Ginger root has many health benefits.
Milk thistle supports liver function, while ginger has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties. Of the natural supplements on the market, these two rank highly in terms of safety and usefulness.
Milk Thistle
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, milk thistle, which contains the active compounds silmaryin, silibinin and silidianin, may prevent and repair liver damage from alcohol or hepatitis.
Considerations
Phosphatidylcholine makes these active compounds more available in the liver than they would be without the presence of this nutrient. Users can take a combined milk thistle supplement for better absorption.
Ginger
Ginger makes good cookies and Asian food, but it also has surprising health benefits. According to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, ginger fights nausea with great potency - whether in patients recovering from surgery or a simple case of pregnancy-related morning sickness.
Benefits
In addition to working against nausea, ginger also serves as an effective anti-inflammatory. In a 2005 article published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers with RMG Biosciences, Inc., reported that ginger supplements can fulfill some of the same functions as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, but possibly more effectively and with fewer side effects.
Potential
Milk thistle and ginger may both make good supplements for cancer patients: ginger for nausea and milk thistle for liver protection. In addition, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that milk thistle appears to have anti-cancer properties itself, though researchers must do more testing to confirm this hypothesis.
Tags: active compounds, health benefits, Maryland Medical, Maryland Medical Center, Medical Center, milk thistle, University Maryland