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Quotes about Thistle from the world's top natural health / natural living authors

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"COMMON NAME(S): Holy thistle, lady's thistle, marian thistle, Mary thistle. Milk thistle, St. Mary thistle, silybum PATIENT INFORMATION Uses: Treatment or protection against liver damage, as in cirrhosis, Amanita mushroom poisoning, and hepatitis. Side Effects: Few adverse effects have been seen other than brief GI disturbances and mild allergic reactions; possible urticaria in one patient. | BOTANY: This plant is indigenous to Kashmir, but is found in North America from Canada to Mexico. Milk thistle grows from = 1.5 to 3 m and has large prickly leaves." - Ara Dermarderosian, Guide to Popular Natural Products (Get the book.)

"MILK THISTLE Milk thistle has been found to be beneficial in a wide range of liver disorders. Eighty-percent silymarin extracts of milk thistle (for example, a 200-mg capsule of milk thistle will have 160 mg of silymarin) have been found to have antioxidant and glucose-regulating properties. In a study at Monfalcone Hospital in Groiza, Italy, sixty insulin-dependent diabetics took either 600 mg of silymarin or a placebo for twelve months. After the first month, in which fasting glucose levels were elevated, fasting glucose declined by 9.5 percent and average daily glucose dropped 14." - Gabriel Cousens, There Is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Life 21-Day+ Program (Get the book.)

"Benedict's thistle, cardin, holy thistle, and spotted thistle. Kelp {Laminaria digitata) extracts have shown immunostimulatory and antitumor activities. For both detoxification purposes and anticancer effects, kelp is a critical part of the Flor-Essence tea. Kelp is very useful at blocking accumulations of radioactive contaminants. It is also known as laminaria or brown kelp. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) contains large amounts of the phytoestrogen genistein, which has demonstrated antiangiogenic, estrogenic, and profound anticancer benefits." - Freedom Press, Natural Cancer Cures: The Definitive Guide to Using Dietary Supplements to Fight and Prevent Cancer (Get the book.)

"Milk Thistle Milk thistle is a fabulous herb that is known to protect, cleanse and stimulate the liver to release toxins and manufacture bile. Any herb that aids in bile flow helps to flush out gallstones. This herb has a detoxifying affect and is often used for jaundice, cirrhosis or hepatitis. It is better used in the early stages of cirrhosis than late stages of liver failure. Typical dosage is 200 to 250 mgs per day with each meal. Drink lots of water whilst using milk thistle to flush your system of toxins." - Heather Caruso, Your Drug-Free Guide to Digestive Health (Get the book.) "Milk Thistle Milk thistle is a fabulous herb that is known to protect, cleanse and stimulate the liver to release toxins and manufacture bile. This herb has a detoxifying affect and is often used for jaundice, cirrhosis or hepatitis. It is better used in the early stages of cirrhosis than the late stages of liver failure. Typical dosage is 200 to 250 mgs per day with each meal. Drink lots of water whilst using milk thistle to flush your system of toxins. Swedish Bitters Bitters preparations are made by an infusion and/or distillation process using aromatic herbs, bark, roots, and/or fruit." - Heather Caruso, Your Drug-Free Guide to Digestive Health (Get the book.)

"Silybum marianum (Compositae) Milk thistle, MARY THISTLE Milk Thistle A spiny biennial growing to 5 ft (1.5 m), with white-veined leaves and purple flower heads. • 1 Milk thistle has been used in Europe as a remedy for depression and liver problems for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Recent research has confirmed traditional herbal knowledge, proving that the herb has a remarkable ability to protect the liver from damage resulting from alcoholic and other types of poisoning. Today, milk thistle is widely used in the West for treating a range of liver conditions." - Andrew Chevallier, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants (Get the book.)

"Milk Thistle Milk thistle is a herb that is useful for the liver because it can actually help the liver cells to regenerate. It is used to treat disorders such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver poisoning. It aids in fat digestion by aiding in bile production. Bile acts as a lubricant for the bowels. It helps to prevent free radical damage from environmental toxins and medications. It also aids in blood sugar stabilization, decreasing cholesterol and promotes excretion of toxins. It has been studied by researchers and found beneficial in some types of cancer, such as breast and prostate." - Heather Caruso, Your Drug-Free Guide to Digestive Health (Get the book.)

