Milk thistle flowers beneficial properties and contraindications. How to lose weight at home. Milk thistle - benefits and harm. How to take a medicinal plant

A unique feature of milk thistle is the fact that it contains silymarin: a powerful complex of natural antioxidants called flavolignans.

Milk thistle herb is often, and rightly, called a “thorny healer.”

The healing qualities of milk thistle owe their existence to the active substances contained in the plant, which have a positive effect on the body, protecting it from various ailments and helping to get rid of them!

Milk thistle in folk medicine

The unique chemical composition of milk thistle

The main medicinal raw material is the fruit of the plant, which is already quite ripe. But the roots, stems, and leaves are also used in the preparation of medicinal decoctions, infusions, and so on.

The seeds of the fruit, in which the main power of milk thistle is concentrated, contain about 300 elements that have a healing effect on the body.

Vitamins:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin F
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin H and others

Minerals (macro- and microelements):

• boron
• iron
• selenium
• potassium
• manganese
• magnesium
• zinc
• iodine
• calcium and others

A distinctive, even, it is worth saying, unique, feature of milk thistle is the fact that it contains silymarin: a powerful complex of natural antioxidants - flavolignans, which are called “first aid for the liver”.

The plant also contains many other substances:

Selenium important for ensuring the normal functioning of your heart and the condition of your blood vessels. Also, this substance, as has been officially proven, prevents cancer and strengthens the body's defenses.

Silymarin provides protection to cell membranes and acts as a high-quality building material for the creation of new healthy cells during their division. But that's not all! It has a detoxifying effect, helps produce bile and so on.

Alkaloids help to pacify pain of various etiologies, regulate blood circulation, and put blood vessels in order.

Fixed oils necessary to ensure the normal process of cell division, their protection from carcinogens, and have a positive effect on metabolic processes.

Protein necessary for the production of physiologically important enzymes, participates in the transport of hemoglobin, is essential for the functioning of the body’s musculoskeletal system, and so on.

Essential oils necessary to activate the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and normalize the state of the nervous system.

Resins- disinfect, have antifungal and antimicrobial effects on the body.

Flavonoids- normalize blood pressure, heart rate, adrenal activity, strengthen capillaries, neutralize free radicals.

Lignans- reduce the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood, detect, bind and remove toxic substances, effectively regulate hormonal balance, oxygen metabolism, and so on.

Milk thistle - benefits and harm. How to take a medicinal plant

Milk milk is used for:

• For diseases of one of the most important organs - the liver (including hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty degeneration and other diseases).
• For skin problems (acne, dermatitis, eczema, even vitiligo).
• In the cardiological field. Milk thistle is very beneficial for the heart and blood vessels, because it perfectly strengthens the former and cleanses the latter.
• For diseases of the endocrine system , including for diabetes mellitus, significantly improving the condition of patients.
• For poisoning and toxicosis during pregnancy.
• In the prevention and treatment of oncology , and also after courses of chemotherapy.
• For obesity, provoked by various reasons (both banal regular overeating, unhealthy diet, and problems with the performance of internal organs), in other cases.
• Treatment of colds and infectious diseases , because it has pronounced antiviral and antibacterial properties.
• Improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, increasing its peristalsis, clearing it of toxins, eliminating inflammatory processes, stimulating the production of bile and food enzymes.
• Headache and toothache , as well as abdominal pain, injuries, and so on. It has been proven that milk thistle has a pronounced analgesic effect.
• Improving the blood formula in hematology. Thus, even official medicine recognizes this fact, and doctors often prescribe milk thistle-based products to their patients in order to normalize their condition.
• Elimination of intestinal dysbiosis. And this immediately, in a positive way, affects his condition and, accordingly, his functioning. As a rule, loose stools, as well as constipation, quickly pass, health improves, and the absorption of nutrients, some of them, increases several times.
• Neutralization of skin problems. They can have different etiologies: ranging from fungal and bacterial diseases, ending with burns and cuts.

What does milk thistle taste like? The taste of the seeds is bitter, but not bitter, quite logical, since milk thistle is a herb for the liver. Many herbal remedies for the liver have a bitter aftertaste.

Milk thistle harm, contraindications and precautions

Despite the excellent effects of milk thistle on the body, there are points that should not be forgotten, namely those that relate to contraindications.

1. Chronic pancreatitis at the acute stage.

1. Acute cholecystitis.

1. Chronic asthma.

1. Epilepsy.

1. Cholangitis.

1. Appendicitis.

1. If you have liver problems, before starting to use milk thistle products, Be sure to consult your doctor: therapist or hepatologist. The same applies to urolithiasis - only professional consultation with a therapist.

If a person who is going to use milk thistle preparations has mental disorders, then consultation with a psychiatrist or neurologist is also very advisable.

Milk thistle, in the absence of contraindications, is usually very well tolerated by the body. But, if during the process of treatment with it, you experience any undesirable consequences, which may manifest themselves in the form of physical or mental discomfort, you should stop using milk thistle.

Many people are interested in how to take milk thistle correctly. There cannot be an unambiguous and unique answer here, since the method of its use depends on the situation for the reason for the manifestation of which these drugs are used, as well as on the form of the drug (decoction, tincture, and so on).

Milk thistle - in what form is it useful to use?

Milk thistle can be used in the form of: decoction, tincture, oil, vice, tea, tablets, meal.

Meal tea

Tea is often used for the purpose strengthening the immune system, treating colds and infectious diseases. Meal is best suited for tea. One teaspoon of it should be poured into a glass of boiling water and left under a lid (preferably in a glass or ceramic container) for 8-11 minutes. Drink half a glass, regardless of your food intake, 3 times a day for 1 week.

