Monumental Benefits of Organic Milk Thistle Seed

The monumental benefits of organic milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum) have been known for a good part of history. Used as a natural remedy for 2000+ years for its potential positive effects on the liver and gallbladder, milk thistle seed continues as the go-to herb for liver health.

The ancient philosophers Pliny and Galen both recommended the herb for liver cleansing and support. Milk thistle seed is native to the Mediterranean area and some people call it Mary thistle and holy thistle. The stems of the organic milk thistle plant are regularly consumed by those in this area to help reduce oxidative damage in the liver and biliary tract.

Presently, milk thistle is found in the United States growing wild in a variety of settings such as along roadsides and in backyards. If you are considering growing your own organic milk thistle, be aware that milk thistle is a highly invasive weed that spreads quickly…even to neighboring yards.

Silymarin in Organic Milk Thistle Seed

The seeds of the milk thistle plant contain the highest amounts of the active compound, silymarin. Silymarin includes silybin, silydianin, and silychristin, and usually composes close to 4-6% of milk thistle seed. The most active compound in slymarin is silibinin which has been extensively used in patients with liver disease. Silymarin used in animals reduces liver injury caused by acetaminophen as well as shows positive effects in alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis and toxin-induced liver concerns. And currently, the safety record of milk thistle, when taken in recommended dosage range, is good with very minimal side effects such as a mild laxative effect. Serious toxicity as well as drug interactions have not been reported.

Note: Antioxidants like those found in organic milk thistle have been shown to possibly interfere with the efficacy of some chemotherapy drugs by protecting cancer cells from cell death. Understanding appropriate doses and examining blood concentrations is important before using milk thistle with chemotherapy. There is also a possibility that higher flavolignan concentrations in the gut could interfere with prescription medications. Ask your doctor for recommendations.

Not only is silymarin used to treat alcoholic liver disease, acute and chronic viral hepatitis and toxin-induced liver diseases, it has also been shown in animal studies to reduce liver injury caused by a number of drugs and environmental toxins, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), iron overload, amanita phalloides (the poisonous “death cap” mushroom), chemotherapy, psychotropic medications, phenylhydrazine, alcohol and carbon tetrachloride.

Silymarin is also classified as an antioxidant that can protect against the depletion of glutathione, a very important antioxidant that’s very useful at helping prevent disease formation.

Health Benefits of Organic Milk Thistle Seed

Liver detoxification
Supports healthy liver function
Therapeutic treatment for fatty liver disease, damage from alcoholism, jaundice, psoriasis, hepatitis
Boosts the immune system
Supports healthy inflammation
Supports heart health
May help control symptoms of diabetes
Helps support healthy gallbladder
A potent inhibitor of UV-induced oxidative stress that can cause skin concerns
Promotes healthy skin and graceful aging
Supports glutathione formation
May help to regenerate liver cells
Shows promise for stimulating cell regeneration in the kidneys and may prove useful even in patients on dialysis
Exhibits antineoplastic effects
Some research suggests, based on a number of pharmacological studies, that topical silymarin would be a beneficial addition to sunscreens in protecting against ultraviolet-B-induced skin cancers
Supports healthy brain. May have potential as a neuroprotectant
Animal studies suggest that silymarin may suppress the formation of amyloid beta-protein (toxic protein linked to Alzheimer’s), helping to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Reduces cholesterol
Reduces insulin resistance
Supports weight loss
Milk thistle oil helps soothe concerns such as acne, eczema and rosacea

Side Effects of Milk Thistle

Organic milk thistle has a very gentle nature. When compared to other supplements and herbal remedies that come with side effects such as headaches, practically all parts of the organic milk thistle plant is used with no toxicity reports. In clinical and lab studies adverse effects related specifically to the seed extract (silymarin) are also practically nonexistent, although organic milk thistle can have a mild and short-lived laxative effect for some people.

