Milk Thistle Extract - Discover The Benefits

Milk Thistle Extract

Milk thistle extract comes from the milk thistle herb which is a spiny leaved plant with pink flowers. It is quiet common & has been used for thousands of years to cleanse the liver, most notably it has been used to relieve congestion of the liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Many other benefits of milk thistle have also been noted of late. Milk thistle (silymarin) can protect the liver from damage from a variety of sources including alcohol, viruses, toxins & even certain drugs. Many people will use milk thistle extract & IP6 at some time during the year to ensure that their bodies are toxin free.

Health professionals from around the world are looking into milk thistle benefits in a big way. There are several major studies underway trying to find out if Milk thistle extract does indeed do all it is supposed to do. So far, the results look promising with most of these studies showing that patients with mild forms of alcohol related liver disease appeared to improve over time.

How Does Milk Thistle Extract Work?

Milk thistle extract contains a substance called silymarin which is also being studied worldwide for its alleged anti cancer properties. The first of these studies found that the compound silymarin has strong antioxidant properties which can inhibit the growth of breast, prostate & cervical cancers, however these tests have only been performed in test tubes to date & further studies will need to be carried out on people with these diseases, however, it does look promising.

Are There Side Effects To Milk Thistle?

Milk Thistle Side effects are relatively rare.Overall, Milk thistle has been proven to be safe when taken in its proper dosage, however some active substances can trigger side effects in some people. These side effects are very rare & include, headaches, diarrhea, skin reactions including rash & extremely rare allergic reactions such as throat tightness & shortness of breath.

If you take prescription medicines you should consult your physician before taking milk thistle. Pregnant or breast feeding women should never take milk thistle extract. If in doubt about any of the above you should contact your medical physician who will advise you on milk thistle as a herbal supplement.

Milk Thistle Dosage

Generally it takes around 12 weeks for any effect of milk thistle to be noticed on the body. It's up to you but most people will take a milk thistle supplement for 12 weeks during the year to ensure that their liver is in good shape.

Recommended dosage: Around 12 to 15 g of dried herb, that's about 200 to 400 mg of silymarin a day.

Capsules:

For general liver protection take 120 mg silymarin, that's about two capsules twice daily or as directed by your health care practitioner. Do not take while pregnant or lactating.

Liquid Extract:

Take 15 to 20 drops two or three times daily in a little warm water or juice or as directed by your health care practitioner. Do not take while pregnant or lactating.

What Are The Benefits Of Milk Thistle?

What studies have shown is that milk thistle extract was less effective for those with severe liver disease like cirrhosis which would be characterized by scarring; many professionals would see this condition as permanent & non reversible anyway. Many of these health professionals now recommend this amazing herb for the prevention or treatment of many milder liver disorders including liver damage from drugs & alcohol, fatty liver, viral hepatitis & even liver damage caused by industrial toxins.

In general, millions of people who are healthy use milk thistle supplements every day to rid their bodies of toxins which can accumulate in the liver or to prevent toxins from forming there in the first place. The benefits of taking milk thistle supplements are many & will enhance your health and your lifestyle for many years to come.

It's a remarkable herbal remedy which will have an amazing effect on your overall health by removing every day toxins from your liver. So, if you're serious about your health, or you're just interested in anti aging remedies in general, then you should definitely consider using a milk thistle supplement for general liver maintenance at least once a year.