Our featured supplement for this week is milk thistle. The scientific name of this plant is Silybum Marianum. Belive it or not, the species Marianum was assigned to the particular type of thistle with splashes of white on the leaves because it was thought that some of the Virgin Mary’s breast milk dropped onto the thistle while she was nursing the baby Jesus. This story alone gives us a clue that milk thistle has been in use for a very long time. In fact, it has been used to heal liver disorders in Europe for over 2000 years.

Along with its amazing background story, milk thistle has some pretty amazing properties. While all parts of the plant have been used for food during its long history, the part that is used most often in modern times is the seeds. These seeds contain a bioflavonoid complex called silymarin, which, like other bioflavonoid complexes, is a powerful antioxidant. It is used to protect liver tissue from damage by toxins as well as heal and regenerate liver tissue that has already been damaged. This is great news for those who have damaged their liver with alcohol, street drugs, and strong prescription medications. It is also used to treat hepatitis, gallbladder problems, varicose veins, low breast milk production in nursing mothers, and skin disorders. In general, it is very safe for human consumption and highly recommended for anyone who lives in our toxic modern society.

Silymarin is not water soluble, so, in order to be effective, it must be taken in forms that are more bioavailable than a traditional tea. Some argue that an alcohol extract is the only way to get enough silymarin to produce significant results. However, many researchers agree that if you take a couple of tablespoons of ground seeds daily, you can still get good results. Milk thistle is available in both capsule and extract form at MyNaturalVitamins.com.