How to Make Milk Thistle Tea

Milk thistle tea has been used as a natural, traditional remedy for thousands of years for liver and gallbladder ailments.

Studies show that this herbal extract can protect the liver from damage caused by alcohol and other toxins. It is taken to improve liver health and flush out toxins that can have damaging effects.

Milk thistle tea recipes can be made by adding hot water to a tincture, using milk thistle fruit powder or buying tea bags of the supplement on its own or in a mixture of complementary herbs. The fruit of the Silybum marianum plant can also be ground and used in a blend to make herbal coffee.

The active ingredient in the tea or coffee substitute is silymarin.

Milk Thistle

Herbal Supplement

Liver Health

Detox

Longevity

How It Works:

• Supports liver health & detox
• Anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory properties
• Improves insulin sensitivity & cholesterol

Dosage:

Between 140 - 800 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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What is Milk Thistle Tea Used For?

Milk Thistle tea is used as an antioxidant and liver detox beverage.

It is especially good for protecting and cleansing the liver from chemicals that may damage the liver. The tea also has a mild laxative effect and helps flush out toxins and cleanse the system.

It also helps to alleviate allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms. A study on this showed more relief of symptoms was experienced by people who took antihistamines with this supplement than without taking it.

Milk thistle extract is also used to help Heartburn (dyspepsia) and IBS symptoms. It provides relief of menopausal symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats. It also lowers the blood sugar and LDL bad cholesterol and has been studied for its use for Diabetes and High Cholesterol patients.

This tea is also used to treat Acne because it is high in flavonoids and antioxidants. The suggested amount is one to two cups a day to help keep the skin healthy.

The liver is an important organ for the blood and immune systems. The excretion mechanism of the liver is a two phase process.

In phase one, the liver oxidizes the unwanted molecule by stripping off extra electrons. During phase two of the excretion process, the molecule is connected with a carrier molecule that makes it soluble into the bile and the fecal stream carries it out of the body.

This supplement helps with phase one of the process by helping to oxidize the undesirable molecules.

How to Make Milk Thistle Tea?

A tea recipe can made from Milk Thistle extract by using 20 drops into a cup of hot tea or hot water and consumed before meals. Suggested use is up to four times a day. If using a tea bag, steep one bag in a cup of hot water for 3 to 5 minutes. You can drink anywhere from 6 to 8 cups a day, according to Joe Pappa, a coffee consultant, to lose weight.

Jessica Espinoza at Delicious obsessions writes in her blog about making a Milk Thistle Coffee blend of chicory root, dandelion root, milk thistle seeds, and burdock root called Love Your Liver Coffee. The ingredients are:

• 1 tbsp. roasted dandelion root (ground into powder)
• 1 tbsp. milk thistle seeds (ground into powder)
• 1 tbsp. dried burdock root (ground into powder)
• 1 tbsp. roasted chicory root (ground into powder).

To make Milk Thistle coffee, bring 12-14 ounces of filter water to boil. Add 2 tsp of coffee blend to French Press or 1 tbsp for a stronger blend. Add the hot water.

Let the coffee soak for 10 minutes or 15-30 minutes for deeper flavour. Strain out the herbs. Sweeten and add creamer if wanted.

It is advised to put the ground blend into a dark glass jar and to keep in the freezer between uses because it contains essential fatty acids that can quickly go rancid once exposed to light and air.

Silybum marianum fruits can also used in an immune-support breakfast with rolled oats, oat bran, fresh or dried fruit, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, walnuts or almonds, lecithin granules, flax seeds, optional chia seeds and spices such as coriander, fennel, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon.

Is Milk Thistle Tea Safe?

Do not take this supplement if you are allergic to the Asteraceae Compositae plant family as it may cause anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction. Plants in this category include avocadoes, daisies and ragweed.

Also do not take milk thistle supplements with medications that are processed in the liver. It should also not be taken with phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), warfarin (Coumadin), Estrogen drugs, Glucuronidated drugs and Statins.

Milk thistle tea and coffee should be used with caution if pregnant or breastfeeding. Women with breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis or uterine fibroids should also avoid this supplement. Herbs that also lower the blood sugar should also be avoided.

Milk Thistle tea can be used to support a healthy liver as an antioxidant and means of detoxification. Taking it as a tea or coffee substitute is a gentle way to introduce it as part of a healthy diet.

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