The Herbal Library

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Browse every herb in the database by name, category, or the body system it's traditionally associated with.

All categories Aromatic Culinary Medicinal

Filtered by body system:Liver & GallbladderClear

Liver and gallbladder problems need diagnosis and care from a health professional. These herbs are listed because of traditional use or research, not because they're proven treatments. Some herbs and supplements can themselves harm the liver, and several shouldn't be used if you have gallstones. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you have liver disease or take regular medicines.

Results

28 herbs

No. 001Medicinal

Aloe

Aloe vera

A succulent whose leaf gel is used on burns and skin conditions. Gel on the skin may speed burn healing; aloe taken by mouth carries real risks.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 002Medicinal

Artichoke Leaf

Cynara cardunculus

Leaves of the artichoke plant, recognized in Europe for indigestion, fullness and bloating. Several small trials suggest it may lower liver enzyme levels in fatty liver disease.

Fatty Liver (NAFLD) · Gallbladder, Gallstones and Bile Flow

No. 003Medicinal

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

A root from Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally used to help the body cope with stress.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 004Medicinal

Aster Root

Aster tataricus

Zi wan, the soft purple root of Aster tataricus, a classic Chinese, Japanese and Korean remedy to moisten the lungs and relieve cough and phlegm.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 005Medicinal

Black Cohosh

Actaea racemosa

A root used traditionally by Native Americans and recognized in Europe for menopausal hot flushes. Rare liver problems have been reported.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 006Medicinal

Burdock

Arctium lappa

A plant whose root has been eaten as food in Asia for centuries. It is traditionally used as a "blood purifier" and for skin problems, but there is little evidence in people.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 007Medicinal

Chanca Piedra

Phyllanthus niruri

A plant traditionally used in Malay, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for kidney stones and liver problems. It has been studied for both, with mixed results.

Fatty Liver (NAFLD) · Liver Disease (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis)

No. 008Medicinal

Chinaberry Bark

Melia azedarach

Bark of the chinaberry tree, whose compound toosendanin was developed in China as a roundworm medicine. The plant is toxic: toosendanin damages the liver, and chinaberry has poisoned many kinds of animals.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 009Medicinal

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

A plant whose root and leaves have long been used for indigestion and, historically, for problems with bile flow. There is very little research on it in people.

Gallbladder, Gallstones and Bile Flow

No. 010Medicinal

Epazote

Dysphania ambrosioides

An herb used in Jamaican and Latin American folk medicine against worms. It can cause serious, even deadly, poisoning, especially in children.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 011Medicinal

Evodia Fruit

Tetradium ruticarpum

Wu zhu yu, a Chinese medicine fruit used to dispel cold, relieve pain and stop vomiting and diarrhoea, including for headache and period pain. It's mildly toxic and has caused liver damage.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 012Medicinal

Fo-Ti

Reynoutria multiflora

He shou wu, a popular Chinese root traditionally taken to darken graying hair, as an anti-ageing tonic, and for dizziness and constipation. Hundreds of cases of liver injury have been linked to it, a few of them fatal.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 013Medicinal

Giloy (Guduchi)

Tinospora cordifolia

An Ayurvedic climbing vine promoted in India as an immunity booster, including during COVID-19. Cases of liver injury have been reported, though some may involve a look-alike plant.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 014Medicinal

Ginseng

Panax ginseng

A root long used in traditional Chinese medicine as a calming herb and an adaptogen. Research on its effects is mixed.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 015Medicinal

Gold Coin Grass

Lysimachia christinae, Desmodium styracifolium

A name used in traditional Chinese medicine for two plants, Lysimachia christinae (jin qian cao) and Desmodium styracifolium (guang jin qian cao). Both are used for gallstones and urinary stones; a large trial found a Desmodium extract helped small stones pass.

Liver Disease (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis) · Gallbladder, Gallstones and Bile Flow

No. 016Medicinal

Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica

A plant used in traditional medicine for circulation, wounds and memory. Small studies suggest possible benefits for anxiety and thinking, but the evidence isn't strong.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 017Medicinal

Green Tea

Camellia sinensis

Unfermented leaves of the tea plant, drunk for thousands of years. Drinking the tea is considered safe, but concentrated green tea extract supplements have rarely caused serious liver damage.

Fatty Liver (NAFLD) · Liver Safety Warnings

No. 018Medicinal

Katuki

Picrorhiza kurroa

Kutki, a bitter root used in Ayurveda for thousands of years for fever, jaundice, the liver and breathing problems. It is now endangered in the wild.

Fatty Liver (NAFLD)

No. 019Medicinal

Kava

Piper methysticum

A root from the South Pacific, drunk in ceremonies for thousands of years. It may ease anxiety short term, but it has been linked to rare, sometimes fatal, liver damage.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 020Medicinal

Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

A tall, purple-flowered thistle from Europe, long used for liver problems. Studies of it and its extract silymarin in liver disease have been conflicting or too limited to show a clear benefit.

Fatty Liver (NAFLD) · Liver Disease (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis)

No. 021Medicinal

Penny Royal

Clinopodium brownei

Jamaican pennyroyal, one of the island's popular bush medicines for breathing and digestive problems. It is a different plant from European pennyroyal, but its oil contains the same toxic compound, pulegone.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 022Medicinal

Periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus

Madagascar periwinkle, a garden plant used in Caribbean folk medicine for diabetes and the source of two cancer drugs. The plant can be poisonous.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 023Medicinal

Reishi

Ganoderma lucidum

A mushroom prized for centuries in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine. A Cochrane review found it didn't lower heart disease risk factors.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 024Medicinal

Schisandra

Schisandra chinensis

A fruit known in Chinese as wu wei zi ("five-flavor fruit"), long used in traditional Chinese medicine for the liver, coughs and energy. Studies in people are few and small.

Fatty Liver (NAFLD) · Liver Disease (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis)

No. 025Medicinal

Siamese Cassia

Senna siamea

A tree whose leaves are eaten in Thailand, where it is called khi lek and traditionally used for sleep. A calming product made from it caused cases of hepatitis.

Liver Safety Warnings

No. 026Medicinal

Turkey Tail

Trametes versicolor

A mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic. Extracts from it are used alongside cancer treatment in Japan and China.

Liver Disease (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis)

No. 027Medicinal

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

A golden root used in curries, known for its natural compound curcumin and traditionally used for inflammation.

Liver Disease (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis) · Liver Safety Warnings

No. 028Medicinal

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis

A root traditionally used to help with sleep.

Liver Safety Warnings