Milk thistle tea is a traditional herbal remedy. The tea is said to have a positive effect on the liver. You can read what’s behind it and how to prepare the tea here.
Milk thistle, which belongs to the daisy family, has a long tradition as a medicinal plant. The fruits were valued for their medicinal effects even in ancient times. Her name also suggests this. A drop of St. Mary’s breast milk is said to have fallen onto the leaves of the milk thistle while breastfeeding the baby Jesus. The plant is said to owe its healing power and the characteristic white spots on the leaves to this event.
In the 19th century, the German doctor Johann Gottfried Rademacher discovered that the plant had a positive effect on the liver. Today, milk thistle is usually drunk as a tea. This is intended to detoxify the liver. But is that really true?
This is how milk thistle tea works
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Sandra_M_H)
Many people use milk thistle tea to detoxify the liver. Sylimarin, the main active ingredient of the medicinal plant, is only poorly soluble in water. Therefore, contrary to what is often claimed, tea does not have a liver-protecting effect. Instead, milk thistle tea is said to relieve digestive problems such as flatulence, heartburn or a feeling of fullness.
Note: According to the German Society for Nutrition, there is no scientific evidence that the body or liver needs to be detoxified. The end products of metabolism are excreted via the skin, breathing and the liver, kidneys and intestines. There is no evidence that the body stores toxic substances.
This is how you make milk thistle tea
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / vilinapetrova)
To make milk thistle tea, you need the dried fruits of the plant. You can get these at the pharmacy or in well-stocked health food stores.
For one cup you need about a level tablespoon. Since the fruits contain a lot of fat, the tea tastes a bit strange. You can change that by mixing the dried milk thistle fruits with other types of tea. A few fennel seeds, for example, can additionally support digestion.
How to make milk thistle tea:
- Coarsely crush a level tablespoon of the fruit with a mortar.
- Then put the crushed parts in a pot and pour about 250 milliliters of water over them.
- Boil the water and let it simmer gently for about ten to fifteen minutes so that the active ingredients can dissolve.
- Remove the plant parts and let the tea cool slightly.
- It’s best to drink milk thistle tea after eating.
Netdoktor recommends drinking a cup of milk thistle tea three to four times a day – after meals.
Note: In individual cases, milk thistle tea can cause side effects in the digestive system. Stomach irritation and diarrhea can occur. An overdose may cause bloating and abdominal pain.
Milk thistle: It contains these active ingredients
Drinking milk thistle tea does not detoxify the liver. In order to still benefit from the healing effects on the liver, you could, for example, use medicinal preparations with milk thistle from the pharmacy. Alternatively, you can crush the dried fruits with a mortar or coffee grinder and use them to season your food.
The main active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, is mainly found in the brown fruits of the plant.
The plant also contains the following substances:
- fatty oils: linoleic acid, oleic acid
- protein
- Triterpenes
- Antioxidants
Milk thistle and the silymarin it contains have already been examined in various studies. They came to the following results:
- The medicinal plant is said to be able to reduce oxidative stress. In one study, 82 participants took 420 milligrams of sylimarin over twelve weeks. Afterwards, their oxidative stress levels were significantly reduced. Antioxidants are also said to support cell renewal and fight free radicals.
- According to studies, sylimarin is said to stabilize liver cells and support them in regeneration.
- Milk thistle and its main active ingredient can fight toxins in the human body. Certain poisonings can also be treated with the medicinal plant.
Who shouldn’t drink milk thistle tea?
In some cases, milk thistle tea should not be consumed:
- People who are allergic to daisy family plants such as arnica or marigold, as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women, should avoid milk thistle.
- If you have diabetes, you should note that milk thistle can affect blood sugar levels. Discuss the intake with your doctor beforehand.
- Children and adolescents should also consult a doctor before taking it.
- Milk thistle may have an estrogenic effect. If you have a disease related to this hormone, you should avoid the tea.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
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- Thistle oil: effect and application for the kitchen, skin and hair
- Goldenrod: Effects and uses of the medicinal herb
Revised by Lena Kirchner
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