The Effect of Herbal Supplements on the Liver

Your liver performs various functions to keep your body running smoothly, including the filtering of drugs and toxins and the breakdown of nutrients and medications into your bloodstream. While the herbal supplement industry holds promising new treatments and self-remedies, you may unknowingly expose yourself to a medication interaction or you may take a supplement which will harm your liver.

Significance

• All of the blood which leaves your stomach and intestines will pass through your liver. Therefore, any harmful substances--or even beneficial ones--will likely pass through the liver.

Warning

• Supplements are not regulated by the FDA, which essentially means there is no guarantee regarding product purity, efficacy or safety.

Potentially Harmful

• According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, supplements such as Echinacea and Kava Kava can harm your liver. Herbs such as bitter orange and germander, which are used in many weight loss supplements, may also cause liver problems.

Positive News

• The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recognizes that some herbal supplements may benefit your liver and help to support treatment for conditions such as hepatitis C.

Benefits of Milk Thistle

• Milk thistle has been used in Europe since the 1700's to treat liver disease and may cleanse the liver, alleviate liver inflammation and promote cellular growth.

Potentially Helpful

• NCCAM is currently studying potential benefits of herbal supplements such as ginseng, licorice root, colloidal silver, thymus extract, lactoferrin, schisandra, oxymatrine and TJ-108 (which is a combination of herbs used in Japanese medicine).