Milk Thistle - Benefits, Uses for Liver, Side-Effects
Milk thistle has been shown to improve problems with the liver, ranging from the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis to reducing the damage done by acetaminophen or other medicines that attack the liver.
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Used medicinally since medieval times, modern physicians are learning more about the ways milk thistle can help with a whole variety of liver diseases. After all, the liver is one of the most important organs for maintaining good health and metabolism.
Milk thistle grows all over the world, but its healing properties were first discovered in Europe. It was thought to cure melancholy, which was believed to be caused by an excess of black bile. Although black bile has nothing to do with depression, the medieval Europeans were correct in realizing that milk thistle has medicinal affects on the liver.
The active ingredient in milk thistle is a flavonoid called silymarin. Silymarin is an antioxidant that protects the cells in the liver from toxins. Recent studies have given some evidence that it may be good for the treatment of adult diabetes, diabetic complications, and treat some cancers.
For example, in an Italian study, non-insulin dependent diabetic patients who were also suffering from alcoholic-induced cirrhosis were treated with 600 mg silymarin or placebo for a period of 12 months. At the end of the study, not only had their liver functions improved dramatically compared to the placebo group, but their glucose levels improved and stabilized as well.
Some of the other potential benefits of milk thistle are:
• Stimulation of the regeneration of liver cells.
• Helps with liver-related skin disorders, such as jaundice.
• Some think it increases the production of breast milk. However, if you are nursing, consult your physician before taking an herb milk thistle supplement.
• Stomach problems, such as loss of appetite or acid indigestion.
• Milk thistle protects from long-term damage from over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen.
• In the liver, it is has powerful antioxidant effects, surpassing Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and selenium.
There still needs to be much research done on milk thistle before the majority of doctors begin to feel comfortable about recommending it to patients for treatment of these ailments. Still, what we know about it so far is extremely promising.
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