🍷 Medicinal Plants for Liver / Bile
For liver and bile, herbal lore offers two established approaches: bitters that stimulate bile flow, and milk thistle with its silymarin. One point comes first: with gallstones, stimulated bile flow can trigger colic — that needs medical clarification before any use. Yellow skin, pale stools or dark urine are not cases for tea.
40 plants from our database are traditionally associated with Liver / Bile – each with a profile, active compounds, safety notes and sources. Poisonous and legally controlled species are deliberately left out of this list; they remain reachable through the search and the plant index.
These plants are traditionally used for the listed conditions. Not medical advice — consult a doctor or pharmacist for persistent symptoms.
Raw celeriac as crudités, in salads or as rémoulade.
In the folk medicine of various cultures (Dalmatia, Turkey, the Near East), chard is considered a stomach-friendly and liver-supportive vegetable.
Traditionally fermented red cabbage sauerkraut (lactic acid fermentation) is used in Central European folk medicine for digestive complaints and as…
Infusion of dried flowers was traditionally used as a bitter to stimulate appetite and liver and bile function.
Loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints (bloating, flatulence, mild digestive weakness) and as adjuvant in disturbances of bile flow - bitter the…
Dried cumin seeds are one of the oldest culinary spices in the world.
Dried turmeric rhizome powder for dyspeptic complaints — positive Kommission E monograph for Curcumae longae rhizoma.
Traditional use for dyspeptic complaints: fullness, flatulence, nausea and slow digestion — especially after fatty or rich meals.
In Mediterranean folk medicine, rocket leaves are considered digestive (carminative) and stomach-toning.
Infusion of dried wild strawberry leaves for diarrhoea, gastric complaints, and loss of appetite.
Traditional fumitory tea to increase bile flow for indigestion such as fullness, flatulence and slow digestion.
Used in folk medicine for liver complaints, biliary obstruction, and jaundice.
Traditional horehound herb tea as expectorant for cold-related and irritative cough, and as a bitter remedy for loss of appetite and dyspeptic comp…
In Ayurvedic tradition, Tulsi is considered a Deepana (digestive fire stimulant) and Vata-pacifier for bloating reduction.
In Brazilian and African folk medicine, the leaves of Indian coleus ('falso boldo') are used as a tea for digestive complaints, liver ailments, and…
Fresh black radish (juice or grated root) is approved by the German Kommission E as a cholagogue for dyspeptic complaints of biliary origin.
The radish is one of the fastest-growing vegetables (harvest after approx.
The petiole (stalk) of garden rhubarb is the only edible part of the plant and is used in cooking as a vegetable and compote fruit.
Standardised silymarin dry extract (positively assessed by Commission E) for supportive treatment of toxic liver damage and chronic inflammatory li…
The Guaraní peoples of Paraguay and Brazil chewed fresh stevia leaves for centuries as a sweet treat and to sweeten yerba mate.
Broccoli sprouts (3–4 day old seedlings) contain 10- to 100-fold higher glucoraphanin concentrations than mature broccoli (Fahey et al., PNAS 1997).
Agrimony herb infusion for mild diarrhoea and digestive complaints — astringent effect of catechin tannins, positively assessed by Kommission E.
Raw grated beetroot (e.g.
Extra virgin olive oil as functional food — EFSA-authorised health claim: protects LDL particles from oxidation (20 g/day, at least 5 mg hydroxytyr…
Mild dyspepsia and mild gastrointestinal spasms
Folk nervine tea from vervain for nervous exhaustion, low mood and nervous dyspepsia — one of the oldest European nervine herbs.
Traditional root decoction as expectorant for cough and bronchial catarrh — classic application in European phytotherapy (ESCOP, Wichtl).
Traditional infusion of dried walnut leaves for mild digestive complaints — short-term only, as juglone content is concerning with long-term use.
Tribal/folk use in Rajasthan: root juice or infusion for liver cholestasis, jaundice and dyspepsia.
Fresh or dried leaves and shoot tips are used as an aromatic culinary herb.
Traditional infusion of leaves and herb tips for mild digestive complaints: flatulence, bloating, mild cramps.
Traditional infusion of dill fruits for dyspeptic complaints, flatulence and bloating — Kommission E positive verdict (1990).
Infusion of the flowering herb (1–2 g per cup) as a bitter tonic to stimulate digestive secretions for loss of appetite, flatulence, and dyspeptic…
Classic ingredient in Frankfurt Green Sauce and wild-herb salads — cucumber-like flavour.
Raw cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C (approx.
Quince seeds (unbroken) soaked or briefly simmered in water yield a mucilage-rich decoction.
Occasionally in Central European folk medicine for gastrointestinal complaints, appetite stimulation, and as a bitter tonic.
Short-term occasional constipation
Standardised gentian root tincture (positively assessed by Commission E) for reflex stimulation of gastric secretion in loss of appetite and dyspep…
Classic chamomile tea (Kommission E positive) for gastrointestinal spasms, gastritis and inflammatory disorders of the digestive tract.
Different concern? All complaints at a glance · all plants