The Advantages Of Milk Thistle

Milk thistle has been an herbal remedy for many common ailments associated with the liver and the pancreas for more than 2000 years. Milk thistle is a bitter herb, cooling in action. Milk thistle offers protection against hepatotoxic agents, and helps reverse toxic liver damage. It has shown the ability to stimulate protein synthesis in the liver, and helps the formation and growth of new liver cells. Early physicians used this herb to treat congestion in the spleen, kidneys, and veins. Although generally considered a safe herbal remedy, professionals advise caution with use due to increased hepatic clearance of pharmaceutical drugs.

Liver Tonic

Milk Thistle is a significant source of silymarin, a powerful mixture of flavolignans that exert protective and liver regenerative effects. Silymarin functions to enhance normal liver processes through three primary actions. Silymarin serves as an antioxidant, protecting the liver from lipid peroxidation. Silymarin blocks hepatotoxic substances from crossing cell membranes, thereby protecting the liver from toxic compounds. Additionally, silymarin stimulates cell regeneration. According to Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., et.al in the book "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook," research performed by Russian scientists on the effects of milk thistle on health and metabolism found a general restorative influence. The inclusion of Silybum marianum to bread products appeared to enhance vital activity and increase overall capacity to do work.

Liver Affinity

Milk thistle benefits general liver conditions including yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice), hepatic pain, and swelling. According to the book "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook," flavonoids found in milk thistle seed (technically the fruit) have an affinity for and store in the liver, contributing to the important liver regenerating and protective properties found in milk thistle. They have profound effects on the immune system and inflammatory cells, increasing resistance to disease. They help regulate cell function and stabilize cell membranes. According to David Hoffman, a medical herbalist and author of the book "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," milk thistle is advantageous for the following conditions: acute viral hepatitis, toxic or metabolic disease, chronic-persistent hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and fatty degeneration of the liver.

Restorative and Protectant

For individuals who consume alcohol or have liver cirrhosis due to alcohol, milk thistle supplementation is advantageous. According to the evidence assessment report titled "Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects," five out of six studies have shown that patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease showed significant improvement in their condition when supplementing with milk thistle. Milk thistle also shows highly protective effects against tumor promotion, stomach and intestinal membranes, and appears to protect kidneys against toxicity from chemotherapeutic agents. Silymarin enhances levels of the two key antioxidants, glutathione and superoxide dismutase. The report attributes positive effects to enhanced antioxidant activity in the liver, intestine and stomach.