Milk Thistle

Milk thistle belongs to the family Silybrum Adans. Milk thistles are flowering plants that are members of the Asterceae family (or better known as the daisy family). The milk thistle plant can be found growing in the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean areas of Europe. The milk thistle plant is either an annual or a biennial kind of plant.

Milk thistle is an herb that is most commonly used to treat stomach, gallbladder and liver problems. The seeds of milk thistle contain a substance contain a flavonoid called silymarin and this is believed to help prevent damage of the liver due to some forms of Cancer treatments.

Milk thistle is used as tonic for the liver in many parts of Europe where it is very popular. It has been borne out in research studies that milk thistle helps to protect and flush out the liver from chemicals that are undesirable. By so doing, milk thistle helps to prevent free radicals from developing. Milk thistle encourages the proper functioning of the liver and encourages the development of new cells.  In particular milk thistle has shown a modicum of success in treating Cirrhosis of the liver, disorders of the gallbladder, and chronic hepatitis (or liver inflammation).

Milk thistle is also believed to help lower cholesterol and to decrease the growth and development of Cancer cells when it comes to breast Cancer, cervical Cancer and prostate Cancer. Milk thistle is beneficial to decrease insulin resistance in individuals who suffer from both Cirrhosis of the liver and type 2 Diabetes. Milk thistle is an herb that is added to some energy drinks such as the AriZona Beverage Company Green Tea energy drink. Milk thistle is also to be found in many remedies for decreasing the negative effects of a Hangover.