Milk thistle benefits | Natural cure for liver

                                                                   What is milk thistle?

Milk thistle (silymarin) or Silybum marianum (silymarin) protects and regenerates the liver in most liver diseases such as cirrhosis (hardening of the liver), jaundice and hepatitis (liver inflammation), and cholangitis (inflammation of bile ducts resulting in decreased flow bile). This is one of the best examples of preventive medicine that we have today, because it not only protects each cell of incoming toxins from the liver, but also stimulates the liver to cleanse itself of harmful substances, such as alcohol, drugs, medications, mercury and heavy metals, pesticides , anesthesia, and even poisonous mushroom Amanita.

This herb is wonderful and appropriate for anyone who is under stress, uses alcohol, recreational drugs, prescription medications, or lives in today's modern times of pesticides, environmental toxins and pollutants. One of the special qualities of milk Thistle is that it cleanses and detoxifies overworked and tired liver, and at the same time is able to strengthen a weak liver, and is a good remedy for clogged liver. One of the tasks of the liver is to cleanse the blood. Silybum marianum is a powerful herb for supporting the liver, purifies the blood and is one of the best herbs for skin diseases. It is also effective for treating congestion of the kidneys, spleen, and thoracic regions.

Basic characteristics of milk thistle

 

Milk thistle is a big strong biennial herbaceous plant. It grows up to 150cm. The leaves are streaked with white tiger stripes. Flowers and leaves are prickly. The blossoms are large and red. It grows near roads and areas in the southern and coastal regions. 

Medicinal parts of the plant are ripe fruit and rarely leaf. The main currative ingredients are tyramine and histamine. The fruit has 0.1% of etar oil, a bit of tannins, flavonoids, fatty oil, various sugars, proteins and other carbohydrates and resins. It is good for treating asthma, headache and it also used as a mean for strengthening the body especially after difficult operations and illnesses.

Silymarin acts against many toxins which attack liver. It changes the outside construction of liver hepatocytes. Milk thistle activates liver enzymes that break down foreign matter, stimulates cell renewal after damaging, partly influences the modulation of immunity. Milk thistle has positive effect on liver damage for example fatty liver, cirrhosis. In folk medicine it is used to relieve gall bladder attacks, against diabetes, constipation, treatment of hemorrhoids etc. Teas made from milk thistle are prepared to lower pressure, for strengthening of the body, better appetite, against sea sickness, disturbances in bile (stone, pain) and against diabetes. 

How does the milk thistle protect the liver

Milk thistle is unique in that there is no equivalent in the medical treatment of the liver. When it comes to poisoning with deadly Amanita phalloides mushroom, milk thistle is the only remedy. And there is no dispute about this even by the pharmaceutical industry. 

The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin. It has been scientifically proven that silymarin restores liver cells and stimulates their growth.

Silymarin increases glutathione levels in the liver by 35%. Glutathione is an important antioxidant to protect the liver, and its level falls if we are daily exposed to high levels of toxins.

Milk thistle protects the liver from the devastating effects of many drugs, and has the power to expel from the body chemicals, alcohol, heavy metals and radiation.

Other medicinal properties of milk thistle

Preliminary medical research shows that silymarin could actively participate in preventing the growth of prostate cancer cells. Milk thistle is recommended for people prone to alcoholism and fatty foods, and it helps with hangovers. This plant strengthens the body, regulates digestion and helps with constipation.

Less well known is that milk thistle is very useful for the cardiovascular system. This herb stops bleeding and strengthens blood vessels. Most of the interference caused by the weakness of the heart and circulatory system disappears before the action of these plants - migraines, dizziness, low blood pressure, fatigue. Milk thistle effectively cures all types of allergies caused by pollen rhinitis, urticaria and asthma attacks.

This plant also helps in the treatment of adrenal gland, appendicitis and psoriasis. Milk thistle acts like estrogen and can stimulate the production of milk in nursing mothers and to encourage regular menstrual cycle. Some studies have shown that milk thistle can normalize cholesterol levels. Silymarin is gaining in importance as the only means of restoring and protecting the liver in hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.

Harvest and use of milk thistle

Milk thistle grows in many fields and meadows, and you can plant them in the garden.
The leaves are harvested in May, and the seeds in August or September. Milk thistle flower is harvested in June.

Milk thistle is taken in the form of tea or capsules. It can be combined with other plants. When taking silymarin-based products it is recommended every two weeks to take a break. In rare cases, milk thistle can cause diarrhea, flatulence and nausea. Since milk thistle acts Estrogen it is not recommended for women with fibroid tumors, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and endometriosis. It isn’t also advisable for alcoholics to use an alcoholic tincture of milk thistle. 

Our liver is a very special organ: even when it is damaged by more than 50%, it can be fully restored. Regenerative capacity of the liver is essential to our health. The liver is the most important metabolic organ in the body. Among other tasks, has the role of purifying the blood of toxins. 

Today's world is different from the world in which we once lived. One hundred years ago, all the matter with that man met, came from the plant world. In our modern times, we have created thousands of new chemical compounds that would otherwise not exist in nature. Many chemical compounds are part of our diet (preservatives, flavors, colors). Other we enter in our body through medications, which many of us use every day. Chemistry used in cosmetics, cleaning, printing, textile industry etc.

 

All these chemicals daily pass through our liver, which has to cope with this load. In most cases, our liver manages to clean the blood of these toxins. 

However, there are situations when the liver is really overloaded and in need of help, for example:

Liver disease

Poisoning

Excessive drug intake

Excessive use of alcohol

Improper diet over time.

People have always known and used plants which protect and regenerate the liver. 

Some remedies and teas you can make from milk thistle

Against low pressure

50 drops of tincture put on a cube of sugar and eat it three times a day before meals. Or cook 30 grams of crushed fruits for 15 minutes and drink it every two hours one tablespoon.

For strengthening and better appetite

10grams of milk thistle, centaury, gentian and osier mix. One tablespoon of the mixture boil for 15 minutes in a half a liter of water. Leave covered for 3 hours and drink 3-4 times a day 1 cup before meal.

Against seasickness

100grams of crushed milk thistle fruits put in half a liter of best brandy, clog the bottle and often stirring it, keep it like that for 8 days. Two days before boarding the ship or plane drink 3-4 times day one small cup before meals.

Against diabetes

25grams of crushed milk thistle fruits, seeds of goat’s rue and fenugreek seeds, 15grams of blueberry leaves and 10grams of mulberry leaves. Mix all of this. Four tablespoons of this mixture cook for 15-20 minutes in half a liter of water and leave overnight. Next day drink it, one cup before meals.

Precautions and Side Effects:
The human body can get used to silymarin so it is necessary to make a break for 2 weeks after so much time taking the same. You may then continue therapy.
Not recommended for patients suffering from endometriosis, fibroid tumors, cancer of the uterus, ovary and breast. Alcoholics should avoid the use of milk thistle tincture.

 Photo credit: Foter.com / CC BY-SA