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The liver is our body's greatest chemical factory. It builds complex molecules from simple substances absorbed from the digestive tract. It neutralizes toxins. It manufactures bile, which aids fat digestion and removes some toxins through the bowels. But the ability of the liver to perform these many functions is often compromised by numerous substances that we are exposed to on a daily basis. These substances range from pollution to prescription drugs, and fortunately, many foods, nutrients and herbs can protect liver cells from damage and facilitate the liver's role as the body's main detoxifying organ. This second of our two-part series on liver protection and function enhancement focuses on the European medicinal herb, milk thistle (Silybum marianum).
Powerful Liver Lover: Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle Plant
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Historical and modern uses
Also called St. Mary's thistle and Holy thistle, milk thistle was used by first-century Romans to increase bile flow. It was also given to people who had consumed too much alcohol. In 18th-century England and 19th-century America, milk thistle was a 'specific' for liver congestion, jaundice and related conditions. Today, laboratory and clinical tests confirm milk thistle's significant liver-protective effects. Clinical trials indicate milk thistle's active constituents, silybin and silymarin, as well as the whole plant extract, can restore better liver function in patients with acute and chronic liver disease, including alcoholic fatty degeneration, acute toxin-induced hepatitis, and cirrhosis. In human trials, Milk Thistle protects and restores liver cells following acute viral hepatitis (A and B), toxin and medication-induced hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and in chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis. (see sidebar)
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· In double-blind studies, patients with acute viral hepatitis who were treated with silymarin reported both quicker liver enzyme normalization and recovery time.
• Liver enzymes in patients on psychotropic drugs who were given milk thistle normalized, regardless of whether the drugs were discontinued or not.
• 60 consecutive patients treated for Amanita poisoning with silymarin achieved a 100% survival rate.
• Liver enzymes and bilirubin levels normalized during a six-month trial in which 140 mg of a silymarin product was given twice a day to patients who chronically abused alcohol and had chronic alcoholic hepatitis.
• Of over 2,000 patients with chronic liver disease who were treated with 560 mg of silymarin daily for two months, over 60% reported complete remission of subjective symptoms, as well as decreased liver enzyme levels and palpable reductions to liver enlargement.
 
bulletHow does the herb work?
Milk Thistle has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It also aids in liver cell regeneration. These effects are attributed silymarin and silybin, which have been shown to protect liver cells from toxins, including ethanol (alcohol), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and carbon tetrachloride. Silymarin and silybin prevent lipid peroxidation of liver cell membranes, while protecting cells from glutathione depletion (glutathione is the body's most important intracellular antioxidant). Silymarin also blocks leukotriene formation and stabilizes mast cells and liver macrophages, Leukotrienes are among the most damaging inflammatory chemicals that the body produces; mast cells and macrophages also contribute to inflammation. Inflammation often leads to tissue destruction; reduced tendency toward inflammation allows cells to function at optimum levels. In addition, silymarin promotes liver cell protein generation, an effect that actually enhances the ability of the liver to make new liver cells to replace damaged ones. This process is extremely important in patient recovery from liver disease. It is also able to stop the lethal effects of Amanita (death cap) mushroom poisoning.

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Most likely other components of milk thistle are also at work in its effects, but it is clear that the milk thistle plant has a lot to offer by way of liver protection. In addition to the avoidance of as many chemical exposures as possible (especially alcohol, tobacco, unnecessary medications and recreational drugs) milk thistle is a wise choice in promoting liver health.
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Biographical Note:
Dr. Paul Rajcok, N.D. provides naturopathic medical services in Chelmsford and Cambridge, Mass, specializing in family practice and treating most acute and chronic diseases. He is a graduate of Brown University and Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences.

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References
Albrecht M., et. al. Therapy of toxic liver pathologies with Legalon. Z Klin Med 1992; 47:87-92.
Bosisio E, et. al. Effect of the flavanolignans of Silibum marianum L.on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and freshly isolated hepatocytes. Pharmacol Res 1992; 25:147-54.
Campos R, et. al. Silybin dihemisuccinate protects against glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation induced by acetaminophen on rat liver. Planta Med 1989; 55:417-19.
Comoglio A, et. al. Scavenging effect of silipide, a new silybin-phospholipid complex, on ethanol-derived free radicals. Biochem Pharmacol 1995; 50:1313-16.
Dehmlow C, et. al. Inhibition of Kupffer cell functions as an explanation for the hepatoprotective properties of silibinin. Hepatology 1996;23:749-54.
Feher J, et.al. Hepatoprotective activity of silymarin (Legalon) therapy in patients with chronic liver disease. Orvosi Hetilap 1989; 130:2723-27.Foster S. Milk Thistle: Silybum marianum. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council, 1991.
Foster S. Milk Thistle: Silybum marianum. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council, 1991.
Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, vol. 2. New York: Dover Publications, 1981.
Hruby K, et.al. Chemotherapy of Amanita phalloides poisoning with intravenous silibinin. Human Toxicol 1983; 2:183-95.
Kiso Y, et.al. Assay method for antihepatotoxic activity using carbon tetrachloride induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured hepatocytes. Planta Med 1983; 49:222-25.
Muriel, P, et. al. Prevention by silymarin of membrane alterations in acute CCl4 liver damage. J Appl Toxicol 1990; 10:275-79.
Muriel P, et. al. Silymarin protects against paracetamol induced lipid peroxidation and liver damage. J Appl Toxicol 1992; 12:439-42.
Murray M, Healing Power of Herbs. Prima: Rockland, CA, 1995.
Palasciano G, et. al. The effect of silymarin on plasma levels of malondialdehyde in patients receiving long-term treatment with psychotropic drugs. Curr Ther Res 1994; 55:537-45.
Plomteux G, et.al. Hepatoprotector action of silymarin in human acute viral hepatitis. Int Res Commun Syst 1977; 5:259-62.
Valenzuela A, et. al. Silymarin protection against hepatic lipid peroxidation induced by acute ethanol intoxication in the rat. Biochem Pharmacol 1985; 34:2209-12.

 
 
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