Milk thistle and liver If you are active on social media, you are surely familiar with the term milk thistle . It is the phenomenon of 2024, with advertisements for this "miracle herb" everywhere you look. Unlike other dietary supplements, no one questions the effects of this plant. Opinions differ only on individual products and methods of processing. What is so miraculous about this thistle? Yes in fact it is a type of thistle that I have known for centuries (it was used by the Romans) and that you can theoretically grow in your garden. What makes this thistle a miracle herb that can detoxify and restore liver cells is the substance silymarin. The latter is found in the seeds of this plant. Milk thistle has traditionally been used for flatulence (bloating) and heartburn. I help with pain and various allergies. Silymarin is found in the seeds. Its main component is the substance sillibinin (also known as silybin). This substance shows a strong protective effect for liver cells. The liver is the only organ in the human body that can