Keeping your liver healthy is essential to living a healthy life. Your liver has the all-important job of breaking down toxins that you have introduced into your body, either through the hormones your body makes, the foods you eat and medications you take, or from environmental exposure. The liver performs a second job also: the organ takes proteins and changes them into amino acids. You can protect your liver by limiting your consumption of alcohol and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Using herbal supplements, under the supervision of your doctor, can also help you keep your liver healthy.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle in a herb that has been associated with treating liver problems for thousands of years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Silymarin, a flavonoid that contains antioxidant properties, is part of the milk thistle plant and is an effective protectant for the liver. People who have alcoholic cirrhosis or hepatitis, as well as those who take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, are ideal candidates for using milk thistle. UMMC theorizes that the silymarin component of milk thistle reduces inflammation and also prompts the liver to generate new cells to repair itself. Standard doses range from 280 to 450 mg daily.
Dandelion
The dandelion flower and root are widely known as a natural diuretic and can also be used to support a healthy liver. UMMC explains that the root of the dandelion has been used in traditional or folk medicine as well as in clinical environments to improve liver function in some people. Dandelion can be brewed into a tea, using 1 to 2 tsp. per cup of boiling water, or taken as a liquid tincture. UMMC's suggested doses of liquid tincture begin at 100 drops, in three daily doses. Dr. Melissa Palmer, author of "Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide to Hepatitis and Liver Disease," explains that very high doses of dandelion could actually lead to liver damage due to the high vitamin A content, so be sure to consult your doctor for specific instructions.
Turmeric
The popular Indian seasoning turmeric is another herbal remedy that promotes a healthy liver, according to the Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine traditions. The root of the turmeric plant is dried, and when taken internally as a tea or capsules it can provide some relief to both digestive complaints and liver abnormalities. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, reduces inflammation and has antioxidant properties that combat damage at the cellular level, according to UMMC. Standard doses of dried turmeric root range from 1 to 3 g daily.
Licorice
Licorice, and a compound called glycyrrhizin that is derived from the licorice plant, may be beneficial to people who have chronic hepatitis, according to China's Shanxi Medical College. Researchers suggest that the glycyrrhizin found in licorice can help your body produce more interferon, which can help treat some forms of hepatitis. Dr. Palmer acknowledges these findings but adds that the "Physician's Desk Reference" does not recommend licorice to people who have cirrhosis or cholestatic liver disease, due to a risk of serious side effects.
