It is mainly used to treat liver problems, but some people claim it can lower cholesterol and help manage type 2 diabetes. This article explores 10 potential milk thistle benefits and examines whether there is any scientific evidence to support its use. It also looks at how to use milk thistle and whether there are any risks to consider. Milk thistle is a flowering plant that comes from the same family of plants as the daisy.
It grows in Mediterranean countries and is used to make natural remedies. Different parts of the milk thistle plant may be used to treat various health conditions. The most common use of milk thistle is for liver problems. Some claim it can help treat:. Other potential health benefits include protecting heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and helping people manage type 2 diabetes.
One of the most common uses of milk thistle is to treat liver problems. A study found that milk thistle improved diet-induced liver damage in mice.
More evidence is needed to prove that milk thistle benefits human livers in the same way. However, researchers theorize that it does. The active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production. Scientists think this creates a detoxifying effect, which is why it is milk thistle may be beneficial for liver problems.
Until more research is carried out, however, milk thistle is not recommended as the primary treatment option for liver problems. But it may be a helpful complementary treatment to try. Milk thistle may help to promote healthy skin. A study found that milk thistle helped improve inflammatory skin conditions when applied to the skin of mice. Milk thistle was also found to have antioxidant and anti-aging effects on human skin cells in a laboratory environment in another study.
Further research on humans is needed to identify what benefits a person can expect from applying milk thistle to their skin. A study suggests milk thistle may play an important role keeping cholesterol levels down. It found that cholesterol levels were lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than those taking a placebo.
Initial animal research conducted in found that silymarin caused weight loss in mice that were fed a diet intended to cause weight gain. This suggests milk thistle may be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. More research into the effects of milk thistle on weight loss in humans is needed to confirm this, however.
A study on mice found milk thistle extract helped to reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a problem for people with type 2 diabetes. Yes, you can grow your own milk thistle. Milk thistle is a hardy plant that grows well in most environments, although it prefers high temperatures and dry conditions.
The soil also needs to be well drained. Silymarin is a compound from milk thistle seeds that is said to offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. One study on silymarin found that it interfered with the accumulation of liver fat, which means it could aid in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Possible side effects of milk thistle can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and gas. Some reports have mentioned muscle aches, joint pain, and sexual dysfunction as well.
Milk thistle can also cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you have an allergy to ragweed, daisies, artichokes, kiwi, or plants in the aster family, it might be smart to avoid milk thistle. Yes, milk thistle supplements can come in the form of tea bags to brew your own tea.
The supplement is also sold as a tablet, capsule, and oral tincture. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Milk Thistle. Updated September Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future.
Phytother Res. Salmi HA, Sarna S. Effect of silymarin on chemical, functional, and morphological alterations of the liver. A double-blind controlled study. Scand J Gastroenterol. Effect of silymarin milk thistle on liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C unsuccessfully treated with interferon therapy: a randomized controlled trial.
Effects of Silybum marianum L. The therapeutic potential of milk thistle in diabetes. Rev Diabet Stud. Molecules ; Ebrahimpour, K. DOI: Fried, M. Rambaldi, A. Am J Gastroenterol. Salmi, H. Scan J Gastroenterol. Seeff, L. Voroneanu, L. J Diabetes Res. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects, and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications.
For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care practitioner. People with a history of hormone-related cancers, including breast, uterine, and prostate cancer, should not take milk thistle.
DO NOT take milk thistle if you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, chamomile, yarrow, or daisies. Given milk thistle's action on the liver, the stie of most drug metabolism, it would be wise to speak to your doctor if you are taking any medication before using milk thistle.
In particular, if you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use milk thistle without talking to your doctor first. Milk thistle may interfere with the following medications, because both milk thistle and these medications are broken down by the same liver enzymes:.
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