The best methods to reduce bilirubin at home without drugs

At home, bilirubin can be reduced with diet, dietary supplements and herbal remedies, but such therapy must be prescribed by your doctor. The diet involves giving up most foods, but the list of allowed foods is quite long - low-fat meat and fish, sweet fruits, non-sour vegetables, milk and fermented milk products, compotes, fruit drinks and jelly.

Dietary supplements can be used of both plant and animal origin; folk remedies - milk thistle decoctions, tinctures of St. John's wort, calendula, birch leaves and other plants - will also be useful.

Typically, therapy at home lasts no more than 20 days, after which it is necessary to undergo a follow-up examination to find out the level of bilirubin in the blood and, on these grounds, assess the need for a repeat course.

How to reduce bilirubin at home: principles of diet for adults

You can effectively reduce bilirubin at home only by strictly following the principles of the diet:

• Food is only homemade . It is necessary to completely exclude fast food, snacks in cafes and restaurant dishes from the diet; priority is given to food that is prepared in the correct way. It is understood that all products are prepared only by boiling, stewing and baking.
• Meals are taken 5 times a day - split meals. Doctors claim that it is liver pathologies of varying severity that “require” adherence to the principle of nutrition “often and in small doses.”

• Compliance with drinking regime . If a person has an increased level of liver pigment, then he should drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day. This can be pure or mineral non-carbonated water, herbal teas and other drinks from the list of permitted drinks.
• Food should be as varied as possible . Yes, the list of products allowed for consumption is very limited, but even from them you can prepare many delicious dishes - milk porridges, fruit soups, vegetable stews, casseroles. Thus, a forced diet with an increased level of bilirubin will not only be healthy, but also tasty, “not boring.”
• The menu may contain preparations . We are talking about freezing dumplings, dumplings with cottage cheese/potatoes, cheesecakes and casseroles made from cottage cheese and yogurt. Such advance preparation of products greatly facilitates compliance with the basic principle of the diet for liver pathologies - everything should be fresh, prepared without preservatives.

We recommend reading an article about how bilirubin changes during pancreatitis. From it you will learn why you need to know the level of bilirubin in the blood serum in case of pancreatitis, what elevated bilirubin indicates, and how to normalize the level in case of pancreatitis. And here is more about how elevated bilirubin and Gilbert's syndrome are interconnected.

Authorized Products

The amount of liver pigment can be reduced only by consuming foods from the list of permitted ones:

• fish and lean meat;
• fruits with a sweet taste (there should not be even a hint of sourness);
• milk and all its derivatives;
• vegetable soups without adding meat (even dietary);
• any cereals, but porridges should be cooked viscous;
• compotes, juices, jelly from sweet fruits, but without additional added sugar.

You are also allowed to drink herbal teas, regular black tea (not strong).

Prohibited Products

The main “enemies” of the liver and bilirubin are fats and acids of various origins, so they should be excluded from the menu while the level of liver pigment is restored.

The list of prohibited products looks like this:

• any products prepared with yeast or using baking powder;
• fatty meat - pork, lamb, duck;
• carbonated drinks, including mineral water;
• industrial sauces, including mayonnaise;
• sausages, any semi-finished meat products;
• sorrel, citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries and any other products that contain a large amount of acid;
• dishes prepared by frying;
• alcoholic drinks and those included in the finished dish;
• canned foods, including fruits in syrup;
• mushrooms.

Prohibited foods
You also need to limit your salt intake, but various spices and seasonings are allowed - this will improve the taste of dietary dishes. Doctors do not recommend getting carried away with chocolate, cocoa and industrially produced sweets, which use preservatives, dyes and flavors during the period of following a therapeutic diet.

Example menu

Based on the above data, you can create an approximate menu for one day:

• breakfast – oatmeal + sweet apple;
• snack (second breakfast) – ripe banana + 200 ml of jelly;
• lunch – vegetable soup + steamed turkey + carrot pancakes;
• afternoon snack – cottage cheese casserole;
• dinner – baked lean meat or fish + homemade noodles.

Portions should be small, and if after dinner a person is overcome by a strong feeling of hunger, then he can drink 200 ml of kefir and eat one sweet fruit 2 hours before bedtime.

Detox diet

With increased bilirubin, a classic detox diet will also be useful, which lasts 3 days and is aimed at fully removing waste and toxins from the body.