If you are experiencing any concerns with your liver or kidney health, or interested in any of the potential health boosting properties of silymarin, a high-quality milk thistle supplement may be worth considering. Silymarin can also be found in artichokes, turmeric, and coriander (cilantro), although organic milk thistle is the richest known source.

References

Polyak SJ, Oberlies NH, Pécheur EI, Dahari H, Ferenci P, Pawlotsky JM. Silymarin for HCV infection. Antivir Ther. 2013;18(2):141-7. doi: 10.3851/IMP2402. Epub 2012 Sep 25.
Abenavoli L, Capasso R, Milic N, Capasso F. Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future. Phytother Res. 2010 Oct;24(10):1423-32. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3207. Review.
Aghazadeh S, Amini R, Yazdanparast R, Ghaffari SH. Anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects of Silybum marianum in treatment of experimental steatohepatitis. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2011 Sep;63(6):569-74. doi: 10.1016/j.etp.2010.04.009. Epub 2010 May 14.
Kidd PM. Bioavailability and activity of phytosome complexes from botanical polyphenols: the silymarin, curcumin, green tea, and grape seed extracts. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Sep;14(3):226-46. Review.
Saller R, Meier R, Brignoli R. The use of silymarin in the treatment of liver diseases. Drugs. 2001;61(14):2035-63. Review.
Rainone F. Milk thistle. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct 1;72(7):1285-8. Review.
Ligeret H, Brault A, Vallerand D, Haddad Y, Haddad PS. Antioxidant and mitochondrial protective effects of silibinin in cold preservation-warm reperfusion liver injury. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Feb 12;115(3):507-14. Epub 2007 Oct 24.
Vaknin Y, Hadas R, Schafferman D, Murkhovsky L, Bashan N. The potential of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), an Israeli native, as a source of edible sprouts rich in antioxidants. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2008 Jun;59(4):339-46.
Wojcikowski K, Stevenson L, Leach D, Wohlmuth H, Gobe G. Antioxidant capacity of 55 medicinal herbs traditionally used to treat the urinary system: a comparison using a sequential three-solvent extraction process. J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):103-9.
Ashfaq UA, Javed T, Rehman S, Nawaz Z, Riazuddin S. Inhibition of HCV 3a core gene through Silymarin and its fractions. Virol J. 2011 Apr 1;8:153. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-153.
Saller R, Brignoli R, Melzer J, Meier R. An updated systematic review with meta-analysis for the clinical evidence of silymarin. Forsch Komplementmed. 2008 Feb;15(1):9-20. doi: 10.1159/000113648. Review.
Colturato CP, Constantin RP, Maeda AS Jr, Constantin RP, Yamamoto NS, Bracht A, Ishii-Iwamoto EL, Constantin J. Metabolic effects of silibinin in the rat liver. Chem Biol Interact. 2012 Jan 25;195(2):119-32. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2011.11.006. Epub 2011 Nov 25.
Yaghmaei P, Parivar K, Masoudi A, Darab M, Amini E. The effect of silybin on passive avoidance learning and pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 and DG regions in male Wistar rats offspring. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2009 Jun;11(6):514-22. doi: 10.1080/10286020902927864.
American Botanical Council HerbClip, August 16, 2004.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(11):2299-306.
American Botanical Council December 31, 2007

Loretta Lanphier is a Naturopathic Practitioner (Traditional), Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Clinical Herbalist as well as the CEO / Founder of Oasis Advanced Wellness in The Woodlands TX. She studies and performs extensive research in health science, natural hormone balancing, anti-aging techniques, nutrition, natural medicine, weight loss, herbal remedies, non-toxic cancer support and is actively involved in researching new natural health protocols and products. A 17 year stage 3 colon cancer survivor, Loretta is able to relate to both-sides-of-the-health-coin as patient and practitioner when it comes to health and wellness. “My passion is counseling others about what it takes to keep the whole body healthy using natural and non-toxic methods.” Read Loretta’s health testimony Cancer: The Path to Healing. Loretta is Contributor and Editor of the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness.