LiverTune®

Artichoke has a history of use as both a food and as medicine going back to ancient Egypt and Greece. Medicinally, artichoke is used for indigestion, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome , renal insufficiency, anemia, edema, arthritis, cystitis, liver dysfunction, preventing gallstones and for treating snake bites. It is also used as a diuretic and to stimulate bile production in the liver.

Artichoke has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Nutritionally, artichoke provides around 5.5 grams of amino acids per 100 calories. Twenty-two percent of the total calories in artichokes come from protein.

The antioxidant levels of artichoke flower heads is one of the highest reported for vegetables which is twice the level as found in blueberries.

Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, flatulence and abdominal pain in patients with impaired digestion associated with dysfunction of the gallbladder or bile ducts. Improvement generally occurs after 2 to 8 weeks of use.

Preliminary research suggests that artichoke leaf extract might work as a preventative by protecting liver cells from damage.

Jerusalem artichoke may constitute a novel prebiotic additive for dogs because of its positive influence on fibre utilization which was translated into better apparent absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Positive impacts on gut health and immune status were also apparent.

Sources:

• Ceccarelli N., Curadi M., Picciarelli P., Martelloni L., Sbrana C., Giovannetti M. “Globe artichoke as a functional food” Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2010 3:3 (197–201)
• Jerusalem Artichoke as a Potential Prebiotic

Dandelion root contains high concentrations of inulin, which is a food source for beneficial intestinal bacteria (the “good guys”) and is a useful prebiotic. It is used as a laxative, diuretic, circulatory tonic, skin toner, blood tonic, and digestive tonic, and treats infections such as viral and urinary tract infections, as well as treats cancer.

The first reference of Dandelion as a medicine is found in the works of Arabian physicians of the tenth and eleventh centuries.

Dandelion is used for heart failure, loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulence, gallstones, bile stimulation, joint pain, muscle aches, eczema and bruises.

Dandelion root Increases bile production and bile flow to the gallbladder.

Milk thistle is used for liver disorders including toxic liver damage caused by chemicals and chemotherapy; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, jaundice, chronic inflammatory liver disease, hepatic cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. It is also used orally for loss of appetite, gallbladder complaints, colitis, diabetes, prostate cancer, auto-immune disease, uterine complaints, low breast milk supply, allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and infertility.

Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterized by leaves with sharp prickles which protect the plant from being eaten by herbivores.

Milk thistle has been used in traditional herbal medicine for a long time, with references dating all the way back to the first century.

A study from 2007 concluded that silymarin (found in milk thistle) and vitamin E decreased gentamicin‐induced toxicity in dogs. (1)

Sources:

• Effect of silymarin and vitamin E on gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity in dogs

Barley grass is used for diarrhea, gastritis, inflammatory bowel conditions and for cancer prevention. It is also used for lowering blood sugar, increasing strength and stamina, and supports toxin removal from the body. It is considered to be easier on the digestive tract than wheatgrass and has the added benefit of being high in organic sodium and therefore beneficial to those with arthritis.

Barley grass is the leaf of the barley plant, as opposed to the grain. It’s medicinal and food uses date back to 7000 BC.

Nutritionally, barley grass juice contains beta carotene, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, and folic acid. Minerals present include potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Turmeric is known for its intense orange color and has been used in Asia for thousands of years. It is a cornerstone of both Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is used for abdominal pain, Crohn’s disease, colitis, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, liver and gallbladder conditions, and is known for its antioxidant properties, just to name a few.

Turmeric is a flowering plant of the ginger family. Turmeric has a warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavor and earthy, mustard-like aroma.

Turmeric has been used in Asia for thousands of years. It was first used as a dye, and then later for its medicinal properties.

Turmeric is also used for headaches, respiratory infections, fatigue, fever, surgical recovery and cancer, including colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. Other uses include anterior uveitis, diabetes, edema, worms, kidney inflammation, systemic lupus, tuberculosis, cystitis and joint pain.

Specific to the liver, turmeric is used for jaundice, hepatitis and other liver conditions, gallbladder conditions and GI conditions.

Clinical research with turmeric extracts have shown that it reduces pain and increases functionality in varying amounts in people with osteoarthritis. Compared to conventional treatment, taking a turmeric extract of 500 mg 3-4 times daily for 4-6 weeks seems to be comparable to taking ibuprofen 400 mg 2-3 times daily for reducing knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

Clinical research shows that taking curcumin daily (the main active ingredient in turmeric) reduces the severity of liver disease.

Curcumin decreases liver enzyme levels and reduces non alcoholic fatty liver disease severity in 75% to 78.9% of patients compared to 4.7% to 27.5% of patients receiving placebo.

Curcumin also decreases additional fat deposition in the liver to 0% to 4.5% compared to 17.5% to 25.6% in those taking placebo.

Turmeric is also known for its antioxidant abilities. The antioxidant effect of turmeric appears to be so powerful that it may stop the liver from being damaged by toxins. This could be good news for cases where strong drugs for diabetes or other health conditions that might hurt the liver are taken over the long-term.

Use caution if taking turmeric with anti-coagulents or anti-diabetic drugs.

Orally, broccoli sprouts are used for allergies, cancer, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections.

The nutritional content in sprouted seeds varies depending on species, but as a general rule, sprouts contain notable amounts of vitamin C; traces of B vitamins; a surprising amount of protein and fiber; and small amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Sprouts improve the digestive process, boost the metabolism, increase enzymatic activity, prevent anemia, aid in weight loss, prevent neural tube defects, boost skin health, improve vision, support the immune system, and increase usable energy reserves.

Cilantro is used medicinally for cancer and to remove heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and aluminum from the body. It is also used for its antioxidant, antibacterial, antimutagenic and antiparasitic properties.

Cilantro is thought by many to be from the Mediterranean region of Europe. It appears that cilantro has been used for at least 5000 years. The seeds (also known as coriander) have even been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.

Cilantro helps maintain liver function by protecting liver cells from toxins. An animal study, published in “Toxicology and Industrial Health” in 2012, found that rats fed cilantro were less likely to suffer liver damage from exposure to toxins than those that did not eat cilantro. The study also found that cilantro leaves have a high concentration of polyphenols, the family of compounds thought to be responsible for cilantro’s beneficial effect (1).

Sources:

• What Does Cilantro Do for the Body?

Ashwagandha is used as an adaptogen to increase resistance to environmental stress and can also be used as a general tonic. It also decreases inflammation and has been used medicinally for anxiety, tumors, hypothyroidism and chronic liver disease.

Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in India for thousands of years.

It is also used for immunomodulatory effects such as improving cognitive function, decreasing inflammation, preventing the effects of aging, for emaciation and infertility. Additionally, it is used to reduce fatigue associated with chemotherapy.