Home Remedies For Liver Detox

Your liver is an organ that you can't live without, yet you probably never give it any consideration. That's because it rarely complains until it becomes diseased. In fact, symptoms of liver toxicity are often mistakenly attributed to other sources, such as allergies, indigestion or hormone imbalances. In addition to adhering to a balanced diet, certain home remedies may help detox your liver. However, check with your doctor before undergoing any liver detox program, especially if you have a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle contains a group of antioxidant flavonoids known as silymarin, which is reputed to provide liver-protecting properties from free radicals and heavy metals. According to an evidence-based monograph prepared by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration published online by the Mayo Clinic, several European clinical studies have shown that milk thistle extracts improve liver function in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Other studies indicate that silymarin compounds may also benefit patients suffering from viral hepatitis. Additional studies suggest that milk thistle may protect the liver from toxicity due to the long-term use of certain medications, such as acetaminophen. However, the monograph also states that many of these studies were poorly designed and that more clinical trials in humans are needed to confirm these benefits. Milk thistle may produce an allergic reaction in people with a known sensitivity to plants in the daisy family. Milk thistle may also lower serum blood sugar levels and produce estrogenic effects, so it should not be used if you have diabetes or are undergoing treatment for a hormone-related disorder, such as breast cancer.

Artichoke

Artichoke, another member of the thistle family of plants, is commonly prescribed in Europe where it is approved for the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders by the German Commission E, a regulatory agency equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to the "Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines," the active principles in artichoke leaf are flavonoids, sesquiterpenes and hydroxycinnamic acid. Collectively, these phytochemicals appear to provide antioxidant effects. For instance, a team of scientists from Pomeranian Medical University in Poland studied the impact of artichoke extract in the liver of rats. The researchers reported in the June 24, 2010, issue of Phytotherapy Research that the extract suppressed the activity of succinate oxidase and cytochrome oxidase, the enzymes involved in the last stages of cellular respiration and the oxidation of food molecules. Artichoke is generally well-tolerated in most people and is not associated with any significant side effects. However, as with milk thistle, check with your doctor about using this herb if you have an allergy to other members of the same family of plants.

Licorice

According to Kathi Keville, author of "Herbs for Health and Healing," licorice neutralizes liver toxins and is commonly used in China and Japan to treat hepatitis. Glycyrrhizin, says Keville, the active component of licorice, appears to increase the production of interferon, which is used to counter hepatitis B. The University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that long-term use or high dosages of glycyrrhizin may lead to pseudoaldosteronism, a condition characterized by a sensitivity to adrenal hormones. The center also states that you should not use licorice preparations if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, edema, liver disease or heart disease.