Overview What is milk thistle and what does it do? Milk thistle – also known as Silybum marianum – is a bright pink flowering plant that grows wild in southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally, it’s been used for more than 2000 years to support the liver and spleen.1 Nowadays, milk thistle is used as a herbal remedy to soothe indigestion and for its liver-protective effects.2 It is available as capsules, tablets or a tea. Benefits of milk thistle What does milk thistle do in the body? In the 1960s, scientists extracted silymarin, a...

This natural detoxer is renowned for its liver-boosting properties. So how does it work, and could milk thistle work for you too? Milk thistle, or silybum marianum, has been used as a herbal healer since ancient Greek times. In the middle ages, the leaves were used in salads, but these days the seeds are most commonly used in supplements. The seeds are rich in silymarin – a potent compound of antioxidant flavonoids that fights free radical damage and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Why you should try milk thistle If you've...