Milk thistle, which also goes by the name of Silybum marianum and holy thistle, has been used to treat liver ailments for hundreds of years. Milk thistle works by improving the liver’s ability to remove toxins from the body, and in turn repairs damage to the liver. This is great news for those that suffer from liver ailments such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Recent research has also suggested that milk thistle also aids in lowering cholesterol, it does this by increasing the body’s production of the natural antioxidant, glutathione.
The main medicinal benefits are derived from a flavonoid complex housed in the milk thistle herb, which comes in the shape of silymarin. This particular substance is sourced from the milk thistle seeds. The silymarin complex contains a total of four health beneficial phytochemicals; these include silybinin, isosilybinin, silydianin, and silychristin.

Individuals that suffer from the likes of ailments such as cirrhosis will greatly benefit from the introduction of milk thistle in their diet, as taking a small dose daily in fact improves the function of the liver. Milk thistle has also been used as an antidote to liver poisoning.

Other specialists concentrating on the natural supplement have revealed that milk thistle protects the liver damage caused by a prolonged use of drugs, even going as far as to normalise the liver’s enzyme levels.

200 milligrams of the product is the standard daily dose needed in order to create a health benefit.

Everything including the stems, the leaves and the seeds of this plant are edible and all offer a health benefit when taken in conjunction with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.