AT A GLANCE
What healing effects do thistles have?
Thistles are valuable medicinal plants that stimulate liver metabolism and contribute to the regeneration of damaged liver cells. They contain silymarin, which neutralizes free radicals, and safflower oil, which contains unsaturated fatty acids and strengthens the cardiovascular system.
Is the thistle a medicinal plant?
Not just the well-known ones milk thistle and the artichoke, also all native thistle species are valuable medicinal plants. What all representatives of this large plant family have in common is that they stimulate liver metabolism and can help to regenerate damaged liver cells.
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Milk thistle is such a powerful medicinal plant that its main active ingredient can even rid the liver of the deadly toxin of the death cap mushroom. Many mushroom poisonings can be cured by intravenous administration.
What healing ingredients does the thistle have?
The silymarin contained in the thistles is primarily responsible for the good effect of thistle preparations. This flavonoid complex consists of the following components:
- silybin A and B,
- silychristine,
- silydianine.
A particularly high content can be found in milk thistle, their seed contain between one and three percent of the active ingredient. Furthermore, mucilage and secondary plant substances contribute to the healing effect.
What are the ingredients in healthy safflower oil?
This oil, obtained from the seeds of the safflower, is characterized by the high content of unsaturated fatty acids out of. No other vegetable oil contains up to
- 78 percent linoleic acid,
- 13 percent oleic acid,
- 6 percent palmitic acid.
Which diseases are treated with the thistle?
Thistle preparations are able to to neutralize free radicals. They activate the body's own detoxification ability of the liver and regenerate the organ.
Thistles are used for:
- liver diseases
- liver poisoning
- indigestion
- fatty liver
- liver cirrhosis
- hepatitis
- to prevent liver damage.
Safflower oil strengthens the cardiovascular system and the immune system and lowers cholesterol levels. It has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
Is the thistle used in conventional medicine?
Since the effectiveness of thistles proven in older and newer studies could be found, plant extracts are also found in numerous medicines that are used in conventional medicine.
Are there any side effects from taking thistles?
If you dose the medicine too high, this can happen abdominal pain and bloating to lead. There thistles belong to the daisy family, people who are allergic to these plants should not take thistle preparations.
Caution: Never treat liver damage yourself.
Tip
Thistles in the kitchen
Raw in salads or cooked: Thistles also have health benefits when prepared in extremely tasty dishes. Artichokes contain bitter substances that have been shown to lower cholesterol levels. All representatives of this large plant family, even the native creeping thistle, have a positive effect on digestion and support liver activity.