Living in a sunny region may not always be a blessing, especially if you are a faired skin person, concerned about skin cancer. While moderate sunshine is very good for you, extreme exposure lead to increased risk of UV-induced skin cancer.
New research from University of Colorado, by Dr. Rajesh Agarwal, have shown some great success. He has been studying this compound for the last 20 years. In two separate studies, he found the compound protects against certain forms of skin cancer.
Published in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology, Dr. Agarwal and his team treated UVA-affected cells with the compound.1 UVA radiation makes up 95% of the sun's radiation.
When UV-damaged cells were exposed to this compound, the cells die, reducing the chance of these cells to cause cancer. This compound does not kill healthy cells, but only mutated, damaged cells. This is a very important breakthrough because skin cancer is the most common form of cancer today.
What is this compound? Milk thistle.
In another modern study, Dr. Agarwal found that milk thistle reversed DNA damaged caused by UVB radiation.2 Specially, it protected and repaired skin cells. So milk thistle works on both fronts and protecting skin. With UVA, it kills, with UVB it protects, offering complete UV protection.
Milk thistle also have been reported to provide protection against lung cancer.3 It has a long list of benefits....protects the liver, lowers cholesterol, and4 also helps treat indigestion and gallbladder disorders.5 And if that wasn't enough...It has been used to reduce breast, cervical, and prostate cancer cell growth.6
Since the first century, Milk Thisle (main component-Silymarin) has been a trusted herbal agent. It is part of the daisy family, a native to the Mediterranean region. Silymarin can be extracted from the seeds (fruit) of the Milk Thistle plant. It's bioflavanoid complex provides exceptional antioxidant activities. N wonder it has been used for thousands of years to treat various ailments. Modern research just keeps on proving why.
Milk thistle has various names such as Mary Thistle, Holy Thistle, our Lady's Thistle, Marian Thistle, St. Mary's Thistle, Sow Thistle and Wild Artichoke. Milk thistle extracts are available in capsule, powder, or liquid form. Look for a standarized extract between 70-80%. Tea preparations does not work because milk thistle is not water soluable (does not dissolve in water well).7
Source & References:
1. http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2218157
2. http://ncbi.nlm,nih.gov/pubmed/2335905
3. http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2013/01/natures-chemo-for-lung-cancer/
4. http://naturalstandard.com/databases/herbssupplements/milkthistle.asp?#bottomline
5. http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21685957
6. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/milkthistle/ataglance.htm
7. http://naturalstandard.com/databases/herbssupplements/milkthistle.asp?#dosingtoxicology
8. http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2013/04/the-holy-grail-of-skin-cancer-prevention/#continue
9. http://www.puritan.com/newsletter/20130412/herbs?scid=26451&cmp=rys-_-20130411-_-em_readmoreherbs&rilt=textlink_readmoreherbs