Milk Thistle Benefits
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Milk thistle is a plant native to Europe. It has a long history of use as a folk remedy for liver and gallbladder disorders. The active constituent of milk thistle is thought to be silymarin, flavonoids especially Silymarin, found in the seeds. Through the ages, the thistle has earned a reputation as a cursed plant. Bristly and prickly, it spreads rapidly and can take over vast fields where less invasive plants once stood. Ancient people often considered the thistle an abomination, a sign of a rich land gone wrong. Milk thistle has been used for 2,000 years as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver, kidney, and gall bladder problems. Milk thistle was used by early medical practitioners to handle congestion in the kidneys, spleen, and veins.
Benefits of Milk Thistle
Liver Problem
Milk thistle helps with general liver problems including jaundice (which is when the skin becomes discolored/yellow), hepatic pain, and swelling. Flavonoids will have profound results on the body’s immune system, thus boosting the body’s ability to resist illness. They help stabilize cell membranes and control cell function.
Hepatitis
Milk thistle is widely used in the treatment of viral hepatitis (particularly hepatitis C). Supplements have been explored for chronic hepatitis; however, larger, well-designed studies are needed before it can be recommended for this condition.
Cancer
Silymarin and other active substances in it may have anticancer effects. These substances appear to stop cancer cells from dividing and reproducing, shorten their lifespan, and reduce blood supply to tumors. Some studies suggest silymarin may favorably supplement sunscreen protection and may help reduce the risk of skin cancer.
High Cholesterol
One animal study discovered that silymarin (an effective compound in milk thistle) worked as efficiently as the cholesterol-lowering drug probucol, with the added advantage of considerably raising HDL cholesterol. More studies in individuals are needed.
Skin Problems
Skin is an essential organ for cleansing, and the biggest organ in the physique. Psoriasis is supposed to occur because of the existence of specific toxins within our bloodstream. There are a few bits of evidence that show the risk of psoriasis as having a potential connection to abnormal liver functions.
Conclusion
Once you read through several advantages of milk thistle, you might be interested in what the possible side effects happen to be. There is a theoretical risk that milk thistle could have an estrogen-like effect, so people with hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids or cancers of the breast, uterus and ovaries should avoid milk thistle, particularly the above ground parts of the plant. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care practitioner.
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