Can Natural Herbs Like Milk Thistle and Turmeric Really Support Liver Health? What Science (and Tradition) Say

• The liver is the prime organ in our body that cleanses the blood and converts toxins into waste products. It also processes drugs and nutrients. Therefore, it is important to consider the health of the liver.
• There are many supplements available in the market that claim to detoxify the liver. However, most of them are not approved by the FDA and are not safe for the liver.
• According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, milk thistle and turmeric extract are functional foods that can cure liver inflammation and liver injury.

What Science Tells Us About the Effect of Milk Thistle and Turmeric on Liver Health.

Milk thistle is scientifically known as Silybum Marianum. It is a medicinal herb that has long been revered for supporting liver health. According to a case-control study, the administration of silymarin (200mg) tablets for 12 weeks improved Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). It can also reduce liver enzyme levels. In this particular study, silymarin reduced liver aminotransferases. It can also help to regenerate liver cells and protect against toxins like alcohol or acetaminophen.

The active compound of turmeric is curcumin. During liver inflammation, hepatic stellate cells (HCS) are activated. It is found through research studies that curcumin can inhibit HCS activation. It also interrupts leptin signaling, which can stimulate HCS. It is also proven that curcumin administration can lower triglyceride levels and can reduce liver inflammatory markers.

It is also found that consuming milk thistle and turmeric together may provide complementary advantages because they both target oxidative stress and inflammation, through separate biochemical routes.

Ingredients Studied for Liver Health

Liver Guard Formula is an effective supplement for liver health that features 5 natural products that are:

Artichoke

• Artichoke can help in detoxification by promoting bile production and it also aids in digestion. It is rich in antioxidants and prevents liver cells from oxidative stress.
• A clinical trial demonstrated that a daily dosage of 600 mg of artichoke extract over 8 weeks resulted in a 17.8% reduction in ALT levels and enhanced liver function scores in patients with NAFLD.

Milk thistle

• Milk thistle is a flowering herb that is widely used for its efficacy in treating liver damage. Silymarin is the active ingredient of the herb that has a therapeutic effect. It can also improve liver function.

Turmeric

• The active ingredient of turmeric, i.e. curcumin, is proven as an effective phytotherapy for chronic hepatitis and a potent agent for the regression of cirrhosis and liver fibrosis.
• A meta-analysis analyzed the liver-protective role of curcumin. The study covered 31 RCTs that showed curcumin supplementation decreased ALT by 4.09 U/L and AST by 4.84 U/L.

Black pepper

• Black pepper has piperine in it, which helps to enhance the curcumin absorption in the body by 2000%. This makes turmeric’s liver-protecting effects even stronger. It also contains antioxidant characteristics that can help the liver detoxify.

Dandelion

• Dandelion root is widely used in liver cleansing supplements due to its diuretic qualities and ability to stimulate bile production, which aids in detoxification.

What the experts say

It is important to consume healthy and organic food. It will put less workload on the liver. Foods rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, zinc, and iron can prevent you from having infections and will prevent you from needing heavy medicines. These drugs raise liver enzyme levels. If you are not able to amend your dietary habits, then add a Liver Guard Formula to your routine that can support liver health and protect it from damage. This supplement will help you detoxify your liver, and its antioxidant-rich formula will ward off the chances of liver cell damage.

Conclusion

Artichoke, turmeric, milk thistle, black pepper and dandelion are studied for their role in promoting liver health and its function. It is found that daily intake of supplements can provide a protective shield for your liver.

If you are worried because of your elevated liver enzyme levels or have chronic liver issues like hepatitis or NAFLD, then learn more about Liver Guard Formula.

References

1. Detoxing Your Liver: Fact Versus Fiction | Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction
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