Herbal Detox and Milk Thistle Seed

When one thinks of toxins, the first thing that comes to mind is Detox. The body can contain toxins and poisons and the body has several effective ways of ridding itself of waste and toxins.

First and foremost, one most support the whole process of elimination, then provide specific support for organs that might have been involved (ie an example is the horse that has been on heavy duty sulfa drug therapy will need support of the liver and kidneys)

The herbal approach to detoxing is fairly simple but one most always use caution. One most only use gentle remedies when stimulating elimination of any kind. This is particularly important with equines due in part to their delicate digestive system.

The body eliminates toxins in several ways. 
Through the digestive system, the herbs used for this are usually laxatives.
Through the kidneys and urinary system, herbs used would be diuretics. 
Through the liver, herbs used would be hepatics 
Through the lymphatic system, herbs used would be Lymphatic and Tonic herbs 
Through the skin, herbs used would be diaphoretics 
Through the respiratory system, herbs used would be expectorants.

There are several different herbs that fall into each of the above mentioned categories and developing a blend for a horse would involved knowing more of each horses’ individual history and a detoxing blend would then be prepare

Here is a small example of such herbs:

Laxatives: Dandelion root which is very mild , Senna leaf which can be a bit too strong for a horse
Diuretics: Dandelion leaf
Hepatic:  Milk Thistle seed
Lymphatic: Cleavers and Calendula
Diaphoretic: Boneset, Yarrow, and Peppermint
Expectorant: Mullein Leaf.

I personally feel that a healthy liver function is the key to efficient detoxification of the body in general. The liver removes toxins from the body before they can damage other organ systems, including the heart, blood vessels and skin. When the liver is impaired, either by disease or heavy drug use, the over all effects on the body and long-term health can be greatly affected.

I feel that the  very BEST herb for the liver is Milk Thistle Seed. {silybum marianum}

Milk Thistle seed contains several active constituents, but the most important and primary one is a bioflavonoid silymarin complex. The silymarin complex, in particular, Silibinin, protects the liver by preventing certain toxins from entering the liver cells and also stimulates the regeneration of damaged cells.. The silymarin complex is made up of (3) parts: Silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin. Silibinin is the most active of the three and is mostly responsible for the benefits of the silymarin complex.

Milk thistle seed can protect the liver in several different ways.

Silymarin aids the cells by binding to the outside of the cells and blocking certain toxins from entering the cells.  Silymarin boosts antioxidant activity. It does this by helping cells produce Glutathione. Glutathione helps to fight free radicals and we all know how bad free radicals can be. Silymarin has been shown to raise Glutathione level by 40%. Silymarin will also increase super oxide dismutase in the red blood cells as well. Silymarin has been found to help cells to synthesize new protein and in doing so helps it to regenerate.

 The most important aspect of Milk Thistle seed is its ability to support the liver during drug therapies. It has been found that silymarin can help reduce the free radical damage to the liver associated with long-term use of certain medications.  I have found that today’s horse, especially horses whom have or have been treated for EPM, , Lyme disease and other chronic type disorders that required the administration of long term antibiotic use, can benefit greatly from a two or three time a year Detox containing milk thistle seed and a few other select herbs.

When feeding milk thistle seed to horses, its best to purchase it in the “powdered” form.

Horses really will not be able to utilize whole milk thistle seed. The shell of the seed is extremely hard and most of the seed will just pass right thru the horse’s digestive system unused, doing him no benefit except to populate your pastures with lots of new milk thistle plants. Even though milk thistle seed is extremely medicinal, most would rather not have the spiky tall plants growing in their pastures.