Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
Bupleurum Falcatum, also known as thorowax, saiko and Chai hu, has been used for thousands of years throughout the world to treat a variety of conditions. Bupleurum was originally used in Chinese Medicine but has traveled west and is now used all over the world.
The most common uses for Bupleurum today include hep c treatment, epilepsy and cirrhosis of the liver. When combined with other herbs such as ginger, wormwood,schisandra, and others, bupleurum is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome.
What makes Bupleurum such a great liver support herb?
Bupleurum’s magic results from what are called “saikosaponins”. Saikosaponins has been shown to help immune cells talk to one another. In certain studies, saikosaponins have also been found to eliminate growth of liver cancer cells in patients with liver disease and cirrhosis.
In a number of studies, Bupleurum was shown to reduce the blood liver enzymes in patients suffering from viral hepatitis and it has also been proven to help with hepatitis c treatment.
As mentioned before, Bupleurum can also help with epilepsy. There are a small number of studies that show bupleurum reduces seizure frequency. Typical dosage for Bupleurum is 500-2,000 mg 3x daily. Bupleurum can be made as a tea, although there have been reports that bupleurum tea links to an upset stomach.
Overall bupleurum is a fantastic herb and should absolutely be included in your repertoire. Especially if you’re battling a liver damaging disease such as hepatitis c, cirrhosis, or liver disease.
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupleurum
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