The milk thistle plant is a popular herb that has actually been used for over 2,000 years. In fact, the Greek doctor and botanist Dioskouridis was the first to describe the healing properties of milk thistle as early as 40 AD. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and belongs to the Asteraceae plant family, which also includes other plants such as sunflowers and daisies. This medicinal herb gets its name from the milky white liquid that flows from the plant’s leaves when crushed. The leaves of the plant themselves also have a mottled white pattern that makes them look like they have been dipped in milk. It is also known as milk thistle, holy thistle and milk thistle. Milk thistle is widely used for everything from weight loss to skin health and promoting breast milk production.