Milk thistle decoction

The decoction is being prepared when coughing, including strong and protracted ones. For his cough, decoctions are prepared consisting of the meal of the plant. Take about half a teaspoon of milk thistle meal (you can buy it in most pharmacies), pour half a glass of boiling water over it in a teapot, leave for 6-7 minutes. Strain.

When the broth has cooled (it should be warm), add half a teaspoon of bee honey or currant, raspberry, or viburnum jam. This remedy can be used every hour and a half until improvement occurs. But, if a positive trend is not observed 5-6 days after starting to use the decoction, be sure to consult a doctor.

At hangover syndrome A decoction of meal is prepared, but for 1 glass of boiling water you should take 1 spoon of meal, and the product must be infused for at least 10-11 minutes. Take 3-4 times a day. At the same time, you need to drink enough liquid, preferably high-quality drinking water.

Milk Thistle Powder

Milk thistle powder, from which the scrub is prepared, in order to cleanse the skin, is diluted with clean water (one tablespoon), stirring until it reaches a mushy state of arbitrary, easy-to-use consistency.

The water used in the cooking process must be warm. The composition is applied to all problem areas, washed off after 30-35 minutes. This product can eliminate many skin problems, including stubborn blackheads and acne.

Vodka tincture of meal

Vodka tincture. Again, you take meal, homemade or store-bought vodka. For 500 milliliters of vodka - 5 tablespoons of meal. Pour into a glass container and infuse for 3 weeks in a dark and cool room. No need to strain. Use half a tablespoon as immunomodulator, sedative, for colds, joint problems, as a general tonic. The course of admission is no more than 2 weeks. Take after meals, 3 times a day.

Meal is used in all products. It's just easiest to buy it at the pharmacy. But, if you decide to prepare milk thistle yourself, you can also use it in crushed form. The dosage is 50% more than when using meal, because it is in compressed form, but the crushed dried plant is not, therefore, in order to achieve the desired weight, you need to take a larger volume.

Milk thistle - treatment and recipes

This plant is also used in other cases. For example, for treatment of allergies and rashes on the skin surface , milk thistle meal is used. How to prepare and use it has already been described above.

For improve digestive processes vodka tincture is used. You can use it in courses: 10 drops per spoon with drinking water during meals three times a day - course - 3 weeks, then a break for one week, after which - another course.

Intoxication and constipation should also retreat from milk thistle preparations. For this, either tablets from it are used, which should, like any other pharmaceuticals, be prescribed by a doctor, or milk thistle tea, which was described above.

Tea can also be used for weight loss, After all, it perfectly burns excess fat deposits and normalizes metabolic processes. To do this, you should drink a third of a glass of tea three times a day, the course is about a month. After a break (1.5-2 months), the course should be repeated.

Elevated blood sugar: powder (20-30 grams), boiling water (500 milliliters). Cook in a water bath, cooking time is about 30 minutes, leave for the same amount of time, strain. Take 2 teaspoons every 2 hours. Duration of therapy is about 20-22 days. This remedy is sometimes used to improve the composition of the blood and cleanse it.

How to take milk thistle to treat your liver

The plant has a very beneficial effect on the liver. It improves all its functions, eliminates inflammation, promotes renewal and healing.

for prevention- 1 month, 1 teaspoon of dry product, or a decoction of it (50 milliliters per serving) twice a day.

for treatment - hon an empty stomach, three times a day, 200 milliliters per dose,meal, in its dry form, on an empty stomach, 3-4 times a day. Dose – about 1 teaspoon. Duration of treatment – ​​38-40 days.

Use this plant carefully and correctly, and then it will only benefit you. Be healthy.published

The materials are for informational purposes only. Remember, self-medication is life-threatening; consult a doctor for advice on the use of any medications and treatment methods.

In this article you can read the instructions for use of the drug Milk thistle. Reviews of site visitors - consumers of this medicine, as well as the opinions of specialist doctors on the use of Milk Thistle in their practice are presented. We kindly ask you to actively add your reviews about the drug: whether the medicine helped or did not help get rid of the disease, what complications and side effects were observed, perhaps not stated by the manufacturer in the annotation. Analogues of Milk Thistle in the presence of existing structural analogues. Use for the treatment of cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty degeneration and other liver diseases in adults, children, as well as during pregnancy and lactation. Composition of the drug.

Milk thistle- a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. Ripe fruits - Fructus Silybi mariani - are used as medicinal raw materials. The fruit contains a group of flavonoid compounds designated as silymarin (Silimari). Three separate isomeric compounds have been isolated from silymarin - silibinin, silydianin and silicristin - having a phenylchromanone structure and having a hepatoprotective effect to varying degrees.

Clinically, these compounds manifest themselves in improving subjective and objective symptoms and normalizing indicators of the functional state of the liver (transaminases, bilirubin). This leads to an improvement in general condition, a reduction in complaints related to digestion, and in patients with impaired digestion of food due to liver disease, it leads to an improvement in appetite and an increase in body weight.

Compound

Milk thistle extract (silymarin) + excipients.

Pharmacokinetics

Interacts with free radicals in the liver and reduces their toxicity. By interrupting the process of lipid peroxidation, it prevents further destruction of cellular structures. In damaged hepatocytes, it stimulates the synthesis of structural and functional proteins and phospholipids (due to specific stimulation of RNA polymerase A), stabilizes cell membranes, prevents the loss of cellular components and intracellular enzymes (transaminases), and accelerates the regeneration of liver cells. Inhibits the penetration of certain hepatotoxic substances (poisons of the toadstool fungus) into cells. Subjected to enterohepatic circulation. Metabolized in the liver by conjugation. It is excreted mainly in bile in the form of glucuronides and sulfates, and to a small extent in urine. Does not accumulate. After repeated oral administration of 140 mg 3 times a day, a stable concentration is achieved.

