Milk thistle: Discover its healing properties!

Milk thistle (silymarin) is a flowering herb associated with the daisy and ragweed family. The seeds are mainly used from its flowers that are collected in summer when they are completely dry. Thistle seeds contain about 65% -80% silymarin, which is its main active ingredient.

According to tradition, the white dots on its leaves are due to the milk of the Virgin Mary that dripped while breastfeeding Christ and that is why it is also called Milk thistle (thorn with milk) or Mary thistle (thorn of Mary).

Milk thistle is used as a natural remedy in various health conditions. But are there any scientifically proven properties of the herb?

Milk thistle and properties

Dioskouridis, an important Greek physician and botanist, from the year 40 A.D. described for the first time the healing properties of milk thistle.

Below are four possible beneficial properties of the herb for human health.

1. Supports liver health

Milk thistle can help the liver function properly. To be precise, it has been traditionally used in liver lesions and specifically in fatty liver filtration of non-alcoholic etiology, leading to reduced levels of transaminases (liver enzymes) in the body.

Let’s see in more detail how it works. It is true that the various toxins we take in from the intestinal tract end up passing through the liver first. Studies have shown that taking thistle increased levels of glutathione (an antioxidant enzyme) in liver cells, thereby reducing the oxidative stress that is the leading cause of hepatotoxicity [12], [13].

2. Promotes skin health

It has been suggested that oxidative stress in the body may play a key role in the development of acne.

Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, milk thistle can be a useful dietary supplement for people with acne. In particular, one study found that people with acne who took 210 mg of silymarin a day for 8 weeks had a 53% reduction in acne damage [14].

Thistle can maintain healthy skin. However, further research is needed on the benefits that a person can expect from applying milk thistle to their skin.

3. Lowers cholesterol

High cholesterol levels can lead to heart problems but also increase the chance of a stroke.

A 2006 study found that milk thistle can play an important role in keeping cholesterol low. Cholesterol levels were found to be lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than in those taking placebo [5].

4. Helps control and prevent diabetes

According to the US National Institutes of Health, milk thistle can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Even so, people with diabetes need to be careful [7].

One of the compounds in milk thistle has been found to work in a similar way to some drugs traditionally used for diabetes, helping to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar [8].

In fact, the results of a recent review and analysis showed that people taking silymarin regularly had a significant reduction in fasting sugar levels and HbA1c, a measure of blood sugar control [9].

Dosage

Milk can be easily found in various forms, such as dried leaves, powder, liquid form but also as a key ingredient in many dietary supplements.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends taking 300mg-600mg  of milk thistle two or three times a day.

Are there any foods that contain thistle?

Its seeds and leaves are often chosen for consumption as ingredients in various salads. Of course, there are no food sources for this herb.

How to make milk thistle tea

Milk thistle tea can easily be made at home. It is available in the market in the form of seeds or tea bags.

You can use a tea bag or 1 teaspoon of dried herb leaves in 1 cup (237 ml) of hot water for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can add 1 teaspoon of dried seeds to a cup of boiling water for 15-20 minutes.

Drinking tea is recommended up to 3 times a day.

Milk thistle and side effects

Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken orally as a dietary supplement [2].

In studies that used high doses of the herb for long periods of time, only about 1% of people experienced side effects [2].

Thistle can cause:

• Gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and bloating)
• Itch
• Headache

There are groups of people who need to be very careful when taking it. Some of them are:

• Pregnant women: There is no data on its safety in pregnant women, so it is usually advisable to avoid this supplement.
• Those who are allergic to the plant: Thistle can cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to the Asteraceae / Compositae plant family.
• People with diabetes: The effects of thistle on lowering blood sugar can put people with diabetes at risk for low blood sugar.
• Those who have certain conditions: Thistle can have estrogenic effects, which can worsen hormone-sensitive conditions.

At Vita4you.gr you will find a wide variety of supplements with milk thistle!

References

1. Silymarin improved diet-induced liver damage and insulin resistance by decreasing inflammation in mice
2. Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future
3. Potent inhibitory effect of silibinin from milk thistle on skin inflammation stimuli by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
4. The active natural anti-oxidant properties of chamomile, milk thistle, and halophilic bacterial components in human skin in vitro
5. The efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (silymarin) in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial
6. Silymarin improved diet-induced liver damage and insulin resistance by decreasing inflammation in mice
7. Milk Thistle
8. The therapeutic potential of milk thistle in diabetes
9. Silymarin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
10. Antiosteoclastic Activity of Milk Thistle Extract after Ovariectomy to Suppress Estrogen Deficiency-Induced Osteoporosis
11. Clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of BIO-C (micronized Silymarin) as a galactagogue
12. The therapeutic effect of silymarin in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty disease: A meta-analysis (PRISMA) of randomized control trials
13. Effect of silymarin on biochemical indicators in patients with liver disease: Systematic review with meta-analysis
14. Effects of Oral Antioxidants on Lesion Counts Associated with Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Patients with Papulopustular Acne