Milk thistle – an effective and natural friend to the liver

Milk thistle is a herbaceous plant that grows naturally in the Mediterranean region. It is particularly known for its medicinal properties, which have been used since ancient times. The plant has rich anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that protect the human body, including the liver. What does milk thistle help with, and why is it worth using it in your daily health care routine? Let's find out what milk thistle has to offer.

Milk thistle – what is it?

Milk thistle is an annual plant that is resistant to all weather and environmental conditions. For this reason, it is also found in the UK, where it grows in all kinds of meadows and wasteland. The scientific name of the plant is Silybum marianum. It is recognisable by its large, spiny leaves, a stem that can grow up to about 1.5 m in height, and purple flowers.

The leaves of the spotted thistle are pale green with attractive white veins, which give it remarkable strength. The leaves and young shoots of the plant have been consumed since ancient times for health prevention. It is therefore quite obvious that milk thistle is now particularly recommended as a dietary supplement, in the form of tablets or powdered seeds.

Due to its widespread introduction, milk thistle now grows in central and southern Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, as well as Australia and North America. The plant thrives in sunny and dry climates, especially in acidic soils.

Properties of milk thistle – how do they work?

The health benefits of milk thistle are supported by centuries of use to counteract liver damage, various digestive ailments and other problems, such as gallbladder disease.

In addition, numerous scientific studies suggest that extracts from the plant or parts of it are also extremely useful for ailments related to the digestive system or dysfunctions of basic organs such as the kidneys or liver. What is more, it appears that the active substances in milk thistle are effective in preventing diabetes and reducing high cholesterol levels.

These properties are mainly due to the high content of silymarin, a flavonoid which is the most important component of the plant. Other active ingredients of milk thistle include taxifolin, linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids, large amounts of proteins and tyramine.

The main properties of milk thistle include:

• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
• Anti-allergic properties
• Astringent effect
• Stimulation of digestion and cholagogue function
• Anti-haemorrhagic properties
• Reduction of fever symptoms
• Mild antidepressant effect.

Milk thistle – what does it help with?

Due to the long list of properties attributed to the plant, milk thistle has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for many ailments. The plant is believed to help with:

• Treating poisoning after consuming certain types of mushrooms and fatty foods – it is beneficial in reducing the feeling of heaviness in the abdomen by stimulating digestive functions.
• Treating hepatitis – milk thistle can alleviate some of the symptoms and discomfort associated with hepatitis, resulting, for example, from consuming large amounts of alcohol.
• Reduces seasonal allergy symptoms – when taken with antihistamines, it significantly reduces the risk of allergic symptoms, e.g. to pollen.
• Lowers blood sugar levels – milk thistle maintains proper insulin levels in the blood and reduces excess glucose
• Treatment of urinary tract inflammation – due to its rich anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, it helps prevent symptoms typical of cystitis or prostatitis.
• Circulation problems – milk thistle helps combat numbness in the limbs and can also be used to treat varicose veins and haemorrhoids, as it has excellent venous circulation-stimulating properties.
• Treatment of burns, wounds and ulcers – the astringent properties of milk thistle support the healing process of wounds and alleviate the effects of burns or ulcers on the body.

Milk thistle and the liver – is it helpful?

Milk thistle for the liver is a unique natural remedy for the prevention of possible liver damage, mainly thanks to its hepatoprotective properties and its ability to repair liver damage caused by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and other substances, such as certain medicines containing large amounts of paracetamol.

It has also been proven to be very effective in regenerating the liver in people who have suffered serious damage caused by HIV drugs, especially retroviruses, which severely damage the organ. Milk thistle also aids recovery in patients after aggressive chemotherapy, which also damages liver tissue.

Milk thistle is also an effective daily supplement for people who want to take care of their liver for other reasons. The plant is known for its detoxifying effect, which, in combination with other antioxidants, protects the body from free radicals while protecting the liver from potential damage.

How to use milk thistle?

There are currently many milk thistle-based products on the market. The most popular forms are tablets, teas, powdered seeds and grains. So, depending on the ailment to be treated, this plant can be prepared and consumed in various ways. Let's take a look at what you need to know about the most popular forms of milk thistle.

Forms of milk thistle – which ones to choose?

There are several effective ways to take milk thistle for health benefits. As we have already mentioned, the most popular ones are ground milk thistle, tablets, or milk thistle tea.

• Milk thistle tea – infusions prepared from milk thistle are a natural liver protector. They are highly effective, but the preparation time is much longer compared to other forms. It is recommended to drink up to 3 cups (150 ml) of the infusion per day to fully benefit from the plant's properties.
• Milk thistle tablets – Milk thistle capsules or tablets are available without a prescription. It is recommended to take 250 to 500 mg twice a day to obtain measurable health benefits. In the case of liver dysfunction, it is recommended to take tablets containing 70 to 80% extracted silymarin in a dose of 150 to 200 mg 3 times a day.
• Ground milk thistle seeds and grains – ground seeds or whole milk thistle grains can be used for a variety of ailments. Their obvious advantage is their versatility. They can be used to prepare homemade compresses for burns and wounds with an astringent effect. In addition, they can be a tasty addition to your morning porridge, containing a lot of protein and helpful flavonoids that naturally enter the digestive system, taking care of your health from the inside. It is important to remember that organic milk thistle products should be consumed hot in order to properly activate the plant's active ingredients.

Silymarin from milk thistle – what is it?

As already mentioned, the main active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin. It is considered a true hepatoprotector or ‘friend of the liver’. Silymarin contributes to the protection of the liver and improves its function, largely due to its ability to inhibit certain factors that lead to liver damage. The most important of these are free radicals. What makes the silymarin compounds in milk thistle even more impressive is that they protect and simultaneously stimulate the synthesis of liver proteins.

This explains why even a severely damaged liver is able to regenerate its tissues faster when we consume milk thistle-based supplements. Free radicals, which damage liver tissue, are compounds that are formed during the transfer of oxygen molecules to polyunsaturated fatty acids. Silymarin helps to inhibit the formation of these particles, protecting the liver from potential damage by environmental toxins, while accelerating the regenerative processes of the entire organ.

Everything we breathe, eat and absorb through our skin is ultimately purified and refined in the liver. The silymarin contained in milk thistle counteracts all toxins entering the body from the outside, neutralising them and detoxifying this organ, which is important for a long and healthy life.

Milk thistle – appropriate dosage

For milk thistle to be as effective as possible, it should be consumed in several doses throughout the day. Dietary supplements can be taken with meals. Tablets based on the active substances of the plant, seeds or ground milk thistle can be taken with hot water or added directly to a meal. Milk thistle tea can be drunk after a meal to have a positive effect on digestive functions.

Treatment with milk thistle lasts from 15 to 30 days. By choosing milk thistle tablets, we ensure a perfectly even dosage day after day. Ground milk thistle can be mixed with water, fruit juice or added directly to a meal. The daily dose of silymarin contained in milk thistle should be between 200 and 500 mg.

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