Improves the general condition of patients with liver diseases, reduces subjective complaints, normalizes laboratory parameters (activity of transaminases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin level). Long-term use significantly increases the survival rate of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.

Indications

• toxic liver damage (alcoholism, intoxication with halogenated hydrocarbons, heavy metal compounds, drug-induced liver damage) and their prevention;
• chronic hepatitis;
• liver cirrhosis (as part of complex therapy);
• conditions after infectious and toxic hepatitis;
• dystrophy and fatty infiltration of the liver;
• correction of lipid metabolism disorders.

Release forms

Capsules 300 mg.

Tablets 500 mg.

Oil for internal use (produced by pressing milk thistle seeds).

Instructions for use and method of use

Oil

Adults and children over 12 years old: 0.5 teaspoon 2 times a day with meals. The course of admission is 30 days.

Capsules

Adults and children over 12 years old: 5 capsules 2 times a day with meals. The course of admission is 30 days.

Side effect

• diarrhea;
• allergic reactions;
• children under 12 years of age;
• hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

Contraindications

• hypersensitivity.

Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

There is no data on the adverse effects of the drug on reproductive function in animals. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it can be used for medical reasons and if the benefit of treatment with the drug outweighs the risk to the fetus.

Use in children

Contraindicated in children under 12 years of age.

special instructions

Treatment with Milk Thistle cannot replace diet or abstinence from anything in case of liver damage (for example, alcohol).

Use with caution in patients with hormonal disorders (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, breast, ovarian and uterine carcinoma, prostate carcinoma) due to the possible estrogen-like effect of silymarin.

In patients with impaired digestion of food due to liver disease, it leads to improved appetite and weight gain. It is mistakenly believed that the drug can be used for weight loss, but this is incorrect; metabolic processes in a sick body are normalized.

In folk medicine, oil, seeds, meal and cake remaining after squeezing the oil from milk thistle seeds are widely used.

Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery

Milk thistle does not adversely affect the ability to drive or operate machines.

Drug interactions

When Milk Thistle is used together with oral hormonal contraceptives and medications intended for hormone replacement therapy, the effects of the latter may be reduced.

Silymarin can enhance the effects of diazepam, alprazolam, ketoconazole, lovastatin, vinblastine due to its inhibitory effect on microsomal enzymes of the cytochrome P450 system.

Analogs of the drug Milk thistle

Structural analogues of the active substance:

• Karsil;
• Karsil Forte;
• Legalon;
• Silegon;
• Silibinin;
• Silimar;
• Silymarin.

Analogs by pharmacological group (hepatoprotectors):

• Antraliv;
• Berlition;
• Bonjigar;
• Brenziale forte;
• Vitanorm;
• HepaMerz;
• Gepabene;
• Hepatosan;
• Hepatofalk planta;
• Hepaphor;
• Heptor;
• Heptral;
• Geptrong;
• Glutargin;
• Dipana;
• Cawehol;
• Karsil;
• Laennec;
• Legalon;
• Liv 52;
• Livodex;
• Livolife Forte;
• Lipoic acid;
• Maxar;
• Methionine;
• Metro;
• Molixan;
• Octolipen;
• Ornitsetil;
• Prohepar;
• Result Pro;
• Ropren;
• Sibektan;
• Silegon;
• Silymarin;
• Sirepar;
• Thiolipon;
• Thiotriazolin;
• Tykveol;
• Urdoxa;
• Ursodez;
• Ursodeoxycholic acid;
• Ursodex;
• Ursoliv;
• Ursor;
• Ursosan;
• Ursofalk;
• Phosphogliv;
• Phosphogliv forte;
• Phosphonciale;
• Hepabos;
• Choludexan;
• Exhol;
• Erbisol;
• Eslidin;
• Essentiale;
• Essentiale forte N;
• Essential phospholipids;
• Essliver;
• Essliver forte.

If there are no analogues of the drug for the active substance, you can follow the links below to the diseases for which the corresponding drug helps, and look at the available analogues for the therapeutic effect.

In this article we talk about milk thistle, its medicinal properties and uses. You will learn how to collect and prepare medicinal herbs, use them to treat hepatitis, pancreatitis, diabetes, and also for weight loss.

Milk thistle (lat. Silybum marianum) is a herbaceous plant from the genus Milk thistle of the Asteraceae family. In Rus', milk thistle was called sharp-variegated, as well as Mary’s thistle.

What does it look like

Appearance (photo) of milk thistle Milk thistle is an annual or biennial plant, reaching a height of 1−1.5 m. The stem of the grass is simple or branched, bare.

The leaves are alternate, elliptical, pinnately or pinnately dissected. They are quite large, can reach up to 80 cm in length. Yellowish spines are located along the edges of the leaves and along the veins below. The leaf layer is green with white spots.

The flowers are white, pink or purple, collected in large single spherical baskets with a tiled wrapper. The wrapper consists of spiny green leaves. The inflorescence bed is covered with hairs. All flowers are bisexual, tubular. Milk thistle blooms in July - August. The fruit is an achene with a tuft. The seeds ripen in August - October.

Where does it grow

The homeland of milk thistle is the Mediterranean countries (Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Greece, Italy, France), the Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria) and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

The plant has spread widely throughout the world, currently growing in Eastern and Western Europe, South and Central Africa, Central Asia, North and South America.

In Russia, milk thistle can be found in the southern regions of the European part of the country, in the Caucasus, and the south of Western Siberia.

