Detoxifying the Liver: Fact or Fiction?

I found this summary from the ‘Wellness Letter' very helpful, since there are a lot of myths surrounding a ‘liver detox'.

"Your liver works hard. It helps digest food, regulates cholesterol and fat metabolism and cleans the blood of impurities. There are dozens of dietary supplements –pill, powders, and tonics-touted to protect this vital organ. " The article went on to say....

Of all ingredients commonly found in these products, the herb milk thistle is one of the most researched. In Europe, milk thistle is a popular folk remedy for liver disease and is sometimes given as an intravenous drug to treat liver damage from mushroom poisoning. (In lab studies, the active compound in milk thistle is ‘silymarin' and being an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent it was felt that this might help regenerate liver cells and stabilize membranes so toxins can't bind)

However, studies in people have been flawed and inconsistent. Nearly all studies that have looked at milk thistle or silymarin show that there is little if any evidence the herb can ‘detoxify' or protect a healthy liver.

Other common "liver herbs” include licorice root extract, phyllanthus, and the mixture of herbs used in traditional Indian medicine called Liv-52. As with milk thistle, lab studies suggest these herbs may have some liver-protective properties, but here are no good human studies. The same goes for the other herbs (such as dandelion, artichoke, and sea buckthorn), amino acids, vitamins and other substances (such as choline, inositol, and chlorophyll) that may be found in liver supplements. Thus, there are no human studies that back up any claims for these herbs.

A healthy liver has a remarkable ability to restore itself when damaged. If you have liver disease, never take any supplement or medication without consulting a liver specialist. (or a medical doctor who is up to date on human medical studies that are accurate in assessing whether or not herbal remedies do indeed work or not)

Some herbal supplements can damage rather than cure liver problems; some are potentially toxic to the liver-notably chaparral, comfrey, mistletoe, and very high doses of certain vitamins.

As you can see, a lot of things we hear of remedies that are of benefit, may look fine in lab studies, but when the substance is used in humans studies, it either doesn't work, or worse, is harmful.