There's limited evidence, though, for the role of milk thistle in bone health. 7 Science-Based Benefits of Milk Thistle - Healthline You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. Would you like email updates of new search results? Milk thistle is currently used for the treatment of toxin-induced liver injury, for its inhibition of progressive hepatic fibrosis and the prevention of cirrhosis, for its antifibrogenic effects in alcohol-induced cirrhosis and for modulation of insulin resistance. The information and products shown on this website should not be interpreted as a substitute for physician evaluation or treatment. Also notable is the fact that, of the 40 subjects that completed this trial, none had any adverse events or side effects with milk thistle supplementation (7). Milk thistle can cause: Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating Itchiness Headache If you have diabetes, use milk thistle with caution, since the supplement might lower blood sugar. Luckily, more and more experts are turning to natural remedies to answer that question and circumvent the litany of side effects. ODS seeks to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, supporting research, sharing research results, and educating the public. Large-scale, properly-designed studies are needed. Milk thistle is not recommended for children. To ensure quality and potency in your herbal remedies, why not grow your own? JAMA. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on April 1, 2020. If you or anyone you know is living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), proclaiming the symptoms of this mood disorder as debilitating is a vast understatement. Silymarin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Milk thistle. Effect of silymarin (milk thistle) on liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C unsuccessfully treated with interferon therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs: Milk thistle., Natural Standard Patient Monograph: Milk thistle.. . Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements. IBM Micromedex. Milk Thistle Benefits - Verywell Health A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is said to have certain health benefits, including liver health, diabetes management, cancer treatment, and more. Milk thistle and its antioxidant properties are promising in managing OCD symptoms but it may also be beneficial to explore other herbs for OCD treatment to bolster and round out a supplement regimen. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that's changing medicine. Milk thistle has long been utilized as an anti-inflammatory agent offering numerous benefits to our liver, cholesterol, cardiovascular health, menopause symptom relief, and even gallbladder disorders. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH. Therefore, it may be best to avoid milk thistle during these life stages. By Brittany Lubeck, RD Silibinin significantly attenuated anxiety/depression-like behaviors caused by A1-42-treatment as shown in tail suspension test (TST), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming tests (FST). Milk thistle is an herbal remedy derived from the milk thistle plant, also known as Silybum marianum. It's typically recommended to avoid taking multiple supplements for the same cause at the same time. Wanting to take Milk Thistle and Curcumin to alleviate OCD, Depression N-Acetylcysteine Liu HY, Wei HJ, Wu L, Liu SM, Tang YY, Zou W, Wang CY, Zhang P, Tang XQ. The therapeutic potential of milk thistle in diabetes. However, this review also noted that the quality of the studies was not very high, so more studies are needed before its possible to make any firm recommendations (44). People with diabetes often have high cholesterol. This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Milk thistle is promoted as a dietary supplement for hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, diabetes, indigestion, and other conditions. And although milk thistle extract is commonly used as a complementary therapy for people with liver diseases, theres currently no evidence that it can prevent you from getting these conditions, especially if you have an unhealthy lifestyle. Some people are advised to be cautious when taking milk thistle. Taken in appropriate doses, oral use of milk thistle appears to be safe. Milk thistle has been shown in experimental test-tube and animal studies to stimulate bone mineralization and potentially be protective against bone loss (22, 23). Milk thistle benefits: Liver, skin, cholesterol, weight loss, and more Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The best doses of milk thistle have not been established for any condition it may be used to treat. The .gov means its official. New Treatments That May Change the Game, The Latest Research on Advanced Prostate Cancer. Silymarin as supportive treatment in liver diseases: a narrative review. and transmitted securely. Milk thistle is a flowering herb native to Europe but is also found in parts of the United States, Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America. 2016 Jul;41(7):1662-72. doi: 10.1007/s11064-016-1881-5. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with While milk thistle is considered a noxious weed in various parts of the United States, it has little oral consumption value and is best absorbed in tablet or capsule supplement form, but can also be consumed as a tea or oral tincture. 2017 Apr;42(4):1073-1083. doi: 10.1007/s11064-016-2141-4. Multiple Myeloma vs. Leukemia: What Are the Differences? This makes it very hard to establish a standard dose. In: Textbook of Natural Medicine. Milk thistle is thought to be safe for most people, but precautions should be taken as side effects are possible. Adv Ther. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. 2016;5147468. doi:10.1155/2016/5147468. In test-tube and animal studies, silymarin has been shown to prevent oxidative damage to brain cells, which could help prevent mental decline (16, 17). When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating. 5 Brain Supporting Supplements Youll Want In Your Medicine, According to the International OCD Foundation, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), UltraThistle, the highest potency milk thistle formula, Review on the Chemistry and Neuroprotective Effects of Silymarin. However, the studies in humans are very limited and have yet to show a meaningful clinical effect in people (32, 33, 34, 35, 36).