| Before you can answer the question of ' how much | | | | up to the end of the nineteenth century. |
| milk thistle should one use?', it's probably a good idea | | | | It's sometimes prescribed for HIV to protect the liver |
| to have a look at the history and health benefits of | | | | of patients. It protects them from diseases like |
| this ancient herb. | | | | hepatitis and from the hepatotoxic effects of other |
| Milk thistle has many different names, including St. | | | | medications prescribed for HIV treatment. |
| Mary's, Marian, and Our Lady's thistle. Over the ages | | | | Breast-feeding mothers are prescribed milk thistle for |
| there were many plants that were called 'milk thistle', | | | | the promotion of milk production. It's found to be |
| but that was finally settled and the name has been | | | | useful in the slowing of cell growth in some types of |
| set aside for this particular species of herbs. It's | | | | cancer as well. |
| origins are found in the Mediterranean region of | | | | It may prevent inflammation of the gall bladder ducts |
| Europe. It's a tall herb with spiky leaves. There are | | | | and jaundice. It's the only known antidote for death |
| parts of the Untied States, like California, where the | | | | cap mushroom poisoning. The liver will shut down, if |
| plant grows naturally. | | | | you ingest this mushroom, due to the shutting down |
| The actual part of the Silymarin herb that gets used | | | | of protein production in liver cells. |
| are the small firm fruits called achenes. You remove | | | | The liver neutralizes certain toxins that are associated |
| the fluffy thicket or 'pappus' form the achenes. Many | | | | with psoriasis, and it supposedly helps prevent |
| people mistakenly call the achenes 'seeds', when they | | | | psoriasis by aiding in liver function. |
| are in truth fruits. One of the most interesting facts | | | | The available forms are capsules, extracts and |
| about milk thistle, is that the therapeutic use of it | | | | tinctures, and seeds. A tincture can be made by |
| was known to people over 2,000 years ago. In those | | | | diluting the herb in alcohol. So how much milk thistle |
| days people would boil the flower heads pretty much | | | | should one use? One or two doses of 2ml three |
| in the same way as they ate artichokes. | | | | times a day is the usual dose. You can make an |
| After people lost interest and awareness of milk | | | | 'infusion' of milk thistle by pouring a cup of boiling |
| thistle and its benefits in the early twentieth century, | | | | water over one teaspoon of seeds, that have been |
| German researchers began fresh studies on the | | | | grinded into a fine texture. Strain the mixture after |
| plants in the 1970s. All the research was on the | | | | 20 minutes of steeping and drink. |
| silymarin found in the fruit, which some called seeds. | | | | You don't always have to strain it, but you can place |
| The leaves of the milk thistle are edible, and are | | | | it into an infuser ball or a piece of cheesecloth, or |
| good for using in salads, or even eaten raw. It was | | | | even a tea bag. |
| actually raised as a vegetable in Europe all the way | | | | |