What is milk thistle good for? milk thistle Benefits and Side effects [2021]

What is milk thistle good for?: Silymarin is an antioxidant compound taken from milk thistle seeds. It is not clear whether it is beneficial or not for human beings but it is used for natural treatment for cirrhosis, hepatitis, jaundice, and gall bladder disorder. 

It is herbal medicine, derived from the silymarin plant. It is also popular as a milk thistle plant or Silybum marianum. Its flowers are distinctive purple colors and white veins.

The active ingredients in milk thistle are a group of plant compounds and are known as silymarin. The milk thistle extract has a high amount of silymarin, concentrated from the milk of the thistle plant.

Silymarin is rich in antioxidants, antiviral,  and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus it is used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder disease, promote breast milk, prevent cancer,  protect the liver from snake bites, etc.

7 scientific health benefits of milk thistle are as under

1. Milk thistle protect our liver

What is milk thistle good for?, It is beneficial for people suffering from liver damage due to alcohol, fatty liver, hepatitis, and even liver cancer.  It protects the liver from toxins such as  ‘amatoxin’ produced by the ingestion of death cap mushrooms. Intakes of milk thistle reduce liver inflammation and liver damage.  Although more research is needed.

2. Help prevent age-related decline in brain function

Milk thistles are used as a traditional remedy for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.  As it is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants, it is neuroprotective and helps to enhance brain function in old age.

In test-tube and animal studies, silymarin has been shown that protect oxidative damage to brain cells and help mental decline.

Studies taken in animals show that it also reduces the amyloid plaques in the brains of animals with Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid plaques are sticky clusters of amyloid proteins that can build up between nerve cells in old age. Amyloid proteins are seen in high numbers in the brain of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Silymarin protect your bones

Osteoporosis, a bone disease, usually develops gradually over a period of many years, causes weak and fragile bones that easily break, even after minor falls.

In animal studies, Milk thistle has been shown effective to protect bone loss stimulate bone mineralization. However human study is needed in this field.    

4. It has anti-cancer properties

The antioxidant properties of silymarin have anti-cancer effects. Thus it helps those persons who are taking anti-cancer treatment.  It enhances the work of chemotherapy and helps destroy cancer cells. However, more study is needed.

5. It can boosts the production of breast milk

What is milk thistle good for?, Milk thistle boosts breast milk production by increasing prolactin hormone. In this context, data is limited but a study shows that some mothers taking 420 mg silymarin daily for 63 days produced  64% more milk than those who did not take the same. However, more studies are needed.

6. It is beneficial in skin infection and treat acne

Acne, a chronic inflammatory skin infection, though it is not dangerous it lives scar on the face.  Scar occurs due to oxidative stress in the body. Due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, it is a useful supplement for people suffering from acne. One study shows that who was taking milk thistle supplement experience a decrease in the number of acne on their body. However further studies in this field are needed.

7. Milk thistle is beneficial  for diabetic patient, it decrease blood sugar level

Milk thistle manages type 2 diabetes. It helps improve insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar levels. In a study, it is found that those people who are taking silymarin daily experienced a reduction in fasting blood sugar level and HbA1c. However, the quality of the study was not very high and needs further study and research.

Is milk thistle safe?

Yes, it is safe, if taken by mouth. In the study, high doses of silymarin were given for a long period.  Only approximately  1 % of people feel side effects such as, disturbance in the gut, nausea, diarrhea, etc.

However, in some cases, special caution is required such as

• Pregnant women must avoid the intake of silymarin. No safety data is available for pregnant women.

• Person  who is allergies to plant must avoid the intake of silymarin.

Side effects and risk of milk thistle

• Side effects: If it is taken for a longer period continuously,  few people may notice nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and itching. The same may subside after stopping the use of milk thistle.

• Risk factor: It may trigger an allergic reaction in those persons who are allergic to kiwi, daisies, marigolds, etc., and are at higher risk. People who are suffering from diabetes or endometriosis are advised to consult their doctor before the intake of milk thistle. Its safety is unknown in the pregnant lady or breastfeeding lady. So they must avoid the intake of milk thistle. 

• Interactions:  people suffering from any chronic disease and taking some medicines regularly such as cholesterol, diabetes, insomnia, blood pressure, etc. must take the advice of their doctor before taking milk thistle. Because it may reduce sugar levels, or may reduce blood pressure.

Frequently Asked Question About Milk Thistle