Belonging to the family, Asteraceae and the genus, Silybum Adan, milk thistles are mainly known for their thistles. The Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and Middle East are the native lands they were found naturally growing in. They got the name, ‘milk thistle' from the two prime features of its leaves – firstly they are mottled containing splashes of white and secondly they contain milky saps. For many years, the seeds of milk thistles have been extensively employed by herbalists for protection of liver against toxins as well as treatment of chronic liver diseases.

Plants of the genus Silybum Adan grow as both annual ly as well as biennially. Their stems are erect, tall and branched but not spiny. In the other species belonging to this genera, the leaves are waxy-lobed, toothed and thorny. The leaves arranged towards the lower base are cauline whereas the upper ones have a clasping base.

Health Benefits :

Milk thistles have been popularly addressed as ‘liver tonics' the world over as they are known to protect the liver and greatly helps in bettering its' functionality. It is primarily employed in the treatment of liver cirrhosis , chronic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), toxin-induced liver damage, Amanita phalloides and gallbladder disorders.

Apart from being extremely beneficial for the liver, it also has the following health benefits:

• Lowers the level of cholesterol
• Milk thistles are known to reduce the insulin resistance in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes as well as cirrhosis
• It causes the reduction in the growth of cancer cells in breast and helps fight and prostate and cervical cancers
• It is also widely used in many pharmaceutical products to lessen the effects of hangover
• Milk Thistles are consumed by patients withdrawing from opiates, during the Acute Withdrawal Stage as well.
• Greatly reduces the liver damaging effects which result after the consumption of chemotherapeutic drugs

References :

1. ^ Kroll DJ, Shaw HS, Oberlies NH . (2007). Milk thistle nomenclature: why it matters in cancer research and pharmacokinetic studies. Integrative Cancer Therapies . 6 :110-119.
2. ^ Hogan F, Krishnegowda N, Mikhailova M, Kahlenberg M. (2007). Flavonoid, silibinin inhibits proliferation and promotes cell-cycle arrest of human colon cancer. J Surg Res 143 :58-65.
3. ^ Rainone F. (2007). Milk thistle. American Family Physician . 72 :1285-1288.
4. ^ Huseini HF, Larijani B, Heshmat R et al. (2006). The efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.)Gaertn. (silymarin) in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Phytother Res . 20 :1036-1039.
5. ^ Gordon A, Hobbs DA, Bowden DS et al. (2006). Effects of Silybum marianum on serum hepatitis C virus RNA alanine aminotransferase levels and well-being in patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21 :275-280.
6. ^ Kroll DJ, Shaw HS, Oberlies NH.(2007). Milk thistle nomenclature: why it matters in cancer research and pharmacokinetic studies. Integrative Cancer Therapies . 6 :110-119.
7. ^ Greenlee H, Abascal K, Yarnel E, Ladas E. (2007). Clinical applications of Silybum marianum in oncology. Integrative Cancer Therapies 6 :158-165.