With all of the toxic substances in our environment from the food we eat, the air we breathe and other sources, some people feel it is necessary to detoxify their bodies from time to time. Milk thistle is beneficial for its detoxification properties, which support liver function.

Milk thistle has long been considered a natural way to eliminate impurities from the body by way of the liver. The human liver acts as a filter for the impurities our bodies acquire every day. The liver takes what our bodies need to survive and sends the excess into the bowel, where it is expelled as waste matter. When this filter is overtaxed by over-consumption of alcohol or drugs, or from liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, it cannot function properly. Milk thistle has the amazing ability to protect the liver from damage and to assist in regeneration of new cells and replace already damaged cells.

How does it work? The active chemical in milk thistle is silymarin. Silymarin functions as an antioxidant, inhibiting the factors responsible for liver damage and promoting the growth of healthy cells. In clinical trials, silymarin has been proven effective in treating and preventing many types of chronic liver diseases.

The benefits of milk thistle are nothing short of amazing. Researchers call it a smart herb because it seems to know when to produce new cells as well as when to halt the production of bad cells, such as cancer cells. How this herb knows when to help regenerate cells and when to keep them from regenerating is still a matter for research, but the benefits to the liver are undeniable. In Europe, milk thistle is reportedly administered to patients when they are given medications known to cause liver problems.

Milk thistle may aid in the following:

•  Liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis C

•  Treatment and prevention of gallstones

•  Mushroom toxicity

•  High cholesterol

•  Cancer

Silymarin is the compound responsible for altering the structure of the liver's cell membrane, forming a barrier to liver toxins as well as rivaling vitamins C and E for its antioxidant properties. There is little silymarin found in the other parts of milk thistle, so they are not considered valuable for their medicinal effects.

Milk thistle can be taken in powdered form as a food supplement, but there is no recommended dosage. Practitioners recommend following the package dose with a full glass of water. People with allergies to certain plants such as ragweed, artichokes and marigolds, may experience a severe allergic reaction to milk thistle and should avoid its consumption. For the non-allergic, milk thistle may help protect you from several ailments. Before adding any supplement or new food to your diet, please consult our natural practitioner.

In the last few decades, much research has been carried out in Europe on Milk Thistle. In some parts - Germany, for example, Milk Thistle has become one of the most used herbs. One of the latest study, a review and meta-analysis of 13 clinical trials, published in the December, 2005, American Journal of Gastroenterology, concluded that extracts of milk thistle are ineffective as a treatment for liver disorders. The study got widespread publicity that, gave the wrong impression about both the safety and efficacy of this time-tested remedy. A review of the study by a team of experts assembled by the American Botanical Council (ABC) put the findings in perspective. It showed that, contrary to misleading information carried in some news reports, the study itself concluded that milk thistle extracts are safe and are well tolerated by patients.

Here is the very latest study on milk thistle:

“ScienceDaily (Dec. 27, 2009) — A new study finds that the herb milk thistle may help treat liver inflammation in cancer patients who receive chemotherapy. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that the herb could allow patients to take potent doses of chemotherapy without damaging their liver”

Milk Thistle is unique in its ability to protect the liver and has no equivalent in the pharmaceutical drug world. In fact, in cases of poisoning with Amanita mushrooms, which destroy the liver, milk thistle is the only treatment option. It has been so dramatically effective that the treatment has never been disputed, even by the traditional medical community.

Amongst the varied uses of this herb, its smoothening impact on mucous membrane, cure for cracked skin, cure for kidney irritations, assistance in lowering cholesterol levels etc are the widely known benefits. While reading about what this herbal extract is good for, you would also come across its wide use as a cure for bladder inflammations. it is indeed a beneficial supplement.

Milk thistle is excellent complementary treatment to the liver cleanse. It is especially beneficial for those people with hectic or busy life style and for those who regularly consume alcohol even in small quantities. Despite all the fuss about antioxidants present in wine and vitamins present in beer, the truth is still the truth - Alcohol irreversibly damages the liver and if can't change your life style then at least counterbalance this damage by taking remedy that reduces destructive effect of alcohol toxins on your liver!

You can purchase high quality organic milk thistle directly from our practice.

MILK THISTLE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM NATURE!