Herbal preparations for the liver. List, names, analogues, prices, reviews

The liver is a gland that has no nerve endings. Pain in the liver area occurs only when it is severely damaged, which appear as a result of infectious and viral diseases, poisoning, and regular overeating. However, this is the only organ that is capable of self-healing, and plant hepatoprotectors help to stimulate this process.

Advantages and disadvantages of herbal liver preparations

Herbal preparations for the liver (natural hepatoprotectors) promote the restoration of its cells and protect them from destruction. Although the cells of the gland can regenerate, prolonged use of medications, unhealthy diet, bad habits lead to the accumulation of factors that disrupt the work of hepatocytes. Because of this, inflammation begins in the liver.

With its development, healthy cells are replaced by connective tissue, fibrosis is formed. To stop pathological processes in the organ and prevent the appearance of cirrhosis or liver failure, doctors prescribe hepatoprotectors.

They are also prescribed for long-term use:

• Pain medications.
• Anticonvulsants.
• Drugs aimed at treating tumors.

For diseases, due to which the load on the liver is greatly increased, hepatopreparations are prescribed as supportive therapy.

In addition to plant hepatoprotectors, there are drugs with other mechanisms of action:

• Medicines with animal extracts.
• Funds based on essential phospholipids.
• Preparations containing amino acids.

They have a stronger effect on the liver, but their negative effects are also stronger. The advantages of herbal hepatoprotectors are that the substances that make up the drug rarely cause adverse reactions. The action of herbal preparations is milder, with a long-term therapeutic effect.

Funds of this group:

• Rarely provoke allergies.
• Compatible with liver cells, suitable for prolonged use.
• They have few contraindications, are well tolerated by people of different age groups.
• Available without a prescription.

In cases of using the drug during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, children under 12 years of age, prior consultation with a pediatrician is needed, even if these are phytopreparations.

Herbal preparations for the liver are prescribed for poisoning, liver failure, inactive form of chronic hepatitis. Their main functions are to restore metabolism and remove toxins and toxins from the body.

Disadvantages of plant hepatoprotectors:

• The effectiveness of the biological product has been little studied, and the medical practice of America and Europe does not classify plant hepatoprotectors as pharmacological drugs, believing that there is no benefit from them.
• There is no clear evidence that the drug will not harm the intrauterine development of the fetus or baby.
• Long periods of treatment (some types of phytohepatoprotectors have a cumulative effect and are prescribed in a course of up to 1 g).

A significant proportion of herbal preparations belongs to the group of dietary supplements, and from this it follows that the therapeutic or prophylactic effect declared by the developer may be absent.

To reduce the risk of buying a drug of inadequate quality, you should choose manufacturers that have passed certification according to international GMP standards from English good manufacturing practice (proper Internship).

Forms of issue

The main part of the preparations is produced in the form of:

• Capsules.
• Pills.
• Drops.

In case of serious liver diseases, when the active substance cannot be absorbed in the intestine, parenteral administration of the drug is required. For such cases, hepatoprotectors are available in the form of powders and liquid for injection.

Indications

Herbal preparations for the liver help protect hepatocytes (the cells that make up the base of the gland) from damage, and also contribute to the rehabilitation of the organ. They are used as:

Independent remedy in case of treatment of consequences	Ancillary drugs included in complex therapy
Improper nutrition	Viral hepatitis
Long-term use of medications (hormonal, antibiotics)	Alcoholic hepatitis
Bad ecology	Liver obesity in diabetes mellitus
Chemical poisoning	Hepatosis of any origin
Alcohol abuse	Cholestasis

They are also used in the prophylactic therapy of the hepatobiliary system.

Contraindications

The medicine is not prescribed for acute forms of inflammation of the liver, bile and urinary tract. In case of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug or an allergic reaction, the drug is discontinued.

Hepatoprotectors are prescribed with caution to pregnant and lactating women, children under 6 years of age.

