It’s been suggested that oxidative stress in the body may play a role in the development of acne ( 41). Milk thistle tea is said to protect the liver, stimulate breast milk production, and lower blood sugar levels. This article looks at the evidence to… READ MORE The seeds (fruit) of Milk Thistle are combined with four other important herbs used in healthcare for centuries – fresh extracts of Dandelion, It’s been suggested that the antioxidant effects of silymarin may have some anticancer effects, which could be helpful for people receiving cancer treatment ( 9). Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. While not dangerous, it can cause scars. People may also find it painful and worry about its effects on their appearance.

Milk thistle may be useful in treating liver disease, cancer, and diabetes. But the evidence is limited, and some research methodologies are flawed, so it’s difficult to confirm these effects. However, the studies in humans are very limited and have yet to show a meaningful clinical effect in people ( 32, 33, 34, 35, 36). The data is very limited, but one randomized controlled study found that mothers taking 420 mg of silymarin for 63 days produced 64% more milk than those taking a placebo ( 37). And although milk thistle extract is commonly used as a complementary therapy for people with liver diseases, there’s currently no evidence that it can prevent you from getting these conditions, especially if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.

Dosage of Milk Thistle Complex

Blessed thistle is an herb with a long history of use for digestive issues and breastfeeding. We’ll go over some of its most well-known benefits… READ MORE

Many people are interested in herbal supplements to support their liver health. Here are 10 of the best herbs for your liver, including benefits and… READ MORE These studies have also seen that milk thistle may be able to reduce the number of amyloid plaques in the brains of animals with Alzheimer’s disease ( 18, 19, 20). Studies have shown improvements in liver function in people with liver diseases who have taken a milk thistle supplement, suggesting it could help reduce liver inflammation and liver damage ( 9). More studies are needed before it can be determined how silymarin might be used to support people undergoing cancer treatment. They are seen in very high numbers in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, meaning that milk thistle could potentially be used to help treat this difficult condition ( 21).It’s been discovered that one of the compounds in milk thistle may work similarly to some diabetic medications by helping improve insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar ( 43). Moreover, it’s unclear whether milk thistle is well enough absorbed in people to allow adequate amounts to pass through the blood-brain barrier. It’s also unknown what doses would need to be prescribed for it to have a beneficial effect ( 18). In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1). Interestingly, one study found that people with acne who took 210 milligrams of silymarin per day for 8 weeks experienced a 53% decrease in acne lesions ( 42).

It usually develops slowly over a number of years and causes weak and fragile bones that break easily, even after minor falls. As a result, researchers suggest that milk thistle may be a useful therapy for preventing or delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women ( 24, 25).In test-tube and animal studies, silymarin has been shown to prevent oxidative damage to brain cells, which could help prevent mental decline ( 16, 17). Contains the tinctures of fresh Cynara scolymus* (Artichoke) leaves 46%, Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) dried fruit 32%, fresh Taraxacum officinalis* (Dandelion) herb and root 12%, Peumus boldus (Boldo) dried leaf 7% and fresh Mentha piperita* (Peppermint) leaves 3%. It’s regularly used as a complementary therapy by people who have liver damage due to conditions like alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis and even liver cancer ( 1, 5, 6). However, this review also noted that the quality of the studies was not very high, so more studies are needed before it’s possible to make any firm recommendations ( 44).

Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties mean that it is possibly neuroprotective and could help prevent the decline in brain function you experience as you age ( 14, 15). One reported effect of milk thistle is that it can boost breast milk production in lactating mothers. It’s thought to work by making more of the milk-producing hormone prolactin.When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating. It’s also used to protect the liver against toxins like amatoxin, which is produced by the death cap mushroom and is deadly if ingested ( 7, 8).