Herbs and Liver Disease

 

Herbs and Hepatitis C - by Lucinda K. Porter, RN

The use of herbs is controversial in the medical community largely because of the lack of research for efficacy coupled with the potential harm these substances can inflict. Many patients are interested in alternative methods to use with or instead of the treatment their doctors have prescribed. Since many herbs can cause liver damage, this list is to help the hepatitis patient make informed choices. Many herbs can be harmful in other ways, such as containing potentially carcinogenic properties of causing neurologic damage. This list is primarily liver specific and by no means exhaustive. The substances on this list are referred to in their oral form only.

Herbs and supplements can be powerful. As with any medication, please be certain your care practitioner is aware of what you are taking or plan to take. Since herbs can vary in strength and purity, it may be wise to take a standardized and certified form. The German Commission E is the world’s leading authority on herbs. An herb carrying this label meets their standards. The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia is developing standardization guidelines for the American marketplace. Since herbs can be contaminated, used common sense before ingesting anything.

Practice common sense when choosing an herbal supplement. Recently, a patient told me that she was not going to try interferon treatment because she wanted to try a complicated herbal and supplements regimen. She found the regimen on the internet and was persuaded to try it because the person promoting it said, “I’ve never felt better.” However, it included several substances that are out of favor in both traditional and complementary medicine. Further more, the person promoting it also stated that she gave up drinking, started exercising and watched what she eats. Abstinence from alcohol alone can be why she feels better. The advice here is to apply the same caution and research to supplements as one would to prescribed medication.

Although Chinese herbs are sometimes used successfully to treat symptoms, these also need to be used with great caution. This article does not cover most of the Chinese herbs. Recently there have been 16 deaths reported in Japan for HCV patients being treated simultaneously with interferon and Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum)

HERBS WITH KNOWN TOXICITY IF TAKEN AT HIGH DOSES (possibly toxic at low doses) Alpine cranberry (Vaccinium vitis idaea) Cayenne (Capiscum annum) Mercury Herb (Mercurialis annua) Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) Tonka Beans (Dipteryx odorata) Trailing Arbutus (Epigae repens) Witch Hazel (Hamamelis verginiana) Woodruf(Galium oderata) Uva Ursi (Uva Ursi arctostaphylos)

HERBS WITH KNOWN TOXICITY (*signifies potential hepatotoxicty) Alkanna (Alkanna tinctovia)* Borage (Borago officianalis)* Chaparral (Larrea tridentata)* Colt’s Foot (Tussilago farfara)* Comfrey (Symphytum officinale and S. uplandicum)* Dong Quai (Angelica polyniroha)* Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)* Ephedra: a.k.a.Ma Huang(Ephedra Sirica) Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis arvensis)* Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)* Groundsel (Sennecio vulgaris)* Hemp Agvimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)* Hops (Humulus lupulus) Jin Bu Huan (Lycopodium serratum) Life Root (Senecio aurvus arrd S.Nemovensis)* Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum and viscum album) Mormon Tea (Ephedra nevadensis) Pennyroyal (Mentha Pulegium)* Petasites (Petasites hybridus)* Pokeroot (Phytolocca americanna) Ragwort (Senecio jacoboea)* Rue (Ruta graveolens) Sassafrass (Sassafrass albidum) Scullcap (Scutellarid lateviflora)* Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)

Herbs that May be Safe (unproven health benefits) Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica) Chamonmile (Matricaria chamomilla) Dandelion (Turaxacum officinale) Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) (not recommended for long-term use, especially for people with high blood pressure) Maitake (Grifloa frondosa) Milk Thistle(Lilybum marianum) Peppermint (Menta piperita) Rosemary (Rosemariunus officinalis) Soybean (Glycine Soja)

The standard of medical treatment in the US requires that drugs undergo vigorous testing regulated by the FDA. This testing process establishes safety and efficacy of dosages of a product. Currently in the US herbal use is not subjected to the same standards. Consequently, it makes it more difficult to make statements about the safety, efficacy, and dosages of herbs. The European medical community is far ahead of the US regarding herb research, but there is still much that we do not know.

The inability to adequately substantiate herbal use with solid scientific evidence presents a dilemma. This article relies on documentation from published resources. However, references were not always available to provide specific dosages. For example, in the section listing herbs that may be safe, the author has tried to avoid endorsing a particular treatment. The intent here is to offer a starting point from which the consumer can gather more information. The author advises you to consult with your physician regarding herbal use.