Best Herbal Medicines for Liver Treatment

Plant-based medicines for the treatment of liver disease contain active ingredients that have hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and metabolic properties.

Sibektan

The main active ingredients isolated from plants are rutin, luteolin, silybin.

The preparation contains dry extracts:

• Birch leaves, which help to reduce inflammation, restore gallbladder motility. The active substances contained in them reduce the level of low-density lipoproteins, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Inflorescences of common tansy. They have an antioxidant effect, restore the cleansing functions of the liver. Against the background of their intake, the yellowness of the skin and eye proteins disappears, the manifestations of diarrhea, flatulence, and nausea decrease.
• St. John's wort, which acts as an immunomodulator. It activates the recovery processes in the liver, normalizes the tone of the gallbladder, the chemical composition of bile. St. John's wort acts on hepatitis viruses, lowers blood cholesterol levels.
• Milk thistle. This plant restores the movement of bile, lowers its lithogenicity index.

Release form - round, biconvex tablets for oral administration, 10 pcs. in a blister. Their color is gray-green or gray-brown interspersed. Sibektan is on sale in 20, 30, 40 pcs. packaged.

The dosage of the drug is selected individually. The course of treatment for children and adults is 20 to 40 days. For prophylactic purposes, the drug is taken within 1 month 4 times a year. The recommended dosage of the drug (2 tablets 4 times a day) is taken 30 minutes in advance. before meals.

There are no complete generics of Sibektan, a drug similar in action - Phytohepatol (choleretic collection No. 2).

The cost of Sibektan No. 30 in pharmacies ranges from 130 to 150 rubles. per packing.

Silimar

The active ingredient of the drug is the fruits of spotted milk thistle. Silimar is available in tablets of 10, 15 or 30 pcs.

The hepatoprotective effect of the agent occurs due to the effect on the metabolic reactions of hepatocytes. The synthesis of proteins and enzymes, membrane stabilizing and antitoxic effects are enhanced. This contributes to the acceleration of regenerative processes.

Against the background of taking the drug, pathological lesions of the liver (including alcoholic origin) decrease, the functions of the hepatobiliary system are restored.

It should be noted that when taken simultaneously with drugs containing estrogen (hormonal contraceptives), their effectiveness decreases.

Silymar has an estrogen-like effect. It is not recommended to take it when endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other tumors caused by a violation of estrogen levels are detected. Medicines containing a high content of milk thistle extract are forbidden to be taken by girls under 12 years old, since it provokes hormonal imbalance in the child.

In adolescent girls, while taking Silymar, the growth of mammary glands or an increase in the volume of the hips may begin. Adult women notice an increase in pain during menstruation.

The drug is taken orally in courses of 25-30 days in 30 minutes. before meals, dividing 3-6 tablets into 3 doses. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after 1–3 months.

Drug analogs:

• Carsil-Forte.
• Hepaphor.

The approximate cost of Silimar No. 30 tablets is 137-170 rubles.

Hepabene

A medicine based on milk thistle and pharmacy smoke. The package contains 30 gelatin capsules size # 0.

They are taken without chewing, washed down with a small amount of water, 1 pc. morning, afternoon and evening. In case of painful sensations, it is recommended to take an additional capsule at night. The maximum dosage of the drug is 6 capsules per day.

The therapeutic effect of the drug is achieved due to:

• Silymarin, contained in milk thistle. A substance with a hepatoprotective effect, has the ability to bind free radicals, remove toxins.
• Fumarin - an alkaloid contained in a pharmacy smoke. It normalizes the secretory activity of the gallbladder, reduces the tone of the bile ducts, which facilitates the release of secretory fluid into the intestines.

The combined drug is effective in chronic pathologies of the hepatobiliary system. Although the instructions for the medicine say that its use under 18 is not recommended, pediatricians the use of Hepabene is practiced for children aged 6 years and older for the treatment of jaundice caused by various pathologies.

