milk thistle

[hunteress]

Ive posted a previouse post about echinacea but have found milk thistle might be better my boys liver is slightly damaged and now hes in the field relaxing thought he might need a suppliment to help him along as he's had blood tests and his white cells are down so slight liver damage can you feed this echinacea or thistle straight with a syringe which would you choose to give with this problem, and do they work, many thanks again.

 

[SSM]

You can buy milk thistle as a food supplement, and yes it is supposed to be excellent for the liver!

 

[k9h]

You can get this in tincture form to put 5 drops into drinking water. is very good for the liver. I know someone you gave this when their horse went down with ragwort poisoning helped the horse & it recovered.


CARDUUS MARIANUS

(St. Mary's Thistle)

General
The action of this drug is centered in the liver, and portal system, causing soreness, pain, jaundice. Has specific relation to the vascular system. Abuse of alcoholic beverages, especially beer. VARICOSE VEINS and ulcers. Diseases of miners, associated with asthma. Dropsical conditions depending on liver disease, and when due to pelvic congestion and hepatic disease. Disturbs sugar metabolism. Influenza when liver is affected. Debility. Hemorrhages, especially connected with hepatic disease.

Mind.
Despondency; forgetful, apathetic.

Head.
Contractive feeling above eyebrows. Dull heavy, stupid, with foul tongue. Vertigo, with tendency to fall forward. Burning and pressure in eyes. Nose-bleed.

Stomach.
Taste bitter. Aversion to salt meat. Appetite small; tongue furred; NAUSEA; RETCHING; VOMITING OF GREEN, ACID FLUID. Stitches in left side of stomach, near spleen. (Ceanoth.) Gallstone disease with enlarged liver.

Abdomen.
Pain in region of liver. Left lobe very sensitive. Fullness and soreness, with moist skin. Constipation; stools hard, difficult, knotty; alternates with diarrhoea. Stools bright yellow. Swelling of gall bladder with painful tenderness. Hyperaemia of liver, with jaundice. Cirrhosis, with dropsy.

Rectum.
Hemorrhagic piles, prolapse or rectum, burning pain in anus and rectum, hard and knotting, clayey stools. Profuse diarrhoea due to rectal cancer. 10 drop doses (Wapler).

Urine.
Cloudy; golden-colored.

Chest.
Stitching pains in lower right ribs and front; worse, moving, walking, etc. ASTHMATIC RESPIRATION. Pain in chest, going to shoulders, back, loins and abdomen, with urging to urinate.

Skin.
Itching on lying down at night. VARICOSE ULCERS. (Clematis vitalba.) Eruption on lower part of sternum.

Extremities.
Pain in hip-joint, spreading through buttocks and down thigh; WORSE FROM STOOPING. Difficult rising. Weakness felt in feet, especially after sitting.

Relationship.
Compare: Card. benedictus (strong action on eyes, and sensation of contraction in many parts; stomach symptoms similar); Chelidonium; Chionanthus; Merc.; Podophyl.; Bry.; Aloe.

Dose.
Tincture and lower potencies.

 

[Shantor1]

Yes feeding your horse milk thistle will help the liver to regenerate. I believe it contains a component 'silymarin' which I read somewhere is the main bit that helps the liver to restore itself, depending on the problem. Maybe your vet can confirm.

 

[Happytohack]

If I were you, I would consult an equine herbalist such as Hilary Self from Hilton Herbs before giving your horse anything. Herbs can be strong stuff - too much is not good.