Re: more information on Milk Thistle

[Guest guest]

Thank you,

hmmm, very interesting. Now do you think the tea would be an effective way

of taking it? I have not looked at the health food store to see if it comes

in a liquid form other than tea.

Thanx,

spam: [] more information on Milk Thistle

> FAMILY : Compositae (Composite)

> GENUS : Silybum

> SPECIES : marianum

>

> COMMON NAMES : n Thistle, St. 's Thistle, Our Lady's Thistle

>

> IDENTIFICATION :

> An annual or biennial herb growing up to 6 feet tall, milk thistle has

> coarse, lobed, prickly-edged leaves streaked with conspicuous white veins.

> Crimson to reddish-violet flowers (May-June) are borne in solitary heads,

> 2

> inches across, surrounded by prominent, spiny bracts. (Magic and Medicine

> of

> Plants)

>

> USES :

> The seeds, fruit, and leaves of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), a plant

> native to Europe, have been used since the Roman times as a liver tonic.

> Also known as n, St. 's, and Our Lady's thistle, milk thistle

> extracts which contain 70 to 80 percent silymarin is now widely used for

> liver disorders. In numerous clinical studies, silymarin has been shown to

> have therapeutic effects in treating several types of liver ailments such

> as

> cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and fatty infiltration of the liver.

>

> Biopsies and laboratory studies have demonstrated that silymarin protects

> the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol and toxic chemicals and

> stimulates the production of new liver cells to replace damaged ones.

> Silymarin may also help prevent or treat gallstones by increasing the

> solubility of the bile, and provides an antidote to the death cap mushroom

> (Amanita phalloides), which kills its victims by destroying liver cells.

> The

> standard dosage of milk thistle extract based on 70 - 80 percent silymarin

> content is from 70-210 milligrams three times daily. Milk thistle extracts

> have shown very low toxicity, even when taken over a long time.

>

> Protects liver cells from solvent damage (alcohol & carbon tetrachloride)

> Protects liver cells from liver poisoning

> Acts as an antidote to death cap (A. phalloides) mushrooms

> Stimulates production of new liver cells

> Helps skin conditions related to poor liver function

> Fights pollutants and inhibits free-radical damage.

> Slows the advancement of liver Cirrhosis

> Perhaps helpful in treating Hebatitis B

>

> CONTAINS :

> several flavonolignans, including silybin, isosilybin, dehydrosilybin,

> silydianin and silychristin

>

> http://www.erowid.org/herbs/milk_thistle/milk_thistle.shtml ( many more

> links on this subject)

> ========================================

> Milk Thistle and Your Liver

>

> The EPA estimates that almost 6 trillion pounds of chemicals are released

> into the environment each year. This includes air emissions from vehicles,

> agricultural and industrial chemical discharge into the ground and water.

> Household

> cleaners, building material and personal care products also add to this

> toxicity.

>

> These environmental toxins are absorbed by our bodies in large amounts and

> affect all important organs like the heart, brain, and the immune system.

> Fortunately, our bodies are equipped with a detoxifying, hardworking

> organ: the

> liver. The liver function as a life sustainer, detoxifying the body

> leaving you

> feeling mentally alert and energized. Even our thyroid functions better,

> since

> the liver helps convert thyroid hormones into their metabolically active

> forms.

> The brain is also dependent on an efficient liver, as it helps to flush

> out

> memory blocking toxins thus wiping our " brain fog " .

>

> The liver detoxifies or cleanses the blood in two phases. In phase one, a

> group of enzymes called cutochromeP450 neutralizes some toxins and breaks

> down

> others. These are then expelled in phase two. Unfortunately, as we age the

> efficiency of the liver in detoxifying the body is impaired. This, results

> in an

> accumulation of toxins in the body leading to a number of symptoms the

> most

> common of which are:

>

> fatigue

> aches and pain

> memory loss and trouble concentrating

> head aches

> skin problems

> For our liver to function efficiently and perform its duty of de-toxifying

> our bodies its imperative to make sure that our daily intake of vitamin C,

> E and

> B Complex is adequate. During the detoxifying process, the liver

> unfortunately is forced to release free radicals. Free radicals are

> inherently unstable,

> since they contain " extra energy " . These free radicals in turn damage the

> liver. True, at first glance this looks like a no win situation. But

> recent studies

> have shown that anti-oxidants can help in neutralizing the free radicals.

> Superoxide Dismutase and glutathione are antioxidant enzymes produced by

> the body

> to negate the effects of free radicals. Although supplements of these

> enzymes

> are available to replenish the body's supply, it has been proved that it

> is

> more effective to provide the body with the " building blocks " with which

> the

> body can produce it's own enzymes. The herb milk thistle, is one such

> building

> block. Milk Thistle has been used for centuries in Europe to treat

> jaundice,

> and other liver ailments. Today, after about 150 scientific studies, it

> has been

> proved that Silymarin, the active ingredient in Milk Thistle is an

> antioxidant 10 times more powerful than vitamin E. It not only stimulates

> the production

> of other antioxidant enzymes; it also blocks out other enzymes involved in

> free radical activity. In fact, you could say that it helps the liver to

> help

> itself. Silymarin not only prevents the depletion of glutathione; it

> increases

> the livers detoxifying potential by 35%.

> We can summarize as follows:

>

> The liver detoxifies our bodies.

> This releases free radicals, which harm the liver and other organs.

> Superoxide dismustase & Glutathione are antioxidant enzymes, produced by

> the

> body, which neutralizes the free radicals.

> Supplements are available to replenish these enzymes.

> However, the supplements may not be effectively absorbed.

> It has been proven more effective to provide the body with the material

> necessary to replenish itself.

> Following a diet comprising of vitamin E, C, Zinc, Magnesium and B Complex

> can help increase production of glutathione.

> Milk thistle is 35% more effective than these vitamins in helping the

> liver

> detoxifying our bodies.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Does Milk Thistle come in different forms? Do you take it as a liquid or

pill?

Thanks,

Sue

[Guest guest]

No, the constituents are not extracted in water. Best form to take is a

standardized extract in capsules. Other form would be an alcoholic tincture

macerated in at least 90 proof alcohol. Or you could buy the seeds in bulk,

grind them well in coffee grinder and take at least 1 tablespoon three times

a day.

Rosie

Re: [] more information on Milk Thistle

Thank you,

hmmm, very interesting. Now do you think the tea would be an effective way

of taking it? I have not looked at the health food store to see if it comes

in a liquid form other than tea.

Thanx,

[Guest guest]

i've been taking 4 capsules (1,000 mg) a day when i have the pain, sue....it

works for me.....but please ask your doctor.

v.

Re: [] more information on Milk Thistle

> Does Milk Thistle come in different forms? Do you take it as a liquid or

> pill?

> Thanks,

> Sue

>

>

>