Milk thistle strengthens the liver, protecting against chemotherapy damage; it restricts brain metastases from lung cancer and can be used in the treatment of Cushing's disease. Now researchers have shown that, combined with turmeric, it is powerful in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Milk thistle and curcumin can stop the colorectal cells multiplying and spreading according to researchers from the University of Saint Louis.
Colorectal cancer
"The combination of phytochemicals from the two herbs inhibited colon cancer cells from multiplying and spreading,” said Uthayashanker Ezekiel, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical laboratory science. “In addition, when the colon cancer cells were pre-exposed to curcumin and then treated with silymarin, the cells underwent a high amount of cell death," he said. (June 23rd, 2016, Journal of Cancer).
Milk thistle has an active flavonoid called silymarin, which is known to be able to protect and rebuild liver cells. It is an antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compound, with epigenetic (cancer cell correcting) properties. It has been shown capable of protecting the liver from cancer.
Turmeric, the root, contains the active ingredient curcumin, also a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with epigenetic benefits. It is protective of the liver and through its action against microbes, highly useful in cases of colorectal cancer.
It is likely that the doubling of anti-inflammatory benefits (given colorectal cancer in driven by inflammation), along with the double epigenetic benefits is at work.
Milk Thistle and Turmeric work against IBS
A second study recently showed that the two herbs together had a strong effect anti-inflammatory on gut problems such as IBS and colitis, especially in conjunction with sunshine and vitamin D.
Milk Thistle protects the liver and restricts metastases
Other studies have shown that Milk Thistle may protect your liver during chemotherapy; that Milk Thistle can be used to treat Cushing's Disease caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland; and that, in people with lung cancer, milk thistle would suppress metastasis to the brain. In fact the Spanish researchers felt Milk Thistle on its own had the ability to restrict metastases.
ChrisWoollams, former Oxford University biochemist and a founder of CANCERactive said, "Frankly, we have always recommended both milk thistle and turmeric in Personal Prescriptions with Colorectal cancer patients. Magnesium is also helpful."
Go to: Latest Research on Colorectal Cancer