En the world contemporary our liver has a mission almost impossible. One of the main functions of this vital organ is to process and detoxify many substances we ingest or that our own body produces. In our days the pollution, hundreds of chemicals such as pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and heavy metals residues in foods we eat add an additional burden to the already heavy burden has always had the liver. Add it to this illicit drug use, drugs, excessive alcohol (all this is processed by the liver) and dietary excesses incurred many people and we must conclude that under these conditions is not surprising that liver diseases are become common.

Milk thistle is a plant with a long history of substance liver protective. Although also has its uses in treating headaches, neuralgia allergic conditions and some modern care has focused on protective and regenerative effects of liver. Modern research confirms this use. An article published in 1991 in the important European journal Planta Medica states that milk thistle is undoubtedly the best documented agent for pharmaceutical the treatment of liver diseases.

Silymarin is the main compound liver protecting in milk thistle. This compound is mainly present in seed acts as an antioxidant in cells protecting them from liver damage free radicals. Silymarin also increases the liver’s ability to regenerate through production of healthy new cells. It also improves the liver’s ability to eliminate toxins from the body.

Numerous studies confirm the beneficial effects of the silymarin in cases of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and fatty liver degeneration. Effects occur in more dramatic cases of cirrhosis and toxic hepatitis.

According to a study published in October 2006 in the journal Phytotherapy Research, silymarin also has the ability to help people with type 2 diabetes control their glucose levels and reduce the level of glycation, i.e. the amount of hemoglobin is attached to glucose molecules, this is a damaging process that occurs in diabetics at high levels and is causing many of the complications of this disease.

The best way to manage milk thistle is through standardized capsules containing 140 milligrams of silymarin. One can start with one capsule twice a day and increase to three times a day if needed. The will of Milk thistle does not seem as effective as the capsules and that silymarin is a substance that does not dissolve well in water.