It is believed that cleansing the liver releases accumulated chemicals, toxic metals and mineral deposits, according to Jon Barron, a natural-healing researcher and board member of the Health Sciences Institutes. Whether liver-cleansing supplements are helpful or harmful is a highly contested subject. Michael Picco, M.D, a professor at the Mayo Clinic, indicates that that liver operates well enough on its own.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is an herb derived from a Mediterranean plant. The National Library of Medicine's Dietary Supplements Labels Database reports that milk thistle, which contains a bioflavanoid, has been used for centuries to treat liver disease. Bioflavanoids are essential for the absorption of vitamin C, a vitamin responsible for tissue growth and repair, promotion of the immune system, and a host of other necessary functions. In 2007, the University of Minnesota published an article indicating that silymarin, an active compound in milk thistle, protects cells in the liver and kidneys, especially from toxic drugs like chemotherapy. The findings indicate that milk thistle also lowers liver enzyme levels. Milk thistle is safe and well tolerated, with mild laxative properties.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a fatty-acid compound found naturally in a variety of plant and animal cells, and is also abundant in egg yolk. As a natural antioxidant, it reduces damage from free radicals in the body and also removes fatty deposits in the liver. In 1999, endocrinologists from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, published a study indicating the compounds from lecithin reduced the absorption of bad cholesterol.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a legume cultivated from a plant. The National Institutes of Health reports that alfalfa has a history of dietary and medicinal uses for reducing cholesterol and glucose. A small number of animal studies show that alfalfa may lower plaque deposits in the arteries caused by cholesterol and inhibit the accumulation of total and low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) in the blood.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is an herb used medicinally to treat inflammation in the stomach and upper respiratory conditions. The University of Michigan Health System website reports that licorice is a potent antioxidant that can help protect liver cells. In test-tube studies, flavanoids in licorice root killed H. pylori, the bacteria responsible for causing ulcers and inflammation in the stomach.
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