Some tips on how to take milk thistle meal for the liver

• April 28, 2019
• Other states
• KatrinGlamour

The liver performs many important functions, without which not a single process in the human body can occur. That is why such a significant organ should be given special attention. After all, if its work is disrupted, the entire body will certainly suffer.

In order for the functioning of the liver to always remain normal, it must be regularly cleansed of accumulated toxins. And for this it is best to use milk thistle. This herb is famous for its many healing properties.

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.

Contraindications

Liver cleansing with milk thistle is not suitable for people suffering from the following pathologies:

• mental illness;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• cholelithiasis;
• severe pathologies of the respiratory system;
• hyperkalemia;
• epilepsy;
• with an excess of phosphorus in the body;
• during pregnancy;
• during breastfeeding;
• in children under 12 years of age;
• if you are allergic to herbal components.

In addition, it is not recommended to continue cleansing if negative reactions occur: diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, skin rash.

If the dosage is exceeded, negative consequences may occur. Symptoms of overdose include abdominal cramps, indigestion, and skin rashes . These cases require immediate medical attention.

Milk thistle cleansing is an inexpensive and effective way to remove toxic substances from the liver and restore its lost functions. Most people who have tried this folk method of cleansing note predominantly positive results.

Source: poisoning.ru

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.

The mechanism of the therapeutic action of milk thistle

Due to the uniqueness of its composition, milk thistle is widely used in medicine, including for the treatment of pancreatitis, and promotes:

• restoration of damaged cells;
• removing toxic substances from the body;
• normalization of hormone synthesis by the pancreas during inflammation;
• the plant’s own enzymes facilitate the digestion process, and its minerals promote the production of its own enzymes by the pancreas;
• due to the normalization of insulin synthesis, the risk of developing diabetes mellitus accompanying pancreatitis is reduced.

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.

How to use it correctly for medicinal purposes

Food products made from milk thistle normalize the functioning of the liver and kidneys, and improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. They help cleanse the body of various poisons, normalize the synthesis of enzymes and hormones, and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Milk thistle is used to accelerate the recovery of the body after treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy and after intensive courses of therapy with medications that have a strong effect on the body.

Milk thistle is one of the main drugs in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis. But in addition to pancreatitis, milk thistle is also recommended for a number of diseases, such as:

1. diabetes;
2. dysfunction of joints and vertebrae;
3. indigestion and thyroid pathology;
4. cancer diseases (treatment and prevention);
5. inflammation of the genitourinary system;
6. malfunction of the respiratory system and blurred vision;
7. excess cholesterol.

Also, milk thistle has a choleretic, laxative and diuretic effect on the body.

To get the maximum benefit from the plant, it is recommended to prepare herbal-based potions. Treatment of milk thistle for the liver and pancreas is carried out in different ways - using only milk thistle or combining it with other herbs.

If a patient has an acute attack of pancreatitis, then home remedies should not be taken. Milk thistle can be used during exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease (only weakly concentrated tea), and also used as a preventive measure.

Various parts of the plant are used. The root can be added to salads. It is eaten fresh, boiled or baked. Traditional treatment advises using meal - “concentrated food”.

It is taken before meals, chewed thoroughly. This allows you to get the maximum amount of useful components. Then drink it with plain water. Flour and seeds of the plant are added to food, and tea is prepared from them.

The course of treatment for the pancreas is 30-60 days until the patient’s condition stabilizes. After a 2-week break, the therapy is repeated. Preventive courses are given up to 4 times a year for one month.

Milk thistle infusion recipe:

1. Mix dried leaves and crushed roots of the plant in equal proportions. Pour one tablespoon into 250 ml of boiling water.
2. Leave for 12 hours, then filter.

The home remedy is taken three times a day on an empty stomach. The dosage is 70-80 ml at a time. The course of therapy is 1-2 months. Be sure to follow a diet during treatment.

Milk thistle tea: pour two teaspoons of crushed leaves with boiling water in a volume of 500 ml, leave for 20 minutes. Filter. Use the drink only warm, diluted with water: 100 ml of decoction per 200 ml of water. Frequency of use – 3 times a day, course of therapy – 25-30 days.

Milk thistle oil for pancreatitis is quite capable of replacing dry meal. The product from the seeds is extracted through cold pressing. The oil has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, since it envelops the walls of the stomach and pancreas, and accordingly, the aggressive effects of food are reduced.

The oil is believed to contain more beneficial components when compared to the root, stem and leaves of milk thistle. Consume the oil three times a day before meals (10 minutes) - one teaspoon.

Chronic pancreatitis in 45% of clinical presentations is accompanied by other pathologies, so treatment with milk thistle is not suitable for everyone. The herb has certain contraindications.

You should not consume milk thistle meal and oil if you have a history of depressive syndrome, epileptic seizures, or asthma - the plant can cause severe shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Another contraindication is organic intolerance to the plant. It is manifested by indigestion, nausea, bloating, and increased gas formation. Allergic reactions are also detected - skin rashes, itching, burning, hyperemia (occurs rarely).

