Milk Thistle: The Weed That Can Save Your Life

Imagine chewing on a plant that can clean your toxic liver, lower the inflammation of your gallbladder, and treat your mushroom poisoning all at once. Nature provides the earth with some many ways to healing. Milk thistle is just one of many.

It grows wild in many American forests and landscapes. Originally, Milk Thistle, sprouted only in southern Europe, but today it can be found in all of Europe and most of North America. The climate no longer appears to be hindrance to this hearty herb that has been known to grow up to five feet tall.

Its Latin name is "Silybum Marianum", because its main bioconstituent is, silymain, an anti-oxidant. Milk Thistle is readily available in most health food sections of American grocery stores and in nearly every health food store. It can be consumed by tincture, capsule, pills, infusions, and even often as a warm and comforting tea.

While general public knowledge of Milk Thistle might be slim, the uses of this biennial are many. It has long been used to treat these known ailments: Jaundice, Colitis, Pleurisy, Diseases of the Spleen. The actual milky formula from the Milk Thistle herb can be used to directly treat dyspeptic (stomach) symptoms, loss of appetite, inflammation of the gallbladder duct, all forms of toxic liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver. It is also used as an anecdote for mushroom poisoning and for liver damage caused by overdoses of acetaminophen and some medications used for mental illness. In a hospital setting, it can be infused through IV.

For stomach indigestion, it is one of the great teas to pick up at the supermarket. It begins to work almost instantly, and aide in the prevention of stomach upset even for several days to come.

While the side effects of Milk Thistle are generally considered to be very rare and have low toxicity, it has not been proven safe for pregnant women, women planning on becoming pregnant, or for women who are breastfeeding. It is also not yet known what effect Milk Thistle would have on children, so always consult a pediatrician before considering any administration of the herb to those less than 18 years of age.

Also, speak to your doctor if you already have liver or gallbladder disease and are currently undergoing treatment (including medication) for those diseases. Milk Thistle can interact with certain prescription medications.

Because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to come by in the US, it is a natural solution to all of the above mentioned ailments and even maybe more. For more information on Milk Thistle, visit the links provided with this article.

Sources:

AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

WebMD

RXList (Internet Drug Index)