Milk thistle benefits are well known in today's modern world for their cleansing effects on the liver organ. However, the use of milk thistle as an herbal treatment for liver disorders actually dates way back to over 2,000 years ago.
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. It was often referred to as a "remedy of the bile duct" and used in treatment for numerous problems associated with the liver including psoriasis, jaundice, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
The herbalist John Gerard (1545–1612), author of the herbal Generall Historie of Plantes wrote, "My opinion is that milk thistle is the best remedy that grows against all melancholy diseases."
All parts of the plant can be used, but the milk thistle seeds are considered to be the most medicinally potent for therapeutic use.
Milk thistle seeds, consumed as a powder, tea, tincture or standardized extract, can be helpful for not only healthy liver function, but as a side effect also works to increase the condition of the kidneys, spleen, gall bladder as well as the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems. The seeds are a concentrated source of the flavonoid antioxidant called "silymarin" which also exhibits immune boosting and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Milk thistle seeds, consumed as a powder, tea, tincture or standardized extract, can be helpful for not only healthy liver function, but as a side effect also works to increase the condition of the kidneys, spleen, gall bladder as well as the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems. The seeds are a concentrated source of the flavonoid antioxidant called "silymarin" which also exhibits immune boosting and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Milk thistle benefits are due to its properties as a hepatic, galactogogue, demulcent and cholagogue.
In other words the seeds have direct actions on the liver, promote lactation, increase bile production and offer soothing effects to the mucous membranes of the body.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), also called holy thistle and lady's thistle, is a common weed in California, but grows throughout the world in climate zones 5 through 9. The plant has purple to red flowers and can be up to 10 feet tall.
Other parts of this wild plant, beside the seeds, are also edible. The leaves can be steamed or eaten raw (after removing the thorns) as a wild edible green. According to the Modern Herbal, "The heads of this thistle formerly were eaten, boiled, treated like those of the artichoke."
"Milk" thistle is said to get its name from the milk that exudes when you crush the thistle leaves. In addition, the leaves also have a milky white pattern, like they have been splashed with milk, which makes them easy to identify. Milk thistle seeds are also known to increase and enrich milk production in breastfeeding women.
Thistles are a remarkable group of herbs in our opinion. They are thorny, resilient, robust and very tenacious in the environments in which they grow. Commonly found in areas that need regenerating, they are very prolific at spreading their seeds and taking over the landscape. For this reason they are not commonly viewed as a beneficial plant species. But, in many ways these characteristics are what makes them a potent medicinal super herb.
Source:Desk
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