Milk Thistle

Parts Used & Where Grown

Milk thistle is commonly found growing wild in a variety of settings, including roadsides. The dried fruit (also called achenes) are used to produce modern herbal extracts.

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a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

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This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for	Amount	Why
Alcohol Withdrawal	420 to 600 mg of silymarin daily	Though not a treatment for withdrawl symptoms, milk thistle extract is commonly recommended to counteract the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver, as this herb speeds the regeneration of injured liver cells.
Alcohol Withdrawal 420 to 600 mg of silymarin daily Milk thistle extract is commonly recommended to counteract the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver.¹ Milk thistle extracts have been shown in one double-blind study to reduce death due to alcohol-induced cirrhosis of the liver,² though another double-blind study did not confirm this finding.³ Milk thistle extract may protect the cells of the liver by both blocking the entrance of harmful toxins and helping remove these toxins from the liver cells.⁴^{, 5} Milk thistle has also been reported to regenerate injured liver cells.⁶ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Hepatitis	420 mg of silymarin daily	Supplementing with milk thistle may support the liver.
Hepatitis 420 mg of silymarin daily Silymarin, the flavonoid extracted from milk thistle, has been studied for treating all types of liver disease. The standard amount used in most trials has delivered 420 mg of silymarin per day. For acute hepatitis, double-blind trials have shown mixed results.⁷ ^{, 8} A preparation of silymarin and phosphatidylcholine was reported to help sufferers of chronic viral hepatitis. One small preliminary trial found that at least 420 mg of silymarin was necessary each day.⁹ A controlled trial found that silymarin decreased liver damage.¹⁰ One trial has suggested that silymarin may be more effective for hepatitis B as opposed to hepatitis C.¹¹ Recent findings have shown that silymarin has the ability to block fibrosis, a process that contributes to the eventual development of cirrhosis in persons with inflammatory liver conditions secondary to alcohol abuse or hepatitis.¹² While there are no published clinical trials in people with hepatitis C to date, this action makes milk thistle extract potentially attractive as a supportive treatment for the condition—particularly for those that have not responded to standard drug therapy. The effectiveness of silymarin (particularly its antifibrotic actions) needs to be studied in larger numbers of persons with hepatitis C to determine whether it is an effective treatment for this condition. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Liver Cirrhosis	420 mg of silymarin daily	Supplementing with milk thistle may protect liver cells and improve function.
Liver Cirrhosis 420 mg of silymarin daily An extract of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) that is high in a flavonoid compound known as silymarin may improve liver function and increase survival in people with cirrhosis. Clinical trials have shown that silymarin (420–600 mg per day) improves liver function tests and protects liver cells against oxidative damage in people with alcohol-related liver disease.¹³ ^{, 14} ^{, 15} ^{, 16} However, evidence is conflicting regarding the ability of silymarin to prolong survival of people with liver cirrhosis. In one double-blind trial, a significant increase in survival was found in people with cirrhosis who were given 140 mg of silymarin three times a day for approximately two years.¹⁷ Positive results were also found in a 12-month controlled study of adults with diabetes and alcoholic liver cirrhosis taking the same daily amount of silymarin.¹⁸ However, another double-blind trial found that 150 mg of silymarin three times a day for two years had no significant effect on survival among alcoholics with liver cirrhosis.¹⁹ For people with chronic liver disease, milk thistle extract may be taken long-term. Milk thistle extracts containing 80% silymarin are commercially available and may be taken in amounts that deliver 420 mg of silymarin per day. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Type 2 Diabetes	200 mg per day of silymarin	Supplementing with silymarin (a component of milk thistle) may help lower blood sugar levels.
Type 2 Diabetes 200 mg per day of silymarin In a double-blind trial, supplementation with 200 mg per day of silymarin (a component of milk thistle) three times per day for four months significantly lowered blood sugar levels compared with a placebo in patients who were taking a blood sugar–lowering drug (glibenclamide).²⁰ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Gallstones	Refer to label instructions	Milk thistle extracts in capsules or tablets may be beneficial in preventing gallstones.
Gallstones Milk thistle extracts in capsules or tablets may be beneficial in preventing gallstones. In one study, silymarin (the active component of milk thistle) reduced cholesterol levels in bile,²¹ which is one important way to reduce gallstone formation. People in the study took 420 mg of silymarin per day. Learn More

Traditional Use (May Not Be Supported by Scientific Studies)

Medical use of milk thistle can be traced back more than 2,000 years. Nicholas Culpeper, the well-known 17th-century pharmacist, cited its use for opening “obstructions” of the liver and spleen and recommended it for the treatment of jaundice.

Also indexed as:

botanicals,
Carduus marianus,
herbal dietary supplements,
herbal medicine,
herbal remedies,
herbal therapy,
herbalism,
milk thistle,
plant Medicine,
Silybum marianum

About this treatment

Common names:

Holy Thistle, Marian Thistle, Marythistle, Silymarin, St. Mary’s Thistle, Thistle

Botanical names:

Carduus marianus, Silybum marianum

How It Works

The dried fruit of milk thistle contain a flavonoid complex known as silymarin. This constituent is responsible for the medical benefits of the plant. Silymarin is made up of three parts: silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin. Silibinin is the most active and is largely responsible for the benefits attributed to silymarin.

Milk thistle extract may protect the cells of the liver by blocking the entrance of harmful toxins and helping remove these toxins from the liver cells. As with other bioflavonoids, silymarin is a powerful antioxidant. Silymarin has also been shown to regenerate injured liver cells. Recent studies have shown that silymarin has the ability to block fibrosis, a process that contributes to the eventual development of cirrhosis in people with inflammatory liver conditions secondary to diseases such as alcohol abuse or hepatitis.

Milk thistle extract is most commonly recommended to counteract the harmful actions of alcohol on the liver. Double-blind trials indicate that it helps the liver return to a healthy state once a person stops drinking. Some trials suggest it may improve quality of life and even life expectancy in people with liver cirrhosis. However, another trial found no effect in cirrhosis patients. Milk thistle alters bile makeup, thereby potentially reducing risk of gallstones. However, this needs to be verified by human clinical trials. Milk thistle extract has been shown to protect the liver from the potentially damaging effect of drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis. However, one trial found that it did not protect the liver from the potentially harmful effects of the drug Cognex (tacrine hydrochloride) used to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Use It

For liver disease and impaired liver function, research suggests the use of 420–600 mg of silymarin per day from an herbal extract of milk thistle standardized to 80% silymarin content. According to research and clinical experience, improvement should be noted in about eight to twelve weeks. For people with chronic liver disease, milk thistle extract may be considered a long-term therapy.

For those who prefer, 12–15 grams of milk thistle dried fruits can be ground and eaten or made into a tea. This should not be considered therapeutic for conditions of the liver, however.

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Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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