What is milk thistle and what does it do?
Milk thistle, scientifically referenced as Silybum marianum, has been used by people since the Greco-Roman era. It’s been used as an herbal remedy to treat a myriad of ailments, specifically liver problems. In the 1800s and 1900s medical practitioners located in the United States used the seeds from milk thistle to help reduce congestion in the spleen, kidneys, and liver. In the current day and age, scientific studies exist that show that substances found within milk thistle (like silymarin) help protect our livers from damage that is caused from free radicals, viruses, alcohol, as well as certain drugs like acetaminophen and acetaminophen, both used for headache and pain. Professional herbalists suggest taking milk thistle for treating and preventing a variety of liver disorders consisting of viral hepatitis, liver damage, and to combat fatty livers.
