milkthistle

ilkThistle milkthistle MilkThistle A note to ANYONE using Pheno - never miss a blood test and also please ensure you are also giving milk thistle tablets/capsules otherwise the pheno WILL wreck your dogs liver and can end up being the cause of death.

Milk Thistle

(St Mary's Thistle: Silybum marianum)

Milk thistle, (also known as Silymarin), is commonly used to protect the liver from damage, as well as help the liver regenerate after damage has occurred. Milk thistle can be useful for those who use phenobarbitol, which can be toxic to the liver.

From ancient times the Milk Thistle has been widely taken on a regular basis to improve overall health. Dioscorides recommended the seeds as a bitter tonic, capable of powerfully rejuvenating the liver, and Arabian physicians used the plant both to stimulate the appetite & the digestive processes, to promote bile, to strengthen liver function & to treat poisoning, jaundice & to help treat hepatitis.

Milk Thistle is a well known treatment for liver disease in both humans and dogs. It’s also one of the few herbal remedies that has no equivalent in conventional medicine. Since the liver does not send out alarm signals, a disorder can sometimes make considerable progress before it is noticed.

Milk Thistle is used to promote general wellbeing, to strengthen liver & gall bladder function; to combat poor digestion, malabsorption of nutrients, hangover, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, exposure to environmental pollution & toxic chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride - a nasty substance that good old big business has pumped into the air and our water supplies.

Milk Thistle is a natural liver detoxifier that contains a powerful compound called silymarin that has been shown to have a direct effect on liver cells. (Known as vitamin P, flavonoids are substances found in plants, that often work in conjunction with Vitamin C and offer many other health benefits). It is rich in anti-oxidants. These ingredients displace toxins trying to bind to the dog’s liver, and also help the dog’s liver to regenerate more quickly. They scavenge free radicals and stabilize the liver membranes.
As an anti-oxidant, silimarin is even more effective than vitamin E. It also stimulates the production of new liver cells in dogs, replacing damaged cells.

Part used: Seed Extract

How it works
Modern research shows Milk Thistle contains a range of phytochemicals which make the plant particularly useful for people suffering from the above conditions & for people dealing with toxic overload, either from exposure to poisons & toxic chemicals; from taking drugs for other conditions; or even for those simply suffering from a hangover. People with weak liver & gall function can to suffer from poor digestion and malabsorption of nutrients due to a lack of bile production. Active chemicals in the Milk Thistle can reverse this by stimulating bile production. Milk Thistle acts as a bouncer, refusing the toxins entry into the liver. Of course, the toxins don't just give up. They fight to get in. But Milk Thistle can slow them down until the kidneys swing into action and throw them out of the body. Milk Thistle prevents toxins from entering the liver by guarding the organ's numerous doorways-the membranes of liver cells.

Side effects: None known. Milk thistle is not toxic and it is said it can be used continuously without any noted side effects, can be taken with other medicine, and due to its effects on the liver function can help reduce some of the toxic side effects of other medication for example chemotherapy drugs, chemical heartworm medications, antibiotics and corticosteroids. Milk thistle compounds are usually standardized to 70-80% silymarin. Milk thistle is one of the few herbs that have no real equivalent in the world of conventional medicine.

According to some herbalists, long term use can result in depressed liver function unless chronic liver disease is present. Milk thistle is not recommended for use in normal pets but rather those that have diseases of the liver or affecting the liver.

The results of numerous studies suggest that silymarin not only protects liver cells by preventing the actions of toxic substances but that it also stimulates protein synthesis to accelerate the regeneration and production of liver cells. Silymarin also has antioxident properties that prevent free radical damage and the formation of damaging leukotrienes.

No toxic effects from milk thistle have been reported, but it can produce a looser stool as a result of increased bile flow and secretion. Milk thistle can also have an effect on the absorption of some medications, because the liver is processing the substances more efficiently.

Always seek professional advice.

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R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery states

"There is no evidence that Milk Thistle has any adverse effects. It increases bile flow and bile content of cholesterol, but does not appear to decrease bile formation from the studies I have read. Most of this work has been done in rats, but their livers function basically the same as the dog. There is probably no reason for a normal dog to take milk thistle, unless there is exposure to potential hepatotoxins. Phenobarbital is a hepatotoxin, therefore, epileptics probably need it."

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	Liquid Form	Capsules
Dosage	To be given to pet twice daily. One drop for every 2 lb (1 kg) of body weight up to 50 lb (25 kg). Thereafter add one drop per additional 4 lb (2 kg).	250 mg for a dog under 25 lbs, and 500 mg for a dog over 25 lbs once daily.

Stockists

Denes Natural Pet Care Ltd. http://www.denes.co.uk	2 Osmond Road Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1TE	Email: info@denes.com Tel: 01273 325364
Natural Animal Health http://www.natural-animal-health.co.uk	Natural Animal Health The Rowans Wetherby West Yorkshire. LS22 5EB
Hilton Herbs http://www.hiltonherbs.com/	Hilton Herbs Ltd Downclose Farm North Perrot Crewkerne Somerset England TA18 7SH	Tel: +44 1460 270700 Fax: +44 1460 270702 Email: helpline@hiltonherbs.com
Natures Best http://www.naturesbest.co.uk/	Nature's Best Century Place Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3BE	Nutrition Advice Call: +44 (0)1892 552 175* or Email: sally.davenport@naturesbest.co.uk General Queries Call: +44 (0)1892 552 118* or Email: info@naturesbest.co.uk
Alternatively try at your local Holland and Barret store or any leading health shop.

The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.