Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Yarrow for your Heart, Kidney and Blood








Yarrow


Achillea millefolium




Other Names: Milfoil, Old Man's Pepper, Soldier's Woundwort, Knight's Milfoil, Thousand Weed, Nose Bleed, Carpenter's Weed, Bloodwort, Staunchweed


Habitat



Yarrow is a perennial herb, native to Europe and Asia and naturalized in North America and most other countries throughout the world. Yarrow is very common along roadsides and in old fields, pastures, and meadows in the eastern and central United States and Canada.


Cultivation


Yarrow is easily cultivated, will survive in poor soil. Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position. A very good companion plant, it improves the health of plants growing nearby and enhances their essential oil content thus making them more resistant to insect predations also improves the soil fertility.


Description
   

Yarrow grows from 10 to 20 inches high, a single stem, fibrous and rough, the leaves alternate, 3 to 4 inches long and 1 inch broad, larger and rosette at the base, clasping the stem, bipinnatifid, the segments very finely cut, fern-like, dark-green, giving the leaves a feathery appearance. The flowers are several bunches of flat-topped panicles consisting of numerous small, white flower heads. Each tiny flower resembling a daisy. The whole plant is more or less hairy, with white, silky appressed hairs. Flowers bloom from May to August. Gather stem, leaves and flower heads in bloom, dry for later herb use. Dry herb edible as a spice or flavoring, strong sage flavor.


Properties



Yarrow is a very valuable medicinal herb, with much scientific evidence of use in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, stimulant, and tonics, vasodilator and vulnerary. Yarrow is used against colds, cramps, fevers, kidney disorders, toothaches, skin irritations, and hemorrhages, and to regulate menses, stimulate the flow of bile, and purify the blood. Medicinal tea is a good remedy for severe colds and flu, for stomach ulcers, amenorrhea, abdominal cramps, abscesses, trauma and bleeding, and to reduce inflammation.  The main constituents are volatile oils including linalool, camphor, sabinene, and chamazulene, sesquiterpene lctones, flavanoids, alkaloids including achilleine, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, salicylic acid, coumarins, and tannins which prove these uses in alternative medicine to be effective. Extracts of yarrow exhibit antibiotic activity and may also act as anti-neoplastic drugs. Externally for treating wounds and stopping the flow of blood. Yarrow oil has been traditionally used in hair shampoos. Some caution is advised , large or frequent doses taken over a long period may cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.


Folklore



It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days, being sometimes known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, and was used for divination in spells.


Recipe



An aromatic tea: To 1 tsp. dried herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep for 10 min. sweeten to taste. Take at bedtime.




Article by Deb Jackson & Karen Bergeron

Arjuna - Herbal Cure for the Heart


Strengthen your heart: the herb arjuna holds promise for those with cardiovascular disease - Herb Brief

Natural Health, Oct-Nov, 2002 by Jennifer Kennedy


  
Health Claims
Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) is used to treat cardiovascular diseases like angina, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. It is taken on its own or paired with heart disease drugs.
SUPPLEMENTAL ARJUNA comes from the bark of a tall Indian tree. Ayurvedic doctors have used the bark to treat heart ailments for more than 300 years. The herb is just gaining recognition in America.
How It Works
Research suggests that compounds in arjuna called saponin glycosides enhance your heart's pumping action. The bark contains calcium and magnesium as well, which may play a role in improving muscle function. The antioxidants in the bark strengthen your veins and may prevent heart disease.
Evidence
Several small clinical studies conducted in India support arjuna's use for heart ailments.
In a clinical trial published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India in 1999, researchers gave 17 patients with stable angina pectoris either an Ayurvedic formula containing arjuna or the angina drug isosorbide mononitrate. The arjuna formula reduced the frequency of angina attacks from an average of 79 per week to an average of 29 per week. Both groups of patients experienced a reduction in symptoms like elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
A 1997 study in the Indian Heart Journal suggests that arjuna is effective for weakened heart muscles. In it, 24 patients who had suffered heart attacks took either conventional drugs only or conventional drugs along with 500 mg of arjuna every eight hours for three months. Those who received arjuna with the drugs experienced an 18 percent greater improvement in heart pumping activity than those who received only the conventional drugs.
In a 1995 double-blind trial in the International Journal of Cardiology, 12 patients with chronic congestive heart failure were given either 500 mg of arjuna every eight hours or a placebo; both groups also continued their regular drug therapy. Patients who had taken arjuna for two weeks experienced a 19 percent slower heart rate (a desirable effect) than those who took a placebo. Symptoms like fatigue, high blood pressure, and frequent heart contractions also improved. All 12 patients went on taking arjuna for about two years. Ten continued to improve for two to three more months and maintained those improvements during the entire study. The other two participants died from heart disease.

