Liver cleansing with milk thistle: indications, contraindications, recipe and instructions for use

• Composition and properties
• Recipes
• Contraindications

We are constantly surrounded by toxic substances - exhaust gases in the air, preservatives and dyes in food, chlorine and other impurities in water. This is a heavy load on all organs responsible for detoxification and protection (primarily the liver). Doctors have long recognized the need to help the body get rid of toxins. Cleansing the liver with milk thistle is a “folk” recipe that is widely used in traditional medicine.

Composition and medicinal qualities

Milk thistle is a thorny plant, almost a weed, that grows literally underfoot in countries with hot climates. This plant contains many unique substances, which are often used for the production of hepatoprotectors. Several ingredients play a special role in cleansing and restoring full liver function.

• Silymarin promotes the protection and regeneration of injured hepatocyte membranes, activates protein production and cell growth, neutralizes all kinds of toxins and poisons, and increases the amount of bile. This component of milk thistle is contained in such popular drugs as Livofin and Karsil.
• Lignans are specific compounds that help eliminate toxins and excess cholesterol from the body.
• Essential oils activate regenerative processes in cells, relieving the symptoms of inflammation.
• Flavonoids neutralize the activity of free radicals.
• Organic acids are deservedly considered the best sorbents.
• Resins and mucus help reduce signs of inflammation and have an antiseptic effect.
• Protein acts as a building material for damaged cells.

To cleanse the liver with milk thistle, all parts of the plant are used without exception: roots, leaves and seeds. But it is the last component that is most widespread. They can be used both whole and in ground form.

The healing effects of milk thistle

The beneficial properties of milk thistle were noticed back in ancient times; even then it was used to treat diseases of the liver and gall bladder, and was also used for various poisonings (mushrooms, alcohol, snake venom).

But the real scientific breakthrough related to the study of the beneficial properties of this plant was made relatively recently - in the middle of the twentieth century.

Milk thistle is called a natural hepatoprotector for its properties:

• protect the liver from harmful external influences;
• increase resistance to adverse factors;
• restore the structure of hepatocyte membranes.

The plant is successfully used in modern hepatology. Pharmaceutical companies use it as a basis for the production of medicines. Thus, the active component of the well-known pharmaceutical hepatoprotector Karsil (analogues of Legalon, Silegon, Silimar, etc.) is at the same time a biologically active substance of milk thistle. We are talking about silymarin - the collective name for all flavolignans, including silibinin, silicristin, silydianin and isosilybin. Flavolignans determine the properties of milk thistle. They are found in all parts of the plant, but in fruits (seeds) their concentration is highest.

Clinical studies have confirmed that with the use of milk thistle:

• metabolic processes in the liver and gall bladder improve;
• the destruction of cellular structures stops;
• liver enzymatic systems are activated;
• regeneration of damaged hepatocytes is accelerated;
• the toxicity of biological poisons present in the liver is reduced;
• the penetration of toxic substances into cells is inhibited;
• The process of formation and excretion of bile is accelerated.

In folk medicine, milk thistle (better known as milk thistle) should be taken to treat various pathologies of the liver and gallbladder: from mild disorders associated with poor diet to serious diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Milk thistle in various dosage forms (oil, meal, infusion) can be purchased at any pharmacy. Those who like to collect medicinal herbs can easily find milk thistle on their own. It usually lives in weedy places: it turns out that this medicinal plant is an ordinary weed with purple flowers and spiny leaves.

Indications

The functioning of the liver is extremely closely related to the kidneys and bladder. Therefore, while cleaning the liver, milk thistle has a positive effect on them. If there are disturbances in the functioning of the liver, the bile produced stagnates, gradually thickens, clots form, and then stones. It is in such cases that milk thistle can help: its indications for use cover the described malfunctions in the functioning of the organ. It is advisable to use a herbal preparation when detecting:

• cholecystitis;
• cirrhosis;
• cholecystocholangitis;
• fatty hepatosis;
• viral and alcoholic hepatitis;
• gallstone disease.

Restrictions

Like any other drug that has a strong effect on the body, milk thistle has certain contraindications, deviating from which, you may encounter side effects and other negative consequences. So, do not ignore such restrictions in any case to prevent deterioration of your liver condition. So, contraindications to the use of milk thistle are the following factors:

• pregnancy period;
• age less than 12 years;
• breast-feeding;
• individual intolerance to ingredients;
• stage of exacerbation of cholecystitis or cholelithiasis.

But even if such restrictions do not apply to you, before using such a powerful natural filter, you must consult a doctor and undergo all the required examinations.

Contraindications

Uncontrolled use of any medications or self-medication with traditional methods can negatively affect your health. By consulting a doctor, you can avoid negative effects. He will conduct an examination, prescribe treatment or give recommendations for independent use of medications. You need to take contraindications seriously in the following cases:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• early childhood;
• oncological diseases;
• pathologies of the respiratory system;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• renal failure;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• mental illness;
• asthmatic symptoms;
• allergic reactions to grass.

It is necessary to stop the cleansing process if negative symptoms occur: diarrhea, constipation, pain in the stomach or intestines, nausea, skin rash.

An overdose can cause abdominal cramps, digestive system upset, and vomiting. In these cases, you must seek help from your doctor or call an ambulance.

In most cases, this method of cleaning the hematopoietic organ gives positive results. You can notice the cleansing of the liver by a healthy complexion, vibrant hair shine, a comfortable state in the right hypochondrium, ease of movement, normalization of the digestive system, increased efficiency and excellent mood.

Recommendations for cleansing the liver with milk thistle

For this procedure, the first step is to prepare a special decoction or tincture. You need to take such drinks according to a certain scheme. Usually, after taking the medicine, it is recommended to lie down and place a heating pad under the right hypochondrium, which will warm the damaged organ and help enlarge the bile ducts. This will make the process of cleansing the liver with milk thistle significantly easier and faster.

