Milk Thistle is a ‘carduus’ thistle from the compositae or daisy family known as carduus marianus or silybum marianus.  Thistles are found mainly in Asia and Europe and also parts of Australia.

Milk Thistle has its greatest affinity with the liver and is reported to have protective qualities and to stimulate enhanced liver function.  Herbalist typically use Milk Thistle to treat conditions such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and gallbladder problems.  Chemically the active ingredient in Milk Thistle is silymarin and is a mixture of four flavonolignans.  There has been much research carried out on silymarin since the 1970s but there has been no one conclusive report published as yet.  However it still remains one of the most widely used herbs and has received celebrity status in books by Gillian McKeith and Carol Vorderman.

In addition to the benefits towards the liver this potent herb can be used to lower cholesterol levels.  It is has also been shown to reduce insulin resistance in diabetes type 2 sufferers who have also got liver cirrhosis.  You may also be surprised to learn that milk thistle has also been used by herbalists to reduce the proliferation of cancer cells in cervical, breast and prostate cancer.  Milk Thistle also has powerful detoxification qualities and is claimed to reduce the affects of alcoholic over indulgence!