For over 2,000 years Europeans have used milk thistle seeds as a health supplement for liver cleansing. Animal experiments have shown that milk thistle seed extracts are safe, even in large doses, with practically no side effects, as well as no embryo-toxic effect. There are no contraindications nor known side effects of concern. Milk thistle seed can be safely used by a wide range of persons, including pregnant and lactating women, although it may have a mild, transient laxative effect for some people.
Double blind studies on the effect of milk thistle seed on toxic liver damage (mostly induced by alcohol), and ailments caused by certain drugs have been reviewed by medical experts. They concluded that basic lab and clinical data suggests milk thistle is a therapeutically useful medicinal plant product that stabilizes the cell membrane and stimulates protein synthesis, while accelerating the process of regeneration in damaged liver tissue, and that these effects are important in the therapeutic efficacy of milk thistle.
Over the past twenty+ years, intensive chemical, pharmacological, and clinical research has confirmed mechanisms of action and therapeutic value of milk thistle seed in a wide range of human liver disorders, including toxic metabolic liver damage (such as fatty degeneration of the liver) and supportive therapy of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Literally hundreds of research studies, mostly in Europe, have confirmed the remarkable ability of milk thistle seed to protect the liver against virtually all types of damage including accidental exposure to chemical pollutants, toxic side effects of medications, liver disorders like hepatitis and even the self-inflicted damage from overindulgence of rich food and alcohol—thereby enhancing overall liver health.
The United States National Library of Medicine has catalogued more than 300 scientific studies of milk thistle seed and its active compounds (the primary one being silymarin) in their medicine database.
For years we have used Picrorhiza kurooa as one of the key herbs in our liver tincture formula. Picrorhiza has been shown to protect liver cells from the many degenerative changes that would normally be caused by a variety of liver toxins. It appears to be particularly useful in addressing both alcoholic liver damage and chronic hepatitis. Picrorhiza increases bile production in the liver, according to rat studies. It has also been shown to protect animals from damage by several potent liver toxins, offering protection as good as or better than silymarin (the flavonoids found in milk thistle) for liver health.
The major constituents in picrorhiza are the glycosides picroside I, kutkoside, androsin, and apocynin. They have been shown in animal studies to be anti-allergic, to inhibit platelet-activating factor (an important pro-inflammatory molecule), and to decrease joint inflammation. According to test tube and animal studies, picrorhiza has antioxidant actions, particularly in the liver.
Garlic possesses the ability to stimulate the immune system. It can stimulate the activity of the macrophages (white blood cells), which engulf foreign organisms. Furthermore, garlic increases the activity of the T-helper cells (immune cells which are central to the activity of the entire immune system). The benefits of garlic may be particularly effective in supporting respiratory function.
The same component that gives garlic its strong odor is the one that gives it immune enhancing properties. The component is allicin, and when crushed, it combines with the enzyme allinase.
Black Walnut is revered as a dependable remedy for bad blood disorders such as scrofula, syphilis, and diphtheria. Black Walnut Hulls are also known to be especially high in organic iodine and are useful in liver cleansing programs.
Black Walnut has also been proven to be a strong natural remedy for assisting with acne, thyroid disorders, colitis, eczema, hemorrhoids, ringworm, sore throats, tonsillitis, skin irritations, and wounds.
Chicory root, called kasni, in the Far East, contains tannin phlobaphenes and reducing sugars. The seeds have carminative and cordial properties and are useful as a brain tonic and for headache, asthma and bilious vomiting.
Chicory is an acclaimed liver protective and is used in hepatic enlargement, fever, vomiting and abdominal aches. It also stimulates the flow of bile.
Medicinally, chicory has been used to help address acne, cellulite, constipation, diabetes, eczema, gallstones, gastritis, gout, hepatitis, jaundice, liver stagnation, rheumatism, urinary ailments.
Dandelion root is a bitter herb that is highly effective as a blood cleanser that strains and filters toxins from the blood.
Dandelion root is a superb diuretic that improves the function of the pancreas, spleen, stomach, and kidneys (reduces kidney inflammation) without depleting potassium from the body.
But primarily, dandelion root is one of the great liver herbs. It is the best lipotropic known, flushing excess fat from the liver, thereby helping to relieve chronic liver congestion. In addition, it increases the production of bile. And studies have proven that it actually has "liver healing" properties.
Fresh ginger root has a long history of use in herbal medicine. Ginger root helps control temporary nausea, which makes it useful in morning sickness during pregnancy, as well as in intestinal activating and detoxing formulas, and in liver cleansing programs. Ginger root is also a strong COX 2 inhibitor. In the Far East and India, ginger root is renowned for its aphrodisiac properties.
Oregon grape root is frequently used by herbalists for blood cleansing, and to stimulate the liver and gall bladder. In addition, Oregon grape root is used as a mild laxative.
Artichoke leaf has traditionally been used in jaundice and liver insufficiency as well as for cholesterol reduction. It is thought that artichoke inhibits oxidation of low density lipoprotein and reduces cholesterol biosynthesis. It is a member of the thistle family and contains compounds that enhance both the production of bile and the liver's detoxification process. Many toxins are eliminated through the bile. Bile salts help to emulsify fats, which aids the pancreas with digestion. Bile plays a critical role in the body by helping to protect the liver from congestion and inflammatory responses. Bile is also necessary to create the right kind of environment in the small intestines. Artichoke extract can regulate the production of cholesterol in the liver and help convert cholesterol to bile acids. It also helps normalize the pH of the blood.
Gentian is a bitter digestive tonic that supports liver health and gallbladder function and that stimulates the flow of digestive juices and bile, a perfect combination for a liver tincture designed for liver detoxification. Gentian is also excellent for improving appetite and digestive health, and for strengthening the activity of the stomach.
There are in fact over 3000 different parasites that have been loosely grouped into four different categories. According to the World Health Organization, 3.5 billion people suffer from some type of parasitic infection. Not all of these people live in third world countries; many in the developed world have any number of parasitic infections, some of which are so highly contagious that extremely casual contact with something that has been handled by an infected person can infect another person.
Wormwood has been used for centuries as a parasiticide internally and as a hemostatic externally. It was first used medically for sore eyes, and as a hair tonic, to control menstrual flow and swelling wounds. Wormwood can counteract fevers, regulate the liver and assist with anemia and arthritis. It is taken as a bitter tonic and given to help get rid of intestinal worms -- from whence it gets its name.
Wild crafting is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or wild" habitat, for food or medicinal purposes. It means the plants are uncultivated, and harvesting takes place wherever they may be found. Ethical wild crafting means that the harvesting is done sustainably.
d-limonene oil is extracted from orange peels. Because of its dense electromagnetic field, Limonene is one of nature's most potent natural solvents -- ache reducers.