The natural herbal remedy milk thistle has seen a surge in interest following a TikTok trend about it being a great hangover cure. But what else is this versatile plant remedy used for?
What Is Milk Thistle?
The milk thistle plant, whose Latin name is Silybum marianum, is a prickly plant with purple flowers. It also has white veins, which legend says come from the Virgin Mary’s milk dropping onto its leaves.
Milk thistle extract contains silymarin, which is a plant compound containing anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
Viral Trend
Google searches for milk thistle recently increased by a massive 5000% after it was revealed as a hangover hack. And yes, it may help with the after-effects of a bit of night out, as it is known to protect the liver. Some liver disease, liver cancer and hepatitis sufferers take it as a complementary therapy, as it can help reduce liver damage and inflammation.
Fortunately, it can be taken in tablet form as a daily supplement and can easily be obtained from suppliers such as https://www.vitortho.co.uk/supplements/categories/a-z-all-supplements/milk-thistle-formula.
Brain Function
Milk thistle is also thought to be beneficial for neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as it can help prevent brain function decline. In studies carried out on animals in the past, silymarin was shown to prevent oxidative damage to brain cells, which can slow down mental decline.
Strong Bones
As if that weren’t enough, milk thistle has also been shown to help delay or prevent bone loss among postmenopausal women, leading to less risk of osteoporosis.
