Clinical Applications
- Helps to Support Liver Function
- Hepatoprotectant
- Taraxacum officinale is Traditionally Used in Herbal Medicine as a Cholerectic and Cholagogue to Help Increase Bile Flow
- Used in Herbal Medicine to Help Relieve Digestive Disturbances
The liver is the major metabolic organ in the body with more than 500 identified vital functions. In fact, the liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and holds about one pint (13%) of the body’s blood supply at any given moment. Some of the more well-known functions of the liver include maintaining serum glucose through glycogen metabolism, as well as producing bile and certain proteins for blood plasma, cholesterol and lipoproteins to help carry fats through the body.
The gallbladder receives and stores bile produced by the liver and releases it into the small intestine in response to dietary fat intake. Bile plays an essential role in the digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients by emulsifying dietary lipids. These absorbed fats are packaged into chylomicrons and transported through the lymphatic system before reaching the liver for further metabolic processing.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an annual plant indigenous to Europe and the United States and has been used for centuries as a botanical medicine to support liver health. S. marianum contains silymarin, the biologically active component found in the seeds and leaves.
Artichoke Leaf Extract
Artichoke is one of the oldest cultivated plants. The ancient Greeks and Romans considered artichoke to be a valuable digestive aid. Artichoke leaf extracts have been shown to provide antioxidant and liver support.
Turmeric (Complete Turmeric Matrix)
Whole-root turmeric and its active components have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. The Complete Turmeric Matrix includes compounds from the entire turmeric root, all working together as nature intended to deliver better results. The Complete Turmeric Matrix formulation contains standardized amount of 50% curcuminoids, 3-8% volatile oil, and 2-6% turmerin plus other components that make up the whole turmeric root. Turmeric and its phytonutrients, like curcumin, have been shown to support liver and gallbladder function.
Garlic
Garlic is a well-known spice with a number of health-promoting properties. In an animal study, the effects of garlic on hepatic cells were examined following exposure to the toxic heavy metal, arsenic. Arsenic administration resulted in generation of free radicals, specifically reactive oxygen species (ROS), which caused cell damage. The ROS generation in hepatic tissue reverted to normal values following the administration of garlic extract.
Dandelion Root Extract
Dandelion is a native plant to the United States and Europe, where the leaves and roots have been used as food and herbal medicine. The German Commission and European Scientific Cooperative for Phytotherapy have approved the use of dandelion root to support liver health and increase the body's production of bile.
