Milk thistle – properties, effects on the liver. How to use milk thistle?

Proven content

Milk thistle is a cultivated and wild-growing plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It can be confused with the popular thistle. It has pointed, prickly leaves and purple flowers. It differs from the thistle by its height, as it can reach approx. 2 meters. For medicinal purposes, the seeds (grains) of the plant are used.

Milk thistle – properties

The medicinal substance found in milk thistle seeds is primarily silymarin. It is a compound that exhibits the following properties:

1. anti-inflammatory
2. antioxidant,
3. spasmolytic,
4. detoxifying,
5. choleretic.

Sylimaryna:

1. regenerates damaged liver, e.g. by alcohol, drugs,
2. protects the liver against poisons and toxins,
3. prevents the formation of gallstones.

The other ingredients in milk thistle are:

1. organic acids with antibacterial and choleretic properties, supporting digestion,
2. plant sterols lowering cholesterol,
3. tannins with astringent and anti-inflammatory properties,
4. linoleic acid protects against cardiovascular diseases and cancer, accelerates metabolism, heals skin diseases such as psoriasis.

So there is quite a pharmacy in the inconspicuous seeds of milk thistle.

Worth knowing: The ingredient in milk thistle helps fight pituitary adenoma

Milk thistle – when to use?

Milk thistle is recommended for the treatment of the following diseases:

1. viral hepatitis,
2. fatty liver,
3. liver damage caused by alcohol, toxic substances and drugs,
4. cholelithiasis,
5. catarrh of the biliary tract,
6. high cholesterol
7. skin inflammation.

In addition, it is a drug used in stomach ailments (flatulence, heartburn), migraines, and endometriosis. People with motion sickness should take it before traveling. Milk thistle is also used to stop bleeding from the nose, colon, haemorrhoids and some uterine bleeding.

Milk thistle is often found in liver supplements. We recommend, for example, Sylimarin for a healthy liver from Herbapol in Krakow.

See also: Herbs for lowering cholesterol

How to use milk thistle?

Milk thistle is available in pharmacies and herbal stores, and even grocery stores. You can buy whole grains, ground grains, tablets or capsules, and milk thistle oil. Whole grains retain most of their properties. They can be added to salads, bread dough, porridge, yoghurt, soups, etc. They have a neutral taste, so they do not change the taste of the dish.

You can buy EKO milk thistle oil at Medonet Market at an affordable price.

Ground milk thistle is used to make infusions and tea. It is enough to pour two teaspoons of the powder with hot water and drink it 2-3 times a day. Ground grains air out quite quickly, so it is better to buy whole grains and grind them just before use.

High-quality milk thistle is offered by Intenson. You can buy ground milk thistle, supporting the liver and digestive system at a low price at medonetmarket.pl. There you will also find two products from Pro Natura at attractive prices:

1. ground milk thistle,
2. milk thistle in the form of grains.

Milk thistle in the form of tablets or capsules should be taken according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For example, try Viridian Organic Milk Thistle, available in packages of 30 capsules.

Milk thistle oil is used in skin and hair care for topical application. Supports the treatment of skin diseases, delays skin aging, and moisturizes dry, weakened hair.

The effects of milk thistle will be noticeable after 2 weeks, but for medicinal purposes it must be used for at least a month.

Milk thistle cannot be overdosed and has no negative side effects, although it may cause digestive problems (diarrhea) in some people in the initial stages.

Elderly people can safely use milk thistle oil. Order the Bioherb Senior Kit today, which will take care of various aspects of the senior’s life. The set consists of:

1. Angel’s Kiss tea,
2. milk thistle oil,
3. caring and regenerating cream.

Milk thistle – effects on the liver

When it comes to the liver, you should know that milk thistle has a number of beneficial effects in relation to this organ. First of all, milk thistle has a detoxifying effect due to its use in toxic and metabolic liver damage caused by numerous toxic factors. This plant protects the flesh of the liver and kidneys against the harmful effects of poisons, such as, for example, toadstool mycotoxin, carbon disulfide, pesticides, alcohol (milk thistle is successfully used in the treatment of liver diseases caused by alcoholism), and accelerates their removal from the body.

If you want to support not only the work of the liver, but also the entire digestive system, try the milk thistle and artichoke dietary supplement available on Medonet Market.

Milk thistle is also able to reduce the amount of bilirubin in the blood, i.e. a dark orange dye, which is present in excess, causes yellowing of the skin and eyeballs, and in addition, this plant normalizes the parameters of AST, ALT and GGT (blood biochemical parameters allowing the assessment of the condition of the liver, heart and muscles).

Further milk thistle can alleviate the side effects of medication. In this case, milk thistle protects the liver against potent anti-cancer drugs (e.g. cytostatics), AIDS antiviral drugs, and antibiotics.

Milk thistle regenerates the liver, and more specifically its tissues, leading to the production of new liver cells. Thanks to the silymarin, which is found in the fruits of this plant, the level of glutathione in the liver increases, which in turn is a powerful antioxidant, which prevents free radicals from damaging liver cells. In addition, milk thistle can reduce the chances of developing liver cancer by inhibiting the division of cancer cells. In addition, milk thistle reduces liver damage by accelerating the removal of toxic substances that come from chemotherapy drugs.

Milk thistle is also anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the action of leukotrienes, or lipids related to the immune system, which act as a mediator of inflammation. Thanks to this, there is no chronic hepatitis (also related to diabetes or an inadequate diet). Milk thistle is also used in the treatment of hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

In addition, this plant prevents: fatty liver, cirrhosis, acute fatty liver in pregnant women (acute yellow liver atrophy), as well as inhibits the precipitation of atherosclerotic plaques and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

High-quality milk thistle grains are offered by the Intenson brand. The product supports the proper functioning of the liver and improves the digestive system. You can buy milk thistle grains at a low price on medonetmarket.pl.

Milk thistle – contraindications

There are probably contraindications associated with the use of milk thistle. Apart from reservations regarding its use in children under the age of 12, as well as pregnant and lactating women, drugs based on milk thistle should not be used to treat acute poisoning.

It should also be remembered that silymarin, which is found in milk thistle seeds, in addition to affecting liver cells, can also affect the metabolism of certain drugs. For this reason, caution should be exercised when taking preparations with milk thistle during therapy with e.g. metronidazole. It is also worth consulting a doctor before starting any medications on your own.

It should be mentioned that the use of milk thistle preparations in the case of obstructed bile ducts should be approached with similar caution. It is related to the choleretic effect of silymarin, which can cause jaundice or other health consequences related to the accumulation of bile in the sac and its difficult outflow. Sometimes there are allergic reactions caused by milk thistle, as in the case of other plants of this family (arnica, chamomile or calendula).

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Milk thistle – other uses

The properties of milk thistle are used not only in medicine, but also it is also used in cosmetics. This plant owes it to the content of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and silymarin with high antioxidant potential.

Cosmetics often use a mask made of ground milk thistle seeds, which is combined with almond oil or olive oil and applied to the face for about half an hour. The mask is characterized by a regenerative effect (especially after intense sunbathing), and in addition, it perfectly moisturizes and nourishes the skin, as well as soothes irritations. It is especially recommended for people with irritated, dry and wrinkle-prone skin.

In addition, milk thistle is also used in the kitchen as an addition to cocktails, salads or porridge. In such cases, it is recommended to buy the whole seeds of this plant and prepare them by grinding them yourself. This is due to the greater bioavailability of nutrients in the case of ground milk thistle.

Herbal Monasterium milk thistle juice is available at a promotional price on Medonet Market.