Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesLiver HealthHepatitis CDiabetesBreast MilkCancerSkin HealthBone HealthSide EffectsRisksSimilar Supplements
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Liver Health
Hepatitis C
Diabetes
Breast Milk
Cancer
Skin Health
Bone Health
Side Effects
Risks
Similar Supplements
Milkthistle(Silybum marianum) is thought to promote liver, bone, and skin health. It’s also said to help with breast milk production and diabetes symptoms. However, studies are conflicting and more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
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.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
What Is Milk Thistle Used For?
Interactions With Milk ThistleMilk thistle may interact with certain medications and supplements. Substances in milk thistle may reduceblood sugar, a concern for people living with diabetes.Milk thistle may change the way your liver metabolizes certain drugs, likeblood thinners,antibiotics, andanti-inflammatory medications. However, there is no solid evidence that supports these claims.
Interactions With Milk Thistle
Milk thistle may interact with certain medications and supplements. Substances in milk thistle may reduceblood sugar, a concern for people living with diabetes.Milk thistle may change the way your liver metabolizes certain drugs, likeblood thinners,antibiotics, andanti-inflammatory medications. However, there is no solid evidence that supports these claims.
Milk Thistle.©, 2009, Flickr user Emmett A Tullos
Liver Health and Cirrhosis
Silymarin, an active component of milk thistle, mayimprove liver functionand reduce symptoms ofcirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. However, the evidence is conflicting.
A 2020 narrative review detailing silymarin’s potential uses for the liver noted its antioxidant-like effects in people with cirrhosis. The review went on to say that silymarin may be linked to lower rates of mortality in patients with cirrhosis andliver disease.
Other studies looking at milk thistle for cirrhosis have found conflicting results. Therefore, it is not known whether milk thistle or silymarin should be used to treat cirrhosis.
What Is Silymarin?Silymarin is an active component of milk thistle, which is not found in foods. Milk thistlesupplementscontaining silymarin are commonly sold as teas or in capsule form, but are also available as tablets, soft gels, and liquid extracts. Some, but not all, milk thistle supplements are vegan.
What Is Silymarin?
Silymarin is an active component of milk thistle, which is not found in foods. Milk thistlesupplementscontaining silymarin are commonly sold as teas or in capsule form, but are also available as tablets, soft gels, and liquid extracts. Some, but not all, milk thistle supplements are vegan.
3 Herbal Remedies for Liver Health
People sometimes use milk thistle forhepatitis C, a viral infection of the liver.
A survey conducted in the U.S. reported that 23% of those polled used herbal supplements for their hepatitis C, with milk thistle being the most common choice. The survey revealed anecdotal evidence of the improved quality of life among those who took milk thistle, despite having no measurable improvements in hepatitis symptoms like liver inflammation.
A study from 2012 confirmed that milk thistle might not have true beneficial effects on hepatitis C. In the study, patients who took silymarin, an active component of milk thistle, daily for 24 weeks had no significant improvements in liver enzymes or other measures compared to those who took theplacebo.
Although milk thistle may be helpful in hepatitis C, more research is needed to support these claims.
Type 2 Diabetes
Several studies have suggested that milk thistle may be beneficial for people withtype 2 diabetes.
In one such study, a 45-day course of silymarin, the active component of milk thistle, increased antioxidant capacity and reduced generalizedinflammationin adults withtype 2 diabetescompared with a placebo. According to researchers, these findings suggest that silymarin may improve diabetes symptoms likeoxidative stressand inflammation.
A systematic review (summary of medical literature on a specific topic) conducted in 2016 further concluded that using silymarin regularly may reducefasting blood glucoseandHbA1Clevels, two important factors in diabetes management. However, the review’s authors warned that the quality of the studies was poor and that more research is needed before milk thistle should be recommended for use.
Natural Remedies for Diabetes Prevention
Breast Milk Production
Milk thistle often is used as agalactalogue, a food or supplement that people who are chest feeding take to improve milk production.Trigonella foenum-graecum(fenugreek) also is used for this reason.
