5 Best Herbs for Liver Health

Many people around the world live with diseases that affect the liver, including cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure, and hepatitis.

Liver disease causes nearly 2 million deaths worldwide each year

Risk factors for liver disease include excessive alcohol intake, high blood sugar, obesity, high blood pressure, viruses, elevated triglycerides and cholesterol, and more.

Liver disease is treated in many ways, including medication, nutritional therapy, immunotherapy, lifestyle changes, surgical resection, and even liver transplantation in end-stage liver disease.

In addition to standard treatments, many people are turning to alternative therapies, including herbal supplements, in hopes of improving and protecting liver health. In fact, about 65% of people in the United States and Europe with the liver disease take herbal supplements

There are 5 natural things/Herbs to improve your liver health

1. Milk thistle

Silymarin, often called milk thistle, consists of a group of compounds extracted from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), including silybin, silychristin, and silydianin

Milk thistle has been used for more than 2,000 years to treat diseases of the bile ducts and liver, and research shows that it may have liver-protective properties

It has been suggested that silymarin has powerful antioxidant effects and may help promote liver cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and benefit people with liver disease. However, results from human studies have been mixed

For example, some studies have shown that taking a silymarin supplement may help protect against the progression of liver disease, prolong life in people with alcoholic cirrhosis, and improve the overall quality of life in people with liver disease

 

However, other studies suggest that silymarin is no more effective than a placebo treatment, highlighting the need for more research

 

Regardless, silymarin is considered safe and has not been associated with unwanted side effects, even when used in high doses

2. Ginseng

Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

A number of test tube and animal studies have shown that ginseng has antioxidant effects and can help protect against liver damage caused by viruses, toxins and alcohol. In addition, it can increase the regeneration of liver cells after surgery.

What's more, some human studies have shown that ginseng treatment can improve liver function and reduce fatigue and inflammation in people with liver disease and liver dysfunction.

For example, a 2020 study of 51 men with elevated levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), a marker of liver damage, found that those who took 3 grams of ginseng extract daily for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in ALT compared to a placebo. group

Levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), another marker of liver damage, were also significantly reduced

Although these results are promising, more research investigating the effects of ginseng on liver health is needed.

When used alone, ginseng is considered relatively safe for liver health. However, ginseng has the potential to react with medications, which can lead to liver damage and other potentially dangerous side effects

3. Green tea

Although not technically an herb, green tea and its major polyphenolic compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are often included in literature reviews of herbal remedies for liver disease.

Some studies have found that supplementation with green tea extract can help treat patients with liver disease.

A study of 80 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) found that supplementation with 500 mg of green tea extract daily for 90 days significantly reduced the liver damage markers ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

Although the placebo group also experienced reductions in AST and ALT levels, these were not significant.

Another 12-week study in 80 people with NAFLD found that those who took 500 mg of green tea extract daily experienced significant improvements in AST, ALT, and inflammatory markers compared to a placebo. The treatment also reduced fatty changes in the liver.

Green tea consumption has also been shown to protect against various liver diseases, including liver cancer, hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), and chronic liver disease.

While drinking green tea is considered safe for most people, in rare cases, green tea extract supplements have been linked to acute liver damage.

4. Licorice

Although chewing gum is often thought of when thinking of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), it is actually an herb with powerful medicinal properties.

Scientific studies have shown that licorice root has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and liver protective effects.

The main active ingredient is the saponin compound glycyrrhizin, which is commonly used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to treat many ailments, including liver disease.

Some studies have shown that treatment with licorice extract may be beneficial for people with certain liver diseases.

A study in 66 people with fatty liver disease found that supplementation with 2 grams of licorice root extract daily for 2 months significantly reduced ALT and AST compared to placebo.

In another small study, 6 healthy people took a glycyrrhizin product before drinking vodka every night for 12 days, and 6 people drank vodka only in the evening for 12 days.

In the vodka-only group, markers of liver damage, including ALT, AST, and GGT, increased significantly. In the glycyrrhizin group, these markers did not increase significantly, suggesting that glycyrrhizin may help protect against alcohol-related liver damage.

Although these findings are promising, further research is needed.

What's more, some people are more sensitive to licorice, and chronic use of licorice products can result in dangerous side effects, including high blood pressure and low blood potassium.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric and its main active ingredient curcumin are associated with a number of impressive health benefits.

Turmeric is well documented to have powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, making this herb a popular choice for those with liver disease.

A study in people with NAFLD showed that daily treatment with 500 mg of a curcumin product for 8 weeks significantly reduced liver fat content and AST and ALT levels compared to a placebo group.

Another study in 70 people with NAFLD found that those who were supplemented with 500 mg of curcumin and 5 mg of piperine daily for 12 weeks had significant reductions in ALT, AST, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and inflammatory markers compared to a placebo group. (39Trusted Source).

Piperine is a compound found in black pepper that increases the absorption of curcumin.

It was also observed that curcumin treatment significantly improved the severity of NAFLD compared to the placebo group.

Supplementing with turmeric and curcumin is generally considered safe. However, some cases of acute liver damage have been reported. However, it is not clear whether these cases were due to contamination of the curcumin products or the products themselves.