Milk thistle

Milk thistle is a bushy plant that has a long history of use for its salutary effects on the liver. It has been found to have both protective and restorative effects on the liver in regard to both infections and damage from toxins from alcohol to a number of different medications that can damage the liver. It has been approved in Germany in extract form as a treatment for liver disease since the 1960s. Silymarin is an extract of milk thistle and itself contains at least 7 different chemicals. The active ingredients in silymarin appear to act as antioxidants and may contribute to the regeneration of injured liver tissue [1-3].