Free UK delivery on orders over £50Doctor-guided selectionReviewed by a GMC-registered clinicianBuy 3, get 1 free on selected supplementsFree UK delivery on orders over £50Doctor-guided selectionReviewed by a GMC-registered clinicianBuy 3, get 1 free on selected supplements

Why The Wellness recommends this

Curated, not stocked.

Liver support supplements vary widely in ingredient quality and rationale. This Thorne formulation earns its place because each of its three ingredients — silymarin, NAC, and alpha lipoic acid — has a clear, distinct mechanism relevant to hepatic function. We recommend it for patients with a documented need identified through blood work, not as a general wellness gesture. Thorne's reputation for manufacturing rigour is a further reason it sits on our shelves.

About this product

Liver Cleanse

A synergistic four-botanical formula combining berberine, milk thistle, burdock root, and chicory root to support bile production, enhance liver detoxification pathways, and protect hepatocytes — the practitioner-grade liver support that addresses the organ processing everything you eat, drink, breathe, and absorb. Your liver performs over 500 functions. It filters every millilitre of blood returning from your digestive tract before it reaches the rest of your body.

It metabolises alcohol, medications, hormones, and environmental chemicals. It produces bile for fat digestion and fat-soluble vitamin absorption. It stores glycogen for energy regulation, synthesises proteins for blood clotting, and processes the ammonia produced by protein metabolism into urea for safe excretion.

No other organ in your body handles this breadth of biochemical responsibility, and no other organ operates under this level of continuous demand. You do not feel your liver working, which is precisely why you do not notice when it is struggling — until fatigue deepens, digestion deteriorates, skin dulls, hormonal balance shifts, and the vague sense that something is off becomes a permanent background hum.

Modern life places unprecedented demands on liver function. Alcohol, processed food, refined sugar, pharmaceutical medications, environmental pollutants, pesticide residues, heavy metals, synthetic hormones, and the metabolic byproducts of chronic stress all funnel through the same hepatic detoxification pathways. Phase I enzymes (primarily cytochrome P450) activate toxins for processing. Phase II enzymes conjugate them for safe excretion. Bile carries the processed waste into the intestines for elimination.

When any stage is overwhelmed — when the volume of incoming substances exceeds the liver's processing capacity — intermediary metabolites accumulate, bile flow stagnates, and the organ that is supposed to protect you from toxicity becomes a bottleneck that perpetuates it. Most people never consider liver support because they associate liver problems with disease. But the gap between optimal liver function and liver disease is wide, and most of the population sits somewhere in that gap, running a detoxification system at reduced capacity without ever crossing a clinical threshold.

Thorne Liver Cleanse addresses this with four botanicals that target complementary aspects of liver function. Berberine HCl (125 mg, from Berberis aristata) stimulates bile production and flow, supports phase I and phase II detoxification enzyme activity, and provides antimicrobial action in the gut that reduces the endotoxin load reaching the liver via the portal vein. Milk Thistle extract (125 mg, standardised to 65% silymarin) is the most extensively researched hepatoprotective botanical in existence — silymarin stabilises liver cell membranes, promotes hepatocyte regeneration, and acts as a potent antioxidant that neutralises free radicals generated during detoxification. Burdock root extract (100 mg) is a traditional cleansing botanical that supports the elimination of metabolic waste products through both hepatic and renal pathways, while providing prebiotic inulin that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Chicory root extract (100 mg) is a cholagogue — it stimulates the production and release of bile, enhancing the liver's ability to excrete the toxins it has processed and preventing biliary stagnation. Together, these four botanicals create a complete support system: bile production is stimulated, detoxification pathways are enhanced, liver cells are protected, and waste elimination is promoted.

Thorne is NSF Certified for Sport, third-party tested through four rounds of quality verification, and trusted by over 47,000 healthcare practitioners worldwide. Vegetarian capsule. No gluten, dairy, soy, artificial colours, or preservatives. 60 capsules per bottle.

