Facts on Milk Thistle

Milk thistle, also called Silybum marianum, is a spiny plant native to the Mediterranean. It has since spread throughout the world. The leaves of the milk thistle produce a white milky substance when broken, a feature that earned this thistle its common name. Milk thistle has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb to treating liver disease. It has also long been used as an antidote in cases of mushroom poisoning and other liver-harming substances.

History

Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79) first recommended milk thistle extracts for cleansing the digestive system and removing bile. In addition to a liver tonic and poison antidote, milk thistle was often prescribed to help new mothers produce milk. In the 16th century, herbalists in Europe recommended milk thistle for melancholy disorders. At the time, melancholy was attributed to improper liver function. In the 19th century in Germany, doctors began using an extract of the seeds of milk thistle to treat liver conditions.

Properties

The main phytochemicals in milk thistle are called silymarin. Silymarin is a group of three flavonoids high in antioxidants. The flavonoids that make up silymarin are silibinin, silidianin and silicristin. Extractions of milk thistle are made from the seed, which contains the silymarin. In addition to liver protection, silymarin also has antioxidant properties. Oxidation is a chemical process in the body that causes damage to the cell structure. Antioxidants can help diminish signs of aging by combating the effects of oxidation in the body.

Liver Protection

According to herbalist Luzia Barclay, milk thistle blocks toxins from entering the liver cells by altering the outer cell membrane. In addition, milk thistle can instigate self-healing of the liver by stimulating new cell growth. Milk thistle aids in the healing process of the liver by preventing depletion of the amino acid-like compound glutathione. High alcohol consumption depletes glutathione. Milk thistle can help stop depletion of glutathione to prevent further liver damage. Milk thistle can also protect your liver in cases where high doses of medications, such as cetaminophen (Tylenol), result in liver damage, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Conditions

Alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver, liver poisoning and alcoholic fatty liver, and viral hepatitis are found to respond positively to milk-thistle extracts. In addition to its long history as a liver-healing remedy, milk thistle has also been used as a digestive aid and tonic. Milk thistle benefits the adrenal system, improves inflammatory bowel syndrome and can help lower cholesterol. Chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis also might benefit from milk thistle.

Considerations

After centuries of use of use in healing liver conditions, milk thistle has gained a solid reputation among herbalists and alternative healers. In addition to continuous studies as to its liver healing abilities, milk thistle is being studied as a potential medicine for diseases such as cancer, acute viral hepatitis, diabetes and high cholesterol. In Europe, milk thistle is used to treat a variety of liver ailments.