What are Black Nightshades?


 
Origin, Distribution and Composition


The black nightshade, also known as sunberry or wonder cherry, is a small, erect and delicate annual herb. It forms a spreading crown, grows diffusedly with several arching branches up to one meter in height. The stems and branches are smooth and soft. The plant has alternate, egg-shaped, elliptic leaves; white, cream or violet flowers in clusters, purple or black fruit when ripe; with blue or black seeds.



The black nightshade is a native of West Africa, but is now grown all over India as well.



An analysis of black nightshade or manathakkali leaves shows them to consist of moisture 82.1 per cent, protein 5.9 per cent, fat 1.0 per cent, minerals 2.1 per cent and carbohydrates 8.9 per cent per 100 grams. The minerals and vitamins presents in it include calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. Its calorific value is 68.



The plant and the fruit contain toxic alkaloid solanine and saponin. Feeding experiments on sheep for toxicity, however, showed negative results.


Healing Power and Curative Properties


The black nightshade is used as an important ingredient in several Indian medicines. It is a valuable cardiac tonic. It corrects disordered processes of nutrition by which the organism ingests, digests, absorbs, transports, utilizes and excretes food substances, and restores the normal function of the system. It also reduces excitement, irritation and pain.



The leaves of the plant are mildly bitter, which becomes less pronounced after cooking. The fruits of the plant are of tonic value and serve as an effective laxative. They improve appetite.


Dropsy


The plant is beneficial in the treatment of dropsy. It increases the secretion and discharge of urine. Either it can be used as decoction or as a vegetable in the treatment of this disease. An extract of the leaves and stem, in doses of 6 to 8 ml., can also be taken.


Fevers


Manathakkali leaves are useful in fevers. A syrup of the vegetable can be given as a cooling drink. To induce copious perspiration, a hot infusion of 0.75 to 1.25 decigrams, of dried leaves can be used. The fruits of the plant can also be given with beneficial results in fevers.


Stomach Disorders


The leaves are effective in the treatment of digestive disorders. The raw juice of the leaves can be used alone or mixed with other juices or liquids. It is used in stomach disorders like flatulence, peptic ulcers and colitis. An infusion of the plant is useful in dysentery and other stomach ailments.


Asthma


The plant helps in removing catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes in asthma patients. The fruits of the plant can also be used beneficially in treating asthma.


Skin Disorders


The plant is useful in chronic skin diseases. The juice extracted from the plant should be given in doses of 180 to 210 ml.



The juice can also be applied locally on the affected parts in chronic skin disease such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. As an anodyne or pain reliever, a decoction of the plant can be used for washing inflamed, irritated and painful parts of the body.



A paste of the plant serves as a useful applicant over corrosive ulcers, pustules and suppurating syphilitic ulcers, severe burns, herpes and rheumatic joints. Green fruits of the plant can be ground and applied locally on ringworms with gratifying results. A juice or poultice of leaves can be effectively applied on eruptive skin diseases, whitlow and burns.


Other Diseases


Hot leaves can be applied with gratifying results over swollen and painful scortum and testicles. A juice or poultice of the leaves is an efficacious application over rheumatic and gouty joints, corrosive ulcers and tumors. A decoction of the leaves can be used to wash tumors and inflamed, irritated and painful parts or the body.


Other Uses



Manathakkali leaves are popularly used as a vegetable. The leaves blend well with other greens and pulses. The juice of the leaves can be mixed with medium like coconut water, coconut milk, butter-milk, cow's milk and fruit juice.

What are Chicory?

