About Milk Thistle and it’s benefits
Milk thistle (silymarin) is a flowering herb related to the daisy and ragweed family. It is native to Mediterranean countries. Some people also call it Mary thistle and holy thistle. (1)
A herbal remedy derived from the seeds of the milk thistle plant which contains antioxidant properties and helps to support the liver by flushing out any harmful toxins, it has been used medicinally for centuries and is said to have anti-inflammatory actions which help to protect our body from associated diseases, it may also help protect against damage caused by alcohol, pollution and other harmful substances. (2)
It may help with
- Liver support
- Diabetes
- Control weight
What are the benefits?
1) Liver support
Milk thistle helps to repair liver cells and may promote the regeneration of new cells, our liver helps to detoxify our blood cleaning it of any toxins over the course of the day, which is important to keep body’s systems clean in order to function properly.
The liver also helps with the production of hormones, helps to absorb fats from food by releasing bile into the small intestine and helps glucose to reach our bloodstream to provide the body with energy.
According to research, Silymarin has been used to treat alcoholic liver disease, acute and chronic viral hepatitis and toxin-induced liver diseases. (2)
Has beneficial effects on liver-related diseases such as toxic liver damage, inflammatory liver disease and cirrhosis.
2) It may help with diabetes
A study was carried out on 51 Type 2 diabetic patients for 4 months, they were separated into two groups, one group received silymarin, (a chemical found in milk thistle) 3 times a day along with conventional therapy and the other group received a placebo and conventional therapy, the results show that the group who had silymarin had shown a decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBS) and total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels. (3)
3) Milk thistle may help control weight
According to research milk thistle may help to control weight, the research found that mice who were fed a high-fat diet for the purpose of causing diet-induced obesity and received silymarin actually had caused bodyweight loss. (4)
Milk Thistle synergy and works well with
- Dandelion for water retention and detoxifying
- Artichoke may help to restore the liver in cases of alcohol overuse. The medicinal properties of Artichoke mean that it may help to increase the production of bile from the liver
- Burdock Root may help to detoxify the blood, which may support the liver and help to prevent skin conditions such as Acne, Eczema and Psoriasis.
- Vitamin B Complex is said to be required for the correct absorption and metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, making it useful for people whose diets are high in these nutrients, which in turn may help the liver function.
Resources
Last accessed online 18/06/2020
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/milk-thistle-benefits-and-side-effects
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20564545
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17072885
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27387273
