Gifts of Siberia: Milk Thistle

This chapter reveals how a beautiful weed with large thorns provides invaluable support in treating the liver, gallbladder and kidneys...

This thorny plant grows by the roadside, just a common weed by the look of it, easily identified by its purple spherical inflorescences and closely resembling thistle. You wouldn't notice it if you weren't aware this is milk thistle – an incredible plant known for its healing properties and one of the most popular and beneficial plants today!

Milk Thistle's Botanical "Sister"

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), also known as Marian thistle, belongs to the Asteraceae family. This variety of thistle is easy to recognize by the white streaks on its leaves. According to a lovely legend, these spots are said to be drops of breast milk that rolled off the Virgin Mary's breast while she was nursing baby Jesus, and it was the place that the plant sprouted from.

Milk thistle is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean, but its adaptability to various conditions has allowed the plant to spread all over the world. In Russia, it can be found in the southern regions of the European part and in the south of Western Siberia. Milk thistle can grow up to 150 cm, featuring a straight stem with dark green leaves and inflorescences that form anthodes up to 5 cm in diameter. Milk thistle typically grows in weedy areas, wastelands, abandoned fields and along roadsides and blooms from mid-summer to autumn.

In Ancient Greece and Rome milk thistle was used for medical purposes such as treating poisonous animal bites, liver and gallbladder diseases, and even melancholy. Modern medicine confirms the plant's effectiveness in managing liver and gallbladder diseases, which is explained by the unique chemical plant's composition.

Rich in Beneficial Substances

Milk thistle is a rich source of biologically active compounds. It contains flavonoids that protect cells from oxidative stress and strengthen capillaries, resins that detoxify the body, alkaloids that have analgesic effect, and protein that supports the locomotor system of the body. Organic acids, mucus, Vitamins E, D, K, B, as well as minerals, such as boron, iron, potassium, manganese, zinc, iodine, and magnesium are also found inside this precious plant.

However, the most valuable milk thistle's component is silymarin, a complex of the strongest flavonolignan antioxidants, including silybin, silicristine, silibinin and silidianin. This compound is quite rare in nature and provides a strong hepatoprotective effect: It neutralizes free radicals in liver tissue, aids in the protection and natural renewal of hepatocytes – liver cells – and prevents inflammations.

The therapeutic properties are found in the leaves, roots, as well as in the seeds of milk thistle, from which oil is produced. During the pressing process oil meal is also produced – a powdery substance full of fiber, which aids in treating digestive diseases.

How it Affects the Body

• Strong hepatoprotecive agent: Milk thistle enhances the liver's protective functions, strengthens membranes of hepatocytes, reduces the risk of accumulation of new fat around the liver and improves metabolism. The plant is used in the treatment of hepatitis, toxins poisoning and liver cirrhosis.
• Has moderate diuretic properties: It increases fluid excretion from the body, which improves kidney function.
• Improves blood circulation: It has a positive effect on blood vessels and is recommended for cardiovascular diseases.
• Lowers cholesterol levels and regulates high blood sugar levels.
• Boosts effective functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Relieves frequent headaches, migraines, dizziness and other disorders of the nervous system.
• Recommended for pregnant women experiencing early morning sickness.
• Milk thistle extract is actively used in skincare, showing effectiveness against dermatosis, dermatitis, alopecia, psoriasis, acne, ulcerous rashes and eczema.

Now, with milk thistle's track record in mind, you won't be able to overlook it any longer. At Siberian Wellness, we acknowledged its value a long time ago and included this natural hepatoprotector in our complex for chronobiological liver protection – SynchroVitals IV.

The two-phase complex based on the hepatoprotective milk thistle extracts, artichoke and Baikal skullcap provides full liver support: It protects cells and improves regeneration, provides a mild detox effect and improves bile outflow in accordance with the biorhythms of our body.

If you're interested in discovering even more about the gifts of Siberia, check out our Book – here you will find tons of useful and fascinating information waiting for you!