Search results
Sep 11, 2023 · Milk thistle (silymarin) is a flowering herb related to the daisy and ragweed family. It is native to Mediterranean countries. Some people also call it Mary thistle and holy thistle. What Is...
- Milk Thistle for The Liver
Prickly yet pretty, milk thistle is a plant with a long,...
- What Is Diverticulitis
People with diverticulosis usually don't have outward...
- Milk Thistle for The Liver
- Overview
- What The Research Says
- Our Take
- Safety and Side Effects
- Interactions
Milk thistle is a plant named for the white veins on its large prickly leaves. One of the active ingredients in milk thistle called silymarin is extracted from the plant's seeds. Silymarin is believed to have antioxidant properties. Milk thistle is sold as an oral capsule, tablet and liquid extract. People mainly use the supplement to treat liver c...
Research on milk thistle use for specific conditions shows: 1. Diabetes.Milk thistle might lower blood sugar in people who have type 2 diabetes, but more studies are needed to confirm its benefits. 2. Indigestion (dyspepsia).Milk thistle, in combination with other supplements, might improve the symptoms of indigestion. 3. Liver disease.Research on ...
Generally safe
Milk thistle might play a role in treating certain liver conditions.
Taken in appropriate doses, oral use of milk thistle appears to be safe. Milk thistle can cause: 1. Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating 2. Itchiness 3. Headache If you have diabetes, use milk thistle with caution, since the supplement might lower blood sugar. There is also concern that mi...
Possible interactions include: 1. Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates.Taking milk thistle might affect this enzyme and drugs it processes, such as diazepam (Valium), warfarin (Jantoven) and others. This means milk thistle might affect the levels of these drugs in your body. 2. Diabetes medications.Milk thistle might lower blood sugar in people ...
- Liver health. Milk thistle is best known as a supplement for people who are experiencing liver conditions like cirrhosis, hepatitis B and fatty liver disease.
- Diabetes management. Some studies suggest milk thistle may help lower blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, without some of the negative side effects — like weight gain and liver complications — that can be associated with some diabetes medications.
- Neurological disease. Some studies suggest milk thistle could help prevent decline in brain function as you age. That may mean it could provide some level of protection against conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
- Bone health. Studies in animal models suggest milk thistle may help strengthen bones and protect against bone loss and osteoporosis. But understanding whether those results translate into people may be hard to know.
- Milk Thistle Protects Your Liver. Share on Pinterest. 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, hepatitis and even liver cancer (1, 5, 6).
- It May Help Prevent Age-Related Decline in Brain Function. Milk thistle has been used as a traditional remedy for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease for over two thousand years (13).
- Milk Thistle Could Protect Your Bones. 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.
- It May Improve Cancer Treatment. It’s been suggested that the antioxidant effects of silymarin may have some anticancer effects, which could be helpful for people receiving cancer treatment (9).
- Lana Burgess
- Supports liver health. One of the most common uses of milk thistle is to treat liver problems. A 2016 study Trusted Source found that milk thistle improved diet-induced liver damage in mice.
- Promotes skin health. Share on Pinterest. Milk thistle oil may be used topically to improve skin health. Milk thistle may help to promote healthy skin. A 2015 study Trusted Source found that milk thistle helped improve inflammatory skin conditions when applied to the skin of mice.
- Reduces cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to problems with heart health and increase a person’s chance of stroke. A 2006 study Trusted Source suggests milk thistle may play an important role keeping cholesterol levels down.
- Supports weight loss. Initial animal research Trusted Source conducted in 2016 found that silymarin caused weight loss in mice that were fed a diet intended to cause weight gain.
People also ask
What is milk thistle?
What are the health benefits of milk thistle?
What are the active ingredients in milk thistle?
Is milk thistle a ragweed?
Apr 27, 2023 · Milk thistle is a flowering herb native to Europe but is also found in parts of the United States, Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America. The benefits of milk thistle may be due to silymarin, an active ingredient found in the herb that is said to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
20 hours ago · Milk thistle is found throughout the eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. The terms “milk thistle” and “silymarin” are often used interchangeably. Historically, people have used milk thistle for liver disorders and gallbladder problems.