The basic principles of such cleansing:

• Meat and any starchy vegetables are excluded from the menu;
• In the morning on an empty stomach you need to drink 250 ml of warm water (classically with lemon juice, but with increased bilirubin, any acidic foods are prohibited - exclude);
• complete rejection of fatty, floury, sweet and spicy foods;
• the menu is strictly vegetarian;
• The last meal is taken no later than 8 pm.

What you can eat as part of a three-day detox diet:

• red rice, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge;
• raisins, prunes, dried apricots;
• beets, artichokes, cucumbers, carrots;
• tuna, pink salmon, crucian carp;
• cottage cheese, cheese, cream, low-fat milk.

The detox diet is recommended to be followed for 3 days, then you need to switch to a normal diet , which is prescribed by your doctor in case of elevated bilirubin levels.

The only caveat is that regarding such a radical cleansing of the body from toxins and waste, you should consult with your doctor. In some cases, such drastic dietary restrictions are contraindicated - for example, if there is a history of kidney or heart pathologies.

Removing bilirubin with a detox diet

A diet for elevated bilirubin is not an independent method of therapy, but it promotes rapid recovery and enhances the effect of medications. It is easier to lower the required indicators with its help. The basic rule of nutrition is to strictly avoid the following foods:

• salt - dishes are prepared without adding it;
• salt-containing spices;
• some greens - sorrel, spinach, green onions;
• flour, especially fresh baked goods;
• canned food, pickles;
• smoked meats, sausages;
• sugar, sweets;
• alcohol.

The rest of the products can be eaten. It is difficult for overweight people to reduce bilirubin, so when choosing a diet for them, the doctor can set the permissible amount of calories. Fiber-containing foods can be especially good at reducing pigment levels.

How to quickly reduce bilirubin at home

It is not possible to quickly reduce bilirubin at home with diet alone - you also need to take specific medications. The doctor will prescribe hepatoprotectors - Karsil, LIV52, Essentiale Forte, which are capable of restoring the cellular structure of the liver and their functionality. In addition, rapid stabilization of bilirubin levels is ensured by:

• ursodeoxycholic acid preparations – improve/accelerate the flow of bile, have an antioxidant effect;
• enzymes such as Pancreazim, Mezim - have a positive effect on metabolism;
• sorbents Enterosgel, Smecta - bind and remove bilirubin from the body, reducing its toxic effect.

Mezim Pancreazym Enterosgel Smecta
As part of therapy, it is also advisable to take vitamins B, E and A.

Dietary supplements based on herbal ingredients

If drug therapy has a positive effect and bilirubin levels begin to decrease, then doctors can adjust the treatment and prescribe dietary supplements.

The most commonly used dietary supplements are those based on herbal ingredients:

• “Health” is an artichoke extract that is enriched with cynarin compounds. This supplement has a pronounced diuretic effect, but it normalizes the functionality of the liver and gallbladder, due to which bilirubin is removed from the body.
• Hofitol - can be used both as a therapeutic agent and as a preventative. The outflow of bile when using the supplement is improved/intensified, and liver functionality is restored in full. The result will be the removal of toxins from the body.

Hofitol
The most effective dietary supplements will be those based on milk thistle, because this plant not only cleanses the liver, but also protects its cells from the negative influence of external and internal factors. Milk thistle binds and removes waste, toxins and bilirubin breakdown products along with bile.

Dietary supplements of animal origin

Dietary supplements of animal origin are also used in the process of reducing bilirubin levels; they are not full-fledged medications, but their effectiveness has been proven in clinical studies.

The most popular products in this category include:

Amino acids

Successful reduction of bilirubin levels is possible only if there is a sufficient supply of amino acids in the body. These substances are the basis of proteins that are needed to restore liver cells.

As part of therapy, the doctor may prescribe:

• Heparetta and Heptor - contains ademetionine;
• Previn, Amvix are full-fledged medications, not dietary supplements, taken in a short course;
• Hepa-merz - the composition contains ornithine.

1 of 5

Heparetta

Heptor

Previn

Amvix

Hepa-mertz

Despite the proven safety of dietary supplements, you should not take them on your own. You need to visit a doctor, undergo examinations, confirm the diagnosis and receive appropriate prescriptions from a specialist. Some dietary supplements may be contraindicated - for example, if the gallbladder was previously removed, then you should avoid products with artichoke extract and give preference to those containing milk thistle.

Why high bilirubin is dangerous, the consequences of pathology

Bilirubin increases due to hemolysis, when the liver and gallbladder malfunction. Provoking factors are infectious diseases, intoxication, the presence of parasites in the body, cholelithiasis. The destruction of red blood cells leads to disruption of protein metabolism. Lack of treatment with a significant increase in parameters can lead to negative consequences:

• gallstones;
• severe intoxication of the body;
• neoplasms of the liver, digestive system;
• infectious pathologies.

