Small lilac flowers called milk thistle, growing mainly along roads, can bring invaluable benefits to human health.
Many medicinal preparations contain oil or seeds of this plant, and in folk medicine, various infusions, decoctions or teas are made based on this weed.
The only thing is that in order not to harm the body, milk thistle should be used for medicinal purposes carefully, taking into account all contraindications and after consultation with a doctor.
Chemical composition of milk thistle
Research by scientists has shown that the chemical composition of milk thistle includes:
- fixed oils;
- vitamins, in particular B, K, E, C;
- essential oil;
- lignans;
- resin;
- protein;
- selenium;
- alkaloids;
- organic acids;
- flavonoids;
- iron;
- calcium;
- copper;
- zinc and so on.
Scientists have proven that only a few plants have such a rich chemical content.
Medicinal properties of milk thistle
Thanks to all kinds of vitamins, acids, microelements and other constituents, the plant has many medicinal properties.
When used correctly it helps:
- Strengthen the nervous system and improve memory.
- Improve the condition of the epidermis, nails and hair.
- Boost immunity.
- Reduce lactic acid levels in the blood.
- Neutralize free radicals.
- Improve metabolism.
- Absorb calcium faster.
- Reduce inflammatory processes.
- Strengthen capillaries and prevent the formation of blood clots.
- Normalize the menstrual cycle.
- Relieve constipation.
- Accelerate wound healing.
- Normalize hormonal levels.
- Improve the functioning of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland.
Proper consumption of milk thistle helps remove toxins from the body and significantly reduce weight.
Review analysis
Reviews about the effectiveness of the plant against extra pounds vary dramatically. Most authors of materials dedicated to him do not consider him an effective weight loss fighter. They note that it is remarkably healthy if you combine its intake with adherence to the principles of rational nutrition and sufficient physical activity. But milk thistle is not recommended as an independent remedy against obesity. There are isolated reviews that weight loss occurred when treating other diseases with thistle, mainly hypertension.
The author of these lines also noted a noticeable weight loss, which occurred as a side effect when treating another disease with plant oil. I took the oil three times a day, 1 tbsp. l., always before meals, about 20 minutes. Since I didn’t set myself the goal of losing weight, I didn’t immediately notice the weight loss, but I can say that it was very noticeable, in any case, everyone around me noticed it. Therefore, I confidently recommend thistle oil as a real means of getting rid of unnecessary pounds.
Milk thistle seed meal and flour
In many pharmacies you can buy meal and flour from milk thistle seeds. Some people are convinced that these are the same ingredients, but in fact this opinion is wrong. Meal refers to a special powder that is formed during the process of obtaining oil from seeds. Flour is finely ground seeds.
Flour and meal are equally beneficial for the body. The only meal contains an increased amount of fiber and has a coarser structure. Flour, on the contrary, is quite free-flowing and has a soft structure.
In addition to their benefits, they can also cause harm to health if they are not taken according to all the rules.
It is not difficult to distinguish meal from flour. It is enough to take a small amount of the substance in your hand and try to squeeze it. If the result is a dense mass, then it is meal.
Who is recommended to use milk thistle?
It is recommended to use milk thistle for medicinal purposes for people who:
- problems with the nervous system;
- disorders of the adrenal glands;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- decreased immunity;
- skin or hair problems;
- are overweight;
- intoxication of the body;
- there is a tendency to constipation;
- disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- liver problems;
- tendency to form blood clots and weak blood vessels.
Before starting treatment, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to accurately say whether it is permissible to use milk thistle, and also assess the likely benefits and harms for a particular patient.
Why does constipation occur?
Constipation is a very unpleasant phenomenon, and if it is also permanent, then it is doubly unpleasant. Why do they arise? You can find out the most common causes of problems with stool from this table.
| Acute form | The cause may be inflammation of the colon or rectum, colitis. Often accompanied by fever and pain when trying to defecate. |
| Alimentary form | It is considered the most common form of constipation. The cause may be: poor nutrition, lack of fluid in the body. Usually, in order to normalize stool, it is enough to simply normalize your diet. |
| Endocrine form | Women are more likely to suffer from this form of constipation. The cause may be the onset of menopause or hormonal imbalance in the body. |
| Hypodynamic form | The cause may be a sedentary, predominantly sedentary lifestyle. People most often affected are older people, pregnant women, and office workers. To eliminate constipation, it may be enough to intensify physical activity and take mild laxatives for a while (milk thistle is ideal). |
| Medicinal form | The reason is long-term use of any medications prescribed by a doctor. Constipation occurs due to the side effects that a particular drug has. |
| Mechanical form | Most often, the cause is emerging pathologies of the colon. |
| Proctogenic form | The cause may be hemorrhoids or anal fissures. A combination of sea buckthorn oil and milk thistle-based preparations shows good results in the treatment of this form of constipation. The first treats the cause (that is, the disease itself), and the second treats the effect (that is, constipation). |
| Neurogenic form | Constipation can be caused by a severe stressful situation. |
Milk thistle recipes
There are various recipes for milk thistle. When choosing the most suitable one, you should take into account the recommendations of doctors, as well as all contraindications and existing diseases.
Also important for medicinal purposes:
- Prepare products strictly according to the recipe.
- Never increase the single dosage or duration of therapy.
- If there is any, even the slightest, deterioration in your health, immediately stop treatment and go to the clinic.
Neglecting basic recommendations can negatively affect your health.
For weight loss
People who have extra pounds are recommended to take milk thistle according to the following recipes:
Drink the decoction.
He does it according to the following scheme:
- plant seeds in the amount of 25 - 30 grams are ground in a coffee grinder;
- pour 500 milliliters of boiling water and put on fire;
- when the water boils, the heat is reduced and everything is cooked for 10 - 15 minutes;
- then the broth is filtered.
