posted July 30, 2000 05:42 PM            

I've also read that dandelion is good for assisting the liver - but that it may (Oh NO) increase appetite? Any thoughts?

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Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit.

posted July 31, 2000 05:27 PM            

The liver is the most important organ of metabolism. Disruption of normal liver function results in significant disruption
of all metabolic processes. The metabolic functions of the liver include regulation of carbohydrate, fat and protein
metabolism, storage of vitamins and minerals, and detoxification reactions.Since the liver is the major site of
detoxification of toxic chemicals in the body, it is also at a very high risk against damage by such chemicals as DDT;
dioxin; 2,4,5-T; 4-D; PCB; and PCP. It is not known to what degree Americans are exposed to these toxic
compounds, but it is probably quite high as yearly production of synthetic pesticides alone exceeds 1.4 billion
pounds. In addition, many drugs and alcohol are also known to damage the liver.

Avoidance of these damaging chemicals is the first defense against liver damage. The second defense may be the use
of a Silymarin Comples. Silymarin Comples is composed of concentrated extracts of herbs which have demonstrated
remarkable effects in protecting the liver from chemical damage and in improving liver function in experimental
studies. Milk Thistle consists of three powerful liver-protective flavonoids. These flavonoids, silybin, silydianin, and
silychristin, are usually referred to as silymarin.

The common milk thistle contains some of the most potent liver-protecting substances known. The concentration of
these components is highest in the fruit. Silybum's effect of preventing liver destruction derives from its ability to
inhibit those factors that are responsible for the damage. Liver destruction occurs primarily as a result of certain
toxins producing or acting as free radicals: highly reactive compounds that damage other molecules. Silybum
components prevent free radical damage by acting as antioxidants.These components are many times more potent in
antioxidant activity than Vitamin E.

Another way in which the liver can be damaged is by the action of leukotrienes. These compounds are produced by
the transfer of oxygen to a polyunsaturated fatty acid. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme lipoxygenase. Silybum
components inhibit this enzyme, thereby inhibiting the formation of damaging leukotrienes.

Perhaps the most interesting effect of silybum components on the liver is their ability to stimulate protein synthesis.
The result is an increase in the production of new liver cells to replace the damaged old ones. Not only can silymarin
protect liver cells, it can regenerate already damaged ones. Additionally, silymarin was shown to increase liver,
stomach, and intestinal glutathione This common herb's value against liver disease has been demonstrated in more
than 100 rigorous scientific experiments. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these studies has been European, mostly
German, and few mainstream American physicians read German botanical medicine journals. As a result, they are in
the dark about milk thistle's astonishing liver-protective powers.

Silymarin is not very soluble in water, which means that very little find its way into a tea made from the milk thistle
plant. It is also poorly absorbed from the digestive tract, which severely limits its bioavailability from tinctures
because they are not sufficiently concentrated to deliver a therapeutic dose. To rectify this problem, German
researchers bred a special variety of milk thistle. When carefully cultivated, this medicinal variety produces a
high-potency standardized extract of silymarin, which is processed into tablets or capsules. This standardized milk
thistle seed extract is 80-percent silymarin. It is widely prescribed by German physicians, who practice the world's
most advanced scientific herbal medicine.

How Silymarin Works

Silymarin works in three ways. It strengthens the outer membranes of livercells, preventing penetration by
liver-damaging substances.