"Silybum marianum (Compositae) Milk thistle, MARY THISTLE Milk Thistle A spiny biennial growing to 5 ft (1.5 m), with white-veined leaves and purple flower heads. „ 1 Milk thistle has been used in Europe as a remedy for depression and liver problems for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Recent research has confirmed traditional herbal knowledge, proving that the herb has a remarkable ability to protect the liver from damage resulting from alcoholic and other types of poisoning. Today, milk thistle is widely used in the West for treating a range of liver conditions." - Andrew Chevallier, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants (Get the book.)

"Milk Thistle Milk thistle helps to improve liver function and stimulate bile flow. This herb has a detoxifying effect on the liver and gallbladder. It is often used in conjunction with dandelion. Drink plenty of water to flush the system of toxins. Typical dosage is 200 to 250 mgs per day with each meal. Probiotics Every person has billions of bacteria in their intestinal tract. Most bacteria are beneficial and maintain health. A small percentage of bacteria in our intestines are harmful if they spread." - Heather Caruso, Your Drug-Free Guide to Digestive Health (Get the book.)

"MILK THISTLE What it does: Because of its strong antioxidant activity, milk thistle detoxifies the liver and may help regenerate liver cells. It may be appropriate for patients who have alcohol-related liver damage or infectious or drug-induced hepatitis, as well as anyone who is regularly exposed to industrial pollutants. Scientific evidence: At least 19 out of 21 clinical studies (a total of 2,200 people out of 2,400) have shown that milk thistle protects the liver against invasive toxins and possibly even stimulates the generation of new liver cells. Potential side effect: Loose stools." - Bottom Line Health, Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 (Get the book.)

"I typically prescribe the following for the two weeks before the period: Milk thistle or Lipotropic complex (a combination of liver herbs such as dandelion root [taraxacum officinale], Chelidonium, beet leaf, black radish with methionine and inositol, vitamin B6 and B12). Doses depend on the strength of the extracts. Typically 400 to 500 mg of milk thistle two to three times daily are used. Beta-sitosterol (500 to 800 mg/day) helps improve estrogen metabolism and can provide relief from breast pain." - Phuli Cohan, The Natural Hormone Makeover: 10 Steps to Rejuvenate Your Health and Rediscover Your Inner Glow (Get the book.)

"Benedict thistle, holy thistle and spotted thistle. The plant is native to southern Europe and western Asia. The common names of the herb are derived from its popular use during the Middle Ages as a tonic by monks in the monasteries. Blessed thistle is mainly used as a folk remedy to stimulate the appetite and as a tonic. It is also claimed to act as a mild diuretic and to be helpful in the treatment of constipation, flatulence, liver disorders, headaches and fever. The dried flowering tops of blessed thistle are most commonly used as bitters." - Sheldon Saul Hendler, The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia (Get the book.)

"Milk thistle (Silybum Marianum) Milk thistle has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine for the treatment of liver disease. The active constituent in milk thistle is silymarin, a mixture of three flavolignans. Silybin is the most biologically active flavonoid in silymarin. Therapeutically, milk thistle acts by protecting liver cells from toxic damage,26 boosting glutathione concentrations,27 and regenerating normal liver cells.28 Milk thistle is also a potent free radical scavenger." - Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A., Healing Pets With Nature's Miracle Cures (Get the book.)

"But Berkson also remembered that alpha lipoic acid, in addition to being great for blood sugar, was an amazing Natural Prescription for Hepatitis C Alpha lipoic acid: 900-1,200 mg Selenium: 200-400 meg Milk thistle (silymarin): 900 mg ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: N-acetyl-cysteine: 1,000-2,000 mg Whey protein powder: 1-2 servings Dandelion tea: Frequently Phosphatidylcholine: 3 g Optional: Olive leaf extract has some antiviral properties and may be useful as well; 500-1,000 mg, three times a day. Use a capsule containing at least 10 percent extract of the active ingredient, oleuropein." - Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why (Get the book.)

"Taken regularly, these herbs can be used to prevent liver disease and maintain the health of this vital organ. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is native to Europe, where it is often prescribed to treat and protect the liver. As far back as the seventeenth century, this herb was known as "a friend to liver and blood." The active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, a substance that prevents inflammation and protects against the harmful effects of free radicals. It also stimulates liver cell growth and the production of bile." - Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac., Alternative Medicine Magazine's Definitive Guide to Sleep Disorders: 7 Smart Ways to Help You Get a Good Night's Rest (Get the book.)

