Milk Thistle (80% Silymarin)

History:

Milk Thistle is a stout, spiny annual or perennial that is native to the Mediterranean region and has been naturalized throughout Europe and parts of North America and Australia. This common weed grows to about six feet in height in the dry, rocky soils of fields and waste places. The plant produces a purple flower, and there are distinctive white markings on its leaves, which legend has described as the splashes of the Virgin Mary's milk. Historically, it has been a very popular plant in Europe for its therapeutic and dietary qualities and is still a favorite in France as a wholesome, delicious vegetable and as an ingredient in salads. The seeds and leaves are used in herbal preparations, and their use goes back two thousand years. The Greek, Dioscorides, prescribed Milk Thistle for poisonous snakebites, and in the first-century, the Roman, Pliny, wrote that it was excellent for "carrying off bile," meaning that it was good for the liver, a claim that has been justified by many modern researchers. In the Middle Ages, the liver was regarded as the seat of emotions, both in Europe and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); and mood and emotional distress were ultimately thought to be caused by the liver. Consequently, Milk Thistle was commonly used as a liver support, and also as a spring tonic for pent-up unhappy emotions housed in the liver and for the winter's doldrums. According to the noted herbalist, Gerard, in his 1597 "Herball," Milk Thistle was considered the "best...against all melancholy." As a matter of fact, the word "melancholy" is derived from the Greek translation of "black bile," and in Gerard's day, that referred to any liver or biliary issue. Milk Thistle was also considered a key ingredient in the diets of European wet nurses, and it continued to be used in the nineteenth century for liver, spleen and kidney health. The herb lost popularity, but interest in it was renewed in the 1950s, when research supported many of the claims that herbalists had known for centuries. The liver is the body's second largest organ and has often been called the body's toxic waste disposal plant and chemical factory, and Milk Thistle is said to provide remarkable support for a healthy liver. Some of Milk Thistle's constituents include tocopherol sterols (cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol), taxifolin, quercetin, dihydrokaempferol, kaempferol, apigenin, naringin, eriodyctiol, chrysoeriol, essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, beta-carotene, mucilage, flavolignan: (silymarin, a flavonoid that is its most active ingredient, and a mixture of three compounds silybinin, silidyanin and silychristin, also dehydrosilybin, siliandrin, silybinome and silyhermin), calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc.

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) capsule, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Currently, there are no warnings of contraindications with the use of Milk Thistle Herbal Supplement; however, the herb may reduce the efficacy of birth control pills and medicine to treat infection (metronidazole, erythromycin, etc.). It is essential that people with diabetes and liver disease should have regular blood tests. Those who suffer from allergies to members of the Compositae (daisy) family (ragweed) may want to consult a doctor or allergist before using Milk Thistle. There have been rare reports of diarrhea and nausea. Some herbalists suggest taking Milk Thistle on an ongoing basis for four weeks on, two weeks off for optimum efficacy.

Capsule Information:
Our Milk Thistle (80% Silymarin) supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 500 mgs.

Special Note:
If any medical terms on our website are confusing or unknown, we have compiled a small dictionary of terms for you. Click here for our Definitions, and go directly to the word in question for further information.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.