Milk Thistle for Liver Health: Benefits & Silymarin Explained

Milk thistle is an annual plant that grows in Europe and parts of America and has been used medicinally for more than 2,000 years. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help protect the liver. Milk thistle is commonly used as an antidote that protects the liver when toxic mushrooms are ingested.

Components

• Silymarin is the active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin is a flavonoid--a compound from a plant that has antioxidant and biochemical benefits--composed of silidianin, silibinin, and silicristin.

Benefits

• In addition to toxic mushroom poisoning, milk thistle can be beneficial for cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis.

Expert Insight

• According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, milk thistle can prevent liver damage for someone using acetaminophen on a regular basis.

Dosage

• The most convenient way to take milk thistle is in a capsule, but it is available as a tincture or a tea. Holistic Online recommends taking 420 mgs of milk thistle that is standardized to contain at least 70 percent silymarin daily.

Side Effects

• Milk thistle is usually safe for everyone, but might cause diarrhea or headaches for the first few days of use. Even pregnant women can take milk thistle, and it is a good herb for stimulating breast milk production postpartum.