What is milk thistle? Milk Thistle for Cats. Milk thistle and dandelions may not look like much more than yard weeds, but they can be an effective and delectable part of any diet. Standardized extract of this herb is used for medicinal purpose. In the middle ages, the leaves were used in salads, but these days the seeds are most commonly used in supplements. However, the use of milk thistle as an herbal treatment for liver disorders actually dates way back to the Medieval Period. Grind the seeds into a fine powder. Although normally considered a safe natural treatment, caution is advised by professionals when it comes to using this herb because of an increase in hepatic clearance of pharmaceuticals. How to Prepare and Use Milk Thistle; Can you eat a weed? Milk-Thistle can be used on fresh ground and used in foods like yogurt. Milk thistle is a stout, biennial or annual plant that grows up to one metre tall and has a branched, stem. Milk thistle has been used for over 2,000 years originating in ancient Greece where it initially was used for snakebites. STEP 3. Six Milk Thistle Benefits . Consult your doctor for more information if you have either of these serious conditions.Some herbal/dietary supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. The herb can be used in capsule form. It is the number-one herb (a weed, actually) used to detoxify the body, in particular a liver detox. Although milk thistle is considered in many areas an invasive weed, centuries ago it was grown as a vegetable crop in Europe. Also, the silymarin substance found in thistle seeds has been for about years with toxins and fungal poisonings, snake bites, insect bites. Originally native to Southern Europe, Asia Minor, and the Mediterranean region, the plant now grows wild throughout the world. Milk thistle, a member of the Asteraceae family of plants from which daisies and sunflowers belong to, has been used for over 2,000 years to treat gallbladder and liver problems. What Is Milk Thistle Used for Today? It has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of ailments, especially liver problems. Milk thistle is sometimes called silymarin, which is actually a mixture of the herb's active components, including silybinin (also called silibinin or silybin). Milk Thistle Seeds; What is thistle used for? STEP 1. Thistle is used as a natural treatment for liver problems. The herb may lessen side effects of drugs used to treat diseases such as Parkinson's. Milk thistle has been used for thousands of years to treat various ailments, particularly liver problems. You can use milk thistle seeds by sprinkling them over your salad or soup. Recent research has proven beneficial health effects of milk thistle for the kidneys, as well as for the liver. Milk thistle plants typically yield up to 190 seeds per flower - that’s roughly 6350 seeds per plant! Milk Thistle is used for many modern conditions including treating liver diseases. Today, researchers have completed more than 300 scientific studies suggesting possible benefits, particularly for treating liver-related ailments. Description; Medicinal Action and Uses---Synonym---Marian Thistle.---Parts Used---Whole herb, root, leaves, seeds and hull.The Marian, or Milk Thistle, is perhaps the most important medicinally among the members of this genus, to which all botanists do not, however, assign it, naming it Silybum Marianum. USES: Milk thistle has been used for diabetes in combination with standard treatment. It is now widely used to treat alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, liver poisoning, and viral hepatitis, as well as to protect the liver from the effects of liver-toxic medications. THISTLE, MILK Botanical: Silybum marianum Family: N.O. How to Make Milk Thistle Tea. Milk thistle has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating heartburn, or seasonal allergy symptoms. Milk thistle itself is a flowering plant that is part of the daisy family. Milk thistle is an herb that has been in use for centuries to promote liver, gall bladder and kidney health. The leaves were cooked or used in salads, much like spinach. New research is documenting the use of Milk Thistle in treating other conditions such as acne, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis, atherosclerosis and high cholesterol. Yes! Milk thistle, or silybum marianum, has been used as a herbal healer since ancient Greek times. Herbalists often prefer to use the whole seed of milk thistle, freshly ground, and added to foods (I like it in yogurt and oatmeal). Contraindication of Milk Thistle. Take one tablespoon of seeds and crush ‘em using a mortar and pestle. Visit my website: http://www.totalhealthdupage.com/ Dr. Jawad talks about the benefits of milk thistle. The terms “milk thistle” and “silymarin” are often used interchangeably. Originally from Europe, milk thistle now also grows in North America. Distinguishing Features. It is common in Mediterranean countries and is used as a component of natural remedies and supplements. Documented use of milk thistle as a remedy for liver ailments goes back to the first century, according to the website Herbal Legacy. Milk thistle is an herbal remedy that has been used for around 2000 years in the treatment of various health concerns. Milk thistle has been historically used for a variety of liver diseases, including: alcoholic liver disease; acute and chronic viral hepatitis; toxin-induced liver diseases; 2. Not to be used by lactating mothers. Top 7 properties 1. Milk thistle may have been combined with other plants or extracts in a specific preparation to treat these conditions. Drugs and therapies used to cure diseases in cats can be harmful to the liver due to their toxicity. What is milk thistle used for? Modern science is beginning to show that milk thistle has a wide range of health and medicinal benefits. The steps below outline how to make milk thistle tea. Take a pan and pour four cups of water in it. Milk thistle is commonly sold as an isolated extract. The consumption of milk thistle food