Liver damage due to improper detoxification.

Traditional methods of liver detoxification, such as detox drinks, herbal remedies, or unproven prescriptions, can actually accelerate liver damage.

According to Dr. Le Thanh Ly, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Hepatology Association, "cooling the liver" is a folk term referring to the effects of certain foods, herbs, or remedies that alleviate symptoms of liver heat such as acne, hives, itching, indigestion, and insomnia. However, symptoms are only a part of the basis for diagnosing the disease. Using this anecdotal method may alleviate some symptoms but does not address the root cause. It can even worsen the condition by missing the opportunity for effective treatment.

Many people mistakenly believe that body detoxification can also be applied to the liver. According to Dr. Ly, the detoxification process only removes some toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and skin. Using cooling drinks or cleansing teas, while effective, only provides a temporary feeling of coolness and does not properly affect the liver – the main organ responsible for detoxification in the entire body.

Traditional methods of liver detoxification, such as detox drinks, herbal remedies, or unproven prescriptions, can lead to premature liver damage.

This is evident from the 1,500 questions submitted to the "Consultation on Detoxification, Liver Protection" program currently running on VnExpress. Many readers wonder why, despite drinking various cooling drinks and herbal remedies (green tea, artichoke, bitter melon, lemon, turmeric, honey...), actively detoxifying, and using products claimed to cool and detoxify the liver, their condition has not improved. On the contrary, their symptoms have worsened.

Mr. Thuan (38 years old, Khanh Hoa) has had hepatitis for two years. He took liver detoxification medicine recommended by an acquaintance but saw no improvement; his body became even thinner due to loss of appetite. Ms. Kim Xuan (59 years old, Hanoi) wondered why, despite drinking herbal detox tea every day, her liver enzyme levels were still double. Ms. Nguyen Phuong (Binh Duong) worried: "I heard that detox methods like drinking several liters of lemon-sweetened water every day help eliminate toxins. But doing it for many days makes me very tired."

Professor, Doctor Nguyen Khanh Trach - President of the Vietnam Internal Medicine Association - advises against arbitrarily detoxifying the liver. Traditional methods passed down through word of mouth can be harmful to this organ. Long-term use can lead to many dangerous diseases such as inflammation, fibrosis, and even liver cancer.

"After consumption, herbal teas and remedies all go to the liver for metabolism and elimination. This process can introduce harmful substances that cause liver disease. More dangerously, drinking such herbal teas can mask the symptoms of the disease, leading patients to mistakenly believe they have recovered and neglect active treatment, missing the most effective treatment phase," Professor Trach said.

Many people self-medicate with traditional remedies or products claiming to "cool the liver and lower liver enzymes" without scientific verification. Reports from the US and Sweden show that 17% of acute liver failure cases are due to the indiscriminate use of medications in general. More than 900 pharmaceutical products and toxins have been identified as causing damage to this organ. The prognosis for death in patients with acute liver failure due to drug reactions is 60-80%. Among these, a significant number of liver-cooling and detoxifying medications have not been scientifically proven safe.

The indiscriminate use of herbal remedies and plants increases the risk of impurities or toxins they may contain, putting more strain on the liver. This further impairs the liver's detoxification ability, leading to dangerous liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even cancer.

Professor Trach explained that liver toxicity is an inflammatory reaction of the liver to toxins entering the body. Common symptoms include acne, fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating, jaundice, etc. Choosing clean food, abstaining from alcohol, quitting smoking, getting adequate rest, and exercising regularly are methods that should be practiced consistently.

According to Giadinh.net