Milk Thistle (silybum marianum)
Milk thistle is a member of the sunflower family, with purple flowers and milky white leave veins. It blooms In June to August, and then the shiny black seeds are harvested, around the end of September.
Milk Thistle has a long history in European folk medicine as a liver tonic. Silymarin, the main active ingredient, has shown a protective effect against many types of chemical toxins, as well as alcohol.
The extract is used to improve liver function, protect against liver damage and enhance regeneration of damaged liver cells. Milk thistle can also be beneficial in preventing and treating gallstones, by improving the flow of bile. The cholesterol-laden juice called bile travels from the liver, through the gall bladder, where it enters the intestine, to help digest fats.
Milk thistle, also prevents the loss of glutathione, an amino acid essential for liver detoxification. By taking milk thistle, studies have shown to increase the concentration of glutathione by 35%.
This brief information is intended for guidance only and if you are in any doubt about taking a food supplement, you should first consult your healthcare practitioner or dietician.
