Silybum Marianum - Milk Thistle

Silybum Marianum - Milk Thistle

The Plant

Milk thistle is an annual plant member of the Asteraceae family, originally native to Southern Europe through to Asia, but it can be found everywhere in the world nowadays. 

Health Benefits

Protects and supports liver health

Milk thistle got its reputation from its liver healing attributes. Many people with some type of liver damage (liver cancer, hepatitis, alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) use it regularly. Studies prove its effectiveness.

Other studies proved that taking milk thistle supplements can be helpful for people with cirrhosis. While it is also proven that this herb increases liver functions.

(paid link)

Can be effective against certain poisons

A few studies confirmed that taking milk thistle can protect your liver against amatoxins, which can be mainly found in the death cap mushroom, which is deadly if you eat it.

Reduces cholesterol levels

One study showed that people who took milk thistle had lower LDL cholesterol levels than people who took a placebo.

Helps you lose weight

One animal study found that giving milk thistle to mice reduced their weight, although human research was never conducted so the effectiveness may be less for us.

Helps you to protect your bones

Animal studies proved that taking this herb stimulates bone mineralization, protecting your bones. Researchers think taking milk thistle can prevent or delay progressive bone loss(Osteoporosis). 

It can help you keep your mental freshness as you age

The herb itself is used for thousands of years for treating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease since it is proven it can reduce amyloid plaque in your brain. Also, studies confirmed milk thistle can prevent oxidative damage to your brain, preventing mental decline. 

Can reduce skin aging

In one study it was shown taking this herb reduces aging effects on the human skin and it also has an antioxidant effect too.

(paid link)

Helps with asthma

One study proved that taking milk thistle can improve allergic asthma symptoms. 

Helps with type 2 diabetes

One study confirmed that using this herb can reduce insulin resistance by decreasing inflammation.

Improves your performance and immune system

Taking milk thistle can increase your fighting powers against infections and it can also increase your performance proved by this study.

It might be helpful in cancer treatment

It reduces the side effects of cancer treatment and it can also increase the success chance of chemotherapy showed by some studies. Although human studies are still uncertain about the herb's effectiveness.

Milk thistle is a very useful herb especially for old people, it really can improve their health by a lot as the studies suggest. 

(Paid link)

Follow me on facebook.