If negative signs are observed, they refuse to use the home remedy. As a rule, the consequences of taking it go away on their own within 2-4 days after discontinuation; symptomatic treatment is not required.

We suggest you read: Traditional medicine pancreas treatment

Milk thistle should not be treated in the following situations:

• Acute pancreatitis;
• Appendicitis;
• Excess of minerals and vitamins in the body;
• Time of bearing a child;
• Breast-feeding;
• Gallstone disease (the plant has a pronounced choleretic effect, which can provoke the movement of stones).

Children's age is a relative contraindication. Many recipes specify a limit of up to 12 years. Therefore, before giving a decoction/infusion or even tea to a child, you should consult a medical specialist.

Milk thistle is a useful and “harmless” plant that helps improve the condition of the pancreas and normalize the digestion process. Milk thistle is not only a treatment, but also a good prevention of chronic pancreatitis.

The beneficial properties of milk thistle are described in the video in this article.

Treatment of the pancreas with milk thistle is carried out using different methods. The plant can be used in its pure form or in combination with other herbs. When compiling fees, it is necessary to take into account the compatibility of the components so that additional health problems do not arise. Before using any remedy, you should consult your doctor to rule out complications that may develop as a result of improper use of the medication or due to intolerance to the components of the product.

The treatment course is 1-2 months, until the patient’s condition is completely stabilized. Then you should take a break for 2-3 weeks. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated.

To prepare the decoction, you will need thoroughly dried raw materials. It should be poured with boiling water and left for 12 hours. Strain before use. Take the product 3 times a day before meals, 100 ml.

To prepare tea you need 2 tsp. crushed leaves pour 500 ml of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes, strain. Before use, dilute the infusion with water in a ratio of 1:2. Drink only warm 3 times a day.

Due to the high content of useful substances, the oil allows you to stop the development of the inflammatory process in the pancreas, restore appetite, and improve the patient’s condition. Once in the body, it envelops the walls of the gland and stomach, softening the mechanical effect of food. You need to take it 1 tsp. 10 minutes before meals 3 times a day. When using, it is necessary to take into account the laxative properties of the product.

Dry seed powder or meal is taken before meals. To get maximum benefit, it must be chewed thoroughly with plenty of water. Meal and seeds can be added to various dishes or tea can be made from them.

Despite the exceptional importance and usefulness of medicinal properties, milk thistle has serious contraindications, they should be remembered and taken into account when prescribing:

• age up to 12 years;
• pregnancy;
• depression and epilepsy;
• bronchial asthma - during treatment with milk thistle, shortness of breath develops in half of the cases;
• cholelithiasis;
• attack of appendicitis;
• individual intolerance: allergies often occur, accompanied by skin rashes, diarrhea, nausea (if this condition continues for up to 2 days, you need to stop taking it);
• excess potassium and phosphorus in the body.

In 85% of cases of pancreatitis, after a month of treatment with milk thistle, pronounced positive dynamics are observed: swelling of the pancreas decreases, pain stops, appetite appears, and body weight is restored.

With proper use of the plant, the symptoms of pancreatitis after a course of milk thistle are eliminated, the condition improves significantly, and stable remission is achieved.

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.

It is important to know!

Milk thistle cleanses the liver thanks to three substances: silibinin, silydianin and silicristin, which form one single compound - silymarin. This discovery was made in the 1960s. Having received scientific confirmation of popular thought, this component began to be actively used in professional medicine. Today, silymarin is part of most drugs in the group of hepoprotectors.

Unlike medicines, folk ones (if milk thistle is taken correctly) do not cause side effects. Moreover, they are significantly less expensive. However, before you begin a course of treatment with one of the recipes below, you should familiarize yourself with a number of rules, failure to comply with which may nullify your efforts:

1. Diet. While undergoing cleansing at home, you should follow diet number five. This means that you should completely avoid fried, pickled and fatty foods.
2. Systems approach. To achieve the desired result, you need to know how to use the drug correctly and adhere to its dosage schedule. Its active components form a continuous effect on damaged cells. In the event of a break in the course, they quickly return to their original state.
3. Striving for the ultimate goal. You should not stop using the drug after the first positive changes in the general condition of the body.

Read on topic: Liver cleansing with sorbitol and rose hips

The effect of milk thistle for cleansing can be enhanced by dilating the bile ducts. To do this, immediately after taking the indicated dose, you need to lie down and put a warm heating pad in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium to cleanse the liver. It is recommended to spend 30-40 minutes in this position. After this time, you should cover yourself with a warm blanket and rest for an hour. A sharp temperature change caused by the contrast between the heating pad and the room air is more likely to harm you than help you.

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.

Medicinal forms of the plant

As mentioned above, milk thistle is not only used in “grandmother’s” recipes. It is added to almost all liver preparations. But it should be remembered that, despite the beneficial properties, medications should be taken as prescribed by a doctor and strictly according to the instructions.

