Silymarin is a flavonoid found in the ripe seeds of the common milk thistle plant. In many areas, the plant is considered an invasive weed, but it is also a natural medicine. You have probably seen it growing on roadsides and in untended fields. It is a thorny plant with a lovely purple flower that attracts numerous butterflies during the spring and summer months, when it is in bloom.



It was used by traditional healers to treat cirrhosis, jaundice, and hepatitis, as well as gallbladder disease. It is currently a favorite adjunctive therapy for hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Silibinin, another flavonoid found in milk thistle, is used to counter ingestion of poisonous mushrooms.

All flavonoids have antioxidant activity. Increased flavonoid intake is believed to help prevent heart disease and cancer, both due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. There may even be other methods of action not yet understood. One of the things that scientists are attempting to do is to explain ?why? flavonoids and other antioxidants work as they do. Researchers have found that silymarin inhibits a variety of different processes that lead to carcinogenesis.

There are a number of different health supplements on the market that contain milk thistle extracts. But, the single-ingredient supplements are not likely to be beneficial. The compound is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Manufacturers can take steps to address this issue. They can add an enteric coating or include lecithin. Many manufacturers do neither.

The quality of herbal remedies varies greatly, which probably explains why many do not work as they are supposed to. But, when it comes to your long-term health, there is no way to know whether or not it's working, until it's too late. The best way to insure that you are getting the actual benefits is to choose a reliable supplement manufacturer.

One thing to look for is the silymarin content. This varies from extract to extract. The highest concentrations provide 85mg of silymarin per 100mg of extract. Another thing to look for is lecithin. It should be included in a 1:1 ratio. If there is 100mg of milk thistle in the product, there should be 100mg of lecithin.

The best manufacturers also include an enteric coating. These coatings protect some of the more delicate nutrients from stomach acid, as well as protecting the stomach from upset. These coating dissolve in the upper intestine where the nutrients can pass directly through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream.

Silymarin is a good choice for anyone that must take anti-inflammatory drugs on a regular basis. It is believed to lessen the damage that these drugs do to the liver. It also has natural anti-inflammatory activity, which may reduce a person's need for pain medication.

There is evidence that the extract protects against kidney damage. It may be beneficial for controlling blood sugar levels in type II diabetes. When you look at everything that it can do, it may seem unusual, but there are dozens of other plants that have similar activity. Silymarin is a good ingredient for a multi-nutritional supplement, but it is not the only ingredient that we need.