Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle is a tall Herb with prickly leaves and a “milky” sap, indigenous to Europe and also found in some regions of the USA.  It grows in rocky soils and has an erect stem that bears large, alternating, prickly-edged leaves.  Milk Thistle is not related to Blessed Thistle or Holy Thistle.

Botanical Names

 Silybum marianum

 Carduus marianus

 Milk Thistle belongs to the Sunflower (Asteraceae) family.

Part Used

 Fruit (known technically as achenes) from which a feather tuft or pappus has been removed.  Many texts refer to these fruits as seeds (which they are NOT).  Thefruit portion is glossy brown or gray with spots.

Most of the health benefits of Milk Thistle are due to its Silymarin content.

Antioxidant

 Milk Thistle possesses Antioxidants properties (due to the Silymarin and Silbyin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[1]

 Milk Thistle may inhibit Lipid Peroxidation (especially in the Liver).  ^[2]

Cardiovascular System

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent Atherosclerosis (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[3]

 Milk Thistle may protect Red Blood Cells Membranes against lipid peroxidation. 

Cells

 Milk Thistle may strengthen and stabilize the body's Cell Membranes. 

Digestive System

 Milk Thistle may help to stimulate the flow of Bile.  ^[4]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent Gallstones (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle reducing the quantity of Cholesterol byproducts in Bile).  ^[5]

Excretory System

 Milk Thistle may stimulate the regeneration of the Kidneys and may protect the Kidneys from the toxic effects of many poisons (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[6]

Immune System

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent Cancer - Breast (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[7]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent Cancer - Colon (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[8]

 Milk Thistle (consumed orally or applied topically) may reduce Inflammation (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle):  ^[9]

 Milk Thistle may inhibit the release of Histamine from Mast Cells.  ^[10]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent and treat Cancer - Kidney.  ^[11]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent Cancer - Liver.  ^[12]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent and treat Cancer - Lung.  ^[13]

 Milk Thistle may counteract some of the symptoms of Malaria.  ^[14]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent Cancer - Ovaries.  ^[15]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent and treat Cancer - Prostate (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[16]

 Milk Thistle may help to prevent and treat Cancer - Skin:  ^[17]

 The Silymarin content of Milk Thistle (applied topically) may help to prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma (a form of Skin Cancer).

Metabolism

 Milk Thistle may alleviate Cholestasis (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[18]

 Milk Thistle may lower elevated total Cholesterol levels (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle):   ^[19]

 Milk Thistle may increase High Density Lipoproteins levels (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[20]

 Milk Thistle may lower Low Density Lipoproteins levels (the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle accelerates the removal of LDL Cholesterol by the Liver) and may inhibit the oxidation of LDL Cholesterol (due to the Antioxidant properties of the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle).  ^[21]

 Milk Thistle may reduce Blood Sugar levels, Insulin levels, Glycosuria and Glycosylated Hemoglobin levels in Diabetes Mellitus patients (due to the Silymarin content of Milk Thistle):  ^[22]