Healing Power of Milk Thistle

Related products on Healthy Foods

Milk thistle. The prickly milk thistle has been used in the treatment of various liver problems for more than 2000 years, and many of the earliest healers were well acquainted with this valuable plant. The milk thistle is actually a member of the sunflower family, even though it features flowers of purple instead of yellow. The milk thistle plant has the ability to stimulate the flow of bile from the liver. It is this bile stimulation that is thought to account for the effectiveness of milk thistle in treating ailments of the liver and aiding digestion.

Modern research

Modern studies have backed up the findings of these ancient doctors, and have substantiated the fact that milk thistle does indeed help to protect the liver from damage, and even has the ability to heal damage that has already been done. In Europe today, many doctors consider the milk thistle plant a preferred treatment for liver disorders from cirrhosis to hepatitis.

Milk thistle appears throughout the world, including many parts of North America , both as cultivated plants and as wild varieties. Many scientific sources will refer to milk thistle by its scientific name, silybum marianum, or by its active compounds, known collectively as silymarin. There are concentrated stores of silymarni found in the black fruit of the plant, and those fruits are typically harvested at the end of summer.

Milk thistle for other uses

Even though milk thistle is most closely associated with treating ailments of the liver and digestive system, it has shown promise in treating a number of other ailments as well. Some of these ailments include such things as gallstones, high cholesterol, allergies and even skin cancer. Milk thistle is known to be a powerful antioxidant, and it is those antioxidant properties which may be responsible for the protective and healing effects of the herb.

Modern medicine uses an injectible form of milk thistle as a powerful antidote for those who have consumed poisonous mushrooms, and the extract has even been studied for possible use in minimizing the liver damage which often results from chemotherapy. It is thought that milk thistle has the ability to speed to elimination of toxins from the body, due to its effect on the liver and bile secretion.

Milk thistle is available in a wide variety of preparations, including tablets, soft gels, capsules and tinctures. Those using milk thistle to treat liver ailments are often advised to take a standardized extract of 400 to 600 mg every day, taken in three equal doses.

Milk thistle tea

While there are a number of recipes for milk thistle tea, most are far too weak to have significant health effects. Teas contain only trace amounts of silymarin, due to the inability of the substance to dissolve well in water. Products made from the leaf of the milk thistle are also of no medicinal value.

When buying milk thistle extracts, either at the local health food store or over the internet, it is important to look for standardized extracts, and to purchase products only from established and repeatable companies who use industry standard manufacturing processes. Good manufacturing processes are vital to maintaining and enhancing the healing power of milk thistle.

Related Articles on Healthy Foods

Amazing Power of Acai Berry
For many years, the acai berry has been a well-kept secret, but that is beginning to change. Today more and more people are discovering the health enhancing power of this antioxidant rich food from... read more.

Pomegranate Juice For Your Health
The pomegranate has been a much loved part of the diet of many cultures for thousands of years, and scientists have recently begun to take a look at its possible health benefits, over and above those derived from the vitamins and... more.

Black Cohosh For PMS Symptoms
For many generations, women in the United States have relied on a root known as black cohosh to relieve various problems associated with female health. From PMS issues and menstrual cramps to menopause, black cohosh has long been... read more.

Healing Power of Milk Thistle
The prickly milk thistle has been used in the treatment of various liver problems for more than 2000 years, and many of the earliest healers were well acquainted with this valuable plant. The milk thistle is actually a member of the sunflower family, even though it... more on milk thistle.

The Value of Seabuckthorn Oil For Your Health
Seabuckthorn oil is one of the most exciting nutritional supplements to hit the market in recent years, and there are many studies underway to prove the health benefits of this important... more.

Health Benefits of Wolfberry
The health benefits of the wolfberry have long been known to the world of traditional medicine, these health benefits were explored throughout China many thousands of years ago. As far back as the Tang Dynasty, in the years... more on wolfberry.

Fruits And Vegetables In New Food Pyramid
The question of what foods are healthy can often be quite a difficult one to answer. The research often seems to be in conflict, The studies that say a particular food is great for you one day often turn around and... read more.

Add Fresh Strawberries To Your Diet
Everyone knows that strawberries are delicious as well as nutritious, and strawberries, both fresh and frozen varieties, should be a part of every person's daily diet. There are many health advantages to eating strawberries, and strawberries... more on strawberries.

Exercise Bike And Treadmill To Start Your Healthy Diet
Many people wonder how they can maintain a healthy weight without starving themselves. It is important for every would be dieter to understand that a healthy diet starts with exercise. Without a solid exercise plan, it will be almost impossible to... more.

Improve Your Overall Health And Fitness By Detoxing The Body
One of the most important things anyone can do to improve overall health and fitness is detoxing the body. This detoxing should ideally take place a couple of times a year, and many people prefer to do... read more.