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a hardy perennial that was brought to North America from Europe in the 1700s, and is now well-established across the continent. Though chicory has a variety of uses, it's best known for its association with coffee.
Chicory
At many points through history, coffee has become unavailable or too costly. During these times, people have often turned to roasted chicory as a substitute. Folks also used to make coffee from roasted acorns, yams and a variety of local grains. Anything was better than going without!
The root of the chicory plant is long and thick, like the tap-root of the dandelion. When dried, roasted and ground, it makes an excellent substitute for coffee. There is no caffeine in chicory, and it produces a more 'roasted' flavour than coffee does. Many coffee producers offer blends with up to 30% chicory, which cuts down on the caffeine content of your cup. But many folk enjoy a cup of 'coffee' made entirely from ground, roasted chicory.
Another perk about chicory is that it's more soluble in water than coffee, which means you use a lot less of it when brewing. Very economical for someone on a tight budget.
Chicory also offers extra health benefits that you wouldn't normally get from your cup of coffee. It is reported to help cleanse the blood and improve the health of your liver.
The young leaves can be used in salads, and the root can also be boiled and eaten like a vegetable (it's related to endive and radicchio). It's also grown for cattle food in Europe. The flowers are blue-purple, and will open and close at precisely the same time every day.

What are Capers?

What are capers? What do capers taste like?
Capers
: 
Capers are the unripened flower buds of Capparis spinosa, a prickly, perennial plant which is native to the Mediterranean and some parts of Asia. Their use dates back to more than 3000 B.C. where they are mentioned as a food in the Sumerian cuneiform Gilgamesh, an ancient retelling of a great flood and ark legend.

After the buds are harvested, they are dried in the sun, then pickled in vinegar, brine,wine or salt. The curing brings out their tangy lemony flavor, much the same as green olives.

The size of the buds range from tiny (about the size of a baby petite green pea) up to the size of a small olive. The smallest variety from the South of France, called nonpareil, is the most prized and comes with an equally notable price-tag. Larger capers are stronger in flavor and less aromatic.

Much of the expense comes from labor costs since the caper buds are picked by hand. Try making your own Poor Man's Capers at home fromnasturtium seeds.

Capers have long been a favorite in the Mediterranean region. The small, green herb buds lend a piquant sour and salty flavor to salads, dressings, sauces, vegetables and a variety of main dishes.

More about Capers:

• What are capers?
• Caper Cooking Tips and Poison Warning
• Caper Recipes
Capers Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Possibly a good Liver Care supplemental herbal formula


World's #1 selling liver support formula

Liv-52 was introduced in 1955. Since then, it has been sold worldwide and is recognized by over 200,000 health professionals as one of the most effective liver formulas, with beneficial effects reported in over 276 research studies on a variety of cases.
Liv-52 is clinically proven to decrease elevated liver enzymes and improve the architecture of the liver. Hepatic function tests and needle biopsy specimens demonstrate a definite improvement in hepatocellular function and structure. Liv-52 treatment ensures an increase in the number of the total mass of functioning hepatocytes. The liver enzymes return to normal levels with an increase in total proteins, albumin and hemoglobin after treatment with Liv-52.
Liv-52 ensures optimum liver function through the protection of the hepatic parenchyma, and by way of its potent antioxidant properties, it acts as a powerful detoxification agent. Liv-52 neutralizes all kind of toxins and poisons from food, water, air and medications, all sources of detrimental effects on the liver. Alcohol users in partucular find Liv-52 helpful in maintaining a healthier liver. It also helps those taking pharmaceutical drugs to protect themselves against the damaging side effects on the liver.

Research on Liv-52

  • Validated by 276 clinical trials and research studies.
  • Endorsed by over 200,000 healthcare professionals.
  • Approximately 2 billion tablets and 13 million syrup bottles of Liv-52 are sold every year worldwide. See photos
For complete research on clininal trials, experimental papers, and studies on Liv-52's effect on various forms of liver conditions, visit the Liv-52 Research Page.

Liv-52 in the News:

  • Himalaya's Liv-52 approved as an herbal drug for liver in Switzerland by its FDA equivalent. It is believed to be the first multi-herb remedy granted regulatory approval as a drug, which is an outstanding feat for an herbal product. Read more
  • Liv-52 - One of 13 herbal formulas included in the ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. Read more
  • Journal of American Botanical Council, HerbalGram, publishes research review on Liv-52's beneficial effect in Liver Cirrhosis. Read more
  • Award-winning author of New York Times bestsellers, Nutrition expert and celebrity, Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., recommends Liv-52 for a variety of liver problems. Read more
  • International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, Phytomedicine publishes the clinical study on how Liv-52 "was found to be effective" in protecting and restoring the liver. Read more
  • America's beauty and lifestyle expert, Kat James, whose advice features in Ophra's magazine 'O', Vogue, Glamour, and whose clients include celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson, speaks on how Liv-52 helped her with her own life threatening liver disease. Read more
  • Himalaya celebrates 75 years developing pharmaceutical-grade herbal formulations. Read more
Liv-52 comes in kosher certified clear and easy-to-swallow vegi-capsules that do not have any odor or taste. The new formula uses our proprietary herbal extract formulation process that increases concentration of active constituents and results in higher bioavailability. Suitable for vegetarians.

