Milk Thistle - Fantastic Liver Herb

Milk Thistle is one of the 'Carduus' thistles - 'Carduus marianus', also known as 'Silybum marianus'. It has been used to benefit health of the Liver for at least 2000 years. The Roman Pliny wrote of the beneficial effects of Milk Thistle on the Liver. And it was highly regarded by well know herbalists Dioscorides, Galen, Gerard and Culpepper.

The thistles are a sub-group of the Compositae - daisy - family, found mainly in Europe and Asia, though also in other parts including Australia. Thistles tend to be found where fertile ground has been neglected, where they may smother other plants. Such was the concern in Australia, that an Act of Parliament imposed penalties on anyone who permitted thistles to grow on their land.

Milk Thistle And The Liver

The main reason for the popularity of Milk Thistle is that it both protects the Liver, and improves its function. This in turn helps the body to detox itself, as the liver performs the most detox-related functions of any organ in the body.

In addition, there are no contra-indications that I know of for Milk Thistle. I can find no reports of bad reactions; the only mild reaction which has been noted is occasional loosening of the bowels. This is nearly always for a few days only; and is because Milk Thistle stimulates Liver function. Extra bile is therefore produced, which may have a temporary laxative effect.

[Article continued]

----------------------

<< Previous    [1]  2  3  4    Next >>