Gepabene has no structural analogs.

Drugs similar in action:

• Hepadif.
• Essliver Forte.
• Lipoic acid.

1 package of medicine costs from 450 to 530 rubles. The course of treatment is selected by a physician privately and can last from 1 month to 1 year.

Legalon

Group analogues of the drug - Forliver Help, Glutargin Alkoklin.

Available in gelatin capsules containing milk thistle extract powder. It is produced in 2 types, Legalon 140 and 70, in packs of 20, 30, 60 pcs.

Their differences:

Silymarin content (mg)	70	140
Capsule size	№2	№1
Mass of active substance (milk thistle extract mg)	86,5–93,35	173–186,7
Cost, rub.	350–400	600–700

Milk thistle extract converts free radicals into less toxic compounds, interrupts the process of lipid peroxidation, and stops the destruction of liver cells. It activates the production of a protein involved in the formation and stabilization of cell membranes, reduces the degree of tissue fibrosis.

Silibinin in Legalon has an improved water solubility, therefore, when taken orally, it is rapidly absorbed in the intestine. Into the liver, through the portal vein, in 45 minutes. about 85% of the substance is supplied. Due to this, the rate of recovery of hepatocytes increases, and the penetration of toxins into the gland slows down.

The drug has the following effects on the body:

• Antioxidant.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Hypocholesterolemic.

The duration of the therapeutic treatment is determined by the doctor. The daily dose of the drug is 1 capsule 3 times / day, as maintenance therapy, 1 capsule is prescribed 2 times / day.

Milk thistle

Herbal preparations for the liver based on milk thistle or milk thistle (from its seeds and fruits, meal and oil are first separated, and then medicinal extracts) act effectively due to the high content of flavolignans in them:

• silidiadin;
• silichristin;
• silibinin.

Together they form silymarin - an active substance that stimulates the growth of new cells of the liver parenchyma, has a cleansing and antioxidant effect. It neutralizes and removes free radicals and toxins from the body. The content of silymarin in milk thistle fruits reaches 4–6%.

Thistle oil and meal are used as an adjunct during treatment:

• Cirrhosis.
• Fatty hepatosis.

The use of the plant extract is effective:

• When cleansing the liver.
• In the treatment of chronic forms of hepatitis B and C.
• For preventive purposes and rehabilitation therapy.

Thistle stops inflammation, stimulates bile secretion, lowers blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin levels.

It contains:

Minerals and trace elements

Mn, Zn, Se, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cr, I, Cu, Al

Vitamins

B1, B5, B3, B9, tocopherol, K, D

Amino acids

Lysine, tryptophan, Valine

When treating the liver, milk thistle oil is taken 1 tsp. l. with each meal for 30 days. The cost of 100 ml of thistle oil averages 170-200 rubles.

A medicinal infusion is prepared from meal and seeds. For this, 1 tsp. l. milk thistle powder is poured with 100-150 ml of boiling water and insisted for 15 minutes. The liquid should be drunk warm in 30 minutes. before meals 3 times a day. Milk thistle meal is sold in pharmacies at a price of 90–100 rubles. for 100 g.

Thistle oil and meal can be replaced with an extract of the plant, produced in tablet form:

• Milk thistle extract.
• Carsil.
• Milk thistle forte.

The drugs are available with different amounts of active ingredient and are designed for different treatment regimens.

Artichoke

Cynarin and flavonoids contained in the inflorescences and stems of the plant enhance the outflow of bile, help prevent the formation of stones in the gallbladder, and relieve inflammation. Inulin, as a prebiotic, nourishes and normalizes the intestinal microflora, as an anticoagulant, reduces the level of low density lipoproteins.

A complex of organic acids, as well as phosphates and B vitamins help:

• Recover and renew liver cells.
• Support the natural defenses of the organ.
• Stimulate lipid metabolism.

