7 Science-Based Benefits of Milk Thistle

Key Takeaways

• Milk thistle’s active compound, silymarin, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
• It may support liver health and help manage blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.
• Other possible benefits include boosting breast milk supply and easing acne, though evidence is limited.

Milk thistle is an herbal remedy derived from the milk thistle plant, also known as Silybum marianum.

This prickly plant has distinctive purple flowers and white veins, which traditional stories say were caused by a drop of the Virgin Mary’s milk falling onto its leaves.

The active ingredients in milk thistle are a group of plant compounds collectively known as silymarin.

Its herbal remedy is known as milk thistle extract. Milk thistle extract has a high amount of silymarin that has been concentrated from the milk thistle plant.

The silymarin extracted from milk thistle is known to have antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

In fact, it has traditionally been used to treat liver and gallbladder disorders, promote breast milk production, prevent and treat cancer and even protect the liver from snake bites, alcohol and other environmental poisons.

Here are 7 science-based benefits of milk thistle.

Milk thistle is often promoted for its liver-protecting effects.

It’s regularly used as a complementary therapy by people who have liver damage due to conditions like alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease… Show more

Milk thistle has been used as a traditional remedy for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease for over two thousand years.

Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties mean that it is possibly… Show more

Osteoporosis is a disease caused by progressive bone loss.

It usually develops slowly over a number of years and causes weak and fragile bones that break easily, even after minor falls.

Milk thistle has been shown in experimental animal… Show more

A 2023 study found that the antioxidant effects of silymarin can stimulate anti-tumor activities as well as protect healthy cells from damage induced by chemotherapy.

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One reported effect of milk thistle is that it can boost breast milk production in lactating mothers. It’s thought to work by making more of the milk-producing hormone prolactin.

The data is very limited, but

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. While not dangerous, it can cause scars. People may also find it painful and worry about its effects on their appearance.

It’s been suggested that oxidative stress in the body may play a role in… Show more

Milk thistle may be a useful complementary therapy to help manage type 2 diabetes.

It’s been discovered that one of the compounds in milk thistle may work similarly to some diabetic medications by helping improve insulin sensitivity and… Show more

Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth.

When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating.

Some people are advised to be cautious when taking milk thistle. These include:

• Pregnant women: There is no data on its safety in pregnant women, so they are usually advised to avoid this supplement.
• Those allergic to the plant: Milk thistle may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants.
• People with diabetes: The blood sugar-lowering effects of milk thistle may put people with diabetes at risk of low blood sugar.
• Those with certain conditions: Milk thistle can have estrogenic effects, which may worsen hormone-sensitive conditions, including some types of breast cancer.

Milk thistle is a safe supplement that shows potential as a complementary therapy for various conditions, including liver disease, cancer and diabetes.

However, many of the studies are small and have methodological flaws, which makes it difficult to give firm guidance on this supplement or confirm its effects.

Overall, more high-quality research is needed to define the doses and clinical effects of this fascinating herb. Be sure to check with your doctor or a trusted healthcare professional before beginning any herbal supplement.