Milk thistle oil: benefits and harms, composition and use
Milk thistle oil is a product that can be used to improve well-being. This article will tell you more about the benefits, harms, composition and methods of using this remedy.
What it is?
Milk thistle is required to make this oily product. This plant is considered by many to be a weed, since milk thistle is quite unpretentious, it can grow in places with different climates.
This plant belongs to the Aster family, to the biennial group. There are thorns on a powerful stem. This should not be forgotten by people who want to prepare milk thistle for future use. It is worthwhile to collect this plant in the season of its ripening with protective gloves. This will reduce the risk of damage to the delicate skin of the hands.
This plant begins to bloom from about mid-summer. The timing of flowers is largely influenced by climate. So, in hot weather, the first flowers may appear on the plant by the end of June. After the milk thistle flowers fade, seeds form in their place. They are also used for the preparation of medicinal vegetable oil.
The benefits of milk thistle for the body have been studied by scientists since the middle of the 20th century.A group of researchers from Germany, after conducting a series of scientific experiments in 1968, determined that the oil prepared from this plant brings significant benefits to the body. Such scientific developments formed the basis for the manufacture of many drugs and dietary supplements. To this day, they are used in medicine mainly for the treatment of various diseases of the liver and bile ducts.
It is possible to make an oil product from milk thistle seeds by applying various methods. If you wish, you can try to prepare such a useful remedy even at home. However, this process is quite laborious and complex. People who do not have much free time to prepare this healing product at home can simply purchase it at a pharmacy.
Currently, a huge variety of such products is presented on the pharmaceutical market. So, the oil from this plant is available in bottles of various sizes, as well as in capsules. The choice of a specific form of release always remains with the buyer. So, for people who do not like the taste of this oil remedy, it is better to purchase capsules. They are much easier to use.
However, some people still prefer to use oil made from milk thistle seeds in bottles, since the taste of the product does not irritate them at all.
Chemical composition
Although milk thistle is a roadside weed, it contains many biologically active compounds that can improve the functioning of the human body. Moreover, these substances affect several internal systems of the body at once.When milk thistle oil is consumed internally, a cascade of biochemical reactions is “launched”, which helps to improve well-being.
The chemical composition of the oil remedy made from milk thistle is unique. It contains many biologically active components, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals. The table below shows the main substances that this oil product is rich in.
Substance group | Representatives |
Vitamin complex | Group B, tocopherol, vitamins D and K, carotene, ascorbic acid |
Minerals | Boron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, copper, chromium, aluminum, selenium, molybdenum, vanadium |
This oil product is also rich in specific plant components - flavonoids. They have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the body's immune system. These substances also contribute to the improvement of metabolic reactions occurring in the cells of the human body.
The oil product made from milk thistle seeds also contains unique components that are relatively rare in nature - flavolignans. Microbiologists have recently learned about the benefits of these components for the human body. Currently, scientific experiments continue to be carried out to study the mechanism of action of these substances on the work of body cells. However, scientists are already talking about the fact that silidianin, silybin and other substances belonging to the flavolignans group are very beneficial for health.
Oil made from milk thistle seeds is a very high-calorie product. 100 grams of this product contains approximately 885 kcal. The main part of the nutritional value at the same time falls on lipids of plant origin.So, in 100 grams of oil, their content is 97 g.
It is worth noting that The most useful oil product is the one that was made using cold-pressed technology. In the manufacture of oil products using this technology, they retain the maximum amount of biologically active substances that can improve the functioning of our body cells. Cold pressed oil also contains chlorophyll. This component improves the processes of cellular respiration.
The lipid profile of milk thistle oil is represented by various components. So, this oil product contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, among which there is linoleic acid. This component is very important for the human body, in particular for the central nervous system.
This oil product also contains omega-9 fatty acid. This component affects the condition of blood vessels. It also contributes to the normalization of the lipid spectrum of the blood.
Beneficial features
Oil made from milk thistle will help improve health. Interestingly, this product is used to treat various pathologies in both folk and traditional medicine. In the treatment of diseases, this remedy should be used strictly according to certain indications. In this case, the numerous medicinal properties of milk thistle oil will help improve the general condition of the body.
This product, due to the presence of many antioxidants in it, is used to improve the functioning of the immune system. In order to strengthen the immune system, a single intake of milk thistle oil is not enough.To normalize the functioning of the immune system, this product should be consumed systematically (if necessary, even several times a year).
