Some of the most important and amazing health benefits of milk thistle include its ability to detoxify the liver, speed organ repair, treat certain symptoms of cancer, treat fungal infections, cure hangovers, protect against side effects of pharmaceuticals, slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, reduce the risk of heart disease, and manage the symptoms of diabetes.
These days the medical science has been trying their best to find the powerful herbs in which they can heal and treat many diseases. There has been numerous discoveries about it including on Milk Thistle potential. Milk thistle is generally categorized as the great herb which can be the antioxidant and also anti inflammatory agent.
The milk thistle has been known as the detoxification agent for the body. It has the scientific name as Silybum Marianum. The milk thistle is currently being used as the best supplement to treat some diseases and also health disorders.
Since very long time ago the milk thistle has been used as the traditional medicine to treat some illnesses such as digestive problem, increase the bile production and especially reduce the inflammation. For the further explanation, hereby the health benefits of milk thistle.
What is Milk Thistle?
You may know milk thistle by any number of other names, depending on where you are in the world, including Marian thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, Scotch thistle, and many others. Scientifically, it is known as Silybmom marianum, and it is an annual flowering plant with reddish-purple flowers. Although this plant was once native to southern Europe and certain parts of Asia, it has now been naturalized in many places around the world. This plant is so widely known and highly praised due to the powerful organic components found in its seeds. It is from these seeds that milk thistle extract is derived, which includes high concentrations of silymarin, the most unique and active ingredient in the extract. The extract also contains various fatty acids, including linoleic acid.
Found in the Mediterranean but now present all over the world, milk thistle is considered to be a weed in some places, in spite of its therapeutic reputation. When its leaves are mashed, they bring out a milky-like sap, hence its name. Milk thistle is also capable of promoting healthy digestive function by aiding in enzyme creation, raising bile production, lessening inflammation and comforting the mucous membranes all over the body.
History of Milk thistle
As you all know that Milk Thistle was “excellent for the carrying of bile”, which in his time referred to any internal fluid except for blood. The 16th century Botanist and Herbalist John Gerard was of the opinion that this herb was the best remedy for all melancholy diseases – which physicians at the time considered a liver complaint – with it now being known that the abnormal function of the liver can indeed affect mood. Around 50 years later, the famous British Herbalist, Culpeper recommended its use for the treatment of disorders affecting the liver and spleen. He also prescribed Milk Thistle for the kidneys, believing it to “provoke the flow of urine, and to break and expel kidney stones”.
Traditional Use and Health Benefits
With a long history stretching back over 2000 years, the Milk Thistle herb has a myriad of health benefits. The Greek physician and also the botanist Dioscorides first described its healing properties in 40 AD, using the seeds as a natural remedy for infants and for those bitten by serpents.
In herbal medicine, Milk Thistle herb is generally considered a hepatic (liver tonic), galactogogue (promotes lactation), demulcent (anti-inflammatory, protects mucous membranes) and a cholagogue (stimulates the flow of bile from the liver).
Here are the health benefits of Milk Thistle
Fights with Cancer
The great health benefit of milk thistle has been known as the cancer fighter. The milk thistle seeds are very rich in antioxidant flavonoid, silymarin. The antioxidant flavonoid such as silymarin has been analyzed in reducing and fighting the cancer cells. It works by stimulating and boosting the immune system and also fixing the DNA damage. That process will surely keep the cancer cells at bay.
Treat the Diabetes
Another great health benefit of milk thistle is that it powerfully treat and even heal the diabetes. As you all know that the silymarin that contained in milk thistle will heal the diabetes. The silymarin will work very well with glycemic control associated to diabetes. Another property such as antioxidants of milk thistle can also reduce the blood sugar levels.
Treats Your Skin
As you all know that the milk thistle is very effective to treat the skin condition. The phytochemicals of silymarin in milk thistle has been analyzed and it is very great to block the UV light and it can heal the stressed skin. This condition will significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer. In the same case the silymarin of milk thistle can fix the skin damaged such as radiated skin or skin burnt.
Lower the High Cholesterol
It has been known since from the long time ago that milk thistle is very effective to heal some diseases. One of them is cholesterol. The milk thistle is very great in lower the high cholesterol. Besides, the silymarin of milk thistle is useful to treat the LDL and lower it very well.
Keep the Body away from Medication
The milk thistle is very effective in treating some of the human health problems including to protect the liver from meditation potential damage. The potential damages caused by medication can be such as acetaminophen. It can be reduced by taking the milk thistle. It will also reduce the risk of liver damage. It is also called as milk thistle liver detox.
