Silybum Marianum or Milk Thistle is an ancient medicinal plant. This herb was used in Ancient Greece for treating poisonous snake bites. The milk thistle seeds were also used for gall bladder and liver ailments, digestive upsets, and menstrual issues. You can find these 5 feet tall plant all round the year in Europe. The purple flower of this herb is consumed as vegetables just like artichoke.
In European historical literature, the white veins of thistle were believed to contain Virgin Mary’s milk, so it was called Mary Thistle. Today, it is popular as general health supplement and to treat specific medical conditions. Milk thistle supplement is available in capsule and tablet forms.
Health benefits
Milk thistle includes a flavonoid called silymarin, which is made up of silychristin, silydianin and sylibin. High concentration of silymarin is available in the fruits and seeds. Silymarin is a potent source of antioxidant, which capably combats free radical damages.
Free radicals cause oxidation that targets the healthy cells. Free radicals are the unpaired electrons created during metabolism. They steal electrons from healthy cells causing damages. Your body creates free radicals in thousands and without antioxidants cellular damage can accrue rapidly and increase susceptibility to disease along with rapidity of aging process. Sylimarin is researched to protect liver from damages caused due to oxidation.
Liver exposed to consumption of drug and alcohol abuse or poisonous mushrooms get protected due to silymarin supplement. New liver cells get promoted because of the accessibility of antioxidant enzymes, which protect your liver.
Milk thistle working
Silymain in milk thistle is believed to stimulate and increase liver protein production providing liver gland an opportunity to fend off free radical damages. The ability of milk thistle to decrease liver toxicity, it is even used to treat kids undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia.
Silibinin literally competes for estrogen receiving receptor sites in cellular structure of breast cancer. The cancer cell growth gets reduced or even stopped from spreading to other parts.
Milk thistle supplement forms
Milk thistle available in different forms contain varying amount of active silymarin concentration. In the past, only silymarin was included in milk thistle extract but today it includes a blend of flavonoligans. Milk thistle tea available is less concentrated in comparison to tablet or pill form.
Tablets are easiest to consume. The potency of 200 mg silymarin capsule will basically depend on the manufacturer’s formulation. Therefore, read the instructions on the label. In addition, dosage results may vary due to overall health, age, medical issues and more. Therefore, discuss about the right dosage with your doctor, before consuming it.