Milk Thistle, Closeup
Latin Name: Silybum marianum
Family: Compositae
Description
"It is a friend to the liver and blood: the prickles cut off, they were formerly used to be boiled in the spring and eaten with other herbs; but as the world decays, so doth the use of good old things and others more delicate and less virtuous brought in."
-- Westmacott, 1694
Milk thistle is widely acknowledged as an effective liver remedy. This herb has been in use for over 2,000 years and was brought to North America by early European colonists. Europeans also used the leaves in salad as a spinach substitute and the stalks were eaten like asparagus. The flower can be steamed like artichoke.
Ailments / Situations Where Used
This is one of, if not the best, liver tonics available. Silymarin, a complex of antioxidants extracted from milk thistle seeds, is often seen as the active part of the herb. It is a mixture of flavolignans and is present in concentrations of 5% of mature seeds.
Milk thistle helps protect the liver in cases of hepatitis, cirrhosis, inflamed gall bladder, and duct. It helps regenerate a damaged liver as a result of alcohol, pollutants, radiation, and mushroom poisoning and generally assists liver function in chronic degenerative diseases. This herb protects liver cells from free radical damage and facilitates the synthesis of liver DNA. In turn, this helps produce new liver cells.
There have been situations where taking milk thistle for several months has protected against the deadly amanita mushroom. Tests on animals using silymarin and silybin extracts has protected against this poison.
This plant has been shown to lower fat deposits in the liver of animals and helps lower blood fat. Milk thistle is a potent antioxidant that helps protect against free radical damage and may be helpful against some cancers. This herb is believed to be stronger than vitamin E in terms of antioxidant potential.
Milk thistle is helpful in digestive weaknesses, as it stimulates protein synthesis and assists in the digestion of fats. Taken internally, it can help increase milk flow in nursing mothers.
Silymarin increases solubility and promotes the flow of bile. This makes milk thistle ideal for people with gall bladder problems.
Source
Seeds (fruits), either soaked overnight, made into powder form, or processed for silymarin extraction.
Milk Thistle, Seed
Preparations Silymarin, the active constituent, is not water soluble. As a result, milk thistle seeds must be taken in extract form or ground up and eaten. Take 2 tablespoons ground powder daily, sprinkled on food.
Supplement: Take 280 to 600mg daily for acute situations or when treating specific ailments. You may also use lower dosages as a preventative to maintain liver health.
Tincture: Take 20 to 30 drops 3 times daily.
Contraindications / Precautions / Warnings
There are no known contraindications.
Milk thistle can cause nausea and loose stools. When dealing with a gallbladder situation, they may cause a sudden, unwanted contraction of the gallbladder, either causing an acute attack or, at worst, lodging the stone in the duct. It is important to consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner if you choose to use this herb to deal with gallstones.
Ailment / Situation Listing
All information contained on this website is for reference purposes only and all content should be treated as a resource. It is highly recommended that you consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner when undertaking self-treatment. For serious conditions, always seek the advice of your naturopath or other health practitioner. People taking medication should
consult with their naturopath or other health practitioner before undertaking additional regime for their ailment.
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