Milk thistle is an herb that can be a really helpful option for many people. Its traditional uses for liver health have been clinically proven. A large body of research is also building to show that milk thistle helps with many kinds of health issues, including gut health, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and more.
While most research regarding the use of milk thistle and gut health is indirect, there are many reasons that it can help you feel better.
In this post, learn about how milk thistle may help with gut health, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), liver issues, PCOS, diabetes, and much more. Also, learn how to use this healing herb.
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Table of Contents
What is Milk Thistle?
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a plant, also known as silymarin, that is a member of the aster family. This plant family also include daisies, artichokes, common thistles, and kiwi as well. Silymarin has been used for thousands of years as a liver remedy, a gallbladder remedy, and even used to support kidney health.
Rich in antioxidants, milk thistle helps protect many tissues in the body. Its most well-known antioxidant is called silybin.
Traditionally used for mood swings and depression, some research shows that milk thistle supports brain health and memory as well.
Fascinatingly, milk thistle even has sun-protective effects from harmful UV rays, may be protective for kidneys, reduces diabetes symptoms, and improves cholesterol. It may even help prevent certain kinds of cancers and heart disease.
Another interesting fact about milk thistle is that it may reduce the toxicity of accidentally ingested death cap mushrooms.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the health benefits of milk thistle.
Overview of IBS symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by symptoms of having bowel movements that are slow to pass, difficult to pass, gas, and infrequent bowel movements. IBS can also cause diarrhea as well, or symptoms of diarrhea alternating with constipation symptoms. One way to help care for your IBS symptoms is by choosing herbs that help reduce inflammation like milk thistle.
Why Milk Thistle Can Help IBS and Gut Issues
Much research has demonstrated that milk thistle is a safe and effective treatment for many liver issues. Anything that helps the liver also tends to help digestive function. For example, the liver is responsible for making bile, which helps the gut absorb fat, vitamins, and minerals, and even remove toxins from the body.
Milk thistle also has IBS benefits because of its antioxidant functions. It is also well-known to support both gallbladder and liver function. Most people who take milk thistle also reap the benefits of improved digestion and reduced IBS symptoms.
While there is no direct research about IBS and milk thistle, countless people feel better from their bouts of IBS when taking milk thistle. Milk thistle helps many people reduce gas and bloating as well. This healing herb may reduce IBS symptoms by balancing the microbiome and supporting a healthy gallbladder too.
Other herbs that are good for reducing IBS symptoms include licorice root, fennel seeds, peppermint, and marshmallow root.
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Like many herbal remedies, milk thistle can help make the bowels more regular. Many people who take milk thistle supplements or drink milk thistle tea are rewarded with better bowel regularity.
Milk thistle also helps to improve antioxidant levels and reduce inflammation in the intestines according to early research.
Milk Thistle for Liver Health
A healthy liver is critical for a healthy digestive system and to cleanse the body of toxins. Milk thistle is a common home remedy for liver health. There is also a striking amount of research that supports the use of milk thistle in preventing and treating certain kinds of liver diseases. It may even reduce the formation of fibroids and liver fibrosis.
Many people report that their liver pain is reduced by using milk thistle as well.
In total, 8 clinical research studies show that milk thistle improves liver function tests in people suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease according to a recent meta-analysis study. People with diabetes, using milk thistle supplements, also have improvements in their liver function tests as well. These tests include AST, SGOT, and SGPT liver tests.
People suffering from alcoholic liver disease may also benefit from milk thistle. Most studies show that liver enzymes improve when using milk thistle. It may even improve survival from end-stage liver disease. Another reason that milk thistle helps liver function is that it helps improve blood sugar levels and reduce triglyceride levels in the blood.
Milk Thistle Helps Reduce Cholesterol Levels
Milk thistle health benefits also extend to heart benefits and cholesterol levels.
It is one of the natural remedies that is also proven by clinical research studies. For example, one recent study showed that milk thistle reduced LDL cholesterol levels while significantly improving good cholesterol (HDL). Not surprisingly, milk thistle also reduces blood levels of fat in the blood called triglycerides.
Milk Thistle Helps with Managing Diabetes
One of the reasons that milk thistle helps so many things is that it is so rich in antioxidants.
Taking milk thistle may help reduce blood sugar levels, and insulin levels, while also reducing insulin resistance in people with Type 2 diabetes. For example, a review study with over 1300 people concluded that milk thistle reduced hemoglobin A1C levels. It also reduced insulin levels, reduced insulin resistance, and improved cholesterol levels in people with diabetes mellitus. Milk thistle reduced hemoglobin A1C by an impressive 2 points overall in this study.
Milk thistle improves blood antioxidant levels in people with diabetes, including glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels. When combined with a healthy diet, milk thistle undoubtedly has a huge impact on reducing the symptoms of diabetes. By helping reduce diabetes complications, milk thistle may also protect the body from kidney disease, although more research is needed in this area.
