Milk Thistle Seed (Silybum marianum)
Milk Thistle is a short, wide, prickly plant known as milk thistle (Silybum marianum). It is the source of a popular herbal remedy that is widely used to detoxify the body and to treat liver disease. Milk thistle has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years, most commonly for the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders. A flavonoid complex called silymarin can be extracted from the seeds of milk thistle and is believed to be the biologically active component. The terms "milk thistle" and "silymarin" are often used interchangeably
Milk Thistle has been used for congestion of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Milk thistle seed has the same healing effect on the liver without interfering with the organs ability to detoxify drugs or environmental chemicals, and a side benefit of normalizing blood lipids as the liver heals.
Research suggests that milk thistle extracts both prevent and repair damage to the liver from toxic chemicals and medications. Workers who had been exposed to vapors from toxic chemicals (toluene and/or xylene) for 5-20 years were given either a standardized milk thistle extract (80% silymarin) or placebo for 30 days. The workers taking the milk thistle extract showed significant improvement in liver function tests (ALT and AST) and platelet counts vs. the placebo group.
Synonyms: Bull thistle, cardo blanco, Cardui mariae fructus, Cardui mariae herba, Cardum marianum L., Carduus marianus L., Chardon-Marie, emetic root, flavonolignans, Frauendistel, Fructus Silybi mariae, fruit de chardon Marie, heal thistle, holy thistle, isosilibinin, isosilybin, kanger, kocakavkas, kuub, lady's thistle, Legalon®, Marian thistle, mariana mariana, Mariendistel, Marienkrörner, Mary thistle, mild thistle, milk ipecac, natursil, natursilum, Our Lady's thistle, pig leaves, royal thistle, shui fei ji, silidianin, Silybi mariae fructus, silybin, silybinin, Silybum marianum , silychristin, silymarin, snake milk, sow thistle, St. Mary's thistle, thisylin, Venus thistle, variegated thistle, wild artichoke
