Milk Thistle (image taken from Holland and Barret)
Milk thistle is a commonly used as herbal remedy for aiding liver health as it is thought to have natural detox benefits. Milk thistle has been proven to help protect the liver from the effects of smoking and alcohol intake[1].
The milk thistle supplement comes from a weed with a distinctive white marking on its leaves, and distinctive purple flowering heads. It can grow to around five feet tall and grows throughout Europe, but it is naturally established in Australia and California[2].
During the 16th century this plant became quite popular for consumption and almost all parts of it were eaten. Although the leaves have prickles, these can be trimmed and boiled to make a substitution for spinach, or can be used raw in salads[1].
In supplement form, milk thistle is generally available in both liquid and capsule form which is taken orally as a diet supplement. Read the rest of this entry »
