Milk Thistle versus Prunella Vulgaris:

**hazcat** · 03-23-2011, 06:00 AM

Prunella Vulgaris: anti-estrogen & liver protector
Posted by Anthony Roberts in Nutritional Companies & Supplements, Other | 0 comments
Jan 14, 2011
A few months ago I had some unkind words to say about Milk Thistle. In short, I don’t like it because it will interfere with your androgen receptors along with your IGF-1 pathways. That means, for steroid (or prohormone or test-booster) users, it will ultimately make a the cycle less effective.
Prunella Vulgaris is an alternative to Milk Thistle, that will not only protect your liver from damage, but will also act as an anti-estrogen. Hence, I think it’s time we declare Milk Thistle obsolete for several reasons:
It reduces reducing androgen receptor transactivation
It inhibits the IGF-I signaling pathway
There’s a better alternative (Prunella Vulgaris)
Prunella Vulgaris has been used for centuries in Chinese folk medicine, where it is known as heal-all. My interest in the compound was because it turns out to be an exceptionally potent anti-estrogen (Biol Reprod. 2009 Feb;80(2):375-83.), may help prevent cardiovascular disease (Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(3):599-611.), is an anti-oxidant that stimulates the immune system, (Molecules. 2010 Dec 10;15(12):9145-56), and can even protect the liver (Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Mar;31(3):531-3.).
In fact, you’ll note that in the graph below*, the ability of Prunella Vulgaris to reduce estrogen approaches that of the prescription anti-estrogen (Selective Estrogen Receptor Downregulator) ICI 182 780 (Falsodex/Fulvestrant):

And when it was tested (*and compared to milk thistle/similaryin) for it’s ability to improve antioxidant status in the bloodstream and the liver, it was found to be at least as effective (Pharmacol Res. 2004 Aug;50(2):123-30.):
… results indicate that silymarin and PVE [Prunella Vulgaris Extract] improve antioxidant status in blood and liver and positively affect plasma lipoprotein profile in an experimental model of dietary induced hypertriglyceridemia….
Prunella Vulgaris does everything for your liver that Milk Thistle can, but it has the added benefit of being an anti-estrogen, with none of the downsides. And, one of the worst parts of taking an anti-estrogen is the fact that estrogen is important for proper immune function – that’s why we see so many people who use (the highly potent aromatase inhibitor) Letrozole get sick while they’re on a cycle. Prunella should be a way around that problem, as it acts to reduce estrogen’s effects while also acting to stimulate (not suppress) your immune system.
I can’t help but think would make it a much more appealing compound for steroid/ph users, or for inclusion in a natural testosterone booster.
It’s available as a liquid (gross), a tea (yuck), or in capsule form at a variety of retailers, and is found in Driven Sports Triazole (an estrogen reducing nutritional supplement). (*Click to read full study on Prunella Vulgaris & estrogen:http://www.**************.info/wp-co...laestrogen.pdf )

NOTE: PM me if you want the article. I'll email it to you.

Haz