Naturopathy

Milk thistle

Synonyms in a broader sense

Vegetable synonyms: the milk thistle belongs to the sunflower family (Astericeae).
They are also known under the name:

Ginger
Venus thistle
Hawk thistle
Woman thistle
Gastric thistle
Terrible thistle
Savior thistle
Prick seeds
Prick sowing
Milk thistle
Safflower
and
Field thistle

Latin name: Silybum marianum

The milk thistle in homeopathy

The Milk thistle (Carduus marianum) is also in the homeopathy used as a medicine.
More about use in the homeopathy can be found under our topic: Carduus marianum

The plant

The medicinal plant Milk thistle has the botanical name Silybum marianum and belongs to the Sunflower family, as the artichoke, the chamomile, of the Sun hat or the Marigold. The stately 0.70 m to 1.50 m high plant with an upright, finely haired stem, is one to two years old.
The leaves of the milk thistle are marbled green and white, elongated, encompassing the stem and are abundant.

The milk thistle leaves are decorated with thorns at the tips and edges. The milk thistle flowers consist of purple, spherical heads of four to 5 cm, which are very small in relation to the plant.
It is also called "wild artichoke" designated. The Heyday is of June to September. The fruits of the milk thistle are about 7 mm long and shiny, marbled black-brown-yellow and provided with a white pappus.

The original home of the Medicinal plant Milk thistle is Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and Southern Russia. she is growing on fields and roadsides and you can find them with us in sunny and warm places. The medicinal plant is cultivated in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe. The fruits and herbs of the milk thistle are collected. The best time to collect the flower is during the flowering period. The seeds are not harvested until late summer or early autumn.

history

The Milk thistle has been already in the middle ages grown in monastery gardens. Their Names she owes one Legend: On the flight to Egypt, Marie wanted to breastfeed her child (see also Breastfeeding). She sought protection under the canopy of the milk thistle. As a few drops of milk fell on the leaves while breastfeeding, the herb was spotted and streaked.

Of the botanical name Silybum comes from the Greek (Silybum = tassel). The Greek Doctor Dioscurides (40 to 90 AD) already mentioned the medicinal plant milk thistle. In older books you can also find the name "Cardulus marianus" as a name for the milk thistle.
Paracelsus already recommended the milk thistle against "sting inside". The doctor Johann Gottfried Rademacher (1772 to 1850) discovered the milk thistle as a medicinal plant Therapy of liver diseases. She is still used today as a means of protection for those liver recommended.

Summary

Milk thistle, a medicinal plant from the Mediterranean region, has been cultivated for medicinal purposes since the Middle Ages.
The dried herb and the fruits of the milk thistle are harvested and used medicinally. The liver-protecting properties of milk thistle fruits have been scientifically proven several times in clinical studies.
The main active ingredient of the milk thistle fruits is the silymarin, which is contained in the fruit peel.

Manufacturing

The ripe fruits of the medicinal plant milk thistle and their preparations are used medicinally.
The most effective are highly concentrated dry extracts. The most important and effective ingredients of milk thistle fruits are the typical flavonolignans (silymaria) flavonoids and fatty oil. In milk thistle herb you can find flavonoids, triterpenes, polyines and phythosterols. Teas are made from the seeds of the medicinal plant milk thistle and the extracts, which are used for digestive and biliary problems.
Since the active ingredient silymarin is not soluble in water, tea is ineffective against liver diseases.

Therapy / areas of application / effect

Milk thistle is used medicinally as an effective, natural remedy. It protects the liver and helps relieve liver disorders and weakness.
The medicinal plant has the ability to strengthen, protect and detoxify the liver. The milk thistle is said to be regenerative (liver cells are formed) and antitoxic (detoxifying).
The medicinal plant milk thistle is even used in intensive medicine for poisoning with the death cap mushroom. The active ingredient silymarin from the milk thistle fruits has a detoxifying effect.

Poisoning with cap mushrooms should never be treated yourself! Always ask your doctor !!

The main areas of application for milk thistle are:

Indigestion
Cirrhosis of the liver
Alcohol and drugs - poisoning
chronic inflammatory liver disease
Liver weakness due to chronic illnesses such as rheumatism or after a severe flu.

In folk medicine, the medicinal plant was often used for stitching, spleen ailments, malaria, migraines, motion sickness and chronic liver diseases.
The root of the milk thistle was also prescribed for drainage and milk production. Today the milk thistle is confirmed by many scientifically proven applications.

You may also be interested in the following article: Pain relievers for liver diseases

Dosage form

The milk thistle is mainly used in ready-made preparations. They are offered in the pharmacy as a highly concentrated dry extract. The capsules, dragees or tablets have a certain silymarin content.
The recommended dose per day is 200 to 400 mg silymarin.
If you have severe liver problems, a higher dose should be selected. The starting dose should then be 400 mg silymarin per day and then reduced to around 200 mg after two weeks.
Since the active ingredient silymarin is not soluble in water, it cannot be used as a tea for liver diseases. But milk thistle tea can be very effective for gallbladder problems and indigestion. For the tea preparation you need one to two teaspoons of freshly crushed milk thistle fruit. 150 ml of hot water are poured over them. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes and strain. You drink three to four cups of it a day. With a cure for six weeks.

Side effect / interaction

In the Intended use kick from preparations of milk thistle generally no side effects on.
Occasionally it happens laxative effect (diarrhea). If the daily dose of 12 to 15 g of seeds or 400 mg of silymarin is adhered to, no side effects are known.
During the pregnancy and breast feeding period the milk thistle should just after Consult your doctor be taken!
Also: Be careful with Allergies against daisy family !!

Please ask your doctor!