Liv.52 - Liver support formula (90 vegi-capsules)

Liv.52 - Liver support formula

SIZE
Available in a pack of 90 vegi-capsules. Does not contain added sugar, salt, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Suitable for vegetarians.

SUGGESTED USE
Take one capsule twice daily before meals with a full glass of water. Increase the dosage to 4 capsules a day, if desired. Allow several weeks for full benefits. The use of natural products provides progressive but long-lasting results.


Main Ingredients

The main ingredients in LiverCare/Liv.52 are:
Capers (Latin name: Capparis spinosa)
Caper is a hepatic stimulant that have been used for improving the functional efficiency of the liver. Recent experimental studies also confirm its protective action on the histological architecture of the liver and the positive effects on liver glycogen and serum proteins.

Chicory (Latin name: Cichorium intybus) 
Chicory is a powerful hepatic stimulant which increases bile secretion, promotes digestion and enhances the action of Capers. Experimental evidence has been obtained of its effect on liver glycogen and recent studies have shown the inhibition of free radical induced DNA damage.

Black Nightshade (Latin name: Solanum nigrum)
The Black Nightshade plant and its berries contain various alkaloids that have been isolated and shown to have a dilating effect on the pupil. The main use, however, is to support a healthy liver, skin, kidneys and bladder. The most recent studies indicate that the hepatoprotective effect of the crude extract of Black Nightshade may be due to the suppression of the oxidative degradation of DNA.

Arjuna (Latin name: Terminalia arjuna)
Arjuna is a heart tonic that has been used to support cardiovascular functions since ancient times when it was discovered to have cardio-protective benefits. Recent studies have investigated the mechanism of this activity and has shown a dose-dependent regulation of blood pressure and heart rate. There was also a slight increase in the HDL-to-total cholesterol ratio and an overall improvement in the cardiovascular profile.

Negro Coffee (Latin name: Cassia occidentalis) 
Negro Coffee has been traditionally used to promote normal bowel movements. It is a cousin species of Senna, a known and stronger purgative. Despite its name (which comes from its occasional use as a coffee substitute), Negro Coffee is absolutely unrelated to coffee.

Yarrow (Latin name: Achillea millefolium) 
Yarrow has been traditionally used for support of the digestive and urinary functions. Its constitutents have been extensively studied and found to be of value as an alterative, diuretic, and tonic for the venous system. Additionally, Yarrow has been known to have a healing and soothing effect on the mucous membranes. It has been shown effective in regulating gastric and bile secretions.

Tamarisk (Latin name: Tamarix gallica) 
Tamarisk, sometimes referred to as Saltcedar, has been traditionally used as a tonic and diuretic. It contains an alkaloid, Tamarixin, that has been linked to its effectiveness in conditions associated with hepatic insufficiency. There are indications that Tamarisk is also helpful in increasing platelet counts.

SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION
Liv.52 has been scientifically validated by many clinical studies. Its formula has been subjected to the modern scrutiny of clinical testing to prove its benefits in gently addressing your health concerns, and its quality is controlled by the most sophisticated chromatographic "fingerprinting" techniques.


How are healthy people evaluated for mild to moderate rises in aminotransferase levels?
Evaluation of healthy patients with abnormal liver enzymes needs to be individualized. A doctor may ask for blood test data from old records for comparison. If no old records are available, the doctor may repeat blood tests in weeks to months to see whether these abnormalities persist. The doctor will search for risk factors for hepatitis B and C including sexual exposures, history of blood transfusions, injectable drug use, and occupational exposure to blood products. A family history of liver disease may raise the possibility of inherited diseases such as hemachromatosis, Wilson's disease, or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

