Milk thistle is a natural remedy that benefits especially the liver, protecting this important organ from toxic substances. But how to use it for health and what are its possible contraindications?
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What is milk thistle
Il milk thistle it is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family, the same as echinacea and dandelion.
It is a small plant, which can also be easily found spontaneously in nature.
The scientific name of the plant is Sylubum marianum e the term "Marian" refers to Mary: according to a legend, in fact, the characteristic white streaks clearly visible on the leaves of the plant are caused by the milk poured from the Virgin's breast.
In herbal medicine, the fruits of milk thistle are used, known for their benefits on the liver confirmed by various studies. Less used are instead the leaves of milk thistle, although they too have interesting properties.
Properties of milk thistle
I milk thistle fruits they are rich in a blend of flavolignans, called silymarin. This mix of molecules, which makes up the milk thistle phytocomplex, is responsible for the properties of milk thistle:
- Protective on the liver
- Bitter-tonic
- Digestive
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- immunomodulatory
- Regenerative
- Hypoglycemic
- cholesterol lowering
Thanks to its properties, the fruits of milk thistle represent a very useful and effective remedy for liver health for internal use, antioxidant and skin regenerative when used externally.
Le thistle leaves instead they have digestive and diuretic properties and help promote the onset of the menstrual cycle. If you have difficulty finding them for sale, they can be taken from specimens of milk thistle in nature and used to prepare infusions.
Benefits of milk thistle
For internal use, milk thistle extracts provide benefits especially to the liver, a very important organ that plays crucial roles in our body.
Milk thistle flavolignans are especially useful for protect the liver from the harmful action of pharmacological treatments and alcohol, because they are able to neutralize the radicals responsible for liver toxicity, reduce inflammation and promote the regeneration of liver cells.
Read also: How to purify the liver with plant extracts
Externally, on the other hand, topical preparations containing milk thistle extracts are indicated to combat skin spots, wrinkles, dermatitis and skin symptoms of psoriasis.
How to use it
Milk thistle can be taken in brew, to be prepared with a teaspoon of seeds in hot water for a quarter of an hour. The herbal tea can be drunk up to three times a day after meals.
They also exist on the market Estratti dried or liquind, in capsules, tablets or drops to be administered according to the manufacturer's directions, as well as the mother tincture of milk thistle, which is taken from one to three times a day by diluting 30 drops in a little water.
Controindicazioni
Milk thistle is considered a safe remedy and has few contraindications. Its use is recommended in case of allergy to the plant or to other species of the Astreraceae family and in people suffering from high blood pressure.
If you are taking other supplements or following drug therapies, it is best to ask your doctor for advice before resorting to milk thistle preparations.
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