It is necessary to warm up the body for half an hour. Then you need to lie down under a warm blanket for about an hour. Don’t forget about your diet: after the event you can’t eat anything except freshly squeezed juices and water.

A couple of hours after taking milk thistle tincture, it is advisable to do a cleansing enema. And the procedure itself should be repeated every other day.

Keep in mind that the decoctions made cannot be stored for longer than two days. Therefore, try to cook them in small quantities each time.

Reviews

Marinabuka

Milk thistle decoction perfectly relieves the symptoms of alcohol intoxication. My husband had poisoning, and after the first day of regular use he felt better, and the vomiting and nausea went away.

Anecha_77

I don't trust milk thistle. This is a common weed that has been elevated to a panacea for all ills. I tried to drink it to cleanse the liver for preventive purposes, but I began to feel sick after the first portion of the decoction.

Antoha519

Treated cirrhosis with milk thistle. I drank decoctions, alcohol tincture, ate powder in dry form, washed down with water. I felt better after a week. I completed several courses of 40 days at intervals of 1 month. My tests have improved and I’m on the mend.

A few simple recipes

In order to get rid of harmful wastes, toxins and improve the properties of the immune system, it is advisable to use milk thistle. To prepare all kinds of cleansing medicines, you can use the seeds of the plant, its leaves, roots and oil. Treatment with milk thistle is quite effective with any of the proposed methods.

• Tea. To cleanse the liver with milk thistle, folk recipes advise using a decoction prepared from this unique plant. This tea is made quite easily and quickly. To prepare, you will need a tablespoon of chopped milk thistle leaves or its seeds. Pour a glass of boiling water over the plant. Then you need to wait about half an hour for the product to infuse. Finally, strain the prepared drink and drink on an empty stomach. To get the best effect, it is recommended to use this remedy half an hour before bedtime.
• Decoction. Milk thistle cleanses the liver truly effectively and quickly. In addition, this remedy can be taken at home without fear. To prepare the product you will need 30 g of seeds and half a liter of water. The beans need to be ground in a coffee grinder to a powder state. Then it needs to be filled with water and simmered over low heat for half an hour. Finally, strain the broth and take a spoonful every day for two weeks.

• Powder. Cleansing the liver with milk thistle meal is considered very effective. If you can’t find ready-made powder at the pharmacy, you can easily make it yourself. To do this, you just need to grind the seeds of the plant in a coffee grinder or mortar. How to take milk thistle to cleanse the liver? In powder form, the medicine should be taken one teaspoon half an hour before meals. Take the product with plenty of water. You can use “Borjomi” or “Essentuki” to increase the effect. Only such water must first be opened to get rid of excess gases.
• Oil. Having prepared such a medicine with your own hands, you can have no doubt about its naturalness and, accordingly, its benefits. In the process you will need 0.5 liters of olive oil and 5 teaspoons of seeds. Combine the prepared ingredients and place in a water bath for 10 minutes. After heat treatment, allow the mixture to cool, then strain it thoroughly. How to cleanse the liver with milk thistle in oil form? Take a tablespoon of the prepared product half an hour before each meal for a month.

Recipes with other ingredients

Combinations of medicinal herbs are often used to cleanse the liver. Traditional medicine offers several of the most effective combinations.

• You will need 100 g of milk thistle seeds, 10 g of dill and the same amount of burdock root. All prepared ingredients should be ground in a coffee grinder. Then you need to add 80 ml of milk thistle oil to the resulting powder. The prepared product should be stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to take a teaspoon three times a day after each meal.
• You can also prepare a medicine based on various forms of milk thistle. For this you will need 100 g of seeds and the same amount of oil. You must take the medicine in the same way as in the previous prescription.
• No less effective is tea prepared from peppermint and milk thistle. Take a teaspoon of both ingredients per glass of water. You need to drink the product throughout the day in any order.

Keep in mind that during a cleanse, it is likely that you will experience some loose bowel movements and a lot of sweating. The duration of the course of therapy is determined by the severity of the pathology and is selected only on an individual basis.

How to use pharmaceutical meal

The advantage of the finished medicine lies in the quality of its processing. When purchasing milk thistle meal at a pharmacy, pay attention to several important nuances:

• packaging - it is best to give preference to a transparent sealed bag, in which you can see foreign impurities if they are present;
• origin of the herb - plants growing in countries with hot climates, for example, in Central Asia, have much more beneficial properties;
• shade - should be dark, unripe seeds have a wheat color, silymarin is not yet fully formed, so the effectiveness may be much lower.

What are the benefits of the plant

Milk thistle belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is often confused with thistle due to its external similarity, but in fact they are different plants. At the same time, they are representatives of the same family, and milk thistle is called marin or milk thistle. It grows quickly and uncontrollably, and tea with milk thistle is considered extremely beneficial for the human body, especially for the liver. But this is not the only advantage of such a drink.

The plant contains an extremely rare substance - silymarin . This flavonoid complex changes the cell membranes of the liver in such a way that the poison, when it enters the body, is blocked and does not penetrate into the cells. In addition, this tea:

• Protects and restores liver cell membranes, promotes their regeneration, and helps protein synthesis.
• Strengthens the immune system, normalizes metabolism and bile secretion.
• Removes toxins, poisons and toxic substances.
• Promotes wound healing.
• Used as an additional means for active weight loss.
• It can be prescribed as an additional method in complex treatment for alcoholism.
• Relieves the condition in the event of fatty liver degeneration.

Milk thistle tea is a natural drink that allows you to cleanse the entire body of “garbage”. The substances in its composition are involved in the renewal of liver cells. You can buy the herb at the pharmacy in dried form or directly in tea bags.