Milk Thistle is a flowery herb native of the Mediterranean area and belongs to the Asteraceae family of herbs.
Previously, Milk Thistle was used as a natural remedy for liver and gallbladder diseases, among other things.
So let’s learn everything there is to know about Milk Thistle Herb and its benefits in this article.
What is Milk Thistle Herb?
Milk Thistle, also known as (Silybum Marianum, Carduus Marianum), contains the active constituent silymarin, which has anti-oxidant, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory characteristics.
In addition to that, it is also used as a natural remedy for hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, jaundice, and gallbladder problems.
Furthermore, some people believe that Milk Thistle has cardiovascular benefits along with other benefits for people with type II diabetes.
So, Let’s review those benefits in detail.
What does Milk Thistle do for your liver?
Milk Thistle is used by people who suffer from liver fibrosis due to different diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and maybe liver cancer.
Moreover, it helps in protecting the liver from fungal toxins produced by Amanita Phalloides such as, Amatoxin, which can be deadly upon ingesting.
Furthermore, it also aids in the protection from artificial toxins such as toluene and, xylene.
Results of different studies showed a divergence about the effectiveness of Milk Thistle Herb in protecting the liver.
It is believed that Milk Thistle protects the liver and prevents fibrosis due to free radical damage.
Besides that, some studies showed that Milk Thistle could prolong the average lifetime for people with liver fibrosis due to alcoholic hepatitis.
Although Milk Thistle herb is commonly used as a supplement medicine for people with liver diseases, there is no clear evidence of its efficacy, particularly in the case of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Milk Thistle for diabetes
Scientists discovered that one of the components found in this herb is similar in efficacy to some diabetes drugs since it improves cells’ sensitivity to insulin and lowers the sugar level in the blood.
Studies also showed that people who take silymarin regularly witnessed a remarkable decrease in fasting blood sugar test levels and, hemoglobin A1c which measures the standard management of blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes complications such as kidney disease.
However, this review indicates that the quality of those studies wasn’t accurate enough, so there is a need to perform more studies on this matter.
Therefore, patients with diabetes should consult their doctor before taking this herb.
Milk Thistle Herb for weight loss
The primary studies on animals revealed that this herb caused weight loss in mice fed a diet designed to help them gain weight.
However, more research is needed to determine how effective this herb is for weight loss in humans.
Milk Thistle Herb for infertility
Primary research suggests that combining Silymarin with fertility hormones may increase the success rates of IVF procedures.
Other Potential Benefits
Milk Thistle Herb may have a variety of other advantages, such as:
Promote the secretion of breast milk
Its believed that Milk Thistle Herb could increase the levels of prolactin hormone, enhancing milk secretion in lactating mothers.
One of the random studies on 50 breastfeeding mothers showed that having 420mg of silymarin daily for 63 days can increase milk secretion by about 60%.
However, there are no accurate clinical studies that describe this exact effect.
Hence, there is still a need for performing more studies.
Besides, you should consult your specialist doctor before taking this herb during the natural breastfeeding period.
Enhancing perception
One of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease is oxidative stress.
Silymarin may help in fighting it due to its anti-oxidant properties.
However, more studies on humans are needed to prove how effective this herb is in enhancing perception.
Other Benefits
- Promote immune system function.
- Maintain Healthy Skin.
- Lower LDL and cholesterol levels.
- Help in the relief of allergic asthma symptoms.
- Inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in certain types of cancer, such as rectal and colon cancer.
- Help in preventing the occurrence of osteoporosis due to the lack of estrogen hormone.
- Slightly improve the symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Stabilize Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
- When combined with soy isoflavone, lycopene, minerals, and vitamins, it reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer, especially in those with a family history of the disease.
Side Effects
When taken orally, Milk Thistle herb is considered safe for most adults, but sometimes it can cause some side effects, such as:
- Headache.
- Nausea.
- Indigestion.
- Diarrhea.
- Bloating and feeling full.
- Loss of appetite.
- Pain.
Precautions and Warnings
- Before taking any herbal extract, consult your doctor to determine the correct dosage and how it will benefit your condition.
- People who previously suffered from allergic symptoms by using any of Asteraceae/Compositae family herbs such as Chrysanthemums and Marigolds; shouldn’t take Milk Thistle herb.
- Some of the Milk Thistle Herb components may be as effective as estrogen Hormone. Therefore, using it with any medical condition that estrogen may aggravate should be avoided, including:
- Ovarian cancer.
- Uterine Fibroids.
- Endometriosis.
- Cervical Cancer.
- Breast Cancer.
Moreover, it may interact with some drugs that treat the increase in cholesterol levels, Anxiety, Hypertension, and infection.
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Milk Thistle Herb and Pregnancy
Taking it during pregnancy should be avoided since there is not enough information about the safety of using this herb during pregnancy.
Drug Interactions
Milk Thistle Herb should be used with caution in diabetic patients because it can cause a significant drop in blood sugar levels, especially if combined with diabetes medications.
It may also interact with drugs metabolized in the liver, such as
- Antibiotics, e.g., Clarithromycin.
- Anticoagulants, e.g., Warfarin.
- Statins: Cholesterol-lowering drugs, for example, Lovastatin and Fluvastatin.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Ibuprofen, Celecoxib, and Diclofenac.
Milk Thistle herbal supplement capsules
Sometimes it is found in the form of capsules.
However, it is also available in the form of tablets or tea bags.
Dosage
There is no standard dose to use because the quality and concentration of the active ingredients may vary from product to product.
Finally, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before using Milk Thistle Herb or any other herbal medicine to determine the appropriate dose for your condition.
Furthermore, you should purchase it from a reliable source to avoid any negative side effects caused by spoilage or poor manufacturing.