It is better to strain through 3 – 4 layers of clean gauze. In this case, no seeds or their husks will be included in the composition.
Next, you should drink the prepared product one teaspoon every 1 – 2 hours. The course lasts one month.
If doctors approve, then after a two-week break it is possible to resume the course of therapy.
Make special tea
Cooking algorithm:
- one teaspoon of seeds is poured into 200 milliliters of boiling water;
- the top is covered with a lid;
- infuses for 25 minutes;
- filtered.
The prepared tea is drunk in the morning and evening, half a glass and always in small sips.
To enhance the result, you can add 2 to 3 mint leaves to this tea.
For constipation, intoxication
For people experiencing constipation or intoxication of the body, milk thistle oil and decoction, as well as the leaves of this plant, help well.
For a person with such problems, doctors recommend:
- In the morning and evening, 30 minutes before meals, drink one teaspoon of milk thistle oil.
If the absorption of oil is normal, then it is allowed to increase its consumption to one tablespoon.
Prepare a salad with the addition of milk thistle leaves.
Cooking steps:
- pick 5 – 6 leaves of the plant and wash them thoroughly several times under running water;
It is advisable to pick leaves away from roads and any industrial facilities.
- cut 2 - 3 fresh cucumbers into a small bowl;
- add finely chopped parsley, green, onion and dill;
- chop one clove of garlic and add to the salad;
- salt;
- add prepared plant leaves;
- season everything with olive oil.
This salad is best consumed in the evening.
In general, such leaves can be added to any vegetable salads.
Drink juice from leaves
To prepare the product you need:
- pick milk thistle leaves;
- rinse them under running water;
- Make juice from them in a juicer.
This remedy is taken strictly one teaspoon once a day. The course of treatment does not exceed seven days.
For constipation, the juice of this plant helps very quickly, so it is not recommended to drink it before leaving the house.
For varicose veins
For varicose veins, some of the most effective recipes are:
Alcohol tincture
Cooking algorithm:
- milk thistle seeds are poured with vodka;
For 10 grams of seeds, one liter of vodka is required.
- The top is covered with a lid and placed in a dark place for 14 days;
The tincture prepared daily should be shaken slightly.
- After two weeks, the product is filtered and poured into a clean container.
Next, the prepared tincture should be drunk 5 times a day, 20 drops diluted with 50 milliliters of water. This remedy is taken half an hour before meals.
You should drink the tincture strictly at the same time. The duration of the course of therapy is one month.
Plant seeds with olive oil
Cooking steps:
- 200 grams of seeds are poured into a glass jar;
- olive oil (400 milliliters) is poured on top;
The oil should first be heated in a water bath to 60 degrees. If it is cold, it will quickly thicken and you will not be able to prepare the required product.
- the jar is wrapped in a towel and put away in a dark place for one day;
- After 24 hours, the product is filtered.
The prepared oil is taken orally, one teaspoon twice a day for 30 days.
To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is recommended to rub the prepared oil with massage movements into problem areas.
For the liver
People with liver problems are recommended to take milk thistle according to the following recipes:
Prepare a decoction of the roots.
Cooking algorithm:
- the roots of the plant in the amount of 20 grams are crushed;
- then everything is poured with 200 milliliters of boiling water and placed in a water bath for half an hour;
- then everything is strained.
A decoction of the roots is drunk one tablespoon 15 - 20 minutes before meals.
The duration of the course of therapy is 1.5 – 2 months.
Infusion from seeds.
Cooking steps:
- 35 grams of seeds are poured with boiling water (500 milliliters);
- everything is placed in a water bath for half an hour;
- After 30 minutes, strain.
Next, the infusion should be drunk 15 minutes before meals in the amount of one tablespoon.
The course of treatment should not exceed two months.
Tincture of leaves.
Cooking algorithm:
- fresh leaves of the plant should be washed and finely chopped;
- then they are placed in a glass container and filled with vodka;
For 10 grams of leaves you need 50 milliliters of vodka.
- The container is closed with a lid and stored in a dark place for 14 days.
After this time, the product should be drunk 15 drops half an hour before meals.
Contraindications to the use of milk thistle herb, possible harm
People thinking about taking milk thistle for medicinal purposes should know that this plant has a number of contraindications.
It should not be consumed if a person has:
- Mental disorders.
- Epilepsy.
- Prolonged depression.
- Allergy.
- Pregnancy.
Also, treatment with such a plant is not suitable for children under 12 years of age.
Caution should be exercised when using milk thistle when a person is diagnosed with:
- heart problems;
- gallstones;
- asthma.
In general, if you take such a plant taking into account all the recommendations, then it does not cause harm to health.
If it is used in large dosages, the duration of the course of treatment is increased, or contraindications are ignored, the following may occur:
- vomiting;
- red spots on the body;
- diarrhea;
- pain in the stomach;
- chills;
- attacks of shortness of breath;
- exacerbation of existing diseases.
If you experience any negative symptoms, you should immediately visit a doctor.
Interactions with other drugs
There are no special contraindications to the use of milk thistle with other medications, except for drugs with a similar effect (you need to check with your doctor about the possibility of simultaneous use).
In folk medicine, herbal infusions and powdered compositions of milk thistle with other herbs have long proven themselves to be effective. For example, they interact well with flax, artichoke, and solyanka and have a healing and restorative effect on the liver and the entire body.
In complex treatment for various skin diseases, taking drugs or milk thistle meal is also indicated. Combinations with certain types of herbs give good and lasting results. The skin is cleansed and the skin color changes for the better.
Using milk thistle meal helps improve well-being in many areas of human health. In addition to the unique properties, the budget side is simply pleasing. You can purchase it at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription, but you must consult a specialist.
