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by Braddock Ray
Protect Against Toxins
Take milk thistle for liver health
ÒOur modern environment is full of stressful
chemicals [including] food additives and pesticides.
These chemicals need to be processed by the liver so
that they can be eliminated,Ó explains third-generation
herbalist Christopher Hobbs, LAc. ÒFurthermore, the
liver is an important organ in the digestion of fat,
which is usually overabundant in the modern diet.Ó
Interestingly, milk thistle lowers cholesterol
and even helps turn LDL (bad) cholesterol into HDL (good)
cholesterol. This herb not only prevents cholesterol
from turning into artery-blocking plaque but also lowers
the cholesterol content of bile, reducing the chance
that gallstones will form.
An Ancient Plant
Used for more than 2,000 years for liver ailments, milk
thistle (Silybum marianum) seed has long been revered
for its healing power. In ancient Greece, the herbalist
Dioscorides advised drinking a tea of milk thistle seeds
for snake bite. In England, milk thistle was recommended
for melancholyÑand even the plague. Native Americans
used this plant as a remedy for boils and skin disorders.
Investigated by
Research
With approximately 50 clinical studies in Germany alone,
milk thistle is a well-documented treatment for liver
problems. ÒItÕs a great free-radical scavenger,Ó finds
medical herbalist Donald R. Yance, Jr., AHG, Òand it
protects the liver against damage caused by drugs and
heavy metals.Ó A variety of pharmaceutical medications
from acetaminophen and antidepressants to statin drugs
(increasingly prescribed for people with high cholesterol)
can also harm the liver.
ÒMilk thistle seeds, as well as turmeric,
show great liver-protective effects against a number
of toxins, including many chemotherapies,Ó he adds.
A flavonoid in milk thistle, silymarin augments the
antioxidant action of glutathione, enhancing the liverÕs
detoxification capacity. Silymarin also protects liver
cell membranes by keeping toxins out of the cells themselves.
Perhaps most important of all, this flavonoid stimulates
the liverÕs ability to regenerate itself.
One human trial suggests that silymarin
blocks fibrosis of the liver, resulting from alcohol
abuse (the primary cause of liver disease in this country)
and viral hepatitis. Silymarin appears to lessen damage
to the liver from hepatitisÑwithout stimulating the
growth of cancer cellsÑespecially important since this
disease is associated with a greater risk for liver
cancer. ÒEvery person with hepatitis C should consider
silymarinÓ for long-term treatment, recommends Donald
J. Brown, ND.
Other research suggests that milk thistle
may relieve inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Also
effective for acne, psoriasis, and shingles, this herb
may even help relieve premenstrual tension.
How to Use Milk
Thistle
Because silymarin is not particularly soluble in water,
concentrated extracts are advised instead of teas. Most
clinical research on milk thistle is based on concentrated
extracts, standardized to 70 percent silymarin.
Dr. Brown recommends that anyone with
liver diseaseÑor who needs extra liver protection from
alcohol, drugs, or synthetic chemicalsÑtake 420 mg of
milk thistle extract in three divided doses daily. Individuals
with chronic liver disease need to verify milk thistleÕs
effectiveness periodically with lab testing. While both
clinical experience and research suggest that improvement
may occur as early as eight weeks, no one should ever
attempt to self-diagnose or treat liver disease.
There are no known contraindications or
drug interactions with milk thistle. A small clinical
study on milk thistle shows no effect on the immunodeficiency
drug indinavir, even though other herbal remedies have
produced drug interactions.
This herb even appears safe for pregnant
women and nursing mothers, although it may reduce the
effectiveness of birth control pills. A few people have
occasionally reported a mild laxative effect with milk
thistle, but this usually lasts only two to three days.
France, Germany, and Italy are only some
of the countries that have approved the use of milk
thistle as a drug. However, this detoxifying herb remains
a dietary supplement in the U.S., even though no pharmaceutical
equivalent exists for milk thistle.
SELECTED SOURCES
- The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, Mark Blumenthal,
editor ($49.95, Thieme, 2003)
- ÒEffects of Milk Thistle on the Immunodeficiency Drug
IndinavirÓ by S. C. Piscitelli et al., Pharmacotherapy,
2002
- Natural Therapy for Your Liver by Christopher Hobbs,
LAc ($9.95, Penguin Group/Avery, 2002)
- Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A. Balch,
CNC ($23.95, Penguin Group/Avery, 2002)
- ÒSilymarin from Milk Thistle Demonstrates Selective
Experimental Anti-inflammatory Action...Ó by Heather
S. Oliff, PhD, HerbClip, 2/6/01
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