Milk thistle benefits have been studied and used medicinally for hundreds of years. It is believed to be one of the most popular and effective herbs for the treatment of liver related diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and gallbladder disorders.
Research in the US and Germany suggest that milk thistle is invaluable in the treatment of damage and side effects caused by pharmaceutical drugs, anesthetics and poisoning. It is also useful in the treatment of psoriasis.
Milk Thistle Benefits – Background
The milk thistle is a flowering herb related to the daisy and ragweed family. It is known as many other names including; Mary Thistle, Holy Thistle and Silymarin.
The religious connection is from when people believed the milk that dripped from the thistle came from the dripped milk of the Virgin Mary while she breast fed Jesus.
In Chinese medicine, the Milk thistle is known as Shui Fei Ji.
Its flowering head can be a purple or reddish color and is often seen as an annoying, fast growing weed which can reach heights of 4 – 10 feet. It was originally native to Mediterranean countries but can now be found growing throughout the world. It is a hardy plant that thrives in dry, sunny conditions and spreads easily due to its parachute effect seeds.
The flowering head of the milk thistle produces black seeds, and it is these black seeds that are harvested in the summer months for their medicinal properties.
The main active ingredient contained in these seeds is made up of 3 flavonoids – silybin, silydianin and silychristin. These are collectively known as silymarin. It is Silymarin that gives milk thistle benefits its healthy properties.
Benefits of Silymarin Found in Milk Thistle
Antioxidant. Silymarin contains antioxidant properties which help protect the body cells from damage caused by a chemical process called “oxidation”. In oxidation, harmful substances produced in the body (called free radicals) can damage cells. Studies believe that milk thistle can help prevent these free radicals from damaging liver cells.
Anti – Inflammatory. Silymarin has anti-inflammatory properties which prevent the liver from dangerous swelling in response to injury.
Promotes Liver Cell Growth. Silymarin from milk thistle is thought to promote the regeneration and repair of certain liver cells, and reversing liver damaged ones. A chemical process changes the outside layer of liver cells, preventing unwanted toxins from getting into the cells.
The liver is understandably one of the body’s most important and constantly used organs, breaking down nutrients and cleansing the body of harmful toxins. Milk thistle benefits help to detoxify the liver as well as protecting it against damage from drugs, alcohol and other potentially harmful substances.
If you have any comments on milk thistle benefits or have any questions, please drop them below.
Thanks,
Peter
