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Milk Thistle
Overview
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a plant native to Europe that was brought to North America by early colonists. It seems to help lower blood sugar.
Milk thistle is now found throughout the eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Its seed might protect liver cells from toxic chemicals and drugs. It may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
People commonly take milk thistle by mouth for diabetes. It is also commonly used for liver disorders, including liver damage caused by alcohol, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these other uses.
Don't confuse milk thistle with blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus).
Milk thistle is now found throughout the eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Its seed might protect liver cells from toxic chemicals and drugs. It may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
People commonly take milk thistle by mouth for diabetes. It is also commonly used for liver disorders, including liver damage caused by alcohol, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these other uses.
Don't confuse milk thistle with blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus).
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