It was in the early nineteenth century that German doctor JG Rademacher discovered that the active ingredients (primarily flavonoid lignans collectively named silymarin) were found in the coating of the seed. In the twentieth century studies into the actions of silymarin really took off, and they were found to contain antidotes to extremely poisonous hepatotoxins, such as Amanita verna, otherwise known as fool’s mushroom.
In the years following these early studies, there have been many high-quality randomised clinical trials conducted and over 12,000 published research papers written on this highly valued and much loved medicinal herb. The majority of the findings confirm that Silybum marianum protects the liver, regenerates new liver cells and is a useful remedy for the treatment of liver diseases such as cirrhosis, alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver, hepatitis C, and in general where the liver is overburdened from pharmaceutical medications, chemotherapy, drugs, alcohol and environmental chemicals and pollutants.
In addition to this, there has been evidence confirming the effectiveness of Milk Thistle in the treatment of certain cancers, insulin resistance in type II diabetes mellitus, as an iron chelator in haemachromatosis, and in promoting lactation in breast-feeding mothers. It not only protects the liver, but also the kidneys, the heart and the brain too, and possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in the body.
Type II diabetes has been declared as a global pandemic, so it excites me to see evidence coming to light on the effectiveness of Milk Thistle in the treatment of diabetes. In a recent randomised controlled clinical trial (of 487 patients with cirrhosis-related diabetes mellitus) silymarin was found to significantly lower
blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels in the group of patients taking 200mg silymarin twice daily. The study suggested that the active constituent silybin inhibits gluconeogenesis in a fasting state and glycogenolysis and glycolysis in the fed state. The mechanisms of silybin’s support of glycaemic control are complex, with research emphasising numerous effects on glucose metabolism in the liver and its protective aspects to the pancreatic beta cells.
But what does this actually mean, I hear you ask? Well, put simply, Silybum marianum has shown to decrease blood sugar levels, improve insulin resistance and reduce cholesterol levels in people with type II diabetes mellitus.
Pretty cool, huh?!
As you would expect with a herb so rich in liver-loving properties, Silybum also supports digestion, detoxification and elimination. As a cholagogue, it supports the gallbladder to increase the flow of bile, which further aids digestion by breaking down fats into fatty acid.
I think we could all do with a regular dose of Silybum in our lives, wouldn’t you agree?!
Blessed Be.
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