Give Milk Thistle A Try

A few years ago, I started taking milk thistle for help with detoxification and breastfeeding. Some people believe that milk thistle is a galactagogue (it might increase the flow of breastmilk). Honestly, it’s difficult to know for certain if milk thistle has significantly helped me, but the research looks promising!

History

In 40-90 A.D., Dioscorides—a Greek surgeon that traveled with Roman emperor Nero—recommended milk thistle as a treatment for serpent bites. In the Middle Ages, milk thistle was used as medicine for liver toxicity. Among Native Americans, milk thistle is used to treat skin issues. According to the National Cancer Institute, some homeopathic practitioners use milk thistle to treat jaundice, gallstones, peritonitis, bronchitis, hemorrhage, and varicose veins.

Type 2 Diabetes

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, milk thistle may help to reduce blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Liver Issues: Hepatitis, Cirrhosis, Alcoholic Liver Disease, Mushroom Poisoning, and Tetrachloride Poisoning

Milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant that assists with the regeneration of liver cells. It has the potential ability to stop cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol abuse or hepatitis.

Cancer

Milk thistle can stop the growth of some cancers and might make some chemotherapy drugs more effective.

Have you ever tried milk thistle? As always, when using supplements and herbs, remember to invest in the highest quality brands.

References

Milk Thistle. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2130007#hn-2130007-how-it-works

Milk Thistle. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=MilkThistle

Milk Thistle (PDQ): Health Professional Version. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/26389223/?i=2&from=milk%20thistle&filters=BooksDocs