Liver Cleanse is a combination product by Thorne that includes berberine, milk thistle, burdock extract, and chicory extract. This product is used to support the liver with its detoxification processes. It also enhances bile flow to help breakdown and excrete substances detoxified by the liver.
A general starting dose for Liver Cleanse is 1 cap taken in the evening. You can titrate dose as needed to better suit your needs.
Berberine
Berberine has a long history of use in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. It has anti-hyperglycemic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-cancer properties. Berberine is beneficial for blood sugar management, GI health, and cardiovascular health. It also supports the immune system and the respiratory tract.
Berberine has been shown to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. In a 3-month study on newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics, berberine had a similar blood sugar lowering effect as metformin. Decreases in HBA1C, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and plasma triglycerides were seen in the berberine group. In the regulation of lipid metabolism, berberine performed better than metformin. In another study of 48 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, similar beneficial results were seen with the use of berberine. Decreased HBA1C, fasting insulin, total cholesterol and LDL.
There are many mechanisms that could explain the benefits seen when using berberine on blood sugar. One thought is that berberine increases the levels of Akkermansia in the gut as higher levels of Akkermansia is associated with less diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and low-grade chronic inflammation.
Berberine supports the liver decreasing blood sugar, insulin resistance, and triglycerides. These are used as markers for liver damage in people with diabetes or hepatitis for example. Berberine is also beneficial for those with fatty liver disease.
Berberine is beneficial in the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). A study showed that herbal remedies are as effective as oral antibiotics in the treatment of SIBO.
In rats with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), treatment with berberine has been shown to improve glucose balance, improve kidney function, reduce kidney inflammation, and kidney fibrosis.
Berberine improves endothelial (inner lining of blood vessel) function. It has also been reported to have anti-arrhythmic effects.
Berberine has also shown neuroprotective effects, improving memory, and spatial learning. It can also promote nerve regeneration.
Berberine has shown anti-cancer effects in rats. It also has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth. Berberine has been shown to selectively inhibit human liver cancer cell growth.
A general dosage of berberine is 500mg, taken 3 times per day (1,500mg per day).
Burdock
Burdock extract is a concentrated form of the bioactive compounds found in burdock root (Arctium lappa). The extract is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and inulin, which have been traditionally used to treat various health conditions. The burdock root is a blood purifier, lymphatic system strengthener, and natural diuretic. Burdock is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and acts as a prebiotic. It is often used for digestive issues, arthritis, and skin conditions. Due to its antioxidant properties, it is beneficial in chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, as it protects the cells from free radical damage. It has neuroprotective properties and can prevent diabetic complications.
In a study done on mice, burdock elevated endurance and grip strength. It also decreased lactate, ammonia, and CK levels after physical challenge. “Oral BD treatment may help reduce oxidative stress, decrease muscle damage, and improve exercise performance. Our data show that administration of BD extract extends endurance time to exhaustion of mice, therefore indicating that BD extract reduces fatigue and enhances exercise tolerance.”
Burdock extract has been used topically to treat skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as to promote healthy hair growth. In skin care products, it is used to reduce inflammation and reduce elasticity. Hair care products often contain burdock to nourish and moisturize the hair, promote healthy growth, and to reduce dandruff.
Chicory
Chicory extract is a concentrated liquid or powder derived from the roots of the chicory plant (Cichorium intybus). Chicory has been used in traditional medicine, as a food additive, and as a coffee substitute. Chicory has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and digestive benefits. It is immunomodulatory and has anti-tumor properties. Chicory helps liver function and can improve blood sugar levels. Some of the compounds found in chicory also show pro-apoptotic activity (ability to induce programmed cell death), antimicrobial, and can lower cholesterol levels. Chicory has also been shown to regulate appetite.
Due to these benefits, chicory can help in many diseases such as preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes, liver protection, helping with osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions, and can help with gut health.
Inulin, which is a major compound of chicory root, gives it it’s prebiotic effects.
Chlorogenic acids improve insulin sensitivity, have antibacterial activity, and antioxidant properties.
Sesquiterpene lactones (STL), from the chicory leaves and roots, are known for their strong inhibitory effect on some nematodes (worms) infecting livestock. They are also known for their antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antiprotozoal, and antiaging properties.
Silymarin
Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum). It has been used for centuries to treat various liver conditions, gallbladder disorders, protecting the liver against snake bite and insect stings, mushroom poisoning and alcohol abuse, as a natural treatment for upper gastrointestinal tract and digestive problems, liver and biliary tract diseases, menstrual disorders and varicose veins, and has been studied extensively for its potential health benefits.
Silymarin has many beneficial properties, antifibrotic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antiviral, and antioxidant. It scavenges free radicals reducing oxidative stress, and can increase glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels. It has been shown to promote liver cell regeneration, and helps combat hepatic (liver) fibrosis. Silymarin has also be shown to reduce cholesterol levels. It may also help prevent cancer.
Some of the mechanisms of silymarin are; increases the regenerative ability of liver cells by enhancing the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Prevents entrance of xenobiotics into the cell. Scavenges free radicals and increases the cellular content of glutathione that leads to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation (fats being damaged by free radicals).
It is used to treat many liver conditions such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and drug induced liver injuries. Silymarin has been shown to lower ALT and AST levels within 4 weeks.
Silymarin also shows protective effects on the pancreas. Silymarin can be used as a drug for diabetic nephropathy therapy.
Silymarin has also shown neuroprotective benefits.
“High oxygen utilization, huge amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, elevated levels of free iron ions and low antioxidants defenses all together make the brain tissue vulnerable to reactive oxygen species injuries. Silymarin when administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day, strongly reduced the proteins oxidation in hippocampus and cortex of elderly rats in comparison to the young ones.”
“Silymarin can be used as a choice compound against Alzheimer disease in which the protein oxidation is an important early occasion. According to previous studies, silymarin has antioxidant activities in the central nervous system, which enables it to enter the CNS via the blood–brain barrier (BBB).”
A general dosage recommendation for silymarin is 450mg per day. For more chronic type diseases, or prevention of them developing further, 1,200mg or more, per day in divided doses, is more often used.
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