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Milk thistle is often recommended for liver support and cleansing, but its medicinal power goes far beyond the health of the liver. Recent studies on milk thistle seed and extract indicate that this herb, used in traditional healing for at least the past two and a half millennia, has medicinal ingredients which lower cholesterol, support the pancreas against diabetes, protect the kidneys and help flush heavy metals from the body.
What is Milk Thistle?
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herb, a small prickly plant native to the Mediterranean region. It grows in dry, sunny areas and can be anywhere from four to ten feet tall, with large prickly leaves and purple flowers. The name comes from the milky fluid that leaks out when the leaves or stems are broken.
The use of milk thistle by herbalists and traditional healers has been documented since the 4th Century B.C. Greek and Roman doctors used it to protect and heal the liver, while herbalists of the Renaissance used it against illnesses of the liver and spleen.