Milk thistle has been used for over 2000 years as a medicinal herb. It is considered to have liver-protecting properties as well as many other possible anti-cancer and toxin-removing effects. This purple flowered herb is a member of the daisy family and can be consumed raw or in prepared forms such as capsules, extracts, powders and tinctures. The main active component, silymarin, is most potent in the seeds of the plant.
Liver Disease
Milk thistle is most well-known for its proposed liver protecting benefits. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that many studies have shown "milk thistle may benefit the liver by protecting and promoting the growth of liver cells, fighting oxidation (a chemical process that can damage cells), and inhibiting inflammation." Milk thistle may help to protect the liver from toxins such as drugs, poisons, and chemicals and may also reduce damage to the liver from excessive alcohol use. Milk thistle helps to prevent the depletion of glutathoine, a known antioxidant, and can increase the concentration of glutathione in the liver, which can help protect liver cells against damage.
Lower Cholesterol
The liver helps to regulate the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream. When healthy, it can add or remove cholesterol from the blood as required by the body. If the liver is not functioning properly, or is damaged, the cholesterol-removing function may be impaired, leading to higher blood cholesterol levels. By restoring proper liver function, milk thistle may help to lower cholesterol levels. The Mayo Clinic reports that there are studies that show the cholesterol-lowering effects of milk thistle on animals; however, further studies on humans are needed to verify this proposed milk thistle benefit in people.
Diabetes
A study by Velussi, Cernigoi, Viezzoli, Dapas, Caffau and Zilli showed that after 6 months of daily silymarin treatment, study participants with diabetes exhibited a decreased fasting blood glucose, decreased non-fasting blood glucose, and decreased need for self-injected insulin when compared to those left untreated. This study suggests that milk thistle may decrease the need for self-injected insulin in patients with diabetes by increasing the insulin sensitivity of cells.
Cancers
The main active component of milk thistle, silymarin, is a powerful antioxidant that can help to prevent damage to cells from cancer-causing free radicals. The Mayo Clinic reports that milk thistle has been shown in studies to reduce the growth of breast, cervical and prostate cancer cells. It is also said to decrease the harmful side effects of chemotherapy drugs by decreasing damage to noncancerous cells and removing toxic substances from the body.
References
- The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Milk thistle.
- "Guide to Drugs and Supplements"; Reader's Digest; 2007.
- MedicineNet.com: Glutathione New Supplement on the Block.
- MayoClinic.com: Milk thistle (Silybum marianum).
- "Current Therapeutic Research"; Silymarin reduces hyperinsulinemia, malondialdehyde levels, and daily insulin need in cirrhotic diabetic patients; M. Velussi, A.M. Cernigoi, L. Viezzoli, F. Dapas, C. Caffau and M. Zilli; May 1993.
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