Grass grows in weedy places, gardens and orchards. The plant is an aggressive weed. Milk thistle is also cultivated to obtain medicinal raw materials.

Milk thistle fruits

Milk thistle fruits are used for medicinal purposes.. The seeds are used in their pure form, oil is squeezed out of them, meal is obtained, and water and alcohol tinctures are made. Syrup is prepared from milk thistle seeds and tablets are produced.

Chemical composition

Composition of milk thistle fruits:

• vitamin K;
• silibinin;
• silicristin;
• silydian;
• flavonoids;
• alkaloids;
• saponins;
• fatty oil;
• proteins;
• resins;
• slime;
• tyramine;
• histamine;
• macro- and microelements.

Medicinal properties

Beneficial properties of milk thistle:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antioxidant;
• detoxifying;
• antiulcer;
• wound healing;
• hepatoprotective;
• antitumor;
• antisclerotic;
• choleretic;
• diuretic;
• laxative;
• restorative.

Milk thistle is most often used for the liver. Preparations based on plant seeds relieve inflammation, protect organ cells and accelerate their recovery processes. Milk thistle is used in the treatment of cirrhosis, hepatitis, and toxic liver damage.

Medicines containing milk thistle are used to treat diseases of the stomach and intestines, the genitourinary system, and the gall bladder. The plant, by removing waste and toxins from the body, helps reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and therefore it is used in the treatment of diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Milk thistle is beneficial for women and men; it helps fight inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.

How to collect

Milk thistle seeds are collected from August to October. The maturity of the fruit is indicated by the formation of white fluff in the baskets. To obtain seeds, the baskets are cut off completely using pruning shears.

The baskets are laid out on the sieve in an even layer, and clean paper is placed under the sieve. The room should be well ventilated, but drafts are unacceptable, as small fruits may fly apart.

After drying, the thorns are cut off from the baskets, broken, and the seeds are released. The fruits are dried on paper. Store milk thistle seeds in fabric bags in a dark and dry place. Shelf life: 3 years.

How to use

Below we will tell you how to use the fruits of milk thistle to improve the liver, treat hepatitis, pancreatitis, diabetes, and also for weight loss.

Infusion for the liver

An infusion of milk thistle seeds relieves inflammation, cleanses the liver of waste and toxins, has a hepatoprotective effect and accelerates regeneration processes.

Ingredients:

1. Milk thistle seed powder - 2 tablespoons.
2. Boiling water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour boiling water over the powder from the fruit of the plant, stir and leave for 12 hours. Strain the drink before use.

How to use: Drink 120 ml of the drink 4 times a day.

Infusion for hepatitis

The drug eliminates inflammation and relieves pain. The infusion for hepatitis C accelerates recovery and prevents the disease from developing into cirrhosis of the liver.

Ingredients:

1. Milk thistle seeds - 20 g.
2. Boiled water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Brew the raw material with boiling water, cover the container with a lid and leave for 10-20 minutes.

How to use: Take the medicine throughout the day.

Decoction for pancreatitis

Milk thistle decoction is effective for treating pancreatitis. It not only relieves inflammation, but also regulates the production of pancreatic enzymes, preventing their excess and damage to the walls of the organ. Milk thistle decoction also has a choleretic effect.

Ingredients:

1. Plant seeds - 30 g.
2. Boiling water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour boiling water over the seeds, put on low heat, bring to a boil and cook until half of the liquid has evaporated.

How to use: Take the decoction three times a day, one tablespoon.

Oil decoction for diabetes

The drug improves metabolic processes in the body and reduces blood sugar levels.

Ingredients:

1. Crushed seeds - 5 teaspoons.
2. Olive oil - 500 ml.

How to cook: Mix milk thistle seeds with oil and cook for 15 minutes in a water bath. Leave for 30 minutes.

How to use: Take 1 teaspoon of oil three times a day.

Tincture for weight loss

Milk thistle regulates metabolic processes in the body, improves digestion and cleanses the intestines of waste and toxins. Thanks to the complex effect on the body, weight loss occurs. For weight loss, take an alcohol tincture of milk thistle seeds.

Ingredients:

1. Milk thistle seeds - 50 g.
2. Vodka - 500 ml.

How to cook: Fill the raw material with vodka, leave for 1 week in a dark place, shaking occasionally. Strain the tincture before use.

How to use: Take 25 drops of tincture with water 30 minutes before meals.

Milk thistle oil

Milk thistle oil is obtained from the seeds of the plant by cold pressing. The drug has high anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. It is used to improve the condition of the skin of the face and body, hair, as well as to treat dermatological diseases, burns, abrasions.

The oil in its pure form is used for douching in the treatment of female diseases - fibroids, cervical erosion. Before using the product for medicinal purposes, you should consult your doctor.

The medicine is also available in capsules. Milk thistle in capsules is taken orally for the treatment of peptic ulcers, pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus. The medicine is used to increase the elasticity of blood vessels, improve heart function, lower cholesterol levels and increase blood clotting.

The price of milk thistle oil is 40−50 rubles. for 100 ml. The price of oil in capsules is 30−50 rubles. for 100 pcs.

Milk thistle meal

Meal is crushed milk thistle seeds from which the oil has been previously pressed. Meal is an excellent source of fiber, which is necessary for cleansing the body and proper functioning of the intestines. Meal is also used in the treatment of diseases of the liver, pancreas, spleen, and heart.

Instructions for using the meal: 1 teaspoon three times a day before meals, washed down with water. Before use, be sure to consult your doctor.

The price of milk thistle meal is 20−30 rubles.

For more information about the drug, watch the video:

Milk thistle tablets

Milk thistle in tablets is used to treat liver diseases and cleanse it of waste and toxins. Depending on the purpose, it is recommended to take 1 tablet 1-2 times a day.

