Milk thistle is unique in its ability to protect the liver and it has no equivalent anywhere in the pharmaceutical drug world. In fact, in cases of poisoning by Amanita mushroom, it is the only treatment option.

Its scientific name is Silybum Marianum and commonly called as Marian Thistle, Our Lady’s Thistle, St. Mary’s Thistle or wild artichoke.

The most important part of the plant is its black seeds whose extract contained a flavonoid compound called silymarin. This flavonolignand in the silymarin contains antioxidants which detoxify the livers, as well as, protect damage from toxins, alcohol and other negative effects. Silymarin’s strong antioxidant can inhibit the growth of cancer: the breast, cervix and prostrate.

Health benefits of the extract from milk thistle seeds:

• It is the protector of the liver. Through the potency of the antioxidant, it detoxifies and strengthens the liver. Those suffering from hepatitis and liver cirrhosis will experience an improvement in their over-all condition.
• It clears the skin for those who are suffering from acne. The antioxidant in milk thistle cleans the skin from existing acne as well as prevents new acnes from appearing.
• It supports the cardiovascular system. High levels of antioxidants are good for the cardiovascular system. It settles cholesterol issue by lowering the bad cholesterol and increasing the good cholesterol.
• It controls diabetes when combined with healthy diet and exercise.
• It soothes the digestive system, especially those associated with irritable bowel system and Crohn’s disease.. It also hinders gallstones. The powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant   alleviates those suffering from intestinal inflammation.
• It prevents certain types of cancer by helping the liver to function normally when filled with medical treatment of powerful drugs, chemotherapy and radiation.
• It increases the milk flow of lactating mothers because of the presence of estrogen.

There are many major studies to investigate if milk thistle seed extract does indeed do what it is supposed to do. So far, results are very promising.

Silymarin as supplement is in capsule or liquid extract form. The dosage is 12 weeks to insure good outcome. For the capsule of 120 mgs. take two capsules twice daily2 times; for the liquid extract, 12 to 15 drops twice or thrice a day.

Side effects are very rare which can appear as headache, diarrhea, and skin rashes. Since herbal supplement is not regulated by the FDA, consult your health care provider for advice.

For healthy people, it will be a sound practice to use Extract from Milk Thistle Seeds to rid your body from toxins and free radicals which can accumulate in your liver or keep toxins and radicals from entering. As the saying goes, health is wealth and Milk Thistle Seed Extract can help you achieve both.

Milk thistle comes from the genus of Silybum Adans, a flowering plant which is grown in the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It was the European who brought this plant to America. The name of milk thistle is derived from two features of the leaves: they are mottled with splashes of white and they contain a milky sap. However, the seeds are what herbalists have been using for 2000 years as medication.

Milk Thistle (silybum marianum) proffers remedy for liver disease (viral hepatitis) and its seed extract, silymarin, is extensively used in healing. As the name suggests, the herbal remedy is extracted from the seeds of the thistle plant. Traditionally, milk thistle extract is derived from its seeds which contain approximately 4 to 6% silymarin. The extract has about 65 to 80% silymarin (a flavonolignen complex) and 20 to 35% fatty acids, including linoleic acid.

What is milk thistle seed extract? It is an herbal supplement rendering therapeutic effect to people suffering from liver diseases. Since 1970, ongoing studies and researches on its biological activity and medical effectivity have been conducted.

For millennium, milk thistle seed extract has been imbibed as a liver tonic. It is used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), liver damage from amanita phalloids (death cap) mushroom poisoning and gall bladder disorder. Extracts from the seeds contain antioxidant properties that detoxify the body and help liver to stay healthy.

Thistle seed extract has an active compound called flavonolignens, that is known to protect and clean the liver from toxins (detoxification). When liver cells have already been damaged, this active compound can stimulate the protective system thereby helping the liver to repair the injury and regenerate new cells. It also protects the liver from several common toxins such as alcohol, pesticides, heavy metals and others. The seed extract added to penicillin treatment of victims of amanita mushroom poisoning (death cap) increased the chance for recovery or survival.

Many people used milkthistle as a shield from environmental toxin as the pollution exposure that is a serious threat to life, especially from second hand smoke. Those suffering from liver ailment, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice and inflamed liver, employ this herb to protect and regenerate vital organism.

Milk thistle supplements is available in liquid or tablet form; you can even take it as a tea.

The adverse effects in using this herbal is very minimal or none at all. Sometimes, a mild gastrointestinal distress is felt or it a laxative effect. For your safe application and additional insurance, it is always better to consult your health care provider.

What is milk thistle seed extract? It is an annual or biennial that offers remedy chronic liver and a wide range of other related diseases.

About Milk Thistle Seed Extract

Knowing the therapeutic advantages of milk thistle, people interested in their physical wellness want to know everything about milk thistle seed extract. A good account of this plant is completely and easily sourced from your internet. But you can continue to read on to know all about Milk Thistle Seed Extract.

