Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean but now grows wild in North America, especially California and the eastern United States. Although it was used for centuries in Europe as a liver tonic, by the beginning of the twentieth century, its value was nearly forgotten.  Some years ago, German scientists began investigating the chemical properties of the Milk Thistle fruit and discovered a concentrated group of flavonoid compounds called silymarin. Flavonoids in general are an important group of antioxidants that devour free radicals, the free-roaming, unstable molecules that rage through the body, harm healthy cells, and accelerate aging.  Silymarin is actually a group of flavonoids that functions as an antihepatoxic, meaning that it acts directly on the liver to protect it from poisons. It mounts the defenses on two fronts. First, it binds to the membranes of liver cells and creates a tough shield so that toxins have a more difficult time penetrating the cell walls. If toxins do make it into the cells and cause damage, silymarin stimulates the liver to speed up production of beneficial enzymes and proteins as part of a healing restoration.

"Silymarin is an antioxidant that acts very specifically on liver tissue. It also increases the activity of glutathione, the body’s own antioxidant," says Alison Lee, M.D., a pain-management specialist and medical director of Barefoot Doctors, an alternative medicine practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A healthy liver cleanses the body by:

Filtering the blood: Each minute nearly 2 quarts of blood pass through the liver for detoxification. When functioning properly, it clears 99% of the impurities before blood re-enters circulation

 Secreting bile: Every day a healthy liver produces a quart of bile, which carries toxins to the intestine for elimination.

Neutralizing toxins: Through a complexity of enzymatic processes, a healthy liver neutralizes toxins directly or converts them into fat or water-soluble forms to be eliminated from the body.

A Healthy Liver Enables the body to:

The human liver has a remarkable natural capacity to regenerate itself after being damaged, and studies of people who have liver problems show that milk thistle can actually help a damaged liver grow new cells.   "Milk Thistle enhances the liver’s own healing process," says Dr. Lee. "It can be used both for short-term acute liver injury, like that resulting from exposure to a virus or mushroom poisoning, and for long-term, chronic problems such as cirrhosis as well."

 

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Supplement Profile   Milk Thistle Botanical name: Silybum marianum.   May help: Hepatitis, cirrhosis, mushroom poisoning, liver inflammation, and liver damage caused by alcohol abuse, long-term use of medications, and chemical exposure; endometriosis; and Parkinson’s disease.   Special instructions: For maximum absorption, take with food. Origin: Native to the Mediterranean.   Cautions and possible side effects: Generally regarded as safe; may cause loose stools. Swedish doctors have successfully used milk thistle as a kind of antidote for mushroom poisoning following accidental ingestion. But that doesn’t mean that you can try to self-treat with milk thistle if you may have mushroom poisoning. See a doctor immediately. The herb is commonly prescribed in Europe for a variety of liver conditions, including cirrhosis and hepatitis. It has sometimes been used as a digestive stimulant to encourage the release of bile, a fluid produced by the liver that plays an essential role in digestion. Mainly, however, it is employed as a liver tonic.   A Tonic for Toxicity Who should take Milk Thistle, and how often? Most people would benefit from a daily supplement, according to Dr. Brett. She believes that Americans are routinely exposed to many toxins and that we should use it as a preventive. "It will not do you any harm and probably a lot of good, considering how toxic our society is," she says. Milk thistle is most often sold in capsules or tablets. So far, Dr. Lee adds, there’s no evidence to suggest any problems with taking the herb over the long term, which suggests that it’s safe to take regularly as a preventive. Certainly, people who are regularly exposed to environmental hazards, such as painters, anyone who works around chemicals, folks who live in areas of heavy industrial pollution, and people recovering from alcohol abuse, are good candidates for milk thistle, she says. "That doesn’t mean, though, that you can take milk thistle and just drink all you want. It doesn’t work that way," she warns.

Product Recommendations Each capsule contains this unique extract standardized to 80% silymarin. In head-to-head research, Thisilyn has been shown to be twice as bioavailable as other milk thistle brands.  Each Capsules contains: 175 mg Thisilyn, dried milk thistle extract with enhanced bioavailability. Total System Cleanse. To assist the Body's Internal Cleaning Process.  Multisystem Cleansing and purification formula for intestines, liver, blood, kidneys, skin, and lymph.   Thisilyn Cleanse A complete Internal Purification Kit Every day your body is exposed to toxins that can build up inside. Some experts recommend an internal cleanse  3 to 4 times a year to remove impurities and restore balance. As a result, you feel Healthy, Refreshed & Energized.  Liver & Gallbladder Support 2X Maximum Absorption. Clinical strength blend of Milk Thistle, Artichoke, Turmeric, Dandelion, L-Methionine, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Alpha Lipoic and Protectamins.