January marks the time for detox. It’s time to regain energy and vitality to regenerate your liver.
After the holidays, the body often suffers the blow and the liver is the first silent witness. The weeks of festivities are accompanied by a series of copious, rich and often very fatty meals. Added to this is the consumption of alcohol which puts a strain on our detoxifying organ. The liver, overwhelmed, slows down, which can manifest itself as persistent fatigue, slow and heavy digestion, a blurred complexion or even an unpleasant feeling of bloating. January then marks the time for major cleaning and to regain optimal vitality, it is essential to offer it the natural and necessary support to regenerate and resume its role as an essential filter.
Fortunately, nature offers us powerful solutions to support liver function and accelerate the detoxification process. After having put so much demand on our internal “factory”, it is time to call on a recognized champion of herbal medicine. Originally from the Mediterranean basin, this plant, often recognizable by its prickly leaves and purplish flowers, has been used since Antiquity for its protective properties. It is the flagship ingredient of post-excess cures: it not only acts as a powerful shield to help protect liver cells from toxins, but it is also known to encourage the regeneration of this vital organ. A real boost to erase the traces of feasts and quickly find a light liver full of energy to start the year off right.
The well-kept secret of naturopaths is none other than Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), hepatoprotective in particular thanks to its unique active ingredient: silymarin. “A cure after the holidays will allow you to digest the excesses“, confirms Sophie Lacoste in her book “Plants that heal” (Editions Leduc). She recommends using it either in capsules, at a rate of 4 to 6 capsules per day to be swallowed before meals with a large glass of water. Either in mother tincture at a rate of 30 drops two to three times per day in a glass of water, or even in decoction by boiling a teaspoon of seeds in a cup of water for 5 minutes, then letting it infuse for another 5 minutes before filtering (2 to 3 cups per day).
To quickly regain a light liver, a treatment of Milk Thistle (capsules/mother tincture or herbal teas) for 3 to 6 weeks in January is ideal. It is best to combine this intake with a low-fat diet, rich in green vegetables (artichoke, broccoli, spinach), and good hydration.
Generally very well tolerated, Milk Thistle is however not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with a known allergy to plants in the Asteraceae family (daisy, dandelion, etc.). In the event of an existing liver pathology or heavy medical treatment, always consult your healthcare professional before starting a treatment.
