We would like to present both sides of the debate about herbs for the liver, for you to undertake further research (along with your doctor). For our first part of the Herbs For the Liver series, we will be looking at those “plants and herbal remedies proven or suspected to be toxic to the liver”

The following list was given to us by a respected heptologist. It includes both well founded herbs harmful to the liver, as well as debatable or merely untested herbs that might require further research.

This is by no means a complete list (the list is undated) and new discoveries of liver toxicity come up all the time. If you are taking a new herbal treatment, it is always safest to ask for the written ingredients in Latin form, and check with this list and your doctor, before taking them.

• Senecio

• Sassafras

• Crotalaria

• Glycyrrhizin

• Heliotropium

• Black Cohosh

• Venecapsan

• Teucrium Polium

• Mentha Pulegium

• Kombucha Tea

• Viscum (Mistletoe)

• Berberis Vulgaris

• Scutellaria (Skullcap)

• Valeriana (Valerian)

• Hedioma Pulegioides

• Oil of Cloves (Eugenol)

• Callilepsis (Zulu remedy)

• Prostata (Saw Palmetto)

• Podophyllotoxin (Bajiaolian)

• Atractylis (White chameleon)

• Azadirachza Indica (Margosa Oil)

• Chelidonium (Greater Celandine)

• Teucreum chamaedrys (Germander)

• Cassia (Senna)… “Chronic ingestion only”

• Larrea (Chapparal, Creosote Bush, Grease Wood)

• Camellia Sinensis (Green tea, also in some weight-loss supplements)

• Symphytum officinale (Comfrey, Gordolobo, Yerba tea, Mate tea)

• Several Chinese herbs are noted as “infrequent toxicity; responsible agent(s) not yet identified)”, and perhaps including Jim Bu Huan, Pennyroyal Oil (Labiate), T’u San-Chi’ I, Ma Huang, Dai-saiko-to (TJ-9), including Scutellaria

Again, it is important to note that the toxicity of many ingredients on this list are highly debated by many traditional herbal practitioners. Some respected doctors have written to say that not only have their toxicity been found to be untrue, there are actually double-blind tests to show that they are, in fact, helpful in treating some liver conditions. We mention them just to highlight that there is debate about some of these herbs, and to always seek medical advice from your doctor.

Coming up: Milk Thistle, and the other Natural Liver Healers!