Jaundice is often diagnosed in newborns in the first month of life. The pathology is caused by the immaturity of enzyme systems and the body's adaptation to new environmental conditions. Pathological jaundice poses a danger - the condition requires medical supervision. Taking medications and phototherapy – light treatment – ​​will help reduce bilirubin levels.

How to lower bilirubin in the blood at home using traditional methods

At home, you can lower bilirubin in the blood using folk remedies, and although they, of course, do not have a pronounced therapeutic effect, they can have a positive effect on the functionality of the liver.

Medicinal plants

Infusions and decoctions are prepared from some medicinal plants, which, with long-term and systematic use, help reduce the level of bilirubin in the blood:

Mint, which is involved in the processes of restoring liver functionality, will also be useful. It can be used as a stand-alone product for preparing a decoction/infusion or in combination with other plant materials.

Herbal infusions

Effective herbal remedies that help reduce bilirubin in the blood include:

• Chamomile + mint . An infusion is prepared from 1 tablespoon of each type of plant material and 300 ml of boiling water. The “tea” is infused for half an hour, then taken in small portions throughout the day. In addition to reducing bilirubin in the blood, this infusion stabilizes the psycho-emotional background and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
• St. John's wort + motherwort . First, a dry mixture of these two plant components is prepared, taking them in equal quantities. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 1 tablespoon of the collection, pour it into a glass of boiling water and leave for 30-50 minutes. Afterwards, the product is carefully filtered and taken 100 ml three times a day 30 minutes before meals.
• Birch leaf + corn silk . The infusion is prepared according to the classic recipe - 1 tablespoon of the mixture per glass of boiling water. But the composition should contain twice as much corn silk as dried birch leaves. The product is taken 2 times a day, 100 ml.

Watch the video on how to lower bilirubin using traditional methods:

Any herbal remedies are taken for 14 days, after which you need to undergo a control examination and find out whether there is a positive trend. Based on the result, the doctor will determine whether it is advisable to continue treatment with folk remedies.

Extraordinary methods

Some unusual folk remedies for reducing bilirubin in the blood include:

• Beetroot juice . It has a powerful choleretic effect, is prepared immediately before use, and cannot be stored. Drink 1/3 glass of beet juice before each main meal (3 times a day). The duration of treatment is 3 weeks, then, if necessary, take a break from “therapy” for 7 days and repeat the course.

The juice can be used as a preventive measure if a person has a history of liver disease, which theoretically provokes fluctuations in liver pigment.

• Baking soda . You need to dissolve 1 teaspoon of the product in a glass of warm water and drink the prepared solution in small sips immediately after breakfast (within the first 60 minutes). The duration of treatment is 10 days, after which you need to take blood tests and find out whether there are positive changes in the level of bilirubin. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated 10 days after the end of the first.

Beetroot juice is contraindicated in certain diseases of the heart and blood vessels - for example, with persistently high blood pressure. And baking soda should not be taken in case of exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Differences in treatment for newborns and adults

Low bilirubin in newborns

In 99% of cases, with low bilirubin levels in a newborn, any pediatrician will advise parents not to worry and not to panic. Typically, deviations from the norm are observed in premature babies. The indicators will return to normal with proper care and proper nutrition.

It is worth noting that in some cases the cause of low bilirubin in a newborn may be the development of rickets. But a diagnosis can be made with certainty only 2-3 months after birth. During this period, doctors will evaluate the baby's weight gain and overall development.

Treatment for Gilbert's syndrome

With this diagnosis, normal levels of total bilirubin in the blood cannot exceed 20.5 µmol/l. This is a total figure that consists of direct and indirect bilirubin .

• the straight line itself does not pose any particular danger, since it is in an immobilized state
• but the indirect one has the ability to move throughout the body. If it accumulates in large quantities, it can enter the internal organs.

Indicators up to 60 µmol/l

If bilirubin rises to 60 µmol/l, this threatens to have a negative effect on cells and malfunction. At such rates, peripheral tissues may be damaged. Signs of this condition are drowsiness, vomiting, and unstable mental state. Medicines are not used for therapy; blue light is most often used and dietary nutrition is prescribed.

