By Julie C. Ashe

Milk thistle is a thorny tall plant with a purple flower center. Its seeds contain a flavonoid called silymarin which is the nutrient responsible for healing various ailments. I’ll go through some of the most common questions that people have about this flavonoid within this article.

Flavanoids are naturally occurring in many plants and fruits. They are antioxidants that help maintain the body’s health and protect it against diseases. These nutrients are known to protect the membranes of cells which make it useful against a wide array of diseases.

In the following Q&A session, you’ll learn why this nutrient is so important to our health, why we need it to treat liver and gallbladder problems, the scientific research and evidence to back it up and how you can take advantage of the wide variety of silymarin uses for improved health.

Question: So what are the various silymarin uses and does milk thistle cleanse the liver?
Answer: This herb has been traced back to being used over 1000 years ago for medicinal purposes. It’s has many uses from treating hepatitis, cirrhosis and viral forms of hepatitis. It also helps treat liver damage from drugs or toxic chemicals and is shown to have anti-cancer properties although this has not been fully researched.

Question: Who and why do we need this nutrient?
Answer: People who have liver or gallbladder problems may benefit from taking this herb in extract form. Because this herb contains anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects, it is incredibly helpful for treating the liver and the gallbladder. Many cases of liver and gallbladder problems stem from inflamed cells which is why it is so helpful.
People who also abuse or have abused alcohol and suffer the effects of it will benefit from taking it because it improves liver function and mellows the symptoms of these health problems.

Question: What kinds of studies have been done to prove its effectiveness?
Answer: There was a 5-year experiment conducted examining how milk thistle helps liver disease in which cirrhotic patients used this herb. The results showed that there was a decrease in the number of deaths and patients also experienced improved liver function.
There is also sufficient research into silymarin being effective for patients with gallbladder problems. Because it helps promote the flow of bile, it helps break down gallbladder stones as well as treat the painful symptoms of having these stones.

Question: How can you take advantage of this nutrient?
The best way to get the optimum silymarin dose is to take it in liquid extract form. I recommend the milk thistle formula containing 85mg per 100mg of silymarin for it to be effective. Also formulas with enteric coating help the nutrients from being broken down by stomach acid so make sure you look for those.

Julie C. Ashe is a life-time user and passionate fan of the benefits of vitamins and supplements with a scientific base to promote good health and vitality. Visit Julie’s site Facts about Vitamins and Supplements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_C._Ashe

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