Milk Thistle for PCOS
One of the reasons people struggle with PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is because their bodies can mount an excessive inflammatory response. Milk thistle is a great remedy for inflammation.
Herbal medicines like milk thistle can also help reduce symptoms of PCOS. This is because it has beneficial effects on blood glucose levels. Its antioxidant effects also help increase fertility rates. Some research even shows that herbal medicines like milk thistle help improve reproductive hormone levels in people with PCOS symptoms. However, milk thistle doesn’t seem to result in weight loss for people with PCOS.
Milk Thistle for Diarrhea?
While no research specifically has looked at the benefits of milk thistle for diarrhea, many people report improved bowel regularity when using this herbal remedy. Many people also say their stomachs feel better with less acid reflux and indigestion. Silymarin may even help reduce gas and bloating according to reviewers.
Other herbs for IBS diarrhea include licorice root, blackberry leaves, and red raspberry leaves.
Milk Thistle for Skin Health
Rich in antioxidants called silybins, milk thistle helps reduce the effects of sun-damaging UV radiation on skin cells according to several studies [R, R, R].
Antioxidant-rich herbs like milk thistle can help support healthy hair too. Protecting the hair from sun damage may help your hair. Milk thistle also reduces inflammation in the body. While no research has specifically looked at the benefits of milk thistle for healthy hair growth, it certainly can’t hurt.
Milk Thistle for Reducing Menopause Symptoms
Women going through menopause often struggle with hot flashes and many other symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and weight gain. Luckily, milk thistle also helps reduce hot flashes symptoms in women who are struggling with these symptoms. The beneficial effects were seen as early as 4 weeks and continued for the duration of the research trial, indicating that milk thistle is truly effective for menopausal symptoms.
Milk Thistle for Brain Health
Anything that helps reduce the ravages of diabetes likely also helps the brain, and milk thistle is no exception. Early research shows that milk thistle has neuroprotective effects and may stimulate nerve growth.
Silymarin reduces the development of amyloid-beta plaques in early research. These plaques are seen as part of the cause of Alzheimer’s disease as well. Milk thistle even dampens the genes that cause the production of these plaques. People with Alzheimer’s disease also have low levels of a compound called acetylcholine. Milk thistle may help increase acetylcholine in the brain.
Not surprisingly, milk thistle also protects the brain by reducing the damage of oxidative stress and reducing inflammation of nerves.
Milk Thistle Side Effects
Using milk thistle is overall very safe and research even shows it is safe during pregnancy and lactation.
However, people who have allergies to thistles, daisies, artichokes, or kiwis may have sensitivity to milk thistles as well. If you suspect you are allergic or sensitive to milk thistle you should avoid it.
Generally speaking, milk thistle likely helps reduce airway inflammation because of its antioxidant effects on the lungs, so it is usually safe for most people.
Some people experience a mild laxative effect when using milk thistle, but reviewers predominantly state that their gut function improves rather than worsens with its use.
If you are on prescription medications, make sure to ask your doctor or healthcare provider before supplementing milk thistle.
Summary of Milk Thistle Health Benefits
Milk thistle is a traditional herb that has been used for thousands of years and research now proves that it also has powerful health benefits.
Its use for IBS is helpful for so many people. Silymarin may help the whole body because it reduces inflammation, is rich in antioxidants, helps liver function, and has profound benefits for people who have diabetes.
Good for skin, hair, brain function, and hormonal issues, milk thistle is an herb that you may want to try.
How to Use Milk Thistle
Milk thistle supplements are often given in doses of 140 mg three times daily in research. Supplemental doses of 200-600 mg per day total, usually divided into smaller doses, are used. You should know that milk thistle is fat-soluble so it is best to take milk thistle supplements with meals. Some people make tea out of milk thistle, but it is only effective if it is consumed with a meal with fat in it.
The information on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider, preferably a healthcare provider with extensive training in food and nutrition, before changing your health regimen.
My personal experience with Milk Thistle: I am a type II diabetic with hypothyroidism, high colesterol, NAFLD, and peripheral neuropathy weighing 225 lbs. This supplement has brought my raging blood glucose down over 200 points. It was running between 400-500 every day. Now, after a 30+ day milk thistle regiment, it’s running under 200 withOUT diabetic medications. Then I use my insulin to bring my BG the rest of the way down to the normal range between 120-80.
However, I have experienced very painful symptoms of IBS since taking this supplement. I’ve narrowed it down to the thistle by pausing my regiment for 5 days where my IBS symptoms eased substantially, but then flared back up immediately after resuming my thistle regiment.
I am so impressed with the results on my diabetes, and hopeful that it resolves my fatty liver issues, that I’m looking for a way to resolve the IBS and continue the milk thistle treatment. Any suggestions? I’m currently treating the IBS with Dicyclomine, but want to find a homeopathic treatment instead.