Herbs for Liver Support: Milk Thistle, Dandelion and More

Written by Dr. Ryan Kneessi, ND

Quick answer: Herbs have long been used to support the liver and digestion. Milk thistle (silymarin), dandelion, turmeric (curcumin), schisandra, licorice root, artichoke leaf and peppermint are common choices. Some have antioxidant or bile-supporting effects in research, but human evidence is mixed, and several can interact with medications, so use them with guidance.

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Key takeaways

Herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion have a long history of use for liver support and can complement a whole-food diet.

Herbs can interact with medications such as blood thinners and diabetes and blood pressure drugs, and most are best avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Herbs, spices and vegetables in your meals are an easy, food-based way to get plant compounds with antioxidant effects.

Herbs and the liver

Herbal medicine can complement a whole-food diet and healthy habits. Background: how liver clearance works.

Milk thistle

Its active complex, silymarin, has antioxidant effects and may support glutathione. Human studies on liver outcomes are mixed.

Dandelion

Traditionally used to support bile flow and as a mild diuretic.

Turmeric

Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Rarely, turmeric supplements have been linked to liver injury, so use them with guidance.

Schisandra

An adaptogenic berry with lignans that have antioxidant effects in research.

Licorice root

Contains glycyrrhizin. Regular use can raise blood pressure and lower potassium; avoid with high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, or pregnancy.

Artichoke leaf

Traditionally used to support bile flow and digestion.

Peppermint

Relaxes digestive muscles and may ease IBS symptoms; it can worsen heartburn.

Safety first

Herbs can interact with medications, including blood thinners, diabetes and blood pressure drugs, so avoid most herbs during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless approved. Choose third-party tested products, and tell your provider about all herbs you take.

Healthy aging lens

Plant compounds with antioxidant effects may help protect cells from oxidative stress. Food sources like herbs, spices and vegetables are a great place to start. See supporting your liver naturally.

When to see a naturopathic doctor

It may be time to see a naturopathic doctor if you have ongoing fatigue, headaches, skin or digestive symptoms, or known exposure to lead, mercury, mold or workplace chemicals. The same is true if you take medications or have liver, kidney or heart conditions and want to try an elimination-support plan, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (intensive cleansing protocols are not recommended).

See a medical provider promptly for signs of poisoning such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, confusion, seizures or trouble breathing, or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

What the research shows

Milk thistle has the most liver research of any herb. In a 2017 randomized trial by Wah Kheong and colleagues, 99 adults with biopsy-confirmed fatty liver inflammation took 700 mg of silymarin or a placebo three times daily for 48 weeks. The main goal, a 30% drop in disease activity, was reached by 32.7% on silymarin and 26.0% on placebo, which was not a significant difference, but fewer people on silymarin showed worsening scarring. Dandelion and artichoke have far less human research.

Some herbal extracts can strain the liver. A 2020 United States Pharmacopeia review of green tea extracts found case reports of liver injury at EGCG intakes from about 140 mg to roughly 1,000 mg a day, especially when taken on an empty stomach. Case reports cannot show how common this is, but they explain why concentrated extracts should be taken with food and avoided with existing liver problems.

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Questions to bring to your clinician

These questions can help you get the most out of your next visit.

Would any liver-support herbs be safe with my current medications?

Could liver-support herbs or supplements interact with any of my current medications or other supplements?

Would any labs or health history details help us decide whether liver-support herbs or supplements makes sense for me?

How would we tell whether liver-support herbs or supplements is a good fit for me, and when should we check in again?

Frequently asked questions

Is milk thistle good for the liver?

It has antioxidant effects; human evidence is mixed.

Is turmeric safe for the liver?

Food amounts are safe; rare liver injury has been reported with supplements.

Who should avoid licorice root?

People with high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, low potassium, or who are pregnant.

Can herbs interact with medications?

Yes. Always check with your provider.

Sources

Wah Kheong C, Nik Mustapha NR, Mahadeva S. A Randomized Trial of Silymarin for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017. PMID: 28419855. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28419855/
Oketch-Rabah HA, Roe AL, Rider CV, et al. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) comprehensive review of the hepatotoxicity of green tea extracts. Toxicol Rep 2020. PMID: 32140423. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32140423/
Rambaldi A, Jacobs BP, Gluud C. Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007. PMID: 17943794. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8724782/
Halegoua-DeMarzio D, et al. Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric-A Growing Problem: Ten Cases from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN]. Am J Med 2023. PMID: 36252717. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9892270/
Penninkilampi R, Eslick EM, Eslick GD. The association between consistent licorice ingestion, hypertension and hypokalaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hum Hypertens 2017. PMID: 28660884. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28660884/
Alammar N, et al. The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data. BMC Complement Altern Med 2019. PMID: 30654773. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6337770/
Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL. Common Herbal Dietary Supplement-Drug Interactions. Am Fam Physician 2017. PMID: 28762712. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28762712/

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace an individual evaluation. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting supplements or changing medications, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition.