Milk thistle meal is an amazing herbal preparation. The benefits that this medicine brings to the entire human body, and in particular the liver, without exaggeration, can be called unique. How to take milk thistle meal? We will talk about this in an article.
Milk Thistle Overview
Some medicinal plants are rare in nature and cost a lot of money. Milk thistle is ubiquitous and quite accessible. It is familiar to gardeners, as it belongs to the weeds of the thistle family. This unpretentious, tenacious, spiky plant can be seen in forests, fields and steppes. Stems sometimes reach two meters in height. For use in the pharmaceutical industry, seeds and leaves of milk thistle are harvested in August, 2-3 weeks after flowering.
What is meal
This little-known term is called ground plant seeds. Before grinding, they reduce the oil content to a minimum by drying. For preparing meal, only fully ripened seeds are suitable. The resulting powder has a gray or brown tint. Milk thistle instruction manual describes as a recycled product of oilcake.
History of use in medicine
Thousands of years ago, ancient healers used milk thistle meal. The benefits and harms of various plants were well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. They considered milk thistle a powerful antidote that could help with the bites of spiders and snakes. In the Middle Ages, many knowledge of ancient medicine was lost, but manuscripts describing the beneficial properties of this plant were preserved. Renaissance European doctors believed that its seeds were very effective in treating hepatitis. But this remarkable natural remedy found true recognition only in the middle of the twentieth century. Studies by German scientists have proved that milk thistle contains hundreds of components important for human health.
Biochemical composition
A large amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins and acids necessary for health is found in the roots, stems and fruits of the plant. But the main advantage is the presence of a special type of substance called flavolignans. They perform a number of vital functions for the human body. These elements neutralize the effects of poisons of various origins, remove toxins and toxins, relieve inflammation and weaken allergic reactions. But the most valuable property is their ability to repair liver cells. These substances are found in all parts of the plant, but most of all - in the fruits. It is from them that such a popular thistle meal is produced. The benefits that it brings are due to the presence of a large number of these valuable elements.
Self cooking
It is quite possible to process milk thistle seeds into meal at home. But drying and chopping the fruits will take a lot of time and effort. In addition, seed oil must be removed very efficiently. It is quite simple to achieve the desired result in an industrial way, but it will be difficult to do this at home.
Pharmaceutical products
Finished powder is sold in pharmacies. The weight of the package is usually one hundred grams. Some manufacturers also produce milk thistle oil in capsules and its extract based on alcohol or water. This medicinal plant is sometimes consumed in place of tea, and powder is found on sale in disposable brewing bags. In addition, in pharmacies you can find tableted thistle meal. The use and contraindications for each type of pharmaceutical product are described in detail in the attached instructions.
Proper storage
It should be borne in mind that the drug may lose its beneficial properties if it is in the wrong conditions. The meal should be kept in a dark place, in a tightly closed glass vessel. It should not be exposed to sunlight. It is necessary to protect the powder from moisture.
The benefits of milk thistle
Both official and alternative medicine unanimously recognize milk thistle meal. The benefits (reviews of doctors and patients indicate not only the healing effect, but also the benefits of a natural herbal preparation over traditional medicines) are obvious. Chemical drugs create an additional burden on the liver already damaged as a result of the disease. Milk thistle meal, on the contrary, has a beneficial effect on the whole body: it contributes to the production of bile, normalizes blood sugar and counteracts viral infections. This natural preparation is effective in the following ailments:
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- viral hepatitis;
- stomach ulcer;
- gastritis;
- pancreatitis
- eczema
- diabetes.
Healing powder helps to cope with the effects of chemical and radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer.
Application
Before taking milk thistle meal, you should consult a specialist. The main unique property of this herbal preparation is the ability to cleanse the entire body from harmful substances and toxins. Healing powder counteracts all kinds of intoxications. In the modern world, it is almost impossible to protect yourself from all sources of pollution. Residents of large cities and industrial centers suffer from automobile exhaust and industrial waste emissions. In agriculture, a large number of toxic fertilizers are used. Antibiotics help to cope with individual diseases, but their composition ultimately has a negative effect on health.
