Why does your liver need help?

The liver is a major organ of detoxification in your body. And today’s world is so polluted – there are so much toxins, whether in the air you breathe in, in the water you drink, or in the food you eat. Thus your liver needs all the help it can get to rid your body of all the harmful substances within that are disrupting your bodily functions and leaving you in a poor state of health.

And a herb proven to support your liver functions is milk thistle. This herb has been used by herbalists for over 2,000 years. And recent studies are validating its beneficial effects on the liver.

It seems that the herb can help improve your liver functions. A compound found in the herb, silymarin, has been found to protect liver cells from the invasion and destruction of viral toxins (e.g. hepatitis B or C viruses) and other harmful substances. The herb also aids in the removal of such toxic substances from your cells. That is why this herb is used in many detoxification programs.

Milk thistle can even be used to treat liver ailments. Some research suggests that milk thistle extracts when used intravenously, could be an antidote for liver poisoning. Silymarin in the herb also promotes liver regeneration, which is crucial for many sufferers of liver diseases.

The herb can help improve the quality of life and life-expectancy in cirrhosis sufferers. Research suggests that it can help halt or slow down fibrosis. The herb can also help reduce liver damage and symptoms, as well as increase platelet and white blood cell count in (viral and alcohol-induced) hepatitis sufferers.

Milk thistle can also be used to protect your liver from the possible toxic effects of long-term prescription drug use, and even cancer treatment (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy). In some parts of Europe, the herb is prescribed together with drugs that are known to have harmful effects on the liver.

Read more about how you can make use of this wonderful herb for your liver health.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.