Milk thistle is an herb that is used for its ability to support liver, kidney, and gallbladder health. Milk Thistle contains the flavonoid silymarin, which is known to be the main contributor to many of its effects, including: liver protection as well as its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-viral properties.
Milk Thistle was originally native to the Mediterranean but is now found throughout the world. This powerful plant was actually known as a weed in some areas, despite its therapeutic potential. When the leaves are crushed they release a milky sap, giving this herb its characteristic name. Silymarin, the active component within the plant, is actually a group of compounds (silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin), which work together to provide multiple health benefits.
Silymarin act as as an anti-fibrotic, which means it prevents tissue scarring, and it’s also thought to act as a “toxin blocking compound” by inhibiting the binding of toxins to liver cell membrane receptors. Silymarin is used to treat alcoholic liver disease, acute and chronic viral hepatitis, and toxin-induced liver disease.
This powerful compound has even been shown in animal studies to reduce liver injury caused by a number of drugs and environmental toxins, including: heavy metals, pain medications, iron, and radiation.