What are the health benefits of milk thistle?
Milk thistle has been used for centuries for the treatment of liver disease. Milk thistle appears to be safe and have multiple health benefits on various liver conditions; the available evidence on the mechanisms of action appears promising [1]. Traditionally, milk thistle is commonly used for liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, liver poisoning, and viral hepatitis. What ingredients in milk thistle contribute to its beneficial effects? Milk thistle extracts are standardized to a concentration of 70-80% of flavone lignans including isosilybinin, silybinin, silychristin, and silydianin, which are collectively called silymarin. Silymarin may play a role in displacing toxins binding to the liver and causing the liver cells to regenerate at a faster rate. Milk thistle is a flowering herb. Silymarin can be extracted from the seeds (fruit). The seeds are used to prepare capsules containing powdered herb or seed; extracts; and infusions (strong teas). [NCCAM] How do su