Milk thistle oil helps to recover faster after various serious illnesses. It contains vegetable lipids, as well as biologically active components that help the body exhausted by the disease to normalize its work faster.
It is no coincidence that traditional medicine experts recommend using this product to people who, due to certain severe pathologies, are forced to stay in bed for a long time.
Many people associate milk thistle with a plant that helps with various liver diseases. And that's right. This plant is a real storehouse of plant components that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of this digestive organ.
Normally, hepatic tissue is represented by individual cells - hepatocytes. It is in them that the detoxification of various toxic substances that enter our body from the external environment takes place, as well as the production of substances necessary for good digestion. However, if for some reason the work of the hepatic cellular structures is disrupted, then this leads to the formation of a number of pathologies - hepatosis, cirrhosis, hepatitis and many others.
Treatment of the liver is a long process. In order to normalize the work of the hepatocyte, a lot of time is required. Milk thistle oil contains components that accelerate the processes of cellular regeneration of damaged liver cells at times.This action contributes to the fact that after a few weeks of taking this oil remedy, the person who takes it improves well-being and digestion processes in general.
However, this oil product brings great benefits not only to liver cells. It also has a good effect on bile synthesis. The composition of the bile secretion is quite complex. It contains various components that are necessary for good digestion of food. If the composition of bile changes due to impaired functioning of hepatocytes, then this can lead to the fact that a person will experience unpleasant symptoms: heaviness on the right under the ribs, nausea, bloating, and many others.
Milk thistle oil improves the composition of the bile secretion. The fatty components present in it also help to improve the outflow of bile through the bile ducts. This action contributes to the fact that digestion processes improve, and the risk of developing biliary dyskinesia is reduced. Traditional medicine experts recommend using this oil product for people who have a high predisposition to the development of this disease.
Oil made from milk thistle is a unique remedy that improves not only the functioning of the digestive system. It also helps reduce the risk of developing many dangerous vascular pathologies of the heart. The plant lipids present in this oil product help to normalize the lipid balance in the body, as well as lower cholesterol. If the lipid profile of the blood is not disturbed, then the likelihood of developing dangerous diseases of the coronary blood vessels that provide blood supply to the myocardium (heart muscle) is reduced.This helps, for example, to reduce the risk of developing such a dangerous disease as a heart attack.
This product also has a beneficial effect on the processes of blood clotting. Against the background of its use, the risk of developing thrombotic pathologies is reduced, in which blood clots form in the arteries that feed the internal organs. This action helps to reduce the oxygen deficiency of body tissues, as well as reduce the risk of developing cerebral and myocardial ischemia.
Traditional medicine experts recommend using oil made from milk thistle, for the prevention of the development of hypertension, cardiosclerosis and other pathologies of the cardiovascular system. At the same time, they note that in order to really achieve a tangible result, such an oil product should be consumed in courses lasting several weeks.
Milk thistle oil is very beneficial for men's health. It is rich in plant components that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the prostate. So, the use of this oil remedy helps to reduce the risk of developing prostate adenoma. This oil also contains substances that strengthen the walls of blood vessels that provide blood supply to the genital organs in men. This action also contributes to the preservation and strengthening of men's health.
This oil can also be used if there are problems with potency. The decline in "male power" can occur for various reasons. Typically, such changes occur in the male body after 35-40 years. In order to improve potency, doctors recommend using an integrated approach.The use of milk thistle oil helps to improve the functioning of the male genital organs, which ultimately leads to an increase in “male strength”.
This oil product is suitable not only for representatives of the strong half of humanity. It can also be used by women. This tool helps to cope with some gynecological problems. So, experts recommend using this oil in the complex treatment of diseases occurring with the development of hormonal imbalance. The plant components contained in this oil remedy also have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the female reproductive system.
Milk thistle oil is often given to women who have been on an unbalanced diet for a long time. During such malnutrition, adverse changes in the functioning of the liver, gallbladder and many other organs occur in the body, which leads to exhaustion and deterioration of well-being. In order to normalize the functioning of the digestive system, it is recommended to start a course intake of milk thistle oil. In this case, this remedy is usually prescribed in the form of capsules.
