How does milk thistle repair the liver?

The active ingredient -- the one that protects the liver -- in milk thistle is known as silymarin, a chemical extracted from the seeds. Silymarin is actually a group of flavonoids (silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin), which are thought to help repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances.

How long does it take for milk thistle to help the liver?

Early research shows that taking milk thistle extract by mouth for up to one year, or taking a product containing the milk thistle constituent silybin plus phosphatidylcholine by mouth for 1 week, improves liver function tests. But other research shows no benefit.

Is milk thistle good for liver repair?

Medical research on milk thistle and liver health has led to mixed results. Studies show that silymarin may help ease inflammation and promote cell repair. This may help ease symptoms from liver diseases like jaundice, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and fatty liver disease.

What happens if you take milk thistle everyday?

Milk thistle is generally considered safe for most people at dosages up to 420 mg 3 times a day. However, it may cause allergic reactions, such as itching, headaches, and joint pain, or gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or diarrhea.

How much milk thistle for liver repair?

The available forms of Milk thistle are capsules, tablet, tincture and intravenous solution. Adult dosage in terms of hepatoprotection is 420 mg/day of extract (standardized to 70-80% silymarin) three times a day for 6-8 weeks. Maintenance dose is 280 mg/day.

Detox & Repair your Liver with Milk Thistle | The Frugal Chef

Can milk thistle reverse liver damage?

Milk thistle is often suggested as a treatment for alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, but scientific studies show mixed results. Most studies show milk thistle improves liver function and increases survival in people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis.

What should you not take with milk thistle?

How long does it take milk thistle to work in your body?

How Long Does Milk Thistle Take to Work. There isn't an exact science behind this, but generally it can take around 3 to 4 months before someone will see any benefits of milk thistle on their health, and this is after daily intake of some form of milk thistle.

What is the best time to take milk thistle?

For Milk thistle, using it on an empty stomach (at least 15 minutes before food) makes it work faster than after meals. If the person has a very sensitive liver and tend to over-react it is a very good idea to take it after meals to buffer reactions.

Does milk thistle detox your body?

Milk thistle (Silymarin marianum) is a well-known herbal therapeutic commonly used for liver support. It supports detoxification through enhancing liver as well as kidney and pancreatic function.

What are the negative side effects of milk thistle?

Does milk thistle reduce liver inflammation?

Milk thistle helps stop oxidative stress and free radical damage in the liver. Research shows milk thistle restores damaged cells. Silymarin also protects the liver against damage from alcohol and some prescription drugs. Many people believe the liver needs no help and detoxes itself.

How much milk thistle should I take per day for fatty liver?

Milk thistle is marketed as capsules or tablets containing ethanol extracted silymarin in amounts of 250 to 750 mg and is purported to be beneficial for liver disease, including alcoholic and viral liver disease. The daily dosage varies but it is typically taken 2 to 3 times daily.

How many times a week should you take milk thistle?

Supplement Dosage

Although there is no standardized milk thistle dosage at this time, most people do best consuming between 20–300 milligrams daily. If you're taking milk thistle for the liver, the recommended daily intake of milk thistle is 150 milligrams, taken one to three times daily.

What does milk thistle do after drinking?

Studies on silymarin suggest that it may detoxify some of the harmful compounds in alcohol, thus protecting your liver. Plus, it acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing harmful free radicals that are produced as your body metabolizes alcohol ( 4 ).

How many times a day should you take milk thistle?

Dosage and side effects

Milk thistle supplements, for reference, are tolerated at doses of up to 700 mg, 3 times per day for 24 weeks ( 1 ). Possible side effects of the plant include stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea ( 1 ).

Can I drink alcohol while taking milk thistle?

Do not consume alcohol while you are taking silymarin, the active compound in milk thistle. While there is no specific interaction between this nutritional supplement and alcohol, the primary reason people take silymarin is to protect the liver and help it repair itself.

Can you overdo milk thistle?

Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label. Do not use different forms (tablets, liquid, extract, teas, etc) of milk thistle at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose.

Does milk thistle increase estrogen?

Milk thistle might decrease the effects of medications providing estrogen by blocking how estrogen works in the body.

Does milk thistle affect sleep?

Sleep quality also improves. The effect of taking milk thistle by itself is not known. Multiple sclerosis. Early research suggests that taking a combination supplement containing silymarin, a chemical found in milk thistle, can improve mental function and promote disease stabilization in people with multiple sclerosis.

What is better than milk thistle for liver?

Like milk thistle, artichoke leaf contains the important flavonoid silymarin. Silymarin is best known for its abilities in protecting the liver. Artichoke leaf also contributes to overall health and welling by helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels in people at risk of coronary heart disease.

Is it worth taking milk thistle?

Reduces cholesterol

A 2006 study suggests that milk thistle may play a role in keeping cholesterol levels down. It found that cholesterol levels were lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than those taking a placebo. In a 2016 study , researchers fed rats a high-cholesterol diet.

Is turmeric or milk thistle good for liver?

This delicious spice also helps to relieve digestive discomfort and relieves symptoms of gas and indigestion. It can also support our liver through reducing oxidative stress in the body.

Does milk thistle lower AST and ALT?

Since then, a number of systematic reviews & meta-analysis of experimental studies on milk thistle supplementation have been completed. These include: A 2021 paper out of the Nutrition journal which concluded that silymarin was effective at reducing transaminase (liver enzymes AST, ALT) levels in people with NAFLD.

What organs does milk thistle help?

Historically, people have used milk thistle for liver disorders and gallbladder problems. Milk thistle is promoted as a dietary supplement for hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, diabetes, indigestion, and other conditions.