Milk thistle is a plant renowned for its anti - inflammatory and antioxidant properties. For hundreds of years, this herb has been used to treat various diseases such as liver diseases and metabolic syndrome.

The botanical name of milk thistle is Silybum marianum. This flowering plant is also commonly known as Mary thistle, Holy thistle, Marian thistle, Wild artichoke, Blessed thistle, and St. Mary's thistle. It is native to Europe and can also be found in South and North America.

Although herbalists have been touting the health benefits of milk thistle for centuries, it is only in modern times that researchers have begun to deeply explore its positive impacts on health. Most of the current research focuses on silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle, which is regarded as the source of many of the plant's health benefits. However, the results of many studies are often mixed.

Although more research is still needed to conclusively confirm the benefits of milk thistle, it can indeed potentially contribute to health in the following ways. At the same time, there is some important information you need to know before taking milk thistle.

Dietary supplements are relatively less regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and their effects may vary from person to person, depending on many variables, including the type, dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with current medications. Therefore, it is essential to consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting to take any supplement.

Milk thistle is best - known for its liver - treating and - protecting effects. However, up to now, research on the effectiveness of milk thistle in treating liver diseases has had diverse conclusions, and sometimes the relevant research results have been criticized for being not rigorous enough.

Some studies show that milk thistle has promising potential in the treatment of non - alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a disease in which excessive fat accumulates in the liver due to reasons other than alcohol abuse. This disease affects about 20 - 30% of adults and is usually treated mainly through lifestyle changes such as weight loss. If left untreated, NAFLD may lead to liver complications and increase the risk of other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Due to its antioxidant effect, milk thistle may be beneficial for the treatment of NAFLD. Milk thistle may also be effective for NAFLD because it can reduce the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in people with this disease. Reducing the levels of these two liver enzymes (substances that accelerate chemical reactions in the body) may contribute to the treatment of NAFLD.

Research shows that milk thistle can reduce the liver enzyme levels of patients with other liver diseases, including viral infections such as hepatitis B and C, autoimmune - related liver diseases, and alcohol - related liver diseases. However, more research is needed to determine whether the degree of reduction in liver enzymes is clinically significant.

Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to many diseases and disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, allergies, and arthritis.

It is generally believed that milk thistle has anti - inflammatory properties. A 2015 study found that supplementing with milk thistle may help inhibit cellular inflammation. In addition, there are indications that milk thistle helps regulate cytokines, the proteins responsible for the body's inflammatory response.

Milk thistle may have strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or delay certain types of cell damage. The intake of antioxidants may reduce the risk of certain diseases.

A 2020 study found that milk thistle is a multi - functional compound that can be used to treat a variety of different diseases, including cancer, hepatitis, non - alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, depression, and heart disease. Based on their research results, the researchers speculated that the antioxidant properties of milk thistle make it a strong candidate for the treatment of such a wide range of diseases.

There is evidence that milk thistle can help treat metabolic syndrome, a group of diseases that increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Research has found that milk thistle extract (silymarin) helps to reduce blood sugar (glucose) levels, glycated hemoglobin (A1C, the average blood sugar level over the past three months), total cholesterol, triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood), and low - density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - all of which can prevent the effects of metabolic syndrome.

Milk thistle may help type 2 diabetes patients improve blood sugar control, that is, better manage blood sugar levels. An analysis of seven studies showed that after type 2 diabetes patients took milk thistle (either alone or with other ingredients) daily for six months, both fasting blood glucose and A1C decreased. The effect may be more significant in the first three months of use.

Some data also show that milk thistle can reduce insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels, both of which are beneficial for the control and prevention of diabetes.

Milk thistle can enhance the efficacy of anti - cancer drugs for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers. Milk thistle can also help slow the growth of cancer cells in diseases such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.

However, more research is needed to determine whether milk thistle can really effectively treat or prevent cancer.

For example, an earlier study found that in people with prostate cancer, the prostate - specific antigen level increased (indicating the presence of cancer) after taking milk thistle supplements daily for 10 weeks, but the increase occurred over a longer period. However, the milk thistle supplement contains other ingredients such as vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether it is only milk thistle that slows the growth of cancer.

At present, little is known about how milk thistle interacts with radiation therapy and other cancer treatments.

Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the death cap mushroom, is a type of mushroom that can cause liver failure, severe enough to lead to death. The death cap mushroom is one of the most poisonous mushrooms and is the main cause of most mushroom - poisoning - related deaths worldwide.

In Europe, milk thistle is used for intravenous injection to treat poisonous mushroom poisoning. Clinical trials are currently underway in the United States so that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can determine whether the same treatment method is safe and effective for use in the United States. Mushrooms are more common in California in the United States.

As a supplement, milk thistle is usually available in the form of capsules or pills. The seeds of the milk thistle plant contain its active ingredients, and the supplements are made from the extracts of these seeds.

Some people may also consume milk thistle directly. Its leaves can be used to make salads, and the fruits of its flowers can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee.

There is no specific recommended dosage for milk thistle. In the research over the past few decades, the most commonly used dosage of milk thistle extract was 140 milligrams (mg), three times a day, for up to four years.

At the same time, a 2019 review found that a daily dose of up to 700 mg of milk thistle, three times a day, for up to 24 weeks was safe and well - tolerated. Some of the reported side effects at this dosage include nausea and diarrhea.

The dosages recommended by different manufacturers vary greatly. Therefore, in addition to reading the product instructions, you should also consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dosage of milk thistle.

It should also be noted that the components of milk thistle extract may vary. These products are usually standardized according to their silymarin content, and the concentration is generally between 70% - 80%.

It is generally believed that milk thistle is safe even at relatively high doses. However, some people may have an allergic reaction to milk thistle, especially those who are allergic to other plants or flowers in the same family as milk thistle, such as daisies, ragweed, marigolds, or chrysanthemums.

There is currently no research on the use of silymarin in pregnant and lactating women, so it is recommended that these groups use it with caution.

There is currently no known drug or substance that absolutely cannot be taken with milk thistle. However, some drugs may theoretically interact with milk thistle. These include anti - diabetic drugs, because milk thistle can reduce blood sugar, and when combined with the effect of diabetes drugs, it may cause blood sugar to be too low.

At least one study has shown that the blood - thinning agent warfarin (sold under brand names such as Coumadin and Jantoven) has an enhanced blood - thinning effect when taken with milk thistle.

Other research results on potential drug interactions are mixed. Some studies show that cholesterol - lowering statin drugs and the HIV drug Crixivan (indinavir) are affected by milk thistle, while other studies show no effect.

Other drugs (such as estrogen therapy, the breast cancer treatment drug Nolvadex (tamoxifen), and the hepatitis C treatment drug Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)) may also theoretically interact with milk thistle. However, most of these interaction studies were conducted in animals or in test tubes.

Although potential drug interactions are largely considered theoretical, you should always consult your healthcare provider before taking supplements.

Herbal supplements like milk thistle are not regulated or approved by the FDA. Therefore, the components in capsules and tablets may vary, and you must be careful when purchasing milk thistle.

You should consider purchasing supplements that have been tested by third - party organizations, such as ConsumerLab or NSF International. These organizations have strict standards for the quality and safety of supplements.

You also need to consider in what form to take milk thistle. You may need to note that a 2013 study found that whole milk thistle grains and whole seeds are more susceptible to fungal contamination than capsules, liquid extracts, or tea bags.

Research has found that milk thistle is still safe when taken at higher doses, multiple times a day, and for a long period.

However, when taking a higher dose (such as 1,500 mg per day), allergic reactions are more likely to occur. When taking a higher dose, adverse side effects such as diarrhea are also more likely to occur.

The most common side effects of milk thistle are usually gastrointestinal reactions, which are relatively mild and may include diarrhea, abdominal distension, flatulence, and nausea.

Some people may also experience headaches and skin reactions such as hives or rashes.

Severe side effects are rare. It has been reported that some people have had anaphylactic shock (a life - threatening allergic reaction).

Milk thistle is a herbal supplement that may have a variety of health benefits. It is believed that the benefits of milk thistle mainly come from its active ingredient, silymarin. Milk thistle has anti - inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may be helpful in treating diseases such as liver diseases, diabetes, and even cancer. Milk thistle is generally well - tolerated and is generally considered safe. However, since milk thistle is not regulated by the FDA and it is not clear whether it will interact with other substances or drugs, you must consult your healthcare provider before taking milk thistle.