Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle, or Silybum marianum, is a weed-likein order to protect it from toxins. The silymarin
plant that grows in rocky, dry soil. The plantcomplex binds to the membranes of the liver
reaches heights of 3 to 10 feet, has dark green,cells, creating a tough shield so the toxins are less
spiny leaves, and big flowers that range from pinkable to penetrate the cell walls. If toxins do get
to purple. A native to the Mediterranean, milkinto the liver cells and cause damage, silymarin
thistle now grows wild in Europe, North America,stimulates the liver to speed up production of
and Australia.beneficial enzymes and proteins that aid in healing.
The Latin name marianum was derived from aOne of the key methods in which milk thistle aids
legend that the herb's leaf veins turned whitein the liver's detoxification process is by
after being touched by a drop of the Virginpreventing the depletion of glutathione (an amino
Mary's breast milk. The name milk thistle wasacid). The higher the body's glutathione content,
given to the herb because of the milky whitethe greater the liver's capacity will be in
juice exuded by the leaves when crushed.detoxifying harmful chemicals. Normally, when we
Milk Thistle's healing properties were first recordedare exposed to damaging chemicals such as
by Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist whoalcohol, drugs and pollution, the concentration of
completed the writing of Natural History in 77 A.D.glutathione within the liver is substantially reduced.
Pliny claimed that milk thistle was good forThis reduction leaves the liver cells susceptible to
"carrying off the bile".damage. Studies have shown that silymarin not
In the 16th century, the British herbalist Johnonly prevents the typical depletion of glutathione
Gerard recommended milk thistle for "expellingbut actually increases the level of glutathione in
melancholy", which was something physicians ofthe liver by up to 35 percent.
that time considered to be a liver ailment. NicholasThe National Center for Complimentary and
Culpeper, a 17th century herbalist, cited the herb'sAlternative Medicine (NCCAM) has funded a study
use for opening "obstructions" of the liver anddesigned to better understand the use of milk
spleen.thistle for chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic
By the 19th century, German doctors were usingsteatohepatitis (liver disease).
tincture made from milk thistle seeds for theAccording to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
treatment of many liver disorders. The GermanCenter, placebo-controlled clinical studies show milk
Commission E, the expert panel for the Germanthistle's efficacy in reducing aminotransferases in
government that judges the safety andalcoholic disease. Conclusions from a systematic
effectiveness of medicinal herbs, fully approvesreview also suggest milk thistle's usefulness in the
milk thistle seeds or seed extracts as supportivetreatment of liver cirrhosis.
treatment for disorders relating to the liver.Milk thistle is generally well tolerated with few side
Milk thistle supplements are made from the seedseffects. In rare instances, milk thistle can cause a
of the dried flowers. These seeds contain alaxative effect, upset stomach, diarrhea, or
bioflavonoid complex called silymarin, which isbloating.
composed of silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin. TheAs with all treatments, both conventional and
silibinin is considered the most active component.alternative, be sure to check with your doctor for
The silymarin complex functions as anany possible drug interactions or cautions
antihepatoxic, meaning it acts directly on the liverpertaining to your own situation.