This is an automatically translated article.
Currently, on the market, there are many products advertised with the function of detoxifying the liver and cooling the liver. However, arbitrarily using these drugs for the wrong indications can cause side effects, even damage to the liver.
1. Function of the liver for the body
The liver is an organ of the body with a large size, the liver performs many important functions and roles, which can be mentioned as:
Purify and eliminate toxins: Many toxins from food after entering the body The body will go to the liver and be purified and metabolized here. The liver filters, removes or neutralizes toxins in the body. Therefore, the liver is likened to the "detoxification factory" of the body. Metabolism: In the liver, many important metabolic activities of the body take place, the liver participates in the metabolism of glucid, protid, lipid into energy for the body's activities. Bile production: Liver cells produce bile to digest food. Storage: The liver stores blood as well as vitamins, minerals, ... for the body. Immune regulation: Thanks to the production of immune proteins, the liver can regulate the body's immunity.
2. Types of liver detoxifiers on the market
It is very difficult for consumers to distinguish between liver detoxifiers and functional foods that support liver detoxification, liver cooling, body purification,... In general, they have ingredients and origins. As follows:
Liver detoxification group of herbal origin: The medicinal herbs may contain active ingredients silymarin, silibinin, biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate, flavonoids,... which have the effect of supporting liver detoxification. Synthetic liver detoxification group: Synthetic compounds such as biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate, cianidanol, flumeciol, methionine,... can be formulated into liver antidote. The mechanism of action of liver antidote is mainly neutralizing free radicals, stabilizing the membrane of liver cells, thereby protecting the liver parenchyma as well as supporting the regulation of liver function,... Medicines or liver detoxification functional foods can improve the functional activity of the liver, support the treatment of liver diseases. However, it should be emphasized that there is not enough scientific evidence to confirm that liver detox supplements actually detox the liver or cure other liver problems.
3. Misconceptions about liver antidote
The abuse or improper use of liver detoxification products can leave some unwanted effects, make liver disease worse as well as cause systemic side effects, more severe It can lead to liver failure, which is life-threatening. Therefore, do not arbitrarily use drugs or liver detoxification supplements without instructions and indications from your doctor. Some patients with hepatobiliary diseases voluntarily take liver antidotes alone in the hope of treating the disease. This is a misconception because liver toxicity is caused by many different reasons. It is important to find the cause in order to hope for effective treatment. The fact is that liver antidotes only support the treatment of liver damage and do not directly affect the cause of the disease. Therefore, liver detoxification products cannot replace medical treatment. The folk methods of liver detoxification that have been passed down since ancient times are not suitable for all patients. The effects and effectiveness also depend on each person's location, specific disease, as well as dosage, usage, preservation,... Arbitrary use of medicinal plants not only does not bring effective results. treatment but can also affect the patient's health. Some alcoholic patients are subjective when taking liver antidote because they think that once they have used the liver antidote, they can drink as much beer and alcohol as they want. This is completely wrong because liver antidote cannot support treatment when the cause is not resolved.
4. Do liver detoxifiers have any side effects?
Any drug when put into the body is a "double-edged sword", and antidote to the liver (including traditional and western medicine) is no exception, especially when using drugs that are not prescribed or abused. drug use or prolonged drug use. Improper use of liver antidote can leave many consequences. Side effects of liver antidote can include:
4.1. Increased "burden" on the liver, impaired liver function Long-term use of hepatotoxic drugs without understanding and treating the cause can make the condition worse. Liver antidote, if used incorrectly, in high doses, for a long time or in combination with too many liver tonics, inadvertently increases the "burden" of the liver, the liver is poisoned, weakened, and has to work harder to prevent liver damage. Metabolizing drugs to detoxify the liver, gradually causing liver function to decline. When the liver is overloaded, the patient will feel tired and uncomfortable.
4.2. Liver damage Some liver detoxifiers may contain ingredients that are harmful to the liver, such as methionine. Using methionine-containing liver detoxifiers in people with liver failure, cirrhosis reduces liver metabolism, folic acid deficiency, especially when used for a long time. In addition, high or prolonged use of methionine also increases homocysteine in the blood/urine, increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to thromboembolism,...
4.3. Systemic side effects Not only harmful to the liver, antidotes to the liver can also cause unwanted systemic effects such as:
Nausea, vomiting Drowsiness Severe acidosis (when kidney disease is present). ) Itchy skin, red rash Fatigue
5. Effective liver detoxification
5.1. Treatment of the cause When there are signs of liver disease, the patient should be examined by a specialist doctor to diagnose the disease, diagnose the cause, ... and have the appropriate treatment. The treatment of the cause needs to be put first in order to hope for effective control of the disease. For example, the cause of hepatotoxicity is viral hepatitis, the patient should be treated with antiviral drugs, the alcohol cause should be stopped from alcohol, the cause due to exposure to hepatotoxic chemicals should be limited. exposure to these substances.
5.2. Liver Detoxification Arbitrary use of a liver detoxifier when the cause is not resolved can sometimes backfire. Adjuvant therapy with liver antidotes in combination with treatment of the underlying cause can effectively improve liver function. However, liver detoxification drugs should only be used when prescribed and directed by a doctor, not self-medicating because they may experience unwanted effects.
5.3. Other supportive measures Some non-drug measures can support liver detoxification, enhance liver function as well as patient's health:
Follow a healthy lifestyle, limit alcohol use or stimulants. The use of drugs in general requires extreme caution, as some drugs can be harmful to the liver. Vaccination against viral hepatitis is encouraged. Avoid contact, exposure to dangerous chemicals Proper nutrition, adequate diet, limited fat or fried foods. Increase green vegetables and fruits. In short, liver detoxifiers can cause side effects if used incorrectly. These side effects may be hepatic or systemic. Therefore, the use of antidote to the liver needs to be carefully considered, should not self-medicate or abuse the drug excessively, but should consult a doctor.
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