Milk thistle has actually been used for over 2,000 years. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and a member of the Asteraceae plant family, which also includes other plants like sunflowers and daisies.
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Milk thistle gets its name from the milky-white liquid that runs off of the plant's leaves when they're crushed. The actual leaves of the plant also have a spotted white pattern that makes them look as if they have been dunked in milk.