Anti-Aging Agent
The milk thistle is very great in treating some diseases and it has been used since many long time ago. It has also been proved that the milk thistle is very effective to treat the aging problem. Since it has the antioxidant, the milk thistle is very good in fighting the free radicals inside the body. The free radicals has been known as the first cause to make the aging faster. Thus by milk thistle, it will make the aging process slower.
Reduces the Risk of Heart Attack
Another great health benefit of milk thistle is that it can be used as the treatment to reduce the risk of heart attack. The silymarin of milk thistle is very great in working to prevent the heart attack by lower the high cholesterol. Thus, who wants to make the heart healthy can take the milk thistle too.
Treats the Kidney Stones
It is very good news for medical science that the milk thistle is very effective in treating the kidney stone. It will reduce the kidney stone and keep it at bay. For those who wants to keep the your kidney healthy, You can take the milk thistle as a supplement and it will slowly treat the kidney stone at bay.
Treats the Eyes Healthy
Eyes are very important for people. The vision health will be maintained by so many health herbs including this amazing milk thistle. The antioxidant of milk thistle is proved in treating the eyes healthy and it will lower the risk of vision problems. Thus, those for who wants to make the eyes healthy can take the milk thistle.
Anti-pollutants Agent
Another great and amazing benefit of milk thistle is that it can be used as the anti-pollutant agent. the milk thistle has the great antioxidant agent in which it can prevent the pollutants at bay and it will stimulate the positive effects to the body.
Treats the Muscles
Treating the muscles can be used by the amazing milk thistle. As you all know that the milk thistle can be the effective way to treat the muscles disorders such as pain and joints.
Removes the Wrinkles or Spots
Milk thistle has been known to as one of the wrinkles removers supplements. It is very good to maintain the skin health since it can protect the skin especially face from the damage and fix the skin disorders such as wrinkles or dark spots. The antioxidant can work very well in removing the dark spots and wrinkles.
Anti-Inflammatory Agent
The milk thistle is well known by its anti-inflammatory agent in which it can make the diseases at bay. As you all know that the milk thistle is very great in making the body healthy by working as the anti-inflammatory agent.
Cleans the Blood
As you all know that the milk thistle is very great in treating the body healthy and keep the diseases at bay including the cleanser for blood. It is still relating to the detoxification function of milk thistle which cleanse the blood from free radicals.
Detoxification Function
Another powerful benefit of Milk thistle is that it can be the detoxification for body. This powerful herb is very useful to detox the body very well. the antioxidant of milk thistle has been well known as the treatment for detoxification against the chemicals and other free radicals inside the human body. Besides the milk thistle can also promote the metabolism system.
Keeps the Liver Healthy
As you all know that that the milk thistle is very effective in keeping the liver healthy. It has been proved that the milk thistle can protect the liver from the dangerous toxins and other dangerous pollutants. Moreover it will also prevent the circulation throughout the blood flows.
Boosting the Immune System
This is very great to know that the milk thistle is very powerfully boosting the immune system. The milk thistle has been analyzed having the immune boosting properties of milk thistle and it will stimulate the immune system very well. Therefore, it will make the allergic reaction at bay.
Antioxidant Function
As you all know that the milk thistle is very effective to keep the diseases at bay since it has the great the antioxidative function. The milk thistle can stimulate the regeneration of damaged cells inside the body. Besides, the milk thistle can also neutralize the toxic inside the cells. The silymarin works very great in doing so. Thus, the silymarin of milk thistle herb can block the free radicals.
Prevent the Hepatitis
Another great benefit of milk thistle is that it can prevent the hepatitis. The milk thistle contains the great anti-inflammatory and silymarin which can treat the hepatitis particularly hepatitis C.
Stimulate Cells Growth
Another great health benefits of milk thistle is that it can stimulate the cells growth and even fix the damaged cells. The milk thistle contains the liver-protection agent and it also has the active ingredients such as silymarin make milk thistle is very effective to treat many serious diseases including repairing the cells damage. Milk thistle silymarin group, flavonolignans will fix the damaged cells by stimulating the protein synthesis very well and it will slowly repair them. Relating to the cells growth, the silymarin of milk thistle is contributing in stimulating the cells growth inside the body.
Other Benefits of Milk Thistle
Moreover, that milk thistle extracts also has the following non-liver related benefits:
- It mitigates cell damage due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments
- It reinforces sunscreen protection and could be useful to combat many kinds of skin disorders
- It performs as a free radical scavenger and potent antioxidant
- It lessens hot flashes and other related menopausal symptoms
- It helps with intestinal / indigestion problems.
Above all are the benefits of using milk thistle. You can use milk thistle in the form of supplements and capsules.