4 Herbal remedies which are found to increase the risk of liver disease

In addition to drugs prescribed by doctors, several diseases can be helped to be cured with herbal medicines. However, you need to know that every drug, including herbal medicine, has side effects. Some of the herbal remedies that will be discussed in this review can indeed help treat a disease, but they also have side effects that can increase the risk of liver disease.

Herbal remedies that can increase the risk of liver disease

Herbal medicine is used as an alternative medicine to relieve a condition. These drugs are made from plants that are believed to have healing or soothing properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, or antifungal. Even though it has been used for generations, this drug is not always safe.

Even though it works to treat a disease, the medicinal content can also attack healthy organs. One of them has a negative impact on liver function. For that, the use of drugs must be with permission and supervised by a doctor. Here is a list of herbal remedies that can increase the risk of liver disease.

1. Greater celandine

Source: Z Living

Greater celandine is also known as Chelidonium majus. This remedy comes from a green, leafy celery-like plant with yellow flowers. This plant only flowers when the transition from spring to summer, which is around May to September.

Greater celandine is used to treat bile disorders, ulcer symptoms, and sedatives. However, studies in journals Gastroenterology have found that this herbal remedy can cause liver disease.

For 2 years researchers observed the use of the drug celandine to treat stomach problems. It turned out that some patients had cholestatic hepatitis. After discontinuation of the drug, the enzyme levels in the liver return to normal within 2 to 6 months.

2. Pennyroyal

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Pennyroyal comes from plants Mentha pulegium . This plant has green leaves with a bunch of small purple flowers. The leaves are used as essential oils for soap fragrances.

In addition, this plant has been used for a long time as a medicine for stomach upset, flatulence, and to reduce menstrual symptoms. Unfortunately, this herbal medicine has the side effect of damaging liver function thereby increasing the risk of liver disease if taken by mouth.

3. Kava kava

Source: Alibaba

Kava-kava is a herbal remedy for treating anxiety and improving sleep quality. This medicine is made from plants Piper methysticum green leaves in the shape of a heart.

Although it is used as a medicine for anxiety, some countries prohibit the use of this drug. The reason is, the food and drug regulatory agency in the United States, the FDA, states that this herbal medicine can damage the liver thereby increasing the risk of liver disease in the future.

4. Chaparral

Source: Wikipedia

Chaparral is a herbal medicine derived from plants Larrea tridentata . For centuries, chaparral has been used in tea blends because of its strong antioxidant properties, namely nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA).

Its antioxidant content is believed to be able to treat various bacterial and viral infections, one of which is the HIV virus. However, upon further investigation, the properties of chaparral have not been proven to be effective. Based on a report by the National Institute of Health, it was previously stated that the use of this herbal medicine actually increased cases of liver disease.

Researchers suspect that the NDGA content in this chaparral also has toxic properties in the liver. Some liver diseases resulting from chaparral side effects include acute liver failure and cirrhosis.

Photo courtesy of: Family Doctor.