This amazing plant is a member of the sunflower family but the vital part of the plant used for medical purpose is its black seeds. Identified properties of milk thistle: it is an antioxidant, it has anti-inflammatory properties, it is anti-carcinogenic, it is a protection against hepatitis and immunostimulative (probably estrogenic).

The active ingredient in the seeds is silymarin. This component contains a compound called flavonolignen which has the potency to repair liver cell damaged by alcohol and toxin substances. It stimulated the protective system of the organism, transforms the external layer of the liver cells and also stops certain toxins from entering. Furthermore, it motivates liver cells to grow and it has the ability to reduce inflammation.

The main benefit is the presence of antioxidant and the propensity of the silymarin which is more potent than most vitamins. Antioxidants remove toxin chemicals or free radicals from the body preventing them from causing cell damage which is the root cause of diseases or premature aging. But its most important advantage is maintaining the well-being of the liver. Your liver is the most important bodily organ for its capacity to break nutrients and cleanse the body. The component of milk thistle seed detoxifies the liver, as well as protects it against damage from these toxins, alcohol and negative effects of other substances.

Knowing all about milk thistle seed extract will show you so much of its benefits. It also heightens regeneration and repairs the liver cells, reverses liver injury and is very helpful in combating hepatitis and cirrhosis. It lessens inflammation, lowers excessive skin cell growth and cures endometriosis. In fact, in many cases of Amanita mushroom poisoning which destroy the liver, the only option is milk thistle.

This herbal benefits adrenal disorders, inflammation, bowel syndrome and psoriasis (increase bile flow). It has also been able to alleviate cases of diabetes, dyspepsia, high cholesterol, liver damage from drugs and toxins and menopausal symptom.

As a herbal supplement, it is not regulated by FDA and to be on the safe side, consult your health care provider before starting your regimen of the herbal extract, as with all herbal supplements. There are three tips given in selecting the right kind of milk thistle seed extract supplement:

1. Select the thistle seed supplement that comes from a company that follows rigid GMP compliance. This is the same strict regulation followed by all pharmaceutical companies.
2. Find the milk thistle supplement that is highly developed by well-credentialed quality scientific team to insure effectiveness of product.
3. Have the assurance that the thistle seed supplement contains standardized herbal extract which is the purest extract containing the most active ingredient in silymarin.

Now that you know all about milk thistle seed extraction, you are assured that you are taking only the best in herbal supplements.

Silybum marianum is a biblical plant as it is mentioned in the records of Theophrastus in the 4 century BC. For 2000 years, Europe has been using this herbal treatment for diseases related to the liver.

The special hybrid milk thistle seeds are used as the main source of herbal supplement. Milk thistle extract contains 70 to 80% of the class of flavonolignen known as silymarin, a powerful antioxidant that is 10 times as potent as Vitamin E. There are three compounds in the silymarin class: the silybinin, silydrarin and silychrislin; these are the specialized substances that produced therapeutic effects in the preparation of the milk thistle seed extract.

Legitimate medical benefits have been proven by various studies and research. It was observed that very low dosage of silymarin is not very effective as compared to a large dosage which brings about biological active therapeutic effect. Milkthistle prevents and repairs damage to the liver due to toxic chemicals and medication. Workers, exposed to toxic chemical environment, were given milk thistle seed and immediately they showed significant improvement in their liver infection.

Amanita mushroom poisoning (death cap) was controlled with the addition of silibronin to the penicillin treatment. Severe liver damage due to amanita poisoning was hindered with the administration of silybin within 48 hours of intake.

Benefits of milk thistle for liver disease treatment claims also include:

1. Milk thistle seed extract was used as an oral steroid for body building and/or in the hope of reducing or eliminating liver damage.
2. It is effective in lowering cholesterol level.
3. It has the potency to reduce the insulin resistant in people with 2 types of diabetes and cirrhosis.
4. Milk thistle supplements reduce the growth of cancer cells in the breasts, cervix and prostrate.
5. It is used as a cleansing product to reduce the effect of hangover.
6. Milk thistle detox helps individuals in the acute withdrawal stage from opiate drugs (heroin, morphine, oxycontin, codeine, methadone, and others).
7. It cushions the effects of oral steroids.

The herbal extract has very limited adverse effects; it may cause a slight stomach irritation or mild laxative effect. Since herbal supplements are not supervised by FDA regulation, it is advisable to seek the opinion of your health care provider before taking any form of milkthistle.

In the 16th century, the whole plant was a popular source of food. The roots were eaten uncooked or boiled or par-boiled. In spring time, the young shoots were cut down up to the roots and boiled. It was eaten dabbed with butter. The spring bracts on the flower head were eaten like globe artichoke. After peeling, the stem were soaked overnight to remove bitterness and stewed. The leaves were trimmed of thorns and boiled as spinach substitute or eaten raw as salads. Milk thistle seed was used to begin the cycle again.

The United States National Library of Medicine has catalogued more than 300 scientific studies of Milk Thistle Seed Extract and its active compounds in their medical database.