Two 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 weapon 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 pain.

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 Eleuthero 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 Eleuthero root per day for up to one month, or 16 milliliters of Eleuthero extract one to three times a day for up to two months.