Did you know that your liver is the second largest organ in your body?
In fact, it’s one of the most important organs for overall health and it’s incredibly resilient. Even if it loses more than 50% of its structure, the liver will continue to work and can even regenerate itself entirely (1). And good thing too, since the liver actually clears toxins and chemicals from your body by filtering your blood.
Liver Health & Aging
As you age, your liver naturally starts to weaken. This leaves your organ more and more prone to inflammatory damage caused by chemical exposure (from prescriptions, cosmetics and the environment), alcohol, and viruses.
Past the age of 60, your body begins to produces fewer new liver cells. By the age of 80, your body produces half the cells it did at 40.
This leaves you particularly vulnerable to conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and fibrosis.
Top Anti-Aging Herbs
Fortunately, there are herbs that help keep your liver young. Using these anti-aging herbs can help your liver flush out toxins and reduce its workload.
Just make sure to consult a doctor or naturopath before taking any herbs, since they can interact with prescription medication or worsen pre-existing medical conditions.
1. Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a great detoxifying and anti-aging herb to promote liver health.
It works by preventing toxic damage to the liver cells and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
In fact, it’s been a staple of traditional medicine for over 2000 years (2). It can be taken as a tincture, tea or supplement.
2. Artichoke Leaves
Artichoke leaves also helps protect your liver against toxins. Artichoke reduces cholesterol, boosts the production of bile and improves flow in the bile tract (3). However, pregnant or breast feeding women or people allergic to ragweed should avoid ingesting this plant.
3. Licorice
Licorice is widely used in traditional medicine. This anti-aging herb has great hepoprotective properties (4).
The root also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which both act within the digestive tract. These help to eliminate bacterial toxins and protect the walls of your intestine.
4. Dandelion Root
Dandelion is beneficial, not only for your liver, but also for healing many digestive problems (5). It also has artichoke-like properties when it comes to bile flow and detoxification. To get the most out of these benefits, take 1 cup of dandelion root tea twice a day.
5. Chicory Root
Chicory root can be taken as a tincture or a tea. It’s actually used to treat all kinds of liver ailments, including jaundice.
It can also be enjoyed as a coffee substitute and provide headache relief (6).
sources:
[1]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100607065856.htm
[2]https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/milk-thistle
[3]https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-842-artichoke.aspx?activeingredientid=842&activeingredientname=artichoke
[4]https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-881-licorice.aspx?activeingredientid=881&activeingredientname=licorice
[5]https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/dandelion
[6]https://www.naturalnews.com/026640_chicory_liver_cures.html