Milk Thistle, Silybum Marianum, is a spiny leafed plant containing reddish-purple flowers. The seeds or fruits naturally consist of four substances known collectively as silymarin, the most potent of the four being called silibin. Milk Thistle is widely used for liver health.
It has been shown to alleviate symptoms of liver health concerns such as fatigue, nausea, weakness, and loss of appetite, as well as providing long-term benefits such as regeneration of the liver cells. Silymarin plays a role in displacing toxins binding to the liver and causing the cells of the liver to regenerate at a faster rate.
No alternative medicine has been found that shows similar functions in the body. Milk thistle is very popular among those taking certain medications as a liver protective supplement.