Currently, more and more people prefer to use homeopathic remedies in the treatment of various diseases. Moreover, many of them are much more effective than traditional tablets. And herbs for the prevention of ailments are simply irreplaceable. One such plant is milk thistle. The birthplace of this herb is considered to be Southern Europe. But because of its unpretentiousness, the plant spread almost throughout the world. It is easy to meet him in the Crimea, and in the Caucasus, and in the middle zone of Russia. What kind of plant is this and why is there so much talk about it?
Milk thistle: medicinal properties
This is a tall (up to 150 cm) one- or two-year-old plant, very similar to a thistle. The only thing that distinguishes it is that the thistle on the leaves has white spots and stains. The trunk of the plant is erect, covered with thorns. The leaves are wide and dense, spines are also located at the edges. The inflorescence is collected in a gray box. The flowers are red or pink, tubular, with a white tuft of hairs at the end. It blooms from May to August. In medicine, seeds and roots, as well as leaves, are used. The healing properties of the plant were noted by doctors in ancient times. And this is no coincidence. As modern research has shown, milk thistle is rich in valuable trace elements and acids. So, this plant contains about 20% protein, up to 30% fiber, 25-30% valuable oil. In this herb, there are almost all B vitamins, as well as A, K, D, E and others. There are trace elements - Zn, Cu, Se. The oil contains acids such as linoleic, arachinic, behenic, oleic, palmitic, stearic, meristic. This oil is used not only in medicine, but also in the food industry. Here it is used as a dietary supplement. Traditional medicine mainly uses milk thistle to treat diseases related to the liver and blood vessels, urolithiasis. In folk recipes, the spectrum of use is much wider. This plant is also used to improve the general condition of the body, especially after serious illnesses and antibiotic courses.
Milk thistle: indications for use in the treatment of liver
Pour thirty grams of powdered seeds with boiling water (about 2.5 cups) and evaporate the broth over a very low heat until the liquid is doubled. Cool the resulting product and take one tablespoon every hour. The course of treatment is three weeks, then take a two-week break. Repeat if necessary.
Milk thistle: indications for use with varicose veins
Pour a teaspoon of seeds or chopped herbs with a glass of boiling water and insist for half an hour. Take the infusion on a hot morning on an empty stomach and before bedtime.
Milk thistle: indications for the treatment of obesity
If you intend to lose extra pounds, then milk thistle will come in handy. The plant helps to remove toxins and poisons from the body, and when losing weight, getting rid of toxins is one of the main tasks. To do this, prepare a meal - seeds and leaves of a plant crushed in a blender. The product must be taken before meals, one teaspoon four times a day, washed down with warm mineral water.
Milk thistle: indications for rejuvenation
The plant contains a large amount of vitamin E and silymarin. The first is a very powerful antioxidant, and the second strengthens cell walls and thereby prevents oxidative processes.
Milk thistle: application, contraindications, interesting facts
Also, this plant is used to treat long healing wounds. The affected areas should be sprinkled with meal. Dermatologists also recommend taking infusions from milk thistle for the treatment of all kinds of skin diseases, such as vitiligo, eczema, diathesis, psoriasis, etc. This plant is also considered to be almost the only means by which it is possible to survive after poisonous grebe poisoning. There are no contraindications to use as such, the only thing is intolerance to the individual components that are part of the chemical composition of the plant.