Liver is undoubtedly one of the most important organs in our body. If it stops functioning properly, it can lead to very serious conditions like Hepatitis, and in worst cases, it may even cause death. Therefore, it is very important to take preventive measures to keep your liver healthy.
Whether it is about preventing or treating liver diseases, there are lots of herbs that can be very effective. Following is a list of the most popular herbs that have been found to be very useful in cleansing the liver.
Best Liver Cleansing Herbs
Dandelion Root
Dandelion root is one of the most powerful herbs for liver. Various medical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of its liver regenerative properties in several liver-related heath conditions that include indigestion, hepatitis, liver swelling and jaundice. A decoction can be prepared by mixing powdered dandelion root in half glass of water.
Boil it for 10-15 minutes and then leave it to cool down. Drinking one cup of this mixture 2-3 times a day can be very beneficial in liver cleansing and protection. Alternatively, this herb is also available in capsule forms in most health food stores. The general dosage recommendation varies from 500 to 2000 mg once every day.
Swedish Bitters
Swedish Bitters is a herb that stimulates bile production by the gall bladder. This bile then cleanses your liver of debris and toxins.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is a popular herb that is used in the treatment of a wide array of diseases and health conditions. This herb contains glycyrrhizin that has been found to be very effective in neutralizing various liver-damaging chemicals in the body even before they start affecting the liver.
If the liver is already damaged because of such harmful chemicals, the glycyrrhizin in licorice root helps in healing the liver cell injuries.
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle is medically termed as Silybum Marianum. Silymarin is the main compound in it that can protect your liver from damaging substances. In case the liver is already damaged, it promotes liver cell regeneration and helps the liver to rebuild itself. Glutathion is a very important nutrient required for liver detoxification.
Milk Thistle prevents its depletion. The general dosage recommendation is 140 mg once or twice daily.
Turmeric
The medical term for turmeric is curcuma longa. Turmeric cleanses liver of toxins and also helps in the regeneration of liver cells. It also reduces liver inflammation. Turmeric extracts are believed to be so powerful that it can even stop the hepatitis B and C virus from replicating. The main component in turmeric is called curcumin. That is the reason why the turmeric capsules available in health food stores sometimes label them as curcumin capsules. However, the easiest and better way is to use ground turmeric as a spice in your curries, stews and soups.
Burdock
Over the years, various medical studies have been conducted on burdock and it has been found that this herb can be very beneficial in protecting liver cells from damage induced by alcohol consumption.
In addition to that, if you take certain pain relieving medications quite often, such as acetaminophen, it can also cause damage to your liver. Burdock protects your liver cells from such damages as well.
Globe Artichoke
The caffeylquinic acids found in globe artichoke are also considered to be as effective in liver cell regeneration as is milk thistle. It is not very easy to find this herb in raw form, but it is widely available in capsule forms in health food stores. The general dosage recommendation varies from 300-500 mg once a day.
Though the above mentioned herbs are very popularly used in protecting and cleansing liver, expert advice from your doctor is still important before you start using any herbal remedy.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.