Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle :
Silybum Marianum. Also called Marian, St. Mary's, and Our Lady's Thistle. Named Silybum for its large purple thistle-like flower heads. Both the plant structures and seeds have been used to positively influence liver function and as a general tonic. Numerous studies have proven that this plant with its active Silymarin constituent has tremendous therapeutic application. Silymarin and component silybin function as antioxidants, protecting cell membranes from free-radical-mediated oxidative damage. This type of damage is known as lipid peroxidation. Most liver toxins produce their damaging effects by free radical mechanisms. Both silymarin and silybin protect red blood cell membranes against lipid peroxidation and hemolysis (breaking down of the red blood cells) caused by certain red blood cell poisons
