The silymarin extracted from milk thistle is known to have antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties ( 2, 3, 4).

Milk thistle has been shown in experimental test-tube and animal studies to stimulate bone mineralization and potentially be protective against bone loss ( 22, 23).

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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. The active ingredients in milk thistle are a group of plant compounds collectively known as silymarin ( 1).

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 Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, milk thistle may be a useful supplement for people with acne. 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). 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).When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating. To ensure quality and potency in your herbal remedies, why not grow your own? Learn to concoct simple home remedies with easy-to-grow medicinal herbs… READ MORE However, there are currently no human studies examining the effects of milk thistle in people with Alzheimer’s or other neurological conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s.

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). Its herbal remedy is known as milk thistle extract. Milk thistle extract has a high amount of silymarin (between 65–80%) that has been concentrated from the milk thistle plant. 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). Digestisan Oral Drops: A traditional herbal medicinal product used for indigestion, sensation of fullness and flatulence associated with over-indulgence in food or drink, or both, exclusively based upon long-standing use as a traditional remedy.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). However, the results from studies have been mixed, and not all have found milk thistle extract to have a beneficial effect on liver disease. Some animal studies have shown that milk thistle could be useful for reducing the side effects of cancer treatments ( 26, 27, 28). 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). It usually develops slowly over a number of years and causes weak and fragile bones that break easily, even after minor falls.

In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1). As a result, researchers suggest that milk thistle may be a useful therapy for preventing or delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women ( 24, 25). 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).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. 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). The seeds (fruit) of Milk Thistle are combined with four other important herbs used in healthcare for centuries – fresh extracts of Dandelion, Milk thistle is a safe supplement that shows potential as a complementary therapy for various conditions, including liver disease, cancer and diabetes.