Milk thistle and conception

Milk thistle is an intimidating looking plant with its sharp leaves and stalk. But it's pretty purple flowers help redeem it, and the fact that it makes a useful product, silymarin, is also in its favor.

Because otherwise, it's a tenacious weed.

But the important component is silymarin. You can buy just silymarin instead of milk thistle, and that's probably the best idea.

Silymarin has been studied in liver detoxification, and it shows some efficacy. It can't save someone with severe liver damage, like from alcoholism, but it can help in conjunction with other treatments. Now, for someone who does not have liver damage but wants liver detoxification, it is useful.

Who wants liver detoxification? We all should because our livers do a lot for us. The liver is the metabolic workhorse of our bodies, cleaning out our blood. Silymarin prevents depletion of glutathione, and that's how it helps your liver detoxify.

It's not a simple story, is it?

Glutathione is important for processes in the liver that break down toxins. Glutathione is also a great anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and even anti-viral, with use in hepatitis C. I found some dermatology journals discussing the use of silymarin in rosacea, due to its role in protecting glutathione levels.

There is evidence that it is effective in increasing milk production in women, too, a "galactogogue."

If the effect we want is to increase glutathione levels, why not take a glutathione supplement? The reason is that it is not absorbed that way. From foods that supply glutathione, you will get increased glutathione levels, but not from a supplement. Raw milk contains glutathione, as do carrots, grapefruit, spinach, but only if uncooked. Cooking destroys the glutathione, which is why pasteurized milk does not provide glutathione.

So the way to get more glutathione is to take silymarin. I found references that discussed anywhere from 200 mg to 600 mg daily. Also, you can take it long-term since it has few side effects.

But back to how does this help you with conception. Anything that helps the liver clean out your blood will help improve your overall health, and that helps you conceive. From the junk food we eat to the chemicals all around us, our livers have a tough job! As I have said before, helping your overall health will help your body to help you conceive.