Natural Herbs To Detoxify Your Liver
Your liver may just be one of the most overlooked
organs in your body. Your liver is vital to your body's ability to
filter out any number of toxins or poisons that may enter your body.
Here are two highly regarded herbs that can help detoxify your liver
so that it is working at its highest capacity.
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Milk thistle seeds
are essentially comprised of three components that are collectively
referred to as silymarin. Milk thistle seeds are well known for
their ability to protect and heal the damage incurred by the liver.
In many European studies, milk thistle seeds have been known to aid
in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcoholism.
Studies have shown that the use of milk thistle seeds may even help
extend the survival rates of some alcoholics who suffer from
cirrhosis of the liver. Milk thistle seeds have even been shown to
speed the recovery from hepatitis. Other research has shown that
milk thistle seeds may be the best weapons against amanita, perhaps
better known as mushroom poisoning. In one study, Swiss researchers
found that patients treated with milk thistle seeds had a better
survival rate against "death cap" mushroom poisoning than those
treated with conventional medicine.
Many well known researchers have
even gone so far as to advocate the use of milk thistle seeds in
cases where alcoholism is known. It is recommended that a typical
dose be taken, which is approximately 140 milligrams of silymarin
three times a day during the periods where the patient is
experiencing the most liver stress due to the use of alcohol or
drugs, or whenever liver enzymes are known to be elevated.
It is rare to hear of side effects from the consumption of milk
thistle seeds, but those side effects that have been identified
include nausea, hives, itching, headaches, stomach distress, and
joint paint.
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
This herb is often also
referred to as Siberian ginseng. Whatever it may be called, this
herb is a well-known adaptogen that is known to help stimulate the
immune system and boost energy levels.
Eluethero has been used in
traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, where it has
been used as a tonic to protect against the effects of excessive
toxins. Recent Korean studies have shown that the stems of the
Eleuthero plant contain polysaccharides, which are believed to help
enhance the function of the liver and reduce the levels of enzymes
that may be related to liver disorders. In several animal studies,
the use of leather was shown to reduce the number of toxins,
especially ethanol and tetanus.
Eleuthero is now recommended by
herbalists to detoxify the liver, especially after the use of
medications that contain statins or other enzymes that have been
identified as stressors on the liver. Recommended doses are 3 grams
of dry leather root per day for up to one month, or 16 milliliters
of leather extract one to three times a day for up to two months.
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