Milk thistle has been used for years as a 'liver tonic' with research s esting that milk thistle extract can prevent & repair damage caused by toxins & medication. Milk thistle is also used as a 'hang over cure' by some people as an aid to rid the body of the toxins after heavy drinking. For milk thistle to be effective, an adequate level of silymarin, the active compound, needs to be taken.

This plant is native to the Mediterranean and grows wild throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Milk Thistle has been used in Europe as a remedy for liver problems for thousands of years. The seeds were consumed by European wet nurses to insure a healthy milk supply. The heads of this Thistle formerly were eaten, boiled, treated like those of the Artichoke.