Herbs - Milk Thistle - Ailments / Situations Where Used

This is one of, if not the best, liver tonics available. Silymarin, a complex of antioxidants extracted from milk thistle seeds, is often seen as the active part of the herb. It is a mixture of flavolignans and is present in concentrations of 5% of mature seeds.

Milk thistle helps protect the liver in cases of hepatitis, cirrhosis, inflamed gall bladder, and duct. It helps regenerate a damaged liver as a result of alcohol, pollutants, radiation, and mushroom poisoning and generally assists liver function in chronic degenerative diseases. This herb protects liver cells from free radical damage and facilitates the synthesis of liver DNA. In turn, this helps produce new liver cells.

There have been situations where taking milk thistle for several months has protected against the deadly amanita mushroom. Tests on animals using silymarin and silybin extracts has protected against this poison.

This plant has been shown to lower fat deposits in the liver of animals and helps lower blood fat. Milk thistle is a potent antioxidant that helps protect against free radical damage and may be helpful against some cancers. This herb is believed to be stronger than vitamin E in terms of antioxidant potential.

Milk thistle is helpful in digestive weaknesses, as it stimulates protein synthesis and assists in the digestion of fats. Taken internally, it can help increase milk flow in nursing mothers.

Silymarin increases solubility and promotes the flow of bile. This makes milk thistle ideal for people with gall bladder problems.