Herbs for the Liver

This list of herbs for the liver may support liver health. The antihepatotoxic healing herbs for liver may also provide relief from liver problems such as fatty liver, liver cirrhosis and enlarged liver and are used for liver detoxification or liver cleansing.

The liver is the largest internal organ and it sits under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. Some of the functions of the human liver include absorbing nutrients, filtering blood from the digestive track, detoxifying or getting rid of toxic substances and secreting bile.

Liver problems and liver diseases are caused by many factors. Hepatitis A for example is caused by virus due to poor hygiene and sanitation. Hepatitis B occurs because of blood infection. Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus and is transmitted through a cut or injection, and possibly mosquitoes too. It is a serious liver disease.

Other liver diseases include fatty liver disease which is caused by consuming alcohol, obesity or diabetes. Cirrhosis is mainly due to alcohol misuse or caused by infection of hepatitis B or C viruses. Certain medications, genetics and many other factors are also associated with the various liver diseases.

Taking great care of the liver is important because some of the diseases affecting the liver show no symptoms and can go undetected for years. Once detected, some of the symptoms are treatable while some others can lead to serious complications.

Conventional treatment involves the use of prescription drugs. The cost can be expensive and they may produce side effects. Before pharmaceutical medications were introduced, herbs were used to treat liver problems and for liver health. Now, herbs are used as alternative remedies to conventional treatment. Certain herbs have the ability to prevent or reverse damage to liver cells or reverse symptoms, fight against virus and optimize liver functions.

Healing herbs for the liver No. 1- Milk thistle or silybum adans

Milk thistle tops the list of healing herbs for the liver. One of the most active constituents in the seeds and flowers is silymarin and within it there is silibinin. Silymarin is a powerful antioxidant and may have anti-cancer properties.

Silymarin protects the liver cells from toxins, support liver cell protein synthesis and reduces the oxidation of glutathione which is an antioxidant that helps remove chemicals, drugs and pollutants from the body.

Many human trials were done using milk thistle extract and silymarin. The results found that milk thistle was able to relive the symptoms of chronic alcoholic liver disease, toxic liver damage, hepatitis B and early stage of cirrhosis.

Herbs for the liver No. 2 - Baical skullcap or scutellaria baicalensis

The dried root of baical skullcap has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immune protective, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. It also assists in improving circulatory problems. It contains flavonoids such as baicalin, sterols and benzoic acid.

As an antihepatotoxic herb, baical skullcap protects the liver from hepatic toxin. It also reduces liver inflammation and stimulates bile production. This herb which is found in Northern China has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a liver tonic to prevent jaundice and to treat hepatitis.

Herbs for the liver No. 3 - Burdock or arctium lappa

Burdock has cholagogue activities. What it does is promote the discharge of bile from the liver to the intestine. Its other properties include anti-inflammatory, antitumor and diuretic.

This antitoxic herb is used as a blood cleanser because it helps clean the body from built-up toxins. It stimulates metabolism through the liver and remove waste through the veins.

Herbs for the liver No. 4 - Boldo or peumus boldus

Boldo is native to central Chile and Peru and is an antihepatotoxic and hepatoprotective herb. It also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. South Americans have been using boldo leaves as kidney and liver tonic.

Among its healing benefits include fighting against liver infections, treating symptoms of liver diseases, stimulating bile secretion, reducing liver pain and inflammation and relieving jaundice.

Herbs for the liver No. 5 - Dandelion or taraxacum officinale

Dandelion has been used as a traditional medicine to treat liver problems such as jaundice, hepatitis, enlarged or swollen liver, fatty liver and other symptoms of liver dysfunction. Among its action includes cleansing the blood and liver and increasing bile production. Dandelion also has mild diuretic and laxative effects which are helpful in enhancing the function of the liver.

Herbs for the liver No. 6 - Reishi mushroom or ganoderma lucidum

Reishi mushroom is known as Ling Zhi in Chinese medicine. Among its active natural chemical constituents include polysaccharide which contains beta glucan, coumarins ganoderic acids and triterpene. It has antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer properties.

It has been used to lower blood sugar, high cholesterol, stimulate the immune system and improve liver function. It is one of the herbs for the liver that has shown effective in preventing and treating fatty liver and cirrhosis because of its hepatoprotective action.

Other antihepatotoxic, hepatoprotective and herbs for the liver include the following:

Animal studies on the effects of turmeric extract on liver function suggest that curcumin which is the active constituent of turmeric has a positive effect on detoxification and liver health. It has the potential to prevent and treat cirrhosis, jaundice and hepatitis.

Bupleurum or bupleurum chinense root has been used in Chinese traditional medicine as an herbal liver cleanser and detoxifier. It is used to treat chronic hepatitis and liver enlargement. Its active constituents include rutin, saikosides, oleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stigmasterol and quercetin. Among its functions include improving protein synthesis in the liver and reducing inflammation.

Phyllanthus urinaria has antiviral properties. Its constituents include alkaloids, flavonoids, lignanoids, terpenes and volatile oil. It has been used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine to treat liver infections and diseases caused by viruses such as hepatitis. It also has anticancer effects.

Another one of the herbs for the liver is picrorhiza. The roots and rhizomes are used in ayurvedic medicine to treat liver infections caused by a virus such as acute viral hepatitis. It is also used as a remedy for jaundice and inflammation. Picrorhiza may also help kill cancer cells.

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