The main extract of milk thistle responsible for its valuable health properties is silybum marianum or silymarin. Silymarin is a flavonoid complex extracted from the seeds of milk thistle.
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Milk Thistle Plant
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Milk thistle has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years, most commonly for the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) milk thistle historically was thought to have protective effects on the liver and improve its function. Today, its primary home remedy-folk uses include liver disorders such as cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, and gallbladder disorders. Other home remedy or folk uses include lowering cholesterol levels, reducing insulin resistance in people who have both type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis.
In a 2010 study published in the journal Cancer, milk thistle was associated with a trend towards reducing the liver damaging effects of chemotherapy in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study of 50 children.
So the main Reported Health Benefits of Milk Thistle are?
- Lowering cholesterol levels.
- Reducing insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes who also have cirrhosis,
- Possibly reducing the growth of certain cancer cells..
- Benefical for active hepatitis patients.