Milk thistle is a weed-like plant grown in the Mediterranean region, and it has a purple flower; it is a relative of flowers daisy and dandelion.
Silymarin is a flavonoid obtained from milk thistle dried fruit. It is the main active ingredient in milk thistle. These two words interchangeably represent this ancient herb. Silymarin is a flavonoid complex made up of silibinin, silydianin and silicristin. Silymarin is high in antioxidants and inflammatory properties and can help fight against the risk of type diabetes. It may also help fight the oxidation of healthy cells. Milk Thistle helps cure various liver ailments.
How does it help in liver problem?
The liver is the largest internal organ and purifies the blood in our bodies. It absorbs nutrients from food and detoxifies the body. Humans depend heavily on this vital organ. Everything we eat passes through our liver. This includes alcohol, prescription medicine, nutrition, and water. Many of the elements in our intake can be very hard on the liver. Here Milk thistle helps by protecting the liver in several ways. Its antioxidant properties play an essential role in making it an ultimate liver supplement.
People damage their liver by consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Treatments like chemotherapy can also harm healthy body parts while fighting cancer cells. Milk Thistle has shown promising results in all these cases. It can protect these vital organs like the liver, kidney and gallbladder; also help them regain their health after the treatment.
Diseases including hepatitis, psoriasis, and jaundice are associated with liver damage. Studies show a silymarin extract helps treat conditions like hepatitis C.; without proper care, the liver can be prone to fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Silymarin helps protein synthesis and creates a protective layer on cells to prevent future damage. Similar research revealed that pre-treatment with silymarin prevented liver damage by several harmful toxins.
Does milk thistle detox liver?
The liver works in two detoxifying stages. The first stage transforms enzymes passing through into free radicals. Then the antioxidant glutathione attaches to the free radicals. This helps the body remove dangerous compounds naturally. Silymarin helps regenerate and maintain high levels of glutathione. This, in turn, helps detox the liver itself.
Milk thistle helps stop oxidative stress and free radical damage in the liver. Research shows thistle restores damaged cells. Silymarin also protects the liver against damage from alcohol and some prescription drugs. Many people believe the liver needs no help and detoxes itself. While this is a strong rationale, the liver will continue to suffer damage if not taken care of.
Liver gets affected from drugs and toxins
Some scientists believe milk thistle may protect the liver from drugs and toxins. Some medicine like tylenol, when given in high dosage, can damage the liver.
Silymarin and silybin had a liver-protective effect against damage from alcohol, toxins (carbon tetrachloride and thallium), a chemotherapy drug (cisplatin), Tylenol (acetaminophen), radiation, iron overload, and the poisonous mushroom death cap (Amanita phalloides).
In a clinical trial of 50 children with leukaemia, use of milk thistle reduced liver toxicity after 1 month potentially. The authors said that further trials need to determine how thistle affects liver health and chemotherapy side effects in people with leukaemia.
How can milk thistle be good for the liver?
There are many uses of milk thistle for liver health. We are learning about them here!
The majority of pharmaceuticals and plant extracts have something in common. They require the liver for metabolization. In this sense, liver enzymes are experts in detecting and removing chemicals from the bloodstream.
A person with defective liver enzymes will face two issues: an amplified effect while taking medications, and an increased risk of infection. And a dangerous stumbling block in the fight against toxins in the bloodstream.
These enzymes typically helps to digest medications. And issues arise when a different medicine is given through the same path.
Milk Thistle is one of the few nutrients used to help people improve their liver function. It is a wonderful help for speeding up and boosting your liver to its full potential, as you will discover in this post.
How to use milk thistle for a healthy liver?
Consider using a potent milk thistle extract to protect and detox the liver. This fantastic natural herb helps young persons maintain liver health. And after age 40, the detox power of the liver slows down. So regardless of age, milk thistle aids with prevention as well as repair. A healthy liver does not only mean healthy blood. Additional benefits include the spleen, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. Check with a pharmacist or doctor for the right dosage of milk thistle to detox the liver.
Milk Thistle Extract is available in capsule form on ZenOnco website.
To know about how to take it, please connect with anti-cancer experts on ZenOnco.io. They will guide you on how to take this medicine. Alternatively, you can take 2 capsules per day after a meal. Though we strongly recommend you to connect with an expert before taking it.
Alternatively you can make Milk Thistle Tea at home. It’s available for purchase as loose or ground seeds and leaves or in tea bags.
Steep a tea bag or 1 teaspoon of loose tea in 1 cup (237 mL) of hot water for 5–10 minutes. If not using a tea bag, strain the tea before drinking it.