Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum)
The liver processes drugs and environmental toxins, so it’s under constant assault in this modern world we live in. Anyone who drinks alcohol, takes drugs (legal or illicit) or comes in contact with any pollutants might benefit from this herb milk thistle.
Schisandra chinensis, Wu wei, schizandra, five flavor berries and fructus schisandra, have useful astringent and adaptogenic properties. Schisandra berries are most commonly used to help prevent liver damage, aid in liver repair and help the liver function properly.
Toxins In The Liver And Milk Thistle
Milk thistle protects the liver from toxins and pollutants by preventing free radical damage and stimulates the production of new liver cells. Milk thistle also protects the kidneys. Great for gallbladder and adrenal disorders, inflammatory bowel disorders, psoriasis, weakened immune system, and all liver disorders.
Milk thistle has shown anticancer effects against prostrate cancer and breast cancer. Silymarin inhibits COX-2 formation.
Considered choleretic herbs, milk thistle is similar to tumeric, it encourages the liver to secrete the appropriate chemical composition of bile, therapy reducing stone formation. Milk thistle is available as an herbal extract, standardized to 70 to 80 percent silymarin. The recommended dose is 280 milligrams of silymarin per day. Silymarin also increases bile solution, thus helping to prevent or alleviate gallstones. Since it stimulates gallbladder activity, (milk thistle side effects) there may be a mild laxative effect, which should stop in 2 or 3 days.
As it maintains normal liver function, milk thistle is extremely beneficial for preventing or reversing metabolic syndrome. The liver plays a role in maintaining blood sugar. Milk thistle is available in capsule form. The typical recommended dose is 300 milligrams per day. Look for capsules containing 80 per cent silymarin.
Milk Thistle Benefits
- Decreases blood sugar
- decreases the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Diminishes oxidation
- Helps prevent damage due to excessive alcohol ingestion
- helps protect kidneys from the effects of cisplatin
- Increases the growth of new tissue to repair damaged areas
- Increases HDL (good) cholesterol
- Increases production of glutathione
- Is an antioxidant
- Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Maintains bile flow
- Protects against iron damage in the liver
- Protects your liver from damage due to toxins
- Reduces inflammation
Milk Thistle Dosage
Glutathione: Glutathione is composed of the three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine and glycine. Glutamine and glycine are fairly common in the body; sometimes we can run a little short of cysteine. You can find cysteine in onions, garlic, and in N-acetylcysteine.
Benefits Of Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum)
Milk thistle has been used as a liver remedy for at least 2,000 years. Research shows that compounds from the milk thistle seeds help protect the liver from damage from alcohol and hepatitis and can even regenerate liver cells that have been damaged.
Commission E the German Expert Panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of medicinal herbs for the German Government, approves milk thistle seeds or milk thistle seed extracts as supportive treatment for cirrhosis and chronic inflammatory liver conditions.
Other studies show that the compound silymarin, which is found in milk thistle helps protect the liver from many industrial toxins, such as tetrachloride.
Even if you don’t have liver damage or liver disease, milk thistle helps improve liver function by helping the liver remove toxins from your body.
Milk Thistle Tea
Because milk thistle has poor water solubility, it is not effective as a tea. A concentrated milk thistle capsule or milk thistle extract is best.
Milk Thistle Seeds
Milk thistle seeds may be collected in the wild in midsummer but are widely available in alternative health food stores and online.
How to use milk thistle seeds in juicing: Dried milk thistle seeds are to be crushed to a fine powder and whisked into fresh juice or add to ingredients in blended drinks.
Milk thistle tea infusion: In a teapot, pour 1/4 cup (50mL) boiling water over 1 tsp (5mL) dried ground milk thistle seeds. Steep for 15 minutes, strain, discard herb, and add liquid to 1 cup (250 mL) of juice.
Milk thistle tincture: Add 10 to 20 drops to 1 cup (250 mL) of juice.
Other Milk Thistle Uses
As it name implies, the milk thistle seeds were taken by nursing mothers to improve the supply of breast milk, a use that remains as applicable today as in the past. It has a persistent reputation as a remedy for depressed mood.
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