Have you ever heard of milk thistle? A few years ago, I started taking milk thistle for help with detoxification and breastfeeding. Some people believe that milk thistle is a galactagogue (it might increase the flow of breastmilk). Honestly, it’s difficult to know for certain if milk thistle has significantly helped me, but the research looks promising!

History

In 40-90 A.D., Dioscorides — a Greek surgeon that traveled with Roman emperor Nero — recommended milk thistle as a treatment for serpent bites. In the Middle Ages, milk thistle was used as medicine for liver toxicity. Among Native Americans, milk thistle is used to treat skin issues. According to the National Cancer Institute, some homeopathic practitioners use milk thistle to treat jaundice, gallstones, peritonitis, bronchitis, hemorrhage, and varicose veins.

Type 2 Diabetes

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, milk thistle may help to reduce blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride…