Home Remedies Milk as herbs [030 of 140]

Dear Friend, while forwarding this mail , please keep the blog address link with it,(available at the bottom of this mail) so the receiver of the mail can see rest of the 140 home remedies. When ever he requires any information.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle originally is from Europe, but now it also is grown in the United States. Its scientific name is Silybum marianum. The ingredient that experts believe is responsible for its medicinal qualities is called silymarin. Silymarin is found in the fruits of the milk thistle plant. Studies in animals have shown that this active ingredient promotes the following activities:

Liver Cell Growth—Silymarin appears to promote the growth of some types of cells in the liver.

Antioxidation—Silymarin may be an effective "antioxidant," which means it may help fight a destructive chemical process in the body known as "oxidation." In oxidation, harmful substances produced in the body (called free radicals) can damage cells. Some studies suggest that silymarin can prevent these substances from damaging liver cells.

Antihepatotoxic Activity—Studies suggest that silymarin can block various types of toxins from entering and injuring liver cells.

Inflammation Inhibition—Silymarin is thought to prevent inflammation (swelling) of the liver; this may be described as displaying anti-inflammatory properties.

Milk thistle is not used to prevent HCV from causing liver disease. Rather, it is used with the hope that it would minimize the damage to the liver that HCV can cause.

Studies of Milk Thistle in People

Although studies in animals provide a good deal of information on potential new treatments, studies in humans are needed before it can be determined if these therapies are appropriate, safe, and effective in people. The most rigorous type of study to establish a scientific basis for use of a new therapy in people is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (RDBPC) trial.

Although not focused primarily on HCV disease, the most relevant existing research data regarding milk thistle's use as a therapy for hepatitis comes from two RDBPC trials of silymarin's effects on cirrhosis. The two studies produced conflicting results.

The first, reported in 1989, examined 170 patients with cirrhosis from various causes, including alcohol abuse. Approximately half (87) of the patients received silymarin (140 milligrams 3 times a day for 2 years). The others (83 patients) received a placebo. Because 24 patients dropped out of the study, a total of 146 patients (73 in each group) finished the 2-year study.

The doctors in this study noted that the number of patients who died in the 4 years after the study was 31 percent lower in the group that received the silymarin than in the group of patients who received the placebo. The beneficial effects of silymarin were especially seen in the patients who had cirrhosis as a result of alcohol abuse. The doctors did not report that any patients experienced side effects from silymarin treatment.

A more recent RDBPC trial, however, did not find silymarin to have any significant benefits for patients with cirrhosis. In this study, reported in 1998, doctors examined 200 patients with cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse. Approximately half (103) of the patients received silymarin (150 milligrams 3 times a day for 2 years). The other half (97) received a placebo. A total of 125 patients (57 in the treatment group and 68 in the placebo group) finished the 2-year study. To measure effectiveness, the doctors measured (1) time to death and (2) the worsening of the disease.

Survival was similar in both the silymarin and placebo groups, and silymarin did not seem to improve the course of the disease in the treatment group. The doctors who performed the experiment did not note side effects in any of the patients.

Although small, one randomized controlled trial on hepatitis patients suggests that a specific component in silymarin may be beneficial in managing chronic hepatitis. In this study, reported in 1993, 10 patients with chronic hepatitis were assigned to the treatment group and 10 others were assigned to the placebo group. The treatment group received 240 milligrams of silybin, a component of silymarin, two times a day for 1 week. The results of tests that measure how well the liver is functioning showed significant improvement in the treatment group, suggesting that silybin may help treat chronic hepatitis.

Milk thistle in the treatment of liver disease needs to be studied further. Fortunately, negative side effects have not yet been reported, and this herbal therapy may be much less expensive than conventional drug therapies. Yet, it should be mentioned that conventional therapies have been proven to work in a substantial portion of patients.

Because milk thistle does not dissolve well in water, the herb is not effective in the form of a tea. It currently is marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules containing 200 milligrams of a concentrated extract with 140 milligrams of silymarin.

. .=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the writer or sender or re-sender or any other.  Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician. Keep in mind that THE WRITER IS "NOT A DOCTOR"

=============================================================================

Dear Friends : The emails are schedule to be posted in the blog and will sent to the group on various dates and time fixed. Instead of sending it on one day it is spread on various dates.  

=============================================================================