Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is a plant that is commonly found in the Mediterranean part of Europe. It is mostly recognized for its active ingredient, silymarin, and cultivated for its decorative and medicinal use. Milk thistle belongs to the daisy and sunflower family, Asteraceae, and it is quite close to the sow thistle.

There are a lot of known benefits of milk thistle. It is primarily regarded as a liver aide. A lot of researches have shown that substances found in milk thistle help liver disease treatment. It improves the liver functions and protects it against invasive chemicals in our bodies. Milk thistle works as a body cleanser that helps in the eliminatory process. Liver milk thistle benefits don’t just apply to humans but to pets as well. A lot of veterinarians use milk thistle for dogs, and it helps them treat some possibly fatal liver conditions.

Does milk thistle work as a cure for cancer? That’s one question that still remains to be answered. Currently, most of the milk thistle studies are focused on the effects it has on cancer cells. A lot of people believe that it can reduce the growth of breast, cervical and prostate cancer cells. The results from clinical studies are showing some positive results but no concrete conclusions have been reached about milk thistle being a cure for cancer.

Milk thistle benefits the human body by lowering the body’s cholesterol level. This herb also acts as an anti-oxidant that protects the body from cell damage caused by free radicals. Can milk thistle help acne control? There are a lot of people who attested the efficacy of milk thistle in the treatment of acne. In fact, a lot of milk thistle recipes have been formulated to cure acne.

Milk thistle seed can be extracted to produce liquid milk thistle. This makes it easier for you to consume the herb and take advantage of its benefits. This form of milk thistle is now being commercialized together with the much compact versions, like tablets and capsules.

There are a lot of great benefits derived from this herb, but there are also some milk thistle side effects. Some people who used it reported upset stomach, bloating, diarrhea, intermittent sweating, nausea and loose stool. It can also cause some allergic reaction to some people. There are also some questions raised about the negative effects of celexa milk thistle interactions. So be sure to consult your doctors first before taking this herbal medicine.