The plant helps to improve:

• Digestion.
• Cholesterol metabolism.

Thanks to the use of artichoke, excess fluid is removed from the body, the breakdown and absorption of fatty foods is facilitated.

The medicinal properties of the plant are used in complex therapy:

• With chronic hepatitis.
• With alcoholic hepatitis.
• In the initial stage of cirrhosis.

As an independent remedy, it is used to treat alcohol intoxication and remove salts of heavy metals, toxins.

Artichoke comes to pharmacies as:

Release form	Quantity per package pcs.	Cost, rub.	Dosage and method of administration
Seed extract in the form of tablets	60 pills	160–180	1 tablet with meals 3-4 times a day for 30 days. Repeated course in 1 month.
20 pills	320–360
Black resin (freeze-dried plant extract)	100 g	260–320	¼ h. l. Dissolve the resin in 200 ml of warm boiled water. Take before meals 3 times a day. The daily norm is 10–20 g.

Medicines containing artichoke extract - Hofitol, Cinacholin.

Pumpkin seed oil

The product is prepared by cold pressing of ripe seeds of the fruit, available in bottles of 100 and 200 ml.

Pumpkin seed oil contains:

• phospholipids;
• triglycerides;
• tocopherol;
• nicotinic acid;
• essential oils;
• sterols;
• carotenoids;
• rutin;
• pectins;

It contains selenium and vitamins A, F. It is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and zinc, which help remove waste and toxins from the body and strengthen the immune system.

The oil is used in the complex treatment of liver obesity, cirrhosis, hepatitis. It helps to restore the cells of the gland, protect them from destructive factors, and prolong their life. Since pumpkin seed oil has a strong choleretic effect, it cannot be used for cholelithiasis.

In the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver and chronic hepatitis, the oil is taken orally for 1 tsp. l. in 60 minutes before meals 3 times a day. For preventive purposes, the product is used as an additive for dressing salads and side dishes.

Analogs:

• Peponen.
• Vitanorm.

The price of pumpkin seed oil in pharmacies ranges from 200 to 300 rubles. for 0.2 liters.

Pumpkin

The tool is available in the form:

• Oils for oral administration, bottles of 100 ml, 20 ml. The cost of 100 ml of the product is 630 rubles.
• Gelatin capsules. Packing price 50 pcs. - 310 rubles, packing 84 pcs. will cost 520 rubles.
• Rectal suppositories with the addition of cocoa butter, packaged in 10 pcs. in the box. It is prescribed for the treatment of prostatitis, hemorrhoids.

It includes:

Biologically active substances	Unsaturated and saturated fatty acids	Polyunsaturated fatty acids
sterols	oleic	alpha linolenic
tocopherols	palmitic	linoleic
carotenoids	stearic
phospholipids

The composition is an oily substance intended for the treatment of diseases of the liver, stomach, male and female reproductive system.

Its high content of fat-soluble vitamins and phospholipids makes it a natural remedy:

• Prevents the development of inflammation in the liver.
• Cleans the body of toxins and toxins.
• Restores the structure and function of hepatocytes.
• Stabilizes metabolism.

Dosage for the treatment of liver disease:

• Capsules are taken orally 4 pcs. with food or immediately after meals 3 times a day.
• The oil is taken orally 3-4 times a day for 1 tsp. l. in 30–35 minutes. before meals.

Shake well before using Tykveol.

Drugs with a similar effect - Ovesol, Holosas.

Hofitol

The active ingredient is horsetail extract.

There are 3 types of Hofitol available:

Amount in a package	Cost, rub.	Dosage
Pills	180 pcs.	1050	1-2 tablets after meals, 3 times a day
60 pcs.	450	–
Solution	120 ml	410	Orally, 3 times a day, 5 ml, after meals
Ampoules for intramuscular or intravenous administration	12 pcs. 5 ml each.	—	750 mg 2 times a day

The extract stimulates the production of bile, protects the parenchyma of liver cells from free radicals and toxins. Inulin and B vitamins normalize metabolic processes. The hepatoprotective effect is exerted by the cynarin and phenolic acids that are part of the drug. In parallel, Hofitol exhibits diuretic, detoxifying and choleretic properties.