Food That Helps Reduce Asthma Symptoms
Asthma symptoms can be at best annoying and at worst life threatening and the bad news is that cases of asthma are on the rise. More and more children and adults are diagnosed with this condition every year, and asthma continues to be... more on asthma symptoms.

Bilberry And Nutrition
Bilberry, known to science as actinium myrtillus, is a member of the blueberry family, and it is known for producing sweet blue colored berries. The bilberry bush is found both in North America and Europe, and it grows best in... more on bilberry.

Wild Yam To Treat Menstrual Cramps And Other Similar Problems
The plant known as the wild yam is actually a perennial vine which features a pale brown rhizome coupled with a thin reddish brown stem with can grow up to 36 feet in length. The wild yam features large oval leaves with a fine hair on... read more.

A Combination of Green Tea Extract And Caffein Burn A Higher Number of Calories
There few drinks with as many important health benefits as green tea, and the Chinese have long known about the many benefits of this exciting foodstuff. The Chinese have been using green tea in traditional medicine to treat... read more.

Fresh Ginger Root And Your Health
There are many reasons to love the pungent aroma and great taste of ginger, but there is increasing evidence that ginger provides strong health benefits as well as great taste. Ginger has a long tradition of use in traditional medicine, and cultures around... more on ginger.

Peppermint Tea For Chronic Stomach Conditions
Peppermint has long been known for both its great taste and its soothing medicinal properties. Many people use peppermint leaves, brewed in a tea for instance, to soothe stomach ailments and other mild illnesses. Fresh peppermint and... more.

Parsley And Its Benefits
Most people know parsley as those little springs of green often used to dress up food at the finer restaurants. Did you know, however, that parsley has many health benefits? More.

Benefits of Spinach In The Diet
For many years, nutritionists and mothers have known about the awesome power of spinach and its importance to a healthy diet. After all, there is a reason your mother always encouraged you to eat your spinach, and... more on spinach.

Whole Wheat Bread: Rich Sources of Dietary Fiber
One of the easiest dietary changes to make, and one that carries a real health punch, is replacing refined grains with more healthful whole wheat. This one change in diet can have a significant impact on health, from helping to maintain a... read more.

Pygeum Supplement For Treatment And Prevention of Prostate Problems
Prostate problems are a growing problem for many men, and it is estimated that most men will experience some type of problem with their prostate at one time... read more.

Grow Basil, For An Endless Supply of The Freshest Herb Recipe
Basil is one of the most commonly used of all herbs in cooking, and there are many recipes that are enhanced by this minty, aromatic plant. Many cooks like to grow fresh basil in an herb garden, for an... more on basil grow.

Tomato Sauce, Canned Tomatoes And Stewed Tomatoes Are All Valuable Sources of Antioxidants And Other Valuable Nutrients
The health benefits of tomatoes are well known, and tomatoes are known to contain a great many important compounds that play an important role in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, cataracts and... more.

Prevent Breast Cancer By Eating Read Cabbage And Red Beets
There are many reasons why red cabbage and red beets are such popular foods. Both red cabbage and red beets are delicious, nutritious and low in calories. In addition, the compounds found in red cabbage and red beets are thought to... read more.

Vitamin D Found In Milk Is Vital For The Utilization Of Your Calcium Diet
Calcium is a vital part of every diet, but many people are not getting all the calcium they need for healthy teeth and bones. Nutritionists recommend that women aged from 11 to 18 consume no less than... read more on calcium diet.

Prevent Breast Cancer by Eating Healthier
More and more people are coming to understand the important role diet has to play in the prevention of many forms of cancer, and many recent studies have indicated that it is possible to help prevent breast cancer by eating healthier. Read more.

The Excellent Sources of Fiber In Black Bean
For many people, including some highly respected nutritionists, beans are just about the perfect food. Beans are so nutrient dense and low in calories that they are perfect for any dieter. In addition, beans are a strong source of dietary fiber, which... more.

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice For Your Good Health
Oranges in all their forms, from fresh Florida oranges to fresh squeezed orange juice, have long been enjoyed for their delicious flavor as well as their health benefits. Indeed, oranges and other citrus fruits are among the most healthy of all foods, and... read more.

Why Interest In Using Health Food Supplement Is Growing
The past several decades has seen quite a resurgence in the interest in traditional and natural ways of treating disease. As more and more prescription and over the counter medications are shown to have significant side effects and cause other serious... more.

Balanced Diet Is An Essential Part of Keeping A Healthy Weight
For many people, maintaining a healthy weight is a real struggle, and obesity is quickly becoming the number one health problem in the country. Everyone knows about the many serious health problems that have been associated with... more.

The Power of Goji Berries
The goji berries just may be the most powerful of all anti-aging foods on the market. More and more people are discovering the power of the goji berries, also known as lyceum barbarum. More on goji berries.

Other Information On Healthy Foods

Free Recipes

Free Tips

Other Useful Information