The price of milk thistle tablets is 50−70 rubles.

Milk thistle powder

Milk thistle powder is the crushed seeds of the plant; this form of the drug can also be purchased at the pharmacy. The drug is used for intoxication, liver diseases, and atherosclerosis.

How to take milk thistle powder - 1 teaspoon with water, 5 times a day for 1 month. Consult your physician before use.

The cost of milk thistle powder is 50−100 rubles. for 100 g.

Milk thistle extract

The extract, like the oil, is produced in capsules. The drug is a complete source of flavonoids; it is prescribed to protect the liver from toxins and other harmful effects. The extract should be taken 1 capsule 1 time per day.

The cost of the plant extract is 90−130 rubles.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of medicines with milk thistle:

• individual intolerance;
• children under 12 years of age;
• cholelithiasis;
• kidney stone disease;
• acute lesions of the bile ducts;
• pregnancy (can cause premature birth during pregnancy).

The benefits and harms of milk thistle depend on compliance with the dosage of the drugs. Before using medications, be sure to consult your doctor.

Classification

Taxonomic position:

• department: Angiosperms;
• class: Dicotyledons;
• order: Astroflora;
• family: Asteraceae;
• genus: Milk thistle;
• species: Milk thistle.

Varieties

The milk thistle genus includes two species of plants - milk thistle and coss thistle. & Durieu (Silybum eburneum Coss. & Durieu).

Milk thistle infographics

Photo of milk thistle, its beneficial properties and uses:
Milk thistle infographic

What to remember

1. Milk thistle is a medicinal plant with beneficial properties. It is used to treat diseases of the liver, pancreas, diabetes and other pathologies.
2. Milk thistle is used in the form of decoctions, infusions, tinctures, oils, meal, powder and extract.
3. Before using milk thistle-based medicines, you should consult your doctor.

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The seeds of the milk thistle plant are rich in flavonoids, micro- and macroelements, and fiber, which allows them to be used as a healing, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating agent. Milk thistle can strengthen cells and restore liver function.

Milk thistle will help strengthen the liver, immunity and gastrointestinal tract

Description

Milk thistle is a medicinal plant that looks like a thorn from a number of weeds. The medicinal herb is also popularly called milk thistle. It grows in Ukraine, European Russia, western Siberia and the Caucasus.

The plant reaches 2 meters in height. The bottom of the stem is densely surrounded by fleshy, oval-shaped leaves of a bright green color with white spots in the middle. The top of the thistle is decorated with small baskets from which purple flowers can be seen. The inflorescences, leaves and stem of thistle are protected by large, sharp spines.

The most valuable part of the plant is the grains, which are dark brown in color when fully ripe. Fruit picking begins in mid-August. After which the leaves and roots of the useful herb are harvested.

What milk thistle looks like is shown in the photo.

Milk thistle flower is used in various fields of medicine

The most valuable part of the flower is the grains

Milk thistle flower is rich in fiber

Chemical composition of the plant

Milk thistle contains most of its nutrients in its seeds. Almost 30% is medicinal vegetable oil, the rest includes:

• proteins;
• lignans, flavonoids, alkaloids;
• disaccharides, monosaccharides;
• resins, enzymes, saponins;
• micro- and macroelements – magnesium, calcium, boron, iron, manganese, vanadium, zinc, potassium, chromium, copper;
• vitamins E, K, D, group B;
• flavolignans – silymarin and silybin.

The unique composition of milk thistle fruits allows the product to be used as an effective hepatoprotector - it protects the membranes of liver cells from alcohol intoxication, the influence of free radicals, toxic substances and poisons.

Useful properties of milk thistle

Milk thistle seeds are very beneficial for the human body.

Healing properties of the plant:

• improvement of digestion and metabolic processes;
• cleansing blood vessels from sclerotic plaques and preventing their occurrence in the future;
• improving blood circulation and eliminating congestion in blood vessels;
• strengthening the immune system;
• reduction of inflammation in tonsillitis, sore throat, periodontal disease, stomatitis;
• acts as a mild diuretic, normalizes the functioning of the kidneys and bladder.

Thanks to special compounds – flavolignans – the medicinal properties of the plant’s fruits are supplemented with hepatoprotective, antioxidant and choleretic effects. Liver cells are strengthened, the growth of new hepatocytes is stimulated, the supply of tissues with useful components is improved, and fatty degeneration of the organ is prevented.

Benefits for women

The healing properties of milk thistle for women are:

• increase in lactation during feeding;
• improvement of well-being during menopause - hot flashes, headaches, nervousness and irritability decrease;
• stimulating the normal blood circulation process and strengthening the venous walls for varicose veins;
• reducing inflammation and fighting infections and bacteria in diseases of the genitourinary system - cystitis, colpitis, vaginitis, cervical erosion;
• increased blood pressure due to hypotension;
• getting rid of bad cholesterol;
• restoration of skin cell regeneration processes in eczema, vitiligo.

Milk thistle is useful for rapid skin regeneration after eczema

Regular intake of decoctions or infusions of milk thistle seeds has a positive effect on sleep, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, and relieves fatigue and drowsiness.

Healing properties for children

Milk thistle is recommended to be given to children for coughs caused by bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia or as a result of frequent colds. The fruits of the plant fight inflammation and strengthen the immune system, creating a barrier against viruses and bacteria.

The seed of a medicinal herb has a positive effect on the digestive tract of a small organism, helps get rid of constipation, removes toxins and waste, and improves appetite.

For men

By replenishing the male body with missing substances, milk thistle products increase potency, help eliminate the manifestations of gout, and stop premature baldness.