The drug is used in complex treatment:

• Hepatosis.
• Chronic hepatitis.
• Cirrhosis and liver fibrosis.
• Jaundice of newborns.
• Obesity.
• Jade.
• Chronic renal failure.

The treatment lasts from 14 to 35 days. As a prophylaxis of liver diseases, Hofitol is taken within 30 days with a repetition of the course after 6 months.

Herbal medicines replacing Hofitol - Holebil, Artichoke Astrafarm.

Liv 52

Indian drug in the form of tablets, which contains natural powders and extracts from plants.

It includes:

• Chicory.
• The caper is prickly.
• Black nightshade.
• Western Cassia.
• Yarrow.
• Radish.
• Phyllanthus niruri.
• Berkhavia is spreading.

In total, the product includes about 20 species of plants. Liv-52 has a hepatoprotective and choleretic effect. It has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, removes toxins and reduces inflammation.

The components that make up the drug trigger the biosynthesis of proteins and lipids, which leads to the restoration of hepatocytes and a decrease in fibrotic tissue changes. Intracellular metabolism is enhanced, the level of the ratio of albumin and globulin is normalized.

In case of alcohol poisoning, Liv-52 promotes the early removal of the decay products of ethyl alcohol from the blood, reducing the risk of hangover.

The medicine is prescribed for therapy:

• Various forms of hepatitis (including acute).
• Anorexia.
• For the prevention of liver poisoning caused by medications.
• Cirrhosis and fatty degeneration of the organ.

For a standard package of medicine (100 tablets), you need to pay from 320 rubles.

Dosages of the drug:

Adults	Children from 6 years old
2-9 tablets, divided into 3 doses	2-6 tablets, divided into 3 doses

The closest analogues of Liv-52 are Silimar, Phosphogliv, Hepa-Merz.

What herbal hepatopreparations are allowed for children?

Children from 2 years old are allowed to give Galsten's drug, which is available in the form of drops or lozenges. The homeopathic medicine contains extracts of milk thistle, celandine, dandelion.

Galstena is indicated for the treatment of liver diseases in chronic and acute forms, as well as for functional disorders. It has no contraindications, but it should be borne in mind that homeopathic medicines are not recognized by official medicine, since their effectiveness has not been proven by research.

For children over 5 years old, Gepabene and Karsil are prescribed. Both products contain milk thistle extract. Herbal preparations are considered effective and safe, but the recommended age for taking is 12-18 years old in the annotations to the medicines. There are no clinical trials in children and therefore there is insufficient data on the safety of medicines.

If it is necessary to prescribe a hepatoprotector to a child under 12 years of age, the doctor first assesses the possible risks and the alleged benefit of the drug, and only then makes a decision on the appropriateness of the use drug.

What drugs are suitable for pregnant and lactating women

When starting to treat the liver, you first need to get a doctor's prescription for the medicine, even if it is made on a herbal basis. It is also important to follow the schedule of taking medications, this will minimize the occurrence of undesirable reactions.

There are no direct contraindications for pregnant and lactating women for the following group of drugs:

• Tykveol.
• Carsil.
• Ovesol (tablets only).
• Hofitol.
• Fosfonziale.

It should not be forgotten that all drugs can cause individual intolerance, and in case of hypersensitivity to the elements of the drug, the dosage is reduced, or the drug is completely excluded.

Herbal hepatoprotectors are auxiliary components in the complex therapy of the liver. It is important not to forget that a single use of such drugs will not give results either in case of a serious illness, or in case of poisoning, or with regular overeating. Only a doctor can select drugs and prescribe quality treatment.

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