The plant we are going to talk about today is a complete "imported product". It has only been planted and applied in China for half a century, and TCM research on its efficacy is still in the development stage. However, its medical application in the West, especially in ancient Greece, has a history of more than 2,000 years. It is the so-called St. Mary's Thistle, or Milk Thistle Extract Tablets.

Origin and Folklore

Many Chinese people may be unfamiliar with the name "milk thistle", which is not surprising since it is a quintessentially Western herb. Although it is now cultivated in many national parks and botanical gardens in China, with large-scale cultivation in provinces like Shaanxi, Gansu, and Heilongjiang for pharmaceutical development, its natural distribution remains centered in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and central Asia.

Milk thistle is native to Western Europe and North Africa. It thrives in warm, dry environments, prefers cool and dry climates over high temperatures, and is highly adaptable—able to survive in sandy or saline-alkali soils. Botanically, it belongs to the Asteraceae family, with erect, nearly cylindrical stems, sessile leaves with wavy, spiny margins, bright green leaf surfaces, and distinctive white stripes.

Its scientific name, Silybum marianum, is deeply linked to the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that when Mary was fleeing Egypt with the infant Jesus, seeking shelter, she found shade beneath milk thistle plants, whose spiny leaves provided protection. As she nursed Jesus, drops of her milk are said to have splashed onto the leaves, leaving the white stripes that characterize the plant. This tale explains its associations with "holiness," "motherhood," and "milk," as reflected in its scientific epithet marianum (derived from "Mary") and common names like "milk thistle" and "St. Mary's thistle."

How to Identify Authentic Milk Thistle Raw Material?

Milk thistle is used in medicine as the dried fruit of Silybum marianum. To distinguish it from similar-looking substitutes, note the following characteristics:

Milk Thistle Elliptical, slightly asymmetrical on both sides; broader at the top with a slightly slanted circular ring and a protruding style remnant in the center; base with a flat, slit-like fruit scar, slightly skewed. Color: dark brown or gray-brown; surface smooth with longitudinal stripes or white longitudinal lines.

Burdock Seed (Arctium lappa)

Long obovate, slightly flattened and curved; 5–7mm long, 2–3mm wide. Surface grayish-brown with purplish-black spots and several longitudinal ridges (1–2 more prominent). Top rounded and slightly broad with a circular ring and a dot-like style remnant; base narrower with a paler attachment point. Hard pericarp; 2 yellowish-white, oily cotyledons. Slight odor; taste bitter, then slightly pungent and numbing.

Onopordum acanthium (Giant Thistle) Achenes mostly elliptical or oblong-ovate, tapering at both ends, often curved. Surface grayish-white, darker at the top and base; distinct wavy transverse ridges or mottling, rarely with purplish-black spots. Hard, unbreakable pericarp; highly oily; odorless.

Woolly Burdock Seed (Arctium tomentosum)

Long obovate, slightly flattened and curved; top slightly broad, polygonal in top view with a dot-like style remnant at the center; base with a whitish dot-like fruit scar. Color: brownish with black spots, prominent longitudinal ridges, and shallow grooves. Oily; taste pungent and slightly bitter.

Costus Seed (Aucklandia lappa)

Long obovate or half-moon-shaped, slightly flattened and curved; top slightly broad, polygonal in top view with a whitish central area and a dot-like or short columnar style remnant. Surface grayish-brown to gray-black with purplish-black spots (or none), distinct longitudinal ridges, and fine grooves. Thick, hard pericarp; taste bitter and pungent.

Efficacy and Benefits of Milk Thistle Extract Tablets

The key active component in milk thistle is silymarin, a group of flavonolignans renowned for its liver-protective properties. Its main benefits include:

Liver Protection and Hepatocyte Repair

Silymarin resists liver damage from toxins and alcohol, promotes hepatocyte regeneration, and is widely used to address liver injury caused by staying up at night, drinking, or medication.

Enhanced Metabolism and Detoxification

By boosting liver detoxification function, it helps break down toxins, fats, and excess hormones in the body, improving overall circulation.

Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Effects

Its strong antioxidant capacity effectively scavenges free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and slowing cellular aging.

Immune Boosting

Maintaining healthy liver function significantly enhances overall immune system performance.

Relief of Subhealth Symptoms Related to Liver Qi Stagnation

Issues like dry eyes, dull skin, and facial yellowness—often linked to liver function—can be improved by proper milk thistle supplementation.

Who Should Consider Milk Thistle Extract Tablets?

l Those who stay up late or work overtime regularly (high liver burden, prone to liver discomfort and poor complexion).

l Frequent social drinkers (aids liver metabolism of alcohol and toxins).

l Individuals with high-fat/high-sugar diets, obesity, or fatty liver (helps balance liver fat and break down lipids).

l People with poor skin condition or eye fatigue (regulates liver function to improve external symptoms).

l Those taking long-term medication (helps reduce drug-induced liver damage).

Tips for Choosing Milk Thistle Products

Consumers often struggle with brand selection, ingredient content, and formulation technology. A reliable milk thistle product should have:

l Scientifically validated ingredient content.

l High-quality excipients.

l Authoritative testing certifications.

l Positive user reviews.

Avoid: Blindly following trends, choosing products with crude single extracts, or neglecting ingredient list authenticity and testing standards. Compare options carefully, verify brand credibility, and check core ingredients to ensure effectiveness and long-term safety.

Precautions During Supplementation

l Avoid smoking and alcohol.

l Refrain from spicy and irritating foods (e.g., chili, garlic, wasabi) that may reduce efficacy.

l Incorporate regular exercise (e.g., running, swimming, tai chi) to enhance physical fitness and aid recovery.

In conclusion, with the widespread application of milk thistle in China's market, it is believed that more and more related products will emerge in the future. We hope that everyone can rationally select suitable products to achieve the goal of promoting physical health. It is also our hope that we can introduce more and more such products to enrich our country's system of Chinese herbal medicines. In the health care market, with the concept of natural herbs, we can lead the world towards better development.

Reference:

1.Journal of Food Safety and Quality Inspection

2.Journal of Beihua University (Natural Science Edition)

3.China Practical Medicine

4.Food Research and Development