Milk thistle is widely used for liver problems and for the prevention of diseases associated with it.

The beneficial effect of milk thistle on the human body is achieved by cleansing the liver, gall, kidneys, blood vessels from toxins and waste, as well as maintaining their normal functioning.

How to prepare a remedy from milk thistle?

In folk medicine, meal, which is produced in powder form, and seed flour are most often used. Flour and meal are different concepts. The first product is easy to prepare at home using a blender or coffee grinder, and the second is extracted in production conditions from the cake after pressing the seeds to obtain oil - it can actually be purchased in specialized stores and pharmacies.

Milk thistle is used to make decoctions, tinctures, infusions and teas. Only raw materials from seeds are used, in rare cases roots and leaves.

Milk thistle infusion recipe

Brew 1 tsp in 1 glass of boiling water. flour from seeds or meal, cover and leave for 15 minutes. Before drinking, be sure to strain the drink and add the required amount of boiled water to replenish the required volume.

Decoction of crushed fruits

The most commonly used decoction of milk thistle seeds is

Seed flour in the amount of 3 tbsp. l. mix with 0.5 liters of boiling water and cook in a water bath until half of the broth has boiled away. Separate the cooled medicine from the thick sediment using gauze.

Decoction of meal

Brew 1 tbsp in 200 ml of boiling water. l. powder, place everything in a water bath and simmer for 20 minutes. 10 minutes after removing from the heat, filter the broth and combine with boiled water in the amount missing to the initial 0.2 liters.

Meal tea

To prevent gallbladder diseases, drink regular milk thistle tea

Pour 1 tsp into a mug with boiling water. powdered mass and leave for 20 minutes, strain.

Vodka tincture recipe

Pour vodka over meal or seed flour - 50 g of raw material per 500 ml of alcoholic liquid. Infuse the product in a dark place for at least 14 days. Store the strained tincture in the refrigerator.

Milk decoction of meal for children

Brew 1 tsp in a glass of hot milk. powder and leave in a closed container for 30 minutes, then strain.

Milk thistle seed oil

Boil a homogeneous mass of 6 tbsp over low heat for 20 minutes. l. crushed seeds and 500 ml olive oil. Strain the product half an hour after removing from heat. Store the product at a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees.

For the preparation of medicines from milk thistle, ripe seeds are suitable, which are previously ground into flour using a blender or coffee grinder, as well as ready-made additives purchased at the pharmacy. In pharmacies, milk thistle-based preparations are sold in the form:

• powder (meal);
• seed flour;
• dragees, tablets, capsules;
• oil extract from the fruit.

Milk thistle can be used to make oil

Before using milk thistle medicine, be sure to read the instructions for use and follow the daily doses, as well as methods of use. This will help avoid side effects and get the maximum effect from the folk medicine.

How to use milk thistle?

In order for folk recipes to help cope with a particular disease, you need to know why and how to properly take crushed milk thistle fruits.

Table “Indications for the use of milk thistle and doses”

Milk thistle infusion is prepared from fresh and dry herbs

When using milk thistle in treatment, it is important to observe the dose, frequency and duration of use of the drug. Violation of the instructions for use can lead to adverse reactions and harm to health.

Side effects of the medicinal plant

Uncontrolled intake of milk thistle seeds is very dangerous for the body - it leads to disruptions in the functioning of internal organs, which manifests itself in:

• intestinal disorder;
• cramps or aching pain in the stomach;
• skin rash;
• asthmatic manifestations - shortness of breath, cough.

Intestinal upset is one of the side effects; if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to consult a doctor

If side effects appear after consuming milk thistle, it is better to stop treatment with the folk remedy.

Overdose

Long-term use of milk thistle or exceeding the permissible dose often provokes an overdose, which manifests itself in:

• aching pain in the right hypochondrium and stomach;
• nausea, bloating, diarrhea.

Be prepared for diarrhea if you overdose

If such signs occur, you need to stop taking milk thistle, use enterosorbents, and rinse your intestines. In the future, you should not use the fruits of the plant for medicinal purposes without prior approval from a specialist.

Alcohol compatibility

Drinking alcohol while treating milk thistle is acceptable. The plant reduces the load on the liver and reduces the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

Milk thistle will reduce the harm from the effects of alcohol on the body

The compatibility of a medicinal herb with alcohol does not mean that you can drink alcohol in uncontrolled doses. To achieve the greatest therapeutic effect, completely eliminate alcohol from your diet during milk thistle treatment.

Contraindications

Crushed fruits and preparations based on milk thistle should not be taken by people suffering from:

• the presence of stones in the gall bladder - with urolithiasis there is a risk of causing blockage of the bile ducts;
• allergy to the components of the product;
• epilepsy;
• severe depression;
• ulcerative processes in the digestive system.

The presence of gallstones is a contraindication

In this article we will talk about the healing plant milk thistle. In Rus' it was called: thistle, marina thorns or silver tartar, it was daily in people’s diets and was practiced in the treatment of various diseases, not only liver diseases.

After some time, doctors and scientists began to become interested in the healing qualities of the plant and began to produce experimental preparations based on milk thistle. Now, based on its seed, various medications are synthesized that successfully carry out therapy.

Milk thistle also finds use in homeopathy. Homeopathy is a new branch of treatment, and it is completely safe for health, and if you follow all the rules, you can achieve recovery over a long period of time with the help of herbal remedies.

In the article we will find out the benefits of milk thistle for the liver, how to use it and what the folk healing practice of treating the liver offers us.

Chemical composition of the plant

The chemical composition of milk thistle is quite diverse; it includes more than five hundred important components for human life:

Action of silymarin in milk thistle

The main beneficial property of milk thistle for the human body is the effect of a substance on it - silymarin, which is a hepatoprotector for the liver (that is, a substance that has a positive effect on its functions).