Indicators up to 60 to 80 µmol/l

If bilirubin increases above 80 µmol/l, the breakdown product can penetrate into vital organs. The most vulnerable cells are the brain, heart and respiratory organs. A similar jump in bilirubin in Gilbert's syndrome can be provoked by viral diseases, drug or alcohol abuse. In addition to the above symptoms, sleep problems and nightmares are added. The patient is constantly in a medical facility under the supervision of doctors. Treatment includes phenobarbitals, hepatoprotectors, antitoxic drugs, and absorbents. In extreme cases, blood transfusions are resorted to.

For stomach diseases

About 15-20% of all bilirubin leaves through the intestinal microflora. Also, a share of decomposition products goes away along with processed food products. However, this is only possible with normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Therefore, if all examinations have shown normal functioning of all organs, but bilirubin is still elevated, it is worth checking the stomach and other digestive organs. Malfunctions in its operation may be associated with poor diet, as well as the use of large amounts of medications or alcohol.

For cirrhosis of the liver

With such a diagnosis, an increase in bilirubin levels is almost inevitable. Since the liver in its normal state is responsible for processing destroyed red blood cells. If the liver is inflamed, it cannot fully function and remove all waste products. As a result, bilirubin accumulates in the body. Symptoms of such a negative process are yellowing of the skin, darkening of urine (to the color of dark beer), and lightening of feces.

How to reduce bilirubin in a newborn at home

It is also possible to reduce bilirubin at home in newborns, but only if this is not associated with liver pathologies and the doctor has given permission for such therapy.

What you can do:

• Procedures under a lamp . They are carried out for 10 minutes 2 times a day for 10-15 days, but more specific prescriptions should be made by the doctor on an individual basis. Manipulations under the lamp must be carried out using protection - you need to cover the baby’s eyes and groin area.
• Proper nutrition for mom . We are talking about a diet for nursing women - food should be varied, nutritious, and the menu should include foods that help reduce bilirubin. Milk and its derivatives, lean meat and fish, non-acidic fruits and vegetables will be beneficial.
• Frequent feeding of the baby . Doctors recommend reducing the interval between feedings to 2 hours - incoming breast milk will have a positive effect on the functionality of the liver, accelerate the process of removing toxins and waste, and reduce bilirubin levels.

Phototherapy of jaundice
If, ​​despite the measures taken, the baby’s skin color does not change for the better, then you should consult a pediatrician - usually the child’s condition should stabilize within 3-5 days.

What is bilirubin

Bilirubin is a yellow-brown pigment that is formed due to the breakdown of red blood cells and is detected in bile and blood. If the level of the indicator does not exceed the norm, there is no danger to health. Bilirubin has the following forms:

1. Direct – bound bilirubin is removed from the blood and body through the organs of the excretory system and is not hazardous to health. The norm is 1.8-5.2 mmol/l.
2. Indirect – pigment, is highly toxic and can provoke the development of pathologies. The standard level is 3.5-12 mmol/l.
3. Total bilirubin - the normal value is 8.5-20 mmol/l.

To determine the level of pigment, a biochemical blood test and urine test are performed. The indicator indicates the state of functional activity and metabolism of the liver. Bilirubin increases with adrenal, hepatic and subhepatic jaundice - the type of disease depends on the location of the inflammatory process. With an excess of pigment, the skin and mucous membranes acquire a yellowish tint.

Important! The bilirubin level is critical if the value exceeds 300 mmol/l.

Prevention of changes in indications

To prevent an increase in bilirubin in the blood, the following preventive measures should be observed:

• get rid of bad habits - drinking alcohol and smoking;
• eliminating stressful situations from life or reducing their impact on the body;
• regular examination by a doctor, monitoring the functionality of the liver, gall bladder and bilirubin levels in the blood;
• follow the principles of rational nutrition;
• to live an active lifestyle.

When you can't do without medication

You cannot do without medications if, against the background of increased bilirubin:

• The sclera and skin turn yellow, or this shade becomes pronounced;
• pain appeared in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium;
• after each meal, nausea occurs, sometimes vomiting occurs;
• there is a bitter taste in the mouth.

We recommend reading the article on how to reduce bilirubin in an adult. From it you will learn about the causes of high bilirubin, traditional methods, drugs, and foods that reduce bilirubin. And here is more information about methods for determining bilirubin in blood serum.

Reducing bilirubin at home is quite possible, but all prescriptions should be made by a doctor based on the research conducted. The problem can only be solved by comprehensive measures, that is, a person must follow a diet, take a course of dietary supplements and decoctions/infusions of medicines. It is worth conducting periodic follow-up surveys to assess the effectiveness of the measures taken.