supplements is very habitual. Better state in liver diseases. While you can make milk thistle tea using its leaves, prepare a delicacy using its stems, or even make a salad, such diversity isn’t as common with dandelion root. Milk thistle is one of the most studied and documented herbs in use today. Milk thistle is taken by mouth most often for liver disorders, including liver damage caused by chemicals, alcohol, and chemotherapy, as well as liver damage caused by Amanita phalloides (death cap) mushroom poisoning, jaundice, chronic inflammatory liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and chronic hepatitis. Historically, people have used milk thistle for liver disorders and gallbladder problems. May Help Protect Against Cancer. With dandelion, on the other hand, it’s primarily the root that lends its benefits. Milk thistle was one of the most popular liver herb "alteratives" used in European herbalism and folklore, mentioned in books and documented in herbals throughout the ages. Milk thistle is a plant that contains silymarin, a substance that improves liver function. Milk thistle is used internally in the treatment of liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis and poisoning (including mushroom poisoning). In the middle ages it was used to treat liver problems and in the 1500s it was used for emotional distress. Drug Toxicity . Water does not extract milk thistle well and alcohol is often contraindicated for those seeking liver protection. Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), not to be confused with milk thistle (Silybum marianum), was once used to treat the bubonic plague.Today, people use … Milk thistle is promoted as a dietary supplement for hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, diabetes, indigestion, and other conditions. The Latin name for milk thistle is Silybum marianum. These can be primary diseases or they can be secondary diseases which derive from another medical condition. Put the pan on the stove to boil. Milk thistle is a flowering herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. Consult with a qualified medical professional before using milk thistle. The medicinal use of milk thistle can be traced back thousands of years to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Based on the extensive folk use of milk thistle in cases of jaundice, European medical researchers began to investigate its medicinal effects. Milk thistle tea is also quite popular. One of its prominent uses is to improve liver disease. This wild edible takes two years to complete the growing cycle. Theophrastus (IV century BC) and Dioscorides (1st century AD) also wrote of its value. Cardous marianus), but it is more commonly known as “milk thistle,” “St. And it contributes to the cleaning, repair and regeneration of the liver. Different parts are used With milk thistle, the whole plant has therapeutic benefits. Scientific research … Facts About Milk Thistle. What Issues Affect Dosage Considerations? Grind and Mix into Baked Goods Milk thistle seeds can be easily ground and incorporated into baked dishes like bread. The English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper (1650) claimed it was effective for supporting the normal functioning of the liver. Among the problems in this regard are cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis and gall bladder. Milk thistle has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating heartburn, or seasonal allergy symptoms. Milk thistle is a wonderful herb which can benefit many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions. However, people with hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease also should consider … It's native to the Mediterranean, but most milk thistle grown for supplements and tisanes is grown in California. Since milk thistle helps to protect the liver, and because some of the conversion of T4 to T3 takes place in the liver, one can argue that many people with thyroid conditions should take this herb. Liver diseases in cats are common. Milk Thistle is used to treat alcoholic liver disease, gallbladder problems, hepatic cirrhosis, hepatitis (), hepatotoxicity (chemical/drug-induced), jaundice, pleurisy, prostate cancer, and spleen diseases, and used as an appetite stimulant.. STEP 2 . Milk Thistle has an extensive history of use as an edible plant. 5 Ways to Use Milk Thistle Seeds 1. (10, 21, 40) Not only are the leaves edible, the seeds are as well. You can take milk thistle in capsules or as a tincture (combined with alcohol). Milk thistle seed is a great source of the antioxidant flavonoid called silymarin, which is actually composed of several other active compounds known as flavolignans. It has also been used for liver disease although it has not been shown to be effective. Clearly, this has been an herb of healing for many years subject to a variety of dosage therapies and dosage adjustments. Avoid milk thistle if you are pregnant. It is packed with the flavonoid silymarin, which is believed to be the carrier of many of its beneficial factors, which includes protection for the liver as well as anti-viral, antioxidant and … The plant is known in scientific circles as the Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner (syn. Compositae. For this reason, people with liver problems or who consume or have consumed alcohol in excess are advised. In the 1st century AD, Pliny the Elder reported its use for supporting liver health. For over 2,000 years, milk thistle has been used as a natural treatment for liver disorders. The active ingredient of milk thistle is a flavinoid called silymarin that is found in the seeds. Milk thistle was used by early medical practitioners to handle congestion in the kidneys, spleen, and veins. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is in the same family of plants as daisies and sunflowers. It can be used as a tincture. To do this, put the milk thistle seeds into a blender or a coffee grinder. 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