MILK THISTLE: THE LIVER PLANT
This is precisely the time to resort to the classic forms of "purification" that have traditionally been promoted by herbalists and naturopaths to promote drainage by the excretory organs (liver, kidneys, skin).
If we talk about liver purification, the reference plant is certainly Milk Thistle. Silybum marianum is a plant of the Compositae family whose fruits have been used since ancient times as liver protectors. It is a plant that can reach 150 cm and whose fruits ripen in midsummer.
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Milk thistle fruits contain a mixture of flavolignans called silymarin . A good milk thistle extract should contain at least 1.5% silymarin calculated as silybin . Furthermore, in thistle seeds we also find other flavonoids such as quercitin and kaempferol but also sterols such as the well-known beta-sitosterol.
It has been shown that silymarin has antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties by increasing cellular glutathione content and promoting scavenger activity against free radicals . Milk thistle is used in liver disorders in which altered liver values are found even in cases in which hepatocytes lose their functionality becoming fibrous cells following the production of collagen. Silymarin was also able to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells.
Among all these properties there is a very curious one... in fact milk thistle is able to reduce intoxication from Amanita phalloides . Useful to keep on hand in the mountains when you go mushroom hunting...
From a purely energetic point of view, Milk Thistle is a plant that lends itself well to seasonal tiredness. In fact, in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) the liver is the organ that moves the vital energy, Qi . By working on the liver, energy circulates and the body feels more toned.
Happy awakening... and happy spring!
Be careful with blood pressure: milk thistle should not be used by people who suffer from high blood pressure.
Here you can find our most useful milk thistle-based purifying preparations for this season:
- DETOX BIO: complete Salus purifying product for liver, kidneys and intestines based on artichoke, milk thistle, turmeric, dandelion, birch, green tea, nettle and vitamin C
- EPA DX : complete liver detoxifier based on milk thistle, fumaria, SAMe, NAC, zinc and B group vitamins
- EPATTIVA : traditional purifier with milk thistle, dandelion and artichoke in capsules
- PHYTO PURE STRONG : a clever mix of highly concentrated purifying plants for the liver, kidneys and intestines with milk thistle, artichoke, fumaria, birch and aloe.