"Milk thistle leaves, with their spines removed, can be eaten as greens and are best when young and tender. The young stalks were once cultivated as a vegetable; they can be eaten raw or cooked and are considered superior to cabbage. The flower buds, though small, yield a heart like an artichoke that can be eaten. The roots of the plant can be consumed raw, boiled, or steamed. Other Uses In magical traditions, milk thistle is worn as protection against negative energy and used in purifying baths." - Brigitte Mars, A.H.G., The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine: The Ultimate Multidisciplinary Reference to the Amazing Realm of Healing Plants, in a Quick-study, One-stop Guide (Get the book.)

"Milk thistle plant extract significantly improves liver cell function and is a powerful antioxidant, protecting liver cells from free-radical and lipid-peroxidation damage. The flavonoid, curcumin, also protects the liver, and improves the flow of bile as well. A combination of alpha-lipoic acid, selenium, and milk thistle has demonstrated remarkable success in regenerating liver function in cases of viral and alcoholic hepatitis. Rather than guess about your liver's detoxification ability, I would suggest a test for detoxification capacity." - Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., Health and Nutrition Secrets (Get the book.)

"Eight-herb Essiac contains the following ingredients: Blessed thistle is used for digestive problems such as gas, constipation, and an upset stomach. This herb is also used to treat liver and gallbladder diseases. Burdock Root is a mild diuretic. It increases the production of both urine and sweat, potentially making it useful for treating swelling and fever. Burdock root might play a role in preventing liver damage caused by alcohol, chemicals, or medications." - Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease - It's A Survival Mechanism (Get the book.)

"Scientific evidence: At least 19 out of 21 clinical studies (a total of 2,200 people out of 2,400) have shown that milk thistle protects the liver against invasive toxins and possibly even stimulates the generation of new liver cells. Potential side effect: Loose stools. Typical dose: Take 140 mg of milk thistle three times daily. SAW PALMETTO What it does: Relieves symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous swelling of the prostate gland, which causes frequent and/or weak urination and is common in men older than age 50." - Bottom Line Health, Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 (Get the book.)

"Milk thistle is sometimes confused with Blessed thistle {Cnicus benedictus L., Asteraceae). Although they are members of the same botanical family, their medicinal actions are quite different. Parts Used The flowerheads, fruit, and seeds are used medicinally. Traditional Use The specific name "marianum" refers to the legend that the leaves have a white mottling because a drop of the Virgin Mary's milk landed on them. In keeping with this legend, milk thistle has traditionally been used as a galactogogue (i.e., to stimulate milk production in lactating women)." - Heather Boon, BScPhm, PhD and Michael Smith, BPharm, MRPharmS, ND, The Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal Herbs (Get the book.)

"In Wisconsin, Canada thistle has been completely killed and quack-grass severely checked by one crop of hemp. In one 4-acre field in Vernon county, Wis., where Canada thistles were very thick, fully 95 per cent of the thistles were killed where the hemp attained a height of 5 feet or more, but on a dry, gravelly hillside in this same field where it grew only 2 or 3 feet high, the thistles were checked no more than they would have been in a grain crop." - Ed Rosenthal, Hemp Today (Get the book.)

"Milk Thistle Milk thistle and silymarin, a compound extracted from the seeds of milk thistle, have been used for centuries to treat diseases of the liver. This powerful antioxidant guards the liver from oxidative damage; protects the liver from toxins, drugs, and the effects of alcohol (cirrhosis) and the hepatitis B and C viruses; and promotes the growth of new liver cells. In addition, silymarin increases levels of glutathione, a potent antioxidant enzyme produced in the liver. (See page 43.) Milk thistle extract has virtually no known side effects and can be used by most people." - Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal (Get the book.)

"Milk thistle, an herb with a long history of use as a liver tonic, is helpful in supporting the liver, your body's 'detox factory'—which is dealing with a high load of chemicals as you undergo chemotherapy. Take 240 mg two to three times daily. Use a milk thistle extract (which is made from the plant's seed) that contains 80% silymarin, the herb's active ingredient. Lots of water. Drink eight to ten glasses of water daily. Vitamin K, a nutrient essential for blood clotting, is depleted by most chemo drugs." - Hyla Cass, Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition (Get the book.)

