Milk Thistle
Silybum Marianum
Although historical references indicate extensive use of milk thistle, even going back 2000 years, its use was revitalised in Germany in the mid 19th century and again in modern practice in the 1930s. The main constituent, silymarin, has been extensively studied and has been found to be one of the most potent liver-protecting substances known.
- LIVER PROTECTIVE - Milk thistle prevents liver destruction and enhances liver function through its ability to prevent toxin-induced damage, and by stimulating the growth of new liver cells to replace old damaged cells. Silymarin does not have a stimulatory effect on malignant liver tissue. Silymarin has been shown to stimulate the production of glutathione, by over 35 percent. Increased glutathione levels raise the liver's detoxification potential to handle a wide range of hormones, drugs, and chemicals. Milk thistle has been shown to be protective in various types of liver insult including; cirrhosis, chronic viral hepatitis, fatty infiltration of the liver, subclinical cholestasis of pregnancy.
- ANTIOXIDANT - Silymarin prevents free radical damage by exerting antioxidant effects at least ten times more potent than vitamin E.
- ANTI-INFLAMMATORY - Silymarin helps protect cell membranes and limits the damaging inflammatory responses caused by leukotrienes release.
- GALLSTONES - Silymar