The pattern of liver enzyme abnormalities can provide useful clues to the cause of the liver disease. For example, the majority of patients with alcoholic liver disease have enzyme levels that are not as high as the levels reached with acute viral hepatitis and the AST tends to be above the ALT. Thus, in alcoholic liver disease, AST is usually under 300 units/liter while the ALT is usually under 100 units/ liter.
If alcohol or medication is responsible for the abnormal liver enzyme levels, stopping alcohol or the medication (under a doctor's supervision only) should bring the enzyme levels to normal or near normal levels in weeks to months. If obesity is suspected as the cause of fatty liver, weight reduction of 5% to 10% should also bring the liver enzyme levels to normal or near normal levels.
If abnormal liver enzymes persist despite abstinence from alcohol, weight reduction and stopping certain suspected drugs, blood tests can be performed to help diagnose treatable liver diseases. The blood can be tested for the presence of hepatitis B and C virus and their related antibodies. Blood levels of iron, iron saturation, and ferritin (another measure of the amount of iron stored in the body) are usually elevated in patients with hemachromatosis. Blood levels of a substance called ceruloplasmin are usually decreased inpatients with Wilson's disease. Blood levels of certain antibodies (anti-nuclear antibody or ANA, anti-smooth muscle antibody, and anti-liver and kidney microsome antibody) are elevated in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.
Ultrasound and CAT scan of the abdomen are sometimes used to exclude tumors in the liver or other conditions such as gallstones or tumors obstructing the ducts that drain the liver.
Liver biopsy is a procedure where a needle is inserted through the skin over the right upper abdomen to obtain a thin strand of liver tissue to be examined under a microscope. The procedure is oftentimes performed after ultrasound study has located the liver. Not everybody with abnormal liver enzymes needs a liver biopsy. The doctor will usually recommend this procedure if 1) the information obtained from the liver biopsy will likely be helpful in planning treatment, 2) the doctor needs to know the extent and severity of liver inflammation/damage, or 3) to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
Liver biopsy is most useful in confirming a diagnosis of a potentially treatable condition. These potentially treatable liver diseases include chronic hepatitis B and C, hemachromatosis, Wilson's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
How about monitoring liver enzyme levels?
What is usually most helpful is serial testing of AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) over time to determine whether the levels are going up, staying stable, or going down. For example, patients undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C should be monitored with serial liver enzyme tests. Those responding to treatment will experience lowering of liver enzyme levels to normal or near normal levels. Those who develop relapse of hepatitis C after completion of treatment will usually develop abnormal liver enzyme levels again.

LiverCare / Liv-52 Milestones :

  • More than 300 clinical studies, many double-blind, placebo-controlled, have been performed on LiverCare /Liv-52 since its introduction in 1955. Since then, it has become one of the most widely sold medications in the world and endorsed by over 200,000 healthcare professionals.
  • In what is believed to be the first herbal remedy granted regulatory approval as a drug, LiverCare / Liv-52 has recently been registered a safe and effective drug by the "Intercantonal Office for the Control of Medicines," Switzerland's equivalent of the United States' FDA.

Know your Liver:

  • Liver is the biggest and the most complex organ in the body with more than 500 functions
  • The liver is an "incredible chemical factory," producing many important chemical compounds needed to survive, such as bile, albumin, blood clotting factors, cholesterol, Vitamin E.
  • Converts amino acids (proteins) and lipids into glucose, a complex process catalyzed by a series of enzymes
  • Plays a major role in maintaining normal blood sugar levels, an important source of energy for the brain, heart and muscles.
  • Performs numerous other functions such as regulating lipids or metabolizing prescribed and over the counter drugs, alcohol, and many other ingested chemicals such as caffeine, etc.
  • Helps digest the food we eat and assists in ridding our body of many toxins.
  • Eliminates various harmful chemicals from the body. Treats about 1,300 ml of blood per minute, thereby acting as the body's "garbage disposal."

Liver dysfunctions may take many forms

  • 4,000,000 people have Hepatitis C in the United States, causing 10,000 deaths every year.
  • Cirrhosis of the liver is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States - kills 25,000 people per year.
  • Commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins (e.g. Lipitor), among many other chemical drugs, are known to be toxic to the liver.
  • Widely taken OTC medications are not as safe as they seem. For example, Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) can be toxic to the liver and its toxicity can be accentuated by alcohol.
  • The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, notes that in one year, hospitals treated over 26,765 patients for alcohol toxicity and another 16,635 for Acetaminophen (Tylenol) toxicity.
  • Fatigue, aches, and pain in joints and muscles, frequent headaches, stress and appetite fluctuations may be signs of an over-worked liver.

