Certain dietary supplements may be helpful in lowering your liver enzyme levels. According to MayoClinic.com, elevated liver enzymes signal inflammation of or damage to your liver cells, as inflamed or injured liver cells leak greater than usual amounts of certain chemicals into your bloodstream. Hepatitis is one of the most common causes of elevated liver enzymes. Before taking dietary supplements to help lower your liver enzymes, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle, also known as Silybum marianum, is an herbal supplement that may be helpful in lowering your liver enzymes. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, milk thistle, a member of the Aster family, has been used to help treat the liver and improve its function. Milk thistle, which possesses a bitter taste, is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The seeds of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that milk thistle is a hepatoprotective and hepatorestorative, or a substance that helps protect and restore your liver function and lower your liver enzymes. Milk thistle has been used to help treat many liver problems, including fatty liver, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
Celandine
Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that celandine, also known as Chelidonium majus, is an anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective that is helpful in treating chronic liver disease and accompanying elevations in your liver enzymes. Celandine, a member of the Poppy family, causes your liver to secrete a less viscous bile. Bile is an important digestive juice. Celandine is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and western Asia, although it now grows throughout North America; has a bitter and acrid taste; and possesses cooling tendencies. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the entire fresh plant for medicinal purposes, including reducing elevated liver enzymes. If you are pregnant, warns Tilgner, you should avoid taking supplements containing celandine.
Schisandra
Schisandra, a member of the Schisandraceae family, is a deciduous woody vine native to certain parts of China and Russia. Schisandra, also known as Schisandra chinensis, has an astringent, pungent, bitter, sour, salty and sweet taste; possesses warming tendencies; and thrives in semi-shaded and moist soil. The fruit of the plant is used to help treat numerous health problems, including elevated liver enzymes. According to Tilgner, schisandra is an antibacterial, adaptogen, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and liver restorative that has been used to help treat hepatitis, cirrhosis, insomnia, asthma, night sweats and prolonged diarrhea. Smith notes that schisandra may help detoxify, protect and regenerate your liver cells, which in turn may help lower your liver enzyme levels. The constituents responsible for schisandra's liver-protecting abilities may include the lignans schizandrin, deoxyschizandrin, gomisins and pregomisin.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Elevated Liver Enzymes
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Milk Thistle
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