Protection and restoration of the liver
This organ plays a critical role in maintaining health and normal functioning. It neutralizes all harmful substances that enter the human body. The liver has the ability to pass all the blood through itself and purify it of toxins within a few minutes. It not only protects the entire body from poisoning, but also performs important functions related to digestion and metabolic processes. But sometimes the liver does not cope with its tasks, and milk thistle meal can help it. The benefits and harms, simultaneously caused by chemicals of traditional medicine, are a serious argument for choosing a natural healing remedy. Its flavolignans not only protect and strengthen liver cells, but also restore them even in the event of severe damage.
Removal of toxins and toxins
The cause of many ailments is an excess of harmful substances in the body. Most problems of the gastrointestinal tract occur due to a malfunction in the liver. If it loses its ability to remove toxins, they begin to adversely affect other internal organs. The appearance of rashes, acne and acne indicates that harmful substances accumulate in too much and enter the skin. Their entry into the blood vessels leads to cardiological diseases. Weakened immunity and chronic fatigue are often the result of intoxication. For all of the above problems, milk thistle meal is recommended. The benefits and harms of flavolignans contained in ground fruits have not been sufficiently studied, but the long practice of using this medicinal plant confirms its beneficial effect on human health.
Application methods
To achieve a healing effect, it is necessary that the milk thistle (meal) is fully absorbed by the body. How to use? Patient reviews suggest that it is easiest to swallow one teaspoon of herbal remedy an hour before meals. Another way is to prepare a decoction. You need to place 60 grams of the drug in one liter of water and boil until half the liquid evaporates. You can make an alcohol-based tincture, but you need to consult a doctor about using this method. In some cases, it is contraindicated.
It is worth noting that milk thistle meal (benefits and harms) will depend on an individually selected course of treatment. How to take this medicine to children? At the age of 7 to 12 years, the dose should be one third of a teaspoon. The powder can be added to porridge or jelly, but it is better to swallow it separately and drink it with warm water or milk.
Duration of use
The usual course of treatment for an adult is 30 days. During the year it can be repeated no more than four times. The minimum break between periods of taking the medicine should be two weeks. It is necessary to get a doctor’s recommendation in order to prescribe milk thistle meal for children under 7 years old. The benefits of treatment will be maximum if the duration of use and dosage are established by a qualified specialist.
In cosmetology
For aesthetic procedures, oil of this medicinal plant is usually used, but milk thistle meal can also be used as a scrub. The benefits and harms of peeling with this powder depend on the sensitivity of the skin. If it is elevated, it is recommended to mix the herbal preparation with olive oil. It should be applied to the face and body and after a few minutes rinse with water. A natural remedy helps with rashes and irritations.
When losing weight
Many overweight people fail to cope with this problem through diets and exercise. The reason for the extra pounds is a violation of digestion and metabolism. In such situations, you can resort to the help of milk thistle, which normalizes the metabolism in the body.
Oil and meal are used in cooking. They are added to salads, sauces, cereals and pastries. It is worth noting that they do not contain components that burn fat and reduce appetite. To achieve the result, it is necessary to additionally apply other methods of getting rid of excess weight.
Side effects
It is worth collecting complete information about the drug if you plan to take milk thistle meal. The benefits and harms, the reviews of people who have already used it for treatment and prevention, are important information. Any pharmaceutical agent has side effects. In the process of releasing liver cells from toxins, a deterioration in well-being is possible: dizziness and nausea. During cleansing, the body needs fluid - you should drink more. If the condition does not improve, you need to reduce the dose of powder.
Contraindications
It is worth paying attention to the following contraindications:
- Without the permission of a doctor, you should not take milk thistle for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Harmful substances that are removed from the liver enter the bloodstream and breast milk.
- Individual intolerance to meal is not excluded. One of its components can cause an allergic reaction.
- In acute lesions of the bile ducts, the action of milk thistle sometimes leads to their overload, movement of stones and a painful attack. The use of vegetable powder is a danger to people with such ailments.
- Meal is contraindicated in asthmatics, as it can provoke shortness of breath.
It is important to emphasize that even a natural remedy can be harmful if you do not consult your doctor before using it.