more information on Milk Thistle

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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)

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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.