Milk thistle is an excellent herb and milk thistle liver detox has been one of the most widely used methods to aid liver detoxification.
What is milk thistle?
This herb (also called Silybum Marinanum or Carduus Marianus) is actually part of the daisy family (the same family as echinacea, dandelion, chamomile, and artichoke).
It is the queen of all liver herbs and therefore has a great detoxifying effect. Our modern livers are really overloaded with bad diets, pesticides, herbicides, chemicals in the water we drink and in our homes, so milk thistle liver detox is great to help with that. It is also very effective in stimulating bile production.
It works to protect the liver by altering the structure of the outer membrane of liver cells, preventing poisons from entering those cells, and stimulating the regeneration of damaged cells. It also promotes the release of SOD (superoxide dismutase), a powerful antioxidant that appears to be specifically effective in eliminating free radicals caused by alcohol in the liver. THIS MEANS IT IS ALSO ANTI AGING!
Its medicinal uses are well documented and can be used to treat jaundice, help a sluggish liver, cleanse the blood, remove excess hormones from the body, lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, boost your metabolism (great for weight loss! !), from toxic metals, helps clear skin and helps skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and eczema.
Milk thistle is absorbed through the intestines and the cycle it goes through ensures that it is mainly concentrated in the liver. It is excellent for helping to reverse the damage caused by alcohol and is a fantastic antioxidant. It also helps cleanse the kidneys and can also help shrink an enlarged liver!
It acts as a mild laxative which is why many people report weight loss as often during a liver flush people notice an increase in bile production through more bowel movements etc.
This detox is excellent for those looking to conceive, as excessive toxicity in the body can affect fertility.
Its energetic uses are fantastic and milk thistle is often used as an herb for anger, jealousy and envy, as these emotions in natropathies are linked to the liver/gallbladder. A detoxified body that feels purer and lighter will refresh the mind and give you more strength and enthusiasm! The spirit of this detox is optimism, recovery, and “life enhancement.”
Applications
You can use the seeds to make a tincture, a powdered herb, or a decoction.
Important note: Milk thistle will speed up the detoxification of the liver, so any drugs or medicines will pass through the body faster, so keep in mind that if you are taking antibiotics or prescription drugs, etc., this will not be helpful. Milk Thistle, however, is fine with the birth control pill.
For more information on a great milk thistle liver detox and loads of detox tips, visit http://www.total-body-detox.com. Hope to see you there!