In pharmacies you can most often buy tablet forms (Karsil, Legalen) and capsules with powder (Gepabene, Fosfontziale). Oil, seeds and meal are also sold. But it’s better to collect and make them yourself. In addition, before consumption, they still need to be specially processed - prepare a decoction, infusion, tea.

We invite you to read: Propolis for the pancreas for pancreatitis: treatment

The use of milk thistle for pancreatitis is recommended both in remission and in exacerbation. After taking it, a stable remission occurs. Are used:

• well-dried seeds, from which decoction and powder are prepared - meal;
• leaves and roots - an infusion is made from them;
• oil obtained by cold pressing.

Milk thistle meal

For chronic pancreatitis, the meal is used before meals, chewed thoroughly and washed down with a sufficient amount of water. This way, maximum absorption of all the medicinal components of milk thistle occurs. Meal is added to dishes as a seasoning and brewed like tea.

The leaves and stems of the plant are crushed and also used as tea. Drinks before meals.

An infusion is prepared from carefully dried clean leaves and roots. When ground, they are poured with boiling water and left for 12 hours. After straining, it is recommended to drink 1/3 glass before meals 3 times a day.

Milk thistle oil

To treat pancreatitis, dry meal can replace oil. But in some cases it is preferable to meal if there are concomitant diseases. The oil can also improve intestinal function - it has a laxative effect. The effect of the oil is milder; it is believed that the oil contains the maximum amount of medicinal components.

Milk thistle oil for pancreatitis is taken 1 tbsp. l. x 3 times a day 10 minutes before meals. It is not recommended to drink it more than three times, as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may occur.

Milk thistle oil, in addition to treating pathologies of internal organs, is successfully used externally for burns and various skin injuries and diseases.

There are also ready-made pharmaceutical forms containing milk thistle. They contain extracts and extracts from it. Preparations containing milk thistle extract (Legalon, Silibor, Karsil) have less therapeutic effect for pancreatitis than the herb in its pure form (dry or fresh); Natural products that have not been subjected to special processing bring much more benefit.

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.

Milk thistle for children

• liver diseases;
• constipation;
• dysbacteriosis;
• vitiligo;
• dermatoses.

Milk thistle strengthens

, and therefore, if necessary, can be used as a prophylactic agent.

Benefits of milk thistle for children:

• mild effect on the liver;
• lack of addiction;
• normalization of metabolism;
• increased intestinal motility;
• strengthening the immune system;
• minimal number of contraindications and adverse reactions;
• possibility of long-term use;
• compatibility with other types of treatment;
• wide range of pharmacodynamics.

Individual intolerance.

Children under three years old.

Children from three years old take the pharmaceutical version of milk thistle (meal) half a teaspoon twice a day during meals (meal is added to dishes that do not require heat treatment).

You can prepare a decoction of seeds in milk, for which a tablespoon of raw material is poured into a glass of hot milk, then the mixture is put on fire and brought to a boil. Removed from the heat, the broth is infused overnight and boiled again in the morning. Take a quarter glass 3-4 times a day, one hour after meals.

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 does milk thistle honey look like?

Milk thistle, or marin thistle, is a herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family with numerous beneficial properties. Natural honey produced by bees based on the pollen of this flower has a very beneficial effect on the body and improves health. Since the delicacy of this variety does not belong to the category of the most common, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with its main features.

The color of a particular milk thistle honey depends on the collection conditions.

The color of milk thistle honey is usually light yellow, but it can also have a dark amber, yellowish-transparent and even white tint. The consistency is viscous, homogeneous and of medium thickness, reminiscent of syrup, the smell is persistent and pleasant, floral.

We recommend reading: Honey: beneficial and medicinal properties, contraindications

The taste of milk thistle honey is sweet and well-defined, with tart notes and a long aftertaste. The delicacy quickly becomes candied, but even after crystallization it remains soft and dissolves very easily.

Pharmaceutical products with milk thistle

Pharmaceutical companies produce quite a few types of medicines based on milk thistle with excipients. As a rule, all these medications are intended to treat the liver.

Pharmacies have various tablet medications based on milk thistle. The most popular include:

• Karsil Forte.
• Karsil.
• Legal.
• Sibektan.
• Salimar.

The tablets should be taken strictly according to the instructions.

Ready-made powders are also available for sale, also intended for the treatment of liver diseases. They usually come as part of various medications, such as Gepabene.

Milk thistle powder quickly loses its characteristics, so the preparations are produced in the form of soluble sealed capsules, which allow maintaining the activity of silymarin.

Chemical composition

The healing properties of milk thistle honey are determined by its rich chemical composition. In particular, the product contains:

• minerals and vitamins of all main groups;
• tannins;
• fructose and glucose;
• a small amount of alkaloids;
• resins and saponins;
• organic acids;
• flavonoids and flavolignans;
• amino acids, including tyramine.

Despite the sweet taste, the bee product is low in calories; 100 g contains 304 calories. With moderate consumption, the delicacy cannot cause any harm to the figure.