(19-04-13) Milk thistle is a natural medicine by Dr. David Jockers

(NaturalNews) Milk thistle is a flowering plant that is part of the daisy
family. It gets its name from its bristly and prickly nature and the "milky"
sap that oozes out of the plant. The leaves, fruits and seeds of milk thistle
have been used for centuries as a natural medicine. Milk thistle is one of the
world's most powerful liver detoxifying agents.

Milk thistle was used by medical herbalists in the late 19th century to treat
varicose veins and liver, spleen and kidney disorders. Today, it is primarily
used to improve the function of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal system.
Many individuals have seen dramatic improvement using milk thistle for health
issues such as psoriasis, menstrual problems, jaundice and poor circulation.

Milk thistle and liver health
The active antioxidant compound within milk thistle is the flavonoid complex
called Silymarin. This anti-oxidant is one of the most powerful liver
detoxifying agents. It helps to boost glutathione and superoxide dismutase
which are two the bodies master super antioxidants. One study found that
silymarin increased glutathione content in the intestines and liver by up to 50
percent. Boosting glutathione helps protect the intestines from inflammatory
damage that leads to ulcers and colitis.

Milk thistle guards the liver's numerous hepatic cell membranes and slows the
rate at which toxins can be absorbed into the liver. Research has shown that
silymarin enhances protein synthesis to enhance liver cell regeneration and
counteract the effects of poisons on the liver. It has been used to treat
alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, cirrhosis-liver poisoning and viral
hepatitis.

Silymarin and kidney health
Silymarin concentrates in kidney cells where it helps repair and regenerate
protein enzymes and DNA. One study indicated that it increased kidney cell
replication by 25-30 percent over control groups. This is extremely important
for individuals who have suffered milk to severe kidney damage from infections,
kidney stone formation or environmental toxins.

The kidneys are one of the major organs that are damaged by chemotherapy
agents. Research has shown that the major compounds in silymarin protect the
kidneys from these dangerous drugs. In particular, they protect the cell
membrane of the kidney cells allowing for healthy cell receptor activity.

Silymarin is considered to be 10 times as potent as vitamin E and increases
the activity of the powerful antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) in red and
white blood cells in patients suffering with liver disease. This increases
oxygenation and immunity.

Studies have shown that the major compounds of silymarin are silybin and
silychristin. These compounds have low absorption rate at about 20-50 percent.
It is better to use milk thistle in a standardized extract. Milk thistle can
also be fermented in an organic acid base for optimal digestion and nutrient
assimilation.

Milk thistle as a demulcent
Milk thistle is a demulcent that improves the health of the bodies mucous
membranes. This reduces inflammation within the skin cells, sinus and
respiratory tract and kidney and bladder wall lining. It also reduces
inflammatory stress in the bile duct and inhibits the formation of gall stones.
This improves the functionality of the gall bladder and allows for complete
bile release.

Milk thistle also helps soften and improve the moisturizing of the skin. This
is especially helpful for individuals with acne and eczema and other skin
impurities. It has also been shown to improve the overall glow and radiance of the skin quality.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.newsmax.com
http://www.motherearthliving.com
http://silymarin.com/?p=how.works

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