Please do NOT use unproven, unbranded herbal products, which can pose serious risks to your health. Because the FDA does not fully regulate the manufacturing and sale of herbal products, it is important that you, the consumer, thoroughly research the quality and manufacturing practices of the products you plan to take.
How do our products compare?
himalaya usa himalayausa herbs
As an informed consumer, it is important that you look for products that have been researched clinically and standardized to guarantee bioequivalence. Bioequivalence refers to ensuring that the product on the market is equivalent to the one on which clinical trials were successfully conducted. Himalaya Herbal Healthcare uses chromatographic fingerprinting, one of the most sophisticated standardization techniques, to ensure consistent quality and performance. Most companies that manufacture herbal medicines are neither equipped nor care to perform such expensive fingerprinting. Himalaya Herbal Healthcare has been a global leader in scientifically validated herbal medicine since 1930 and its products are marketed in more than 45 countries and endorsed by over 200,000 healthcare professionals worldwide.

High AGPT-ALT could mean Liver Problems...

Elevated Liver Enzymes

On this page:

What are liver enzymes or aminotransferases?
An initial step in detecting liver damage is a simple blood test to determine the presence of certain liver enzymes in the blood. Under normal circumstances, these enzymes reside within the cells of the liver. But when the liver is injured, these enzymes are spilled into the blood stream, raising the enzyme levels in the blood and signaling liver damage. Among the most sensitive and widely used of these liver enzymes are the aminotransferases. They include aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT).

Another name for aminotransferase is transaminase. The enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is also known as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT); and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is also known as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). To put matters briefly, AST = SGOT and ALT = SGPT.
What are normal levels of AST and ALT?
The normal range of values for AST (SGOT) is from 5 to 40 units per liter of serum (the liquid part of the blood). The normal range of values for ALT (SGPT) is from 7 to 56 units per liter of serum.

Elevated or high liver enzymes
What do elevated AST and ALT mean?
AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) are sensitive indicators of liver damage from different types of disease. In rare cases, higher-than-normal levels of these liver enzymes may have causes other than liver problems. The interpretation of elevated AST and ALT levels depends upon the whole clinical picture. The precise levels of these enzymes do not correlate well with the extent of liver damage or the prognosis. Thus, the exact levels of AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) cannot be used to determine the degree of liver disease or predict the future.  For example, patients with acute viral hepatitis may develop very high AST and ALT levels (sometimes in the thousands of units/liter range). But most patients with acute viral hepatitis A recover fully without residual liver disease.

What liver diseases cause high liver enzyme levels?
The highest levels of AST and ALT are found with disorders that cause the death of numerous liver cells (extensive hepatic necrosis). This occurs in such conditions as acute viral hepatitis A or B, pronounced liver damage inflicted by toxins as from an overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol), and prolonged collapse of the circulatory system when the liver is deprived of fresh blood bringing oxygen and nutrients. AST and ALT serum levels in these situations can range anywhere from ten times the upper limits of normal to thousands of units/liter.

The most common cause of mild to moderate elevations of these liver enzymes is fatty liver. In the United States, the most frequent cause of fatty liver is alcohol abuse. Other causes of fatty liver include diabetes mellitus and obesity. Chronic hepatitis C is also becoming an important cause of mild to moderate liver enzyme elevations.
What medications cause abnormal liver enzyme levels?
A host of medications can cause abnormal liver enzymes levels. Examples include: 
-- Pain relief medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), neproxen (Narosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), and phenybutazone (Butazolidine) 
-- Anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), valproic acid, carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital 
-- Antibiotics such as the tetracyclines, sulfonamides, isoniazid (INH), sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin 
-- Cholesterol lowering drugs such as the "statins" (Mevacor, Pravachol, Lipitor, etc.) and niacin 
-- Cardiovascular drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone), hydralazine, quinidine, etc. 
-- Anti-depressant drugs of the tricyclic type

What are the treatment options for high liver enzymes?
Evaluation of healthy patients with abnormal liver enzymes needs to be individualized. If alcohol or prescription drugs are responsible for the abnormal liver enzyme levels, stopping alcohol or the medication (under a doctor's supervision) should help. If obesity is suspected as the cause of fatty liver, weight reduction of 5% to 10% should also bring the liver enzyme levels to normal or near normal levels. If abnormal liver enzymes persist despite abstinence from alcohol, weight reduction and stopping certain suspected drugs, blood tests can be performed to help diagnose treatable liver diseases. The blood can be tested for the presence of hepatitis B and C virus and their related antibodies.