Does Using Silymarin for Liver Support and Detox Work?

The effects of Silymarin on the liver are well-recognzed by natural health practitioners and by Western medical doctors.

Silymarin is extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant and is a known antioxidant.

Milk thistle has been used for more than 2,000 years by physicians and traditional medicine practitioners to treat a variety of ailments, particularly liver disorders.

Silymarin is composed of a number of flavonoids and flavonolignans, both of which are powerful antioxidants and protect the liver from some forms of damage.

This supplement is used to slow down signs of aging, cleanse the body and help to promote liver function and detoxification of substances like alcohol. Milk thistle or silymarin has been historically used to support liver health and a number of studies have been conducted in recent years to understand the therapeutic role of using silymarin extract for the liver.

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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Historical Uses of Milk Thistle

Silymarin comes from the seeds of the milk thistle plant.

The herb has been used for thousands of years, mainly in ancient Europe and Asia, to treat a number of disorders related to the liver.

For instance, milk thistle was used in the treatment of emotional distress, including depression. At the time, it was believed that the liver organ was responsible for emotions, and that a malfunction of the liver affected a person’s mental or emotional state.

Based on this line of reasoning, milk thistle was also used to create spring tonics believed to relieve the symptoms of what we now refer to as Seasonal Affective Disorder.

How is Silymarin for the Liver Used?

Milk thistle has long been studied for its use in the treatment of liver disorders. Because of its flavonoid and antioxidant properties, silymarin is believed to protect the liver from the damage caused by oxidation.

Oxidation is caused by free radicals, which can damage and destroy otherwise healthy cells. When it comes to liver treatments, the focus today is on protecting and repairing the liver from damage caused by conditions such as alcoholism, cirrhosis and hepatitis.

The liver may be understood as the body’s waste management system. It acts like a screen that detoxifies the blood by removing toxins and other damaging materials. The liver also plays a role in digestion by producing chemicals that help the body break down consumed compounds, including food, alcohol and drugs.

Silymarin is useful for the liver not only because it helps protect the liver from free radical damage, but also because it stimulates growth and rejuvenation of liver cells. It also promotes increased levels of antioxidants (including superoxide dismutase), catalase and glutathione, all of which help support liver protection and good health.

Additional Positive Effects of Silymarin

Silymarin derived from the seeds of the milk thistle plant may also contain a number of useful nutrients, including calcium, iron, zinc, essential fatty acids and potassium.

When it comes to silymarin for the liver, the extract is believed to enhance the ability of the liver cell’s outer membrane to prevent toxic compounds from entering the cell, which may help prevent damage.

Some studies have shown that individuals diagnosed with hepatitis have experienced improved liver cell regeneration following treatment with silymarin. Silymarin has also been used for centuries to reduce toxicity following mushroom poisoning, as well as in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver.

In a study conducted by a German pharmaceutical firm, individuals suffering from liver disorders (including fatty liver and cirrhosis) experienced a reduction of symptoms when taking a standardized concentration of milk thistle over the course of two month.

Some of the most common symptomatic complaints of these individuals included abdominal cramping, distention, and discomfort, lack of appetite, nausea and fatigue. Studies such as this one indicate a therapeutic role for milk thistle, but larger, randomized trials are necessary to confirm such results.

Is Silymarin Safe to Take?

Silymarin supplements and milk thistle extract is generally well tolerated when used as instructed.

The best form of silymarin is called silipide: the chemical combination of silibinin (suspected to be the most active component of silymarin) and phosphatidlycholine (a main constituent of soy lecithin). Soy lecithin components found are thought to support the absorption of silymarin in the digestive tract.

As with any supplement, be sure to speak with your doctor before beginning to take silymarin. Some individuals are not well suited for silymarin supplementation. For instance, individuals being treated for any form of liver disease or dysfunction should consult with a physician prior to taking silymarin or milk thistle supplements.

In particular, some tinctures that use milk thistle are prepared with alcohol, and should not be used in the treatment of liver disease. In most cases, silymarin supplements for the liver are well tolerated and good results are indicated by users; however, clinical studies about the efficacy of silymarin supplementation are still lacking.

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