The benefits of milk thistle remain unclear for this purpose and the limited research on milk thistle and breast milk has been done primarily in animals. One small clinical trial showed an increase in breast milk formation in humans using milk thistle, but researchers caution that more studies are needed.
What Is Breastfeeding?
The research on milk thistle’s use in cancer patients is promising, although more research is needed to determine its benefits. Studies on cancer cell lines (done in the laboratory) have found that elements in milk thistle:
Researchers also are looking at how milk thistle might complement traditional care and treatment in people diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers.
The 4 Stages of Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Some researchers have suggested milk thistle benefits when treating osteoporosis after menopause, and it’s a commonly used supplement in the U.S. There’s limited evidence, though, for the role of milk thistle in bone health.
However, one area of milk thistle research focuses on how it affects bone marrow, which contributes to overall bone health but also has implications in treating diseases likemultiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
Multiple Myeloma vs. Leukemia: What Are the Differences?
What Are the Side Effects of Milk Thistle?
Side effects are always possible when taking supplements. Milk thistle is generally thought to be safe, but you still may experience side effects when taking it. These side effects may be mild or severe.
Common Side Effects
Although rare, milk thistle may trigger a number of common and mild side effects.
Common side effects of milk thistle reported in studies include:
Typically, side effects will subside once you stop using milk thistle. Consult with your healthcare provider if you experience these and other side effects to find out the best way to proceed.
Milk Thistle and AnaphylaxisMilk thistle can cause severe allergic reaction andanaphylaxis, a rare but potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead toshock,coma, cardiac or respiratory failure, or even death. Call 911 or seek help right away if you experience severe side effects from taking milk thistle.
Milk Thistle and Anaphylaxis
Milk thistle can cause severe allergic reaction andanaphylaxis, a rare but potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead toshock,coma, cardiac or respiratory failure, or even death. Call 911 or seek help right away if you experience severe side effects from taking milk thistle.
Are There Risks of Taking Milk Thistle?
Milk thistle may not be safe for everyone. Certain people should take precautions when using milk thistle, and others may need to avoid it altogether.
Some people may be allergic to milk thistle. Milk thistle may cause an allergic reaction in those with allergies to plants in the same family, likeragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy.
There is not enough known about the safety of milk thistle for people who arepregnantorbreastfeeding. It is also unknown whether milk thistle is safe for children. Therefore, it may be best to avoid milk thistle during these life stages.
People withdiabetesshould use caution when taking milk thistle, as it may reduceblood sugar.
Finally, those with hormone-sensitive conditions, including certaincancers, may need to avoid using milk thistle. In some studies, silibinin, an active component of milk thistle, has been shown to haveestrogen-like effects.
How Much Milk Thistle Should I Take?More research is needed before a standard dosage of milk thistle can be recommended, so check with your healthcare provider. Silymarin, a milk thistle element, is reported safe at doses of 700 milligrams three times a day for 24 weeks.It is possible to take too much, and liver toxicity has been observed in people with cancer taking silybin at very high doses (10 to 20 grams per day).
How Much Milk Thistle Should I Take?
More research is needed before a standard dosage of milk thistle can be recommended, so check with your healthcare provider. Silymarin, a milk thistle element, is reported safe at doses of 700 milligrams three times a day for 24 weeks.It is possible to take too much, and liver toxicity has been observed in people with cancer taking silybin at very high doses (10 to 20 grams per day).
Are There Similar Supplements?
There are other supplements that work similarly to milk thistle. The following list is not exhaustive.
Similar supplements to milk thistle include:
Please talk with your healthcare provider about the best supplement for you. It’s typically recommended to avoid taking multiple supplements for the same cause at the same time.
Summary
Milk thistle is thought to be safe for most people, but precautions should be taken as side effects are possible. It can be consumed in supplement form or as a tea.
Talk with your healthcare provider before starting milk thistle to make sure it is the right supplement for you.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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