Liver Dysfunction Treatment

The liver is the body's largest organ and is responsible for more than 200 different processes in the body. It filters a liter of blood every hour, removing harmful toxins like ammonia from the system. It also helps to regulate blood pressure, store vitamins, regulate blood glucose as well as maintain electrolyte balance. Though the liver is pretty sturdy, many things can cause it to become dysfunctional like high-fat diets, alcohol abuse, medications and some diseases like hepatitis.

Milk Thistle

• Milk thistle is perhaps the best known of the herbs used for detoxing and tonifying the liver. Silymarin is the active ingredient in milk thistle that actually handles the detoxification process. Milk thistle has powerful antioxidant properties. The liver, like every other organ, is acted upon by a variety of pollutants. The liver helps to eradicate free radicals that may be damaging the liver through the oxidation process. Pairing with the unpaired electrons in the free radicals, milk thistle helps to escort them from the body and minimize the damage. Milk thistle binds to the liver cells to protect them from medications and poisons that could do irreparable harm if left unchecked. A diet high in fats can produce a condition called fatty liver. It is very comparable to the condition of ducks and geese that are fed a high-fat diet to produce foie gras. Milk thistle has been instrumental in reversing this condition. Recommended dosage is 200 to 280 mg per day.

Turmeric

• Turmeric is a spice in the ginger family. It is similar in color to saffron and is a key ingredient in curry dishes. Turmeric is said to be able to shrink the ducts in the liver that can become inflamed and distended from overwork in filtering out toxins. It works similarly to milk thistle. It's a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties protect the liver from parasites that might pose a danger. It also increases bile production. More bile production helps to clear more cholesterol from the liver. In a 1999 study that appeared in the Journal of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, turmeric was shown to protect mice livers from carbon-tetrachloride-induced damage. In the Journal of Experimental Biology, a 1998 study seemed to show that turmeric could be effective in lowering cholesterol within the liver. The recommended Aryuvedic dosage is 1/2 teaspoon in a cup of warm water to rejuvenate the liver and expel toxins.

Yellow Dock

• Yellow dock promotes bile production, which helps to dissolve fat that collects in the liver. Removal of this fat can help to lower bad cholesterol. It is also a powerful blood detoxifier that, when used in conjunction with burdock, delivers detoxified blood to the liver and the kidneys. Its diuretic effect increases urine production and expels toxins cleansed from the blood. It also stimulates the bowels to move, thereby removing additional waste toxins from the intestines. Yellow dock contains iron to build up the blood after purification.

Burdock

• Burdock is a blood purifier. It helps to filter toxins out of the bloodstream. It has a diuretic effect and the toxins are expelled from the body as urine. Burdock has shown to be beneficial to the endocrine system as well as increasing liver health. It is recommended to be taken as a tea in conjunction with other herbs, especially sarsaparilla. Fresh burdock root can also be added to recipes. For recipes that include burdock root, see the Resources section.

Sarsaparilla

• Sarsaparilla has long been shown to have tonifying properties for the circulatory system. It is recommended in conjunction with burdock root for maximum effectiveness as a liver tonic. Sarsaparilla attacks microbes in the bloodstream and renders them harmless. It also has strong diuretic properties that help to remove toxins from the body. Removing wastes from the bloodstream has also been effective for kidney rejuvenation.