Herbal medicine can cleanse your liver and keep it healthy. (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

Scientific advances have made it easier for some people to ignore natural and traditional treatments. Put in another perspective – why trade in the smart phone for an old, analogue phone? But recently, Western science has begun to recognize the power of traditional Eastern medicine in combating the toxicity of a modern medicine called acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen – rings a bell? Acetaminophen is widely found in over-the-counter (OTC)pain relievers, as well as in many OTC flu and cough medicine. When broken down in the body, and notably by the liver, it leaves byproducts that can be very toxic. Under normal circumstances, the toxicity of this byproduct can be controlled with a natural molecule called glutathione. However, the body only has a limited amount of glutathione, thus there may not be enough of this substance to counter higher acetaminophen levels.

Taking in more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen has been closely linked to liver damage. With the prevalence of this over-the-counter treatment, a lot of people often easily ingest amounts above the recommended maximum daily dosage, which is four grams for adults. Experts say that people taking in seven to ten grams a day are in danger of liver damage.

So how else can the effects of acetaminophen be controlled? Researchers who braved this question found their answer in the Eastern herbal medicine called Vitamin U. This product contains S-methylmethionine (or SMM), which is be found in wheat and other leafy vegetables such as cabbage. It’s been known to help in digestive problems and peptic ulcers.

When mixed with an enzyme called Bhmt2, SMM is converted into methionine, and eventually into glutathione.  This process creates a pathway to transform diet-induced SMM into glutathione, and thus build a chemical protection from acetaminophen toxicity.

Another encouraging aspect of this research is that SMM can be found in many flowering and leafy vegetables. Other than being able to prevent the toxic effect of common drugs, SMM is believed to have more therapeutic benefits which science has yet to find. Whoever said that modern and traditional medical sciences are two separate worlds should think again.