Can a milk thistle liver detox program help cleanse the body of toxins and aid the liver in breaking down pollutants? While preliminary scientific studies are inconclusive, milk thistle has been the herb of choice for liver-related issues for centuries. Today, milk thistle's active ingredient, silymarin, is being studied to determine exactly how the milk thistle seed extract can aid the liver.
History
In ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder wrote about milk thistle. Doctors in Europe during the 1500s used the herb to treat liver diseases such as jaundice and cirrhosis. Into the 20th century, doctors in Germany studied milk thistle's effects on the livers of animals with mixed results. In Europe today, milk thistle supplements are used to treat a variety of liver ailments, but milk thistle is not approved in the United States as anything more than an herbal supplement, and it does not have any endorsement by medical groups as a treatment for liver problems.
How Milk Thistle Works
According to fans of milk thistle, the active ingredient, silybin, joins with other ingredients, silydianin and silychristin, to strengthen the cell membranes in the liver, allowing them to resist toxins. Because the liver's job is to filter toxins out of the body, it is exposed to a variety of harsh chemicals, food additives, pollutants and even medicines. When the cell walls are fortified, they are less likely to absorb the toxins themselves.
Milk thistle may also assist the production of new liver cells and stimulate growth. Silymarin, the main ingredient, also helps the liver eliminate free radicals. Free radicals cause cells to oxidize, and milk thistle acts as an antioxidant, which protects the cells against free radicals.
Dosages
Milk thistle is generally taken either via liquid form or capsule form. Most herbalists recommend a dosage of around 200 mg per day; however, that can be higher if the patient is in active stages of liver damage due to alcohol poisoning. Generally, the herb should not be taken for longer than nine months. Since milk thistle can interfere with several other kinds of medicines, it's always best to consult a doctor before beginning any herbal supplement regime that includes milk thistle.
 | The potential benefits of milk thistle cover several different conditions, especially those relating to the liver. |
 | Milk thistle side effects can be similar to those of any other dietary supplement, in that they depend on what conditions you have and are trying to treat. |
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