Gardeners in the UK, and
no doubt in North America too, will probably consider the milk thistle as a
weed. I certainly did when I still lived in England. Nevertheless, I did like to
see them growing wild out in the countryside. It would never have occurred to
me at that time that this prickly plant concealed health benefits which had
been known to some for many generations.
Those health benefits of
the milk thistle have been known to man for 2000 years plus, predominantly in
the treatment of liver complaints and for overall liver health. It seems amazing that,
somehow, all those centuries ago, people knew that milk thistle was beneficial,
and early medicinal healers used it in their treatments. Now, modern science
has proved them right; another case of an old wives' tale having a scientific
base.
How, then, does milk
thistle have a beneficial effect on the liver? The milk thistle, or a
constituent part of it, is somehow able to stimulate the flow of bile from the
liver. This is thought to be why it is believed to be why milk thistle is
effective in treating liver ailments, and is also thought to aid digestion.
Milk Thistle and Modern Scientific Studies Into Liver Health
There have, over recent
years, been scientific studies into milk thistle's beneficial effects, and
these studies have tended to support the ancient beliefs in the efficacy of
this common plant, a member of the sunflower family. These studies have produced
evidence that milk thistle does provide some protection from danage to the
liver. It has also been found to have a healing effect on a damaged liver,
which is one of the reasons why some doctors consider the milk thistle plant a
valid treatment for liver disorders, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. The active ingredients
that have been isolated in the milk thistle are called silymarin, whcih are
found in the plant's black fruit .
The Other Possible Uses of Milk Thistle
Milk thistle has been
shown to be a natural plant that is high in antioxidants, and has been showing
some promising results in the treatment of gallstones, allergies, and high
cholesterol. Enough promise has been shown to justify future scientific studies
into the wild and prickly milk thistle.
One of the specific uses
of milk thislte in medicine has been as an antidote for people who have eaten
poisonous mushrooms. This form of milk thistle is injectible. It is believed
this plant assists in the expulsion of toxins from the body, due to its effect
on the liver and the secretion of bile.
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