What it does

Benefits

  1. 01

    Berberine HCl is a plant alkaloid that stimulates bile acid secretion, supports hepatic detoxification enzyme activity, and provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial action in the gut — reducing the endotoxin load that travels to the liver through the portal venous system

  2. 02

    Milk thistle extract (silymarin) is the most extensively studied hepatoprotective compound in botanical medicine — it stabilises hepatocyte cell membranes against toxic penetration, promotes liver cell regeneration, acts as a potent free radical scavenger within liver tissue, and increases glutathione levels, the liver's primary endogenous antioxidant

  3. 03

    Burdock root has been used in traditional European and Asian medicine for centuries as a blood-purifying and cleansing botanical — it supports waste elimination through both hepatic and renal pathways while providing prebiotic inulin fibre that nourishes beneficial intestinal bacteria

  4. 04

    Chicory root is a established cholagogue that stimulates the production and release of bile from the gallbladder — proper bile flow is essential for fat digestion, fat-soluble vitamin absorption, cholesterol metabolism, and the excretion of conjugated toxins processed by the liver

  5. 05

    The four botanicals work synergistically: berberine and chicory stimulate bile production and flow, milk thistle protects the liver cells performing the detoxification work, and burdock supports the downstream elimination of what has been processed

Get the most from it

How to use

Take one capsule one to three times daily, or as recommended by your healthcare professional. Begin with one capsule in the evening and increase gradually based on tolerance. Best taken with food. Important: proper intestinal elimination is essential during any liver support protocol. You should be having at least one healthy bowel movement daily before supplementing — if constipation is present, the toxins released into bile may be reabsorbed rather than excreted. Consider adding a fibre supplement if bowel function is suboptimal. Do not use if pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive. Consult your healthcare professional if taking prescription medications, as berberine can interact with drugs metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Store in a cool, dry place. Keep out of reach of children. Four botanicals, one purpose — because the organ that detoxifies everything else deserves support of its own.

What's inside

Ingredients

View full ingredient list

Berberine HCl 125 mg (from Indian Barberry Extract, Root, Berberis aristata), Milk Thistle Extract 125 mg (Fruit, Silybum marianum, standardised to 65% Silymarin), Burdock Extract 100 mg (Root, Arctium lappa), Chicory Extract 100 mg (Root, Cichorium intybus), Hypromellose Capsule (Derived from Cellulose), Calcium Laurate, Silicon Dioxide

Common questions

Frequently asked

Who is this most relevant for?

It is most relevant for people who have identified elevated liver enzymes or reduced glutathione capacity via blood testing, those on long-term medications that are metabolised hepatically, or individuals managing metabolic conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is not a substitute for medical assessment.

Is it safe to take alongside other supplements or medications?

NAC and alpha lipoic acid can interact with certain chemotherapy agents, and milk thistle may affect how the liver metabolises some medications by influencing cytochrome P450 enzymes. Speak to your GP or prescribing clinician before adding this if you are on any regular medication.

How long before I might notice a difference?

Liver support supplements are not typically felt acutely. Any meaningful change is more likely to be reflected in blood markers over weeks to months. We would suggest retesting liver enzymes or relevant biomarkers after 8–12 weeks of consistent use.

Can I take this if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

There is insufficient safety data to recommend NAC or high-dose alpha lipoic acid during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Consult your doctor before use.

Does this mean I can drink more alcohol or take more medication?

No. This supplement may support the liver's natural processes, but it does not increase the liver's capacity to handle excess alcohol or offset medication toxicity. It is not a licence to increase intake of either.

Doctor-guided care

Test before you supplement.

Bloods are the only way to know what your body actually needs. We'll tell you which of these supplements earn their place.

Book a panel
THORNE Liver Cleanse

From real customers

Reviews

No reviews yet

Be the first to share your experience.

Loading reviews…