"Milk Thistle Milk thistle and silymarin, a compound extracted from the seeds of milk thistle, have been used for centuries to treat diseases of the liver. This powerful antioxidant guards the liver from oxidative damage; protects the liver from toxins, drugs, and the effects of alcohol (cirrhosis) and the hepatitis B and C viruses; and promotes the growth of new liver cells. In addition, silymarin increases levels of glutathione, a potent antioxidant enzyme produced in the liver. (See page 43.) Milk thistle extract has virtually no known side effects and can be used by most people." - Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal (Get the book.)

"Artichokes are actually the immature flowers of a thistle plant. The leaves and flower buds are edible but the center isn't. Artichokes range in color from dark purple to pale green and come in several varieties such as Green Globe, Desert Globe, Big Heart, and Imperial Star. The "Jerusalem artichoke" is a nutritious tuber cherished for its similar taste to the artichoke but is really a member of the magnolia family and not at all related to Cynara scolymus L. A Serving of Food Lore... The artichoke most likely originated in the Mediterranean, possibly Sicily, Italy." - David W. Grotto, RD, LDN, 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! (Get the book.)

"HOLY thistle (Plant) Botanical Name: Centaura benedicta. Common Names: Bitter thistle, blessed cardus, spotted thistle. Medicinal Properties: Diaphoretic, emetic, tonic, stimulant, febrifuge. This plant has very great power in the purification and circulation of the blood. It is very effective for dropsy, strengthens the heart, and is good for the liver, lungs, and kidnevs. It is soothing to the brain, strengthens the memory, and clears the system of bad humors, and is effective for insanity. It is a good tonic for girls entering womanhood." - Jethro Kloss, Back To Eden (Get the book.)

"Phytomed 1996; 3: 105-111 Silybum marianum (milk thistle) Michael T. Murray, ND Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr, ND Silybum marianum (family: Compositae) Synonym: Carduus marianum Common names: milk thistle, marian thistle, St Mary's thistle GENERAL DESCRIPTION Silybum marianum is a stout, annual or biennial plant, found in dry rocky soils in southern and western Europe and some parts of the United States. The branched stem grows 1-3 feet high and bears alternate, dark green, shiny leaves with spiny, scalloped edges that are markedly streaked with white along the veins." - Michael T. Murray, ND, Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1 (Get the book.)

"It also stimulates liver cell growth and the production of bile. Milk thistle seeds can be used to make a tea or powdered seeds can be taken in capsule form. To make a tea, steep 1 teaspoon of seeds in Vi cup of water; drink 1 to IV2 cups of tea daily. For the powdered form of milk thistle, take one capsule (approximately 1 teaspoon) with water five times per day. "Dandelion root {Taraxacum officinale) is regarded as one of the finest liver remedies, both as food and as medicine," according to naturopaths Michael Murray, ND, and Joseph Pizzorno, Jr." - Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac., Alternative Medicine Magazine's Definitive Guide to Sleep Disorders: 7 Smart Ways to Help You Get a Good Night's Rest (Get the book.)

"Ground flaxseeds help to create a protective barrier along the intestinal walls; stir a tablespoon or two into oatmeal or cooked whole grains. MUk thistle, an herb with a long history of use as a liver tonic, is helpful in supporting the liver, your body's 'detox factory'—which is dealing with a high load of chemicals as you undergo chemotherapy. Take 240 mg two to three times daily. Use a milk thistle extract (which is made from the plant's seed) that contains 80% silymarin, the herb's active ingredient. Lots of water. Drink eight to ten glasses of water daily." - Hyla Cass, M.D., Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition (Get the book.)

"However, according to the article, the Maoris' saving grace appears to be their high consumption of puha (sow thistle) and watercress, "foods with plausible cancer protective properties which are components of the Maori, but not the non-Maori diet." Aids Colon Detoxification What is it then about watercress that appears to offer so much protection against colon cancer?" - Freedom Press, Natural Cancer Cures: The Definitive Guide to Using Dietary Supplements to Fight and Prevent Cancer (Get the book.)

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