A steady pattern of the foods below, and less of the rest, gives a damaged liver room to recover.
Eat more of these
- Vegetables like ugu, spinach, waterleaf, garden egg and cabbage
- Beans, lentils and whole grains like oats and brown rice
- Fish like mackerel and sardines
- Fruits like pawpaw, oranges, watermelon and guava
- Groundnuts and other nuts, fresh and properly stored
- Plain coffee, without lots of sugar. Studies link it to lower rates of liver scarring
- Water through the day
Cut back on these
- Alcohol of every kind
- Soft drinks, malt drinks and sweetened juice
- Fried food eaten often
- White bread, pastries and sugary snacks
- Processed meat like sausages and corned beef
- Too much salt and seasoning cubes, especially with a swollen belly
- Mouldy groundnuts, maize or grains
Baozem Detox Tea, our liver detox tea
A blend of natural herbs chosen to support the liver's daily work. Also sold as Zemora Detox Tea. It is made to be taken alongside healthy habits and your doctor's care.
How to take it
- Tear open one tea bag.
- Pour the contents into half a cup of hot water.
- Stir, let it settle, then drink it with the herbs.
- Take twice daily, morning and evening.
- Stay consistent for at least 30 days.
Who it is for
- People told they have early fatty liver
- People with raised liver enzymes on a blood test
- People cutting back on alcohol
- People on long-term medication who want to support their liver
- Anyone who wants to care for their liver early
Speak with your doctor first if you
- Have hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis or liver failure
- Have yellow eyes, dark urine or a swollen belly
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Take blood-thinning or other prescription medicine
- Have surgery coming up
Liver health questions
Need more help? Talk to our team on the contact page.
What are the first signs of a bad liver?
The first signs are usually tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and a dull ache under the right ribs. Many people have no early signs at all. Yellow eyes, dark urine and pale stools come later and need a doctor promptly.
Where is liver pain located?
Liver pain is usually felt as a dull ache or heaviness in the upper right side of the belly, under the ribs. It can spread to the right shoulder or back. The liver is on the right side in both men and women.
What colour is urine with liver disease?
Liver disease can turn urine dark brown, like tea or cola, because bilirubin builds up in the blood. Dark yellow urine is more often a sign you need more water. Brown urine, especially with yellow eyes or pale stools, needs a doctor.
Is fatty liver dangerous?
Simple fatty liver is usually not harmful on its own, but in some people it leads to inflammation, scarring and cirrhosis over years. It should be checked with a liver function test and ultrasound, and managed with weight loss, less sugar and no alcohol.
Can fatty liver be reversed?
Yes, in its early stages. Losing about 5% of body weight reduces liver fat, and losing 7 to 10% can reduce inflammation and some scarring. Cutting out sugary drinks and alcohol and exercising daily make the biggest difference.
How can I repair liver damage naturally?
Remove what is harming the liver first: stop alcohol, lose extra weight, cut sugary drinks and fried food, and avoid unregistered mixtures. Get tested for hepatitis B and C, since these need medical treatment. Herbal support like Baozem Detox Tea can be taken alongside these changes, never instead of treatment.
Does Andrews Liver Salt treat the liver?
No. Andrews Liver Salt is an antacid and mild laxative used for indigestion and constipation. It does not treat or cleanse the liver. Ask a pharmacist before using it if you are pregnant or have kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Is an enlarged liver dangerous?
An enlarged liver is a sign, not a disease. It can come from fatty liver, hepatitis, alcohol, heart failure or other conditions. It always needs a doctor to find the cause, usually with blood tests and an ultrasound.
What is a liver function test?
A liver function test (LFT) is a blood test that measures liver enzymes such as ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT), along with ALP, bilirubin and albumin. Raised results show the liver is under stress, and your doctor will look for the cause.
Is Baozem the same as Zemora?
Yes. Baozem Detox Tea and Zemora Detox Tea are the same liver support formula sold under two names.
How do I order Baozem in Nigeria?
Order on the Baozem Detox Tea page. Our team calls to confirm, delivery is free nationwide and you pay when it arrives.
Sources
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Liver disease.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
- NHS. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- World Health Organization, Africa. World Hepatitis Day: Nigerians implored to be screened and vaccinated.
- Medicines.org.uk. Andrews Salts, summary of product characteristics.
Last updated October 2026.
Often looked at together
The liver works closely with the kidneys and stomach. If these sound familiar too, start here.
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