Silymarin is known for its antibacterial and regenerating properties; they help a person fight infections and poisoning, and also fight powerful viruses.

Medicinal properties of milk thistle

The seed of the plant is unique for its medicinal properties:

Milk thistle is a valuable plant and only it can bring our liver to normal condition after long-term illnesses.

About beneficial properties

What properties does milk thistle have?

Let's look at each of them in order:

How to properly treat the liver with milk thistle?

The liver, like all other organs in our body, is endowed with many different, vital functions; it is a vacuum cleaner, that is, it cleanses the body, removing all waste substances outside, and affects all metabolic processes.

It is directly involved in hematopoiesis and maintaining optimal hormonal levels for the body.

The liver helps the body absorb all important microelements received at the right time and in the required quantity and is a reserve blood reserve, which in fatal situations can save the life of a vulnerable person. Therefore, any impact on it must be fully agreed with the doctor.

It must be remembered that liver health should be maintained at the proper level from the very beginning, avoiding the harmful effects of alcohol, smoking, fatty and salty foods, prolonged stress and external pathogens of various serious diseases.

Milk milk can be consumed to prevent and maintain liver health., many do this before the holidays, when poor nutrition is inevitable. And if you have a disease, immediately turn to this plant, it will certainly help you cope with the disease and relieve you of problems for a long time.

For what liver diseases is milk thistle used in therapy?

As a rule, these are illnesses that are infectious in nature and associated with difficulties in the excretion of bile.

Liver diseases for which milk thistle treatment is actively practiced:

How to prepare an effective medicine from milk thistle at home

In most cases, milk thistle served as an additional source of recovery and was used in conjunction with general treatment (medicines).

Like any other plant, thistle has its contraindications and side effects, pain in the area from the intercostal space to the right side is more common during treatment.

If such undesirable effects occur, contact your doctor immediately. Let's take a closer look at folk recipes using milk thistle.

Milk thistle seeds

Milk thistle seeds, which have already reached maturity, are used to make medicines. Its roots and leaves are also used to make herbal preparations.

We have figured out what diseases milk thistle is used for, now we will look in detail at how to consume it correctly and what treatment methods exist.

For convenient use of milk thistle seeds, they are ground into powder; this is the most effective way to treat liver diseases.

You can easily buy the powder at a pharmacy or grind the seeds yourself using a coffee grinder.

Powdered seeds are prescribed for disease prevention in a course of two weeks or about a month in an amount of 7 grams of powder before meals three to four times a day, in its pure form, washed down with warm liquid in the required amount.

After treatment, the patient must use milk thistle powder for several more weeks to consolidate the positive effect, reducing the number of doses per day to one teaspoon.

The powder is easy to use, easy to store in a dry paper briquette, and has a shelf life of up to two years. You can prepare it yourself, it is of plant origin, and you don’t have to worry about the benefits of its use; among other things, milk thistle powder has a beneficial effect on the entire body as a whole.

Milk thistle oil

Another physical state of a useful plant is milk thistle oil. It contains the maximum possible amount of all the important substances in milk thistle. The oil absorbs fatty acids, silymarin, retains all vitamins and other equally useful substances.

The oil contains the highest concentration of all the power of the plant. The oil of any plant should not be underestimated; it is extremely useful, especially for the gastrointestinal tract and the condition of the walls and blood vessels of the cardiovascular system, as it is enriched with polyunsaturated acids Omega-3 and Omega-6.

The oil can be found on the shelves of any pharmacy or you can make it yourself at home, but doctors still advise you to trust experienced specialists and buy oil in specialized places where there is a license for such drugs.

But for homemade lovers, let’s look at how to make butter at home with your own hands:

Milk thistle oil cleanses and restores damaged liver. Helps remove toxins from various poisonings from drugs, industrial chemicals, metals and poisons.

Milk thistle improves the functioning of all systems of the human body, strengthens the immune system, promotes rapid liver recovery after treatment of severe cancer and chemotherapy. The separation of waste bile is enhanced, which speeds up liver recovery many times over.

What is milk thistle meal, what does it look like and how should it be used correctly? This word is often used in medicine. Meal is the residue after oil extraction, in which valuable substances are concentrated.

In order not to lose a large amount of beneficial properties in milk thistle, meal is used. It is obtained in this way: the residue after making the oil is squeezed out again, then given time to dry thoroughly and crushed to a powder.

This way, not a single valuable component of milk thistle will be lost. Meal is very rich in fiber, which has a number of positive qualities.

Milk thistle helps improve the quality of digestion:

• eliminates the destructive processes of decay in some places of the intestines, which are accompanied by constipation and unpleasant odors, abundant gas formation;
• removes numerous toxins and bad cholesterol from the body;
• leads to normalization of the condition and functioning of the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract;
• increases food cravings and helps maintain weight at an optimal level.

The meal is consumed in the same way as milk thistle powder, one teaspoon before the time of the intended meal. Therapy is carried out for about a month, but it all depends on the nature of the disease.

As a preventive measure, meal is taken at one's own request periodically when discomfort arises or minor problems appear.

Milk thistle decoction from seeds and roots

Milk thistle decoction is also used for treatment or for preventive cleansing of the organ.

The roots and leaves of milk thistle are used as the basis for the decoction.

If you prepare a decoction at home, you first need to dry the raw material, then chop it, but not too finely; it’s best to just cut it into several pieces with a knife.

Let's move on to preparing the milk thistle decoction: Pour 10 grams of raw material into a glass of water at room temperature, leave for half an hour and place in a water bath.

