Description
What is milk thistle?
Milk thistle is a flowering plant that comes from the same family of plants as the daisy. It grows in Mediterranean countries and is used to make natural remedies.
The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin. Milk thistle is also known as Mary thistle or holy thistle. It is mainly used to treat liver problems, but some people claim it can lower cholesterol and help manage type 2 diabetes.
The potential health benefits of milk thistle are explored below.
- Boosts immune system
Milk thistle may help strengthen a person’s immune response and help them fight off infection. A 2016 study on an animal model found that milk thistle extract improved the immunity when consumed. An older study found that milk thistle extract had a positive effect on immune response in humans. More studies with human participants are needed before scientists can say with certainty that milk thistle boosts a person’s immune system.
- Improves cognition
A 2015 study found that milk thistle increased resistance to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a potential cause of Alzheimer’s disease. In this way, milk thistle may help improve cognition and treat degenerative conditions that affect the mind. More research on humans is needed to confirm the effects of milk thistle on cognition.
- Supports Liver Health
One of the most common uses of milk thistle is to treat liver problems. A 2016 study found that milk thistle improved diet-induced liver damage in mice. More evidence is needed to prove that milk thistle benefits human livers in the same way.
However, researchers theorize that it does. The active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production. Scientists think this creates a detoxifying effect, which is why it is milk thistle may be beneficial for liver problems. Until more research is carried out, however, milk thistle is not recommended as the primary treatment option for liver problems but it may be a helpful complementary treatment to try.
- Promotes skin health
Milk thistle oil may be used topically to improve skin health.Milk thistle may help to promote healthy skin. A 2015 study found that milk thistle helped improve inflammatory skin conditions when applied to the skin of mice. Milk thistle was also found to have antioxidant and anti-aging effects on human skin cells in a laboratory environment in another study.Further research on humans is needed to identify what benefits a person can expect from applying milk thistle to their skin.
- Reduces insulin resistance
A study on mice found milk thistle extract helped to reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a problem for people with type 2 diabetes. Although this research suggests milk thistle could play a role in diabetes management, more research is needed to confirm whether milk thistle reduces insulin resistance and supports diabetes management.
- Supports weight loss
Initial animal research conducted in 2016 found that silymarin caused weight loss in mice that were fed a diet intended to cause weight gain. This suggests milk thistle may be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. More research into the effects of milk thistle on weight loss in humans is needed to confirm this.
- Supports bone health
Milk thistle tea may help to prevent bone loss caused by a lack of estrogen.
Milk thistle may play an essential role in supporting bone health. A 2013 study found that milk thistle helped to prevent bone loss. The study looked specifically at bone loss caused by a deficiency in estrogen. It is not yet clear whether milk thistle is equally beneficial for bone loss with a different cause. Further studies are needed before it is safe to conclude that milk thistle supports bone health in humans.
- Improves allergic asthma symptoms
The active ingredient in milk thistle can help to reduce inflammation. A 2012 study found that silymarin helped to protect against inflammation in the airways of mice with allergic asthma. More research is needed to see if silymarin benefits asthma symptoms in humans.
- Reduces cholesterol
High cholesterol can lead to problems with heart health and increase a person’s chance of stroke. A 2006 study suggests milk thistle may play an important role keeping cholesterol levels down. It was found that cholesterol levels were lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than those taking a placebo.
- Limits the spread of cancer
Milk thistle may help to stop the spread of certain types of cancer. A 2016 review found that milk thistle extract inhibited the growth of cancerous cells in colorectal cancer. More research is needed to determine how milk thistle may be used to help fight cancer.