Oil made from milk thistle can be used not only by adults. This product is used to treat certain pathologies and in children. It is worth noting that parents should not resort to the use of such an oil remedy without prior approval from the pediatrician. Milk thistle oil still contains a lot of herbal ingredients that can provoke the appearance of uncomfortable symptoms in the baby. An experienced pediatrician should assess the feasibility of using such a natural drug in a child in the treatment of a certain pathology.
Oil products made from milk thistle are used in babies to treat various pathological conditions of the liver tissue. In some cases, these drugs are used in the complex therapy of various dermatoses and skin diseases. To normalize the child's well-being, not only milk thistle oil is used, but also decoctions and infusions prepared from this plant.
It is not necessary to drink such drugs all the time. The course of treatment is determined individually, but the average is usually at least 10-14 days.
Contraindications and harm
Oil products from milk thistle can be used only for certain indications. If there are none, then doctors do not recommend using this oil. Otherwise, the risk of developing unwanted symptoms is quite high.
There are absolute contraindications to taking this product. These include allergies and individual intolerance to this plant. If there are such pathological conditions, then in this case it is impossible to use products made from any parts of milk thistle under any circumstances.
This herbal remedy should also not be taken during pregnancy and lactation. It is forbidden to take this product for cholelithiasis. If there are stones in the gallbladder, then after taking this oil remedy, they can begin their movement through the ducts. This can provoke an obstruction (blockage) - an emergency condition that requires an urgent surgical operation.
With caution, this remedy should also be used by people suffering from chronic cholecystitis. For any inflammatory pathologies of the gallbladder, this product can be used only after prior consultation with a general practitioner.
In some cases (especially when the risk of gallstones is high), milk thistle oil should not be taken. A qualified doctor should determine the possibility of this remedy in such a situation.
How to use oil correctly?
To achieve the desired result, milk thistle oil should be taken correctly. If the dosage of use is not observed, then it will not be possible to achieve an improvement in well-being. Milk thistle oil should be drunk only if this product is well tolerated. If adverse symptoms appear against the background of its reception, then in this case its use should be abandoned.
Oil remedies made from milk thistle are used in gynecology. They help reduce inflammation and also have a healing effect. You can use this product for external use as well. For example, this remedy helps to cope with the adverse symptoms of atrophic colpitis. This pathology is often accompanied by itching. An oil remedy made from milk thistle can also be used to eliminate this unfavorable symptom.
This oil product is used not only for the treatment of various pathologies of the genital organs. Milk thistle oil also helps slow down the risk of age-related changes.
To enhance the effect, you can use an oil product along with selenium. With this combined intake, the risk of developing many pathologies of the reproductive sphere is also reduced.
Oil made from milk thistle is recommended for people who cannot give up bad habits: smoking or drinking alcohol. Cigarettes and alcoholic beverages contain substances that have a negative effect on liver cells, leading to their damage.In order to reduce this effect, traditional medicine experts recommend consuming 15 drops of oil made from milk thistle per day.
You can also use this vegetable oil remedy to eliminate the uncomfortable symptoms of hemorrhoids. Reviews of many people who used milk thistle oil indicate that, against the background of its use, they managed to significantly reduce the uncomfortable manifestations of this pathology.
In this case, this oil can be taken orally: 1 tsp. twice a day 30-35 minutes before meals, and also lubricate the anal area with it. The course of treatment is 15-20 days.
For weight loss
An oil remedy made from milk thistle helps to lose weight. The components present in it help speed up digestion, which means it becomes easier to achieve weight loss. So, against the background of taking this herbal remedy, the stool improves. The active work of the large intestine also contributes to the fact that the processes of losing weight proceed better.
To normalize weight, this product should be taken in 1 tsp. three times a day before eating for 2-3 weeks.
With pancreatitis
For the treatment of the pancreas, a cold-pressed oil product should be used. This product contains many components that help improve the functioning of this digestive organ.
Traditional medicine experts note that the use of this product helps to reduce the risk of developing complications of this pathology.
Application in cosmetology
This oil product can be used to care for problem skin. So, this natural remedy helps to cleanse the skin of the face from various purulent rashes, and is also a panacea for acne.For processing, it is better to use warm oil, which is slightly heated in a water bath. Apply milk thistle oil to clean skin twice a day.
This herbal remedy is also used for hair care. The natural ingredients that it contains help strengthen the hair follicles. Masks with the addition of this oil also help to make the hair more silky. Against the background of the use of milk thistle oil, hair loss also decreases.
For more on the properties of milk thistle oil, see the following video.