The broth should be heated well, but not boiled.

After the prepared medicinal medicine has cooled, strain it. Add boiled water to the original volume. You can take this decoction in a tablespoon several times a day (2-3) before meals.

Milk thistle infusion

Milk thistle infusion also has beneficial properties; it is endowed with the same properties as all previous methods of use.

The infusion can be purchased at a pharmacy or made yourself.

It’s easy to prepare – pour a spoonful of seeds into a glass of boiling water. We insist for six hours, maybe a little more. We drink the infusion half a glass three times a day. The prepared infusion is not so concentrated, you can drink it more often, and it is convenient to take it with you so as not to forget or miss a dose.

Alcohol infusion from milk thistle seed

An alcoholic infusion of milk thistle is used successfully for treatment. For preparation you need one share of seeds and five shares of alcohol or vodka. The infusion is kept for ten days in a dark and cold place.

The infusion should be used with extreme caution, as it is very powerful in action. Treatment begins with a couple of drops, which are diluted in half a glass of water. With long-term use, the amount of infusion is increased to half a teaspoon.

It is better to buy milk thistle infusion at a pharmacy; you should not risk your own health. If you decide to make an infusion, then choose only high-quality vodka or buy alcohol at the pharmacy, and carefully study the recommended proportions for diluting alcohol.

Tea made from milk thistle leaves or stem

To cleanse the liver, folk sages advise using tea.

To prepare it you need to: chop leaves or well-washed and dried milk thistle stems (or seeds), pour boiling water in the amount of half a glass (100 ml), leave for 15-20 minutes.

After steeping, it is better to strain the herbal tea. You can drink it in ¾ of a glass.

The tea can be brewed with other herbs that have sedative properties. For example, lemon balm, mint, chamomile.

Add a small handful of your chosen herb to the crushed leaves, and then everything follows the scheme.

Liver cleansing

If there is a need to cleanse the liver of toxins and unremoved waste products, then you can use milk thistle tea for these purposes. This method is very popular and effective.

Cleansing is carried out according to certain instructions. After the procedure, you need to stay in a calm environment for a couple of hours, lie on your back.

Place a heating pad under your right side so that the bile ducts expand due to the increase in temperature. The heating pad will speed up the process of removing all excess and speed up the recovery of the organ after the procedure.

You need to warm the liver at a comfortable temperature for your own body; the whole process takes about an hour. Afterwards, without changing your position, you should cover yourself with a warm blanket and remain resting for the same amount of time.

During the next time and during the cleansing, it is better to adhere to proper nutrition, do not drink alcohol and do not smoke. After cleansing the liver, you should not eat milk thistle, only drink a small amount of pure water or natural juice, which is diluted with water in equal proportions. After two hours you need to do an enema.

The cleansing procedure is carried out every other day, but it is not possible more often. Without fanaticism.

Prepare a new, freshly prepared solution for cleaning procedures each time.

You can cleanse your liver by following these rules:

You need to clean in courses: three weeks every other week. After a full course, you must stop taking tea for seven to ten days.

If there is an urgent need to continue treatment, then before the next intake of milk thistle tea you need to drink agrimony tincture.

The effectiveness of this procedure depends on the quality of its implementation and your special attitude towards it. You must strictly follow all the instructions of your doctor, take the tea carefully, and brew it in small quantities.

A proper diet will help the liver cope with stress, will not cause intestinal blockage, and the toxic substances you are getting rid of will leave the body easily. Otherwise, toxins will remain in the body and begin to poison it, accumulating.

This, as a rule, entails many problems with the functioning of internal organs and disruption of metabolic processes and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Milk thistle capsules

For ease of use of the oil, fat-soluble capsules are produced, the contents of which are milk thistle oil. The exact dosage is determined in the capsules, which is very useful.

For problems such as stomatitis, oral infections, heartburn, capsules will serve as a lifesaver.

Take the capsules a few minutes before or during meals, you can wash it down with tea, juice, or water.

In terms of effectiveness, oil capsules are in no way inferior to regular milk thistle oil. It is important to be systematic in your intake, take capsules at the same time, avoid taking it on an empty stomach and before bed.

You will find it in pharmacies at a price 250 rub.

Some drugs are available in the form of dietary supplements and herbal tea.

How are tablets used in the treatment of liver diseases:

• Tablets always win with ease of use. They are most often prescribed by doctors after a complete examination.
• Adults take tablets twice a day, two in the morning and two in the evening before meals, like all other forms of milk thistle.
• Milk thistle herbal syrup is also successfully used, which improves the flow of bile and its removal from the body.
• One tablespoon per dose will be enough, three such receptions should be done per day.

Contraindications for taking milk thistle

List of contraindications and possible harm from milk thistle if used incorrectly:

Treatment of the liver of adolescents after 12 years

Children are treated with milk thistle less frequently than adults. And such therapy is allowed only from the age of twelve, since the child’s body has a specific reaction to the substances contained in herbs, and this reaction is very different from that of an adult.

After twelve, a child can safely be given one capsule of milk thistle oil. morning and evening during meals. The duration of treatment should not be extended too much; about 14-20 days is sufficient. You can take oil or freshly prepared, but weakly concentrated teas.

Can Milk Thistle Heal Your Liver?

Be sure to keep in mind that milk thistle is not the main medicine in treatment and can cure a diseased organ. For effective treatment, you need a full range of all necessary measures: diet, healthy lifestyle, proper treatment.

As an additional source of all the necessary substances and vitamins, milk thistle is taken in addition to the main treatment.

Milk thistle itself will not be able to restore, let alone cure, a diseased organ without the help of medications. But with the right approach, improvements in your health will not be long in coming.