Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is a spiky purple flowering plant in the same family as the daisies and ragweed. It’s sold as an herbal supplement, either as a capsule or a tea.

Manufacturers claim it encourages healthy liver function, promotes healthier skin, aids digestive health, boosts your immune system and more. But because it’s an herbal remedy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate it. So, the makers can claim just about anything without needing legitimate research to back it up.

Milk thistle has been used in herbal medicine for centuries for a variety of conditions. But scientific research on milk thistle is limited. Studies on it haven’t been well verified and some have used some questionable methods or very small sample sizes. And few have tested the effects of milk thistle in people, instead showing results in animal models or test tubes.

But, Czerwony says, what we do know has pointed to milk thistle as having good potential to have some positive effects across your body.

“Milk thistle does show strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which is also true of a lot of plants and plant-based foods.
Based on the research available, milk thistle does show some promise. And no studies have suggested it would be toxic or have harmful effects, so the risks seem rather low.

What research has taught so far about milk thistle’s potential benefits:

Liver health

Diabetes management

Neurological disease

Bone health

Chemotherapy aid

Acne control

Milk Thistle is thought to be safe and suitable for most individuals when consumed in moderation. However, we at Life Essentials are not medical professionals! Consultation with a healthcare professional is recommended before adding any new supplement to your routine.

Firstly, congratulations! Unfortunately, guidance suggests that Milk Thistle should NOT be taken during pregnancy, just in case of adverse effects. Nonetheless, as always, it’s best to consult a doctor or another health professional to be sure of best practice.

Milk thistle extracts have been extensively studied and show no toxic effects in animal or human studies. Because silymarin increases bile flow, humans may produce a looser stool. 

One study found that when patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease took milk thistle powder for eight weeks, they showed a major improvement in ultrasound fatty liver grading and liver enzymes, which are two key health indicators for fatty liver disease. Another showed that when patients used milk thistle in their treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, they saw a decline in GGT enzyme activity, which is connected to liver damage.