An all-herbal formula for fatty liver. In recent years, Shu Gan Wan has emerged as a trusted over-the-counter remedy for fatty liver disease, backed by clinical trials and laboratory experimentation.
Fatty liver disease and, in particular, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen to become the number one leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. This is particularly concerning because if NAFLD goes unchecked, it can cause serious inflammatory damage to the liver and eventually lead to potentially life-threatening cirrhosis.
Because there are currently no specific western drugs for NAFLD (although a drug for NASH has been released), there has been a big push in recent years in China to find Chinese medical formulas suited to treating this insidious disease. From the early 90s to the present day, Chinese researchers have conducted a large series of rigorous clinical trials to determine which single herbs and formulas are most efficacious in the treatment of NAFLD. In 2020, the Chinese National Clinical Materia Medica Treasury released a list of eight recommended formulas for NAFLD. Of these, Shu Gan Wan was the only OTC formula listed. Because OTC formulas can be purchased without a prescription, they typically need to be extremely safe and balanced formulas that can be used with little to no safety concerns for consumers. This is why, of the eight formulas released, we chose Shu Gan Wan —a formula known to be both effective and safe in the treatment of NAFLD.
The principal herbs in Shu Gan Wan, Turmeric and Peony Root, have been shown time and again to be particularly effective in the treatment of NAFLD. In a 1997 study, 52 patients with NAFLD were given a formula containing Turmeric and Peony Root as principal herbs and a 88.6% efficacy rate was reported. Such results abound in the Chinese literature: Lan et al. (1997) reported a complete recovery of 56 patients in a trial of 68—with two of the principal herbs being turmeric and peony.
Laboratory analysis provides clues as to why these herbs are so effective in the treatment of NAFLD. Panahi et al. (2016) state that “curcumin treats NAFLD through a series of mechanisms”including clearing fat from liver cells and reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines. Luo et al. (2021) found that Peony likely reduces adipose tissue inflammation, a potential key driver of disease in NAFLD.
For a given disease, there will often be multiple Chinese medical formulas indicated based on varying mechanisms that manifest as specific symptom presentations. For Shu Gan Wan, experts say that the formula works best for those with fatty liver disease that also experience fullness and discomfort in the chest and rib side, indigestion and nausea.
GMP certified and vegan.
Instructions: take 8 tablets 2-3x daily.
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