Don't be silly, take some silybum!

This fine specimen of a plant is Milk thistle with the brilliant Latin name Silybum marianum!  Its name is derived its huge white-veined leaves.  Native to the Mediterranean, this plant is easy to cultivate, in fact this one was grown from seed and is happily flourishing in my back garden.  Milk thistle has been used for centuries to support liver health and digestion. It is a rich source of flavonoids, particularly silymarin, which is responsible for its medicinal properties which is found in the seeds.  Milk thistle is also a good source of vitamins A, C and E. It has been shown to protect the liver from damage caused by toxins, such as those found in pesticides and pollutants and following the use of pharmaceutical drugs, to help alleviate side effects.  On a more frivolous note, Milk thistle can help to minimise hangovers, and more seriously it is used intravenously as an antidote to poisoning by the death cap mushroom! So, it’s main actions are: it is hepatoprotective (protects the liver cells) and hepato-trophorestorative (repairs liver cells after damage) and is a cholagogue (increases bile flow), and also can be used as a galactagogue to increase milk production for nursing mothers.  It helps to control blood sugars and cholesterol levels, it is anti-inflammatory and helps to regulate the immune system.  Medical indications for Milk thistle are liver damage, fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallstones and gallbladder inflammation, and jaundice.  I use Milk thistle in my practice for people who have been on medication long term, or are showing signs of liver stagnation and congestion and to help improve digestion function.  As the main medicinal compounds are not water soluble, this is an example of a herb that would not be included in a herbal tea blend.  A stronger solvent such as alcohol is used to extract the medicinal compounds and this is called a tincture.  The seeds can also be dried and ground into a powder and taken in a capsule.   But how does it actually work?  There are a couple of keys mechanisms; firstly Milk thistle helps to raise levels of glutathione in the liver.  Glutathione is one of the most abundant antioxidants in the body and is a key part of the body’s detoxification process.  Secondly, silymarin prevents the absorption of toxins into liver cells by occupying the binding sites and thereby inhibiting the transport proteins at the cell membrane.  How wonderfully clever nature is!!!  So, if you feel your liver is a little sluggish and maybe in need of some support, Milk thistle may well be the herb for you.  

Nb. While Milk thistle is a gentle herb, it should be used with caution during pregnancy, especially in the alcohol form, and avoided in the first trimester.  Please consult a qualified medical herbalist before internal use (especially with the tincture and if you are taking other medications) and for use with children and babies.