What is Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Does It Treat Man Boobs

Milk thistle is a thorny plant with purple or almost red flower. It is medically accepted to help cure liver and gall bladder problems. It is rich in Sillymarin, a substance that is known to be anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic.

When paired with selenium supplement, milk thistle can significantly lower the cholesterol level, which is helpful for the treatment of liver diseases, like cirrhosis of the liver.

Scientific evidence also points to the effectiveness of milk thistle in controlling type 2 diabetes. There are also studies that indicate that the herb can control the appetite and hence, helps in treating obesity.

But milk thistle is becoming more popular as an herbal supplement for men. It is used by body builders to help develop muscle mass and bone density. It is recommended as a cure for acne in teenage boys. It is also highly recommended for men, who are at high risk of having prostate cancer.

The development of muscles, curing of acne and lowering the risk of prostate cancer is a result of the effectiveness of milk thistle in triggering the production of testosterone.

Man Boobs and How Milk Thistle Can Help

Man boobs or Gynecomastia develops when the male body produces more estrogen than testosterone.

Testosterone is the hormone that controls the male traits, whereas, estrogen is the hormone that controls the female traits. When the male body has more estrogen, it develops female traits, which may include the formation of breasts.

Man boobs usually develop in adolescent boys because their body is still adjusting from the sudden change of hormones. 1 out of 5 teenage boys may develop man boobs during their puberty age.

It may also occur in men over 50 years of age because of the sudden drop of testosterone due to aging. According to some studies, 25% of men over 50 years of age may develop man boobs.

Man boobs may also develop as a secondary effect of having liver diseases and diabetes. These diseases may cause disorders of the thyroid and pituitary glands. These glands control the production of the hormones. Because of the effects of the diseases, a hormonal imbalance may happen and may cause the development of large and tender breasts in men.

In order to reverse Gynecomastia, the male body should produce more testosterone to offset the level of estrogen. It had been proven that when the testosterone level is increased, the enlargement and the tenderness of the breasts are reduced.

A good way of boosting the testosterone is taking milk thistle supplements.

As discussed above, milk thistle boosts the production of the testosterone level. According to scientific researches, taking at least 3 doses of 70mg of milk thistle daily, can increase the testosterone level of teenage boys by almost 50% and 15-50% for men aging 50 years and above.

As for the men with liver diseases, milk thistle helps the liver function well and helps produce globulin, a substance that triggers the production of testosterone. As for the diabetic men, milk thistles help neutralize the level of insulin so that the hormones can regain its balance.

Though there is scientific evidence that taking milk thistle can help cure Gynecomastia, doctors still warn that the man boobs will not disappear without the help of exercise and proper diet.