Milk Thistle Detox to Support the Liver and Kidneys

Milk thistle is sometimes used as part of a detox program to help support the liver and kidneys. Milk thistle detox supplements are often promoted as anti-hangover pills and recommended for use following alcohol consumption.

This natural extract is also an ingredient in a number of cleanse formulations designed to promote weight loss and support general health. How does Milk thistle actually work and can it really promote detoxification in the liver?

Milk thistle is the common name for the plant Silybum marianum, which has been used in traditional medicine practice for millennia.

For example, Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use milk thistle as a tonic to enhance the performance of the liver and gallbladder. One of the first recorded uses of milk thistle dates back to Ancient Greece where it was used to treat poisonous snakebites.

Milk Thistle

Herbal Supplement

Liver Health

Detox

Longevity

How It Works:

• Supports liver health & detox
• Anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory properties
• Improves insulin sensitivity & cholesterol

Dosage:

Between 140 - 800 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Milk Thistle Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Milk Thistle Detox Review

Today, milk thistle is used for a variety of indications, many of which relate to detoxifying the liver, gallbladder and kidneys. It is used for toxic liver damage caused by alcohol or cancer treatments, diabetes, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, biliary colic (gallstone pains) and chronic disease of the liver.

It is also commonly taken during periods of alcohol consumption or high-fat diets to support liver health and combat non-alcoholic fatty liver disorder (NAFLD).

The hepatoprotective (liver protecting) properties of S. marianum have been investigated since the 1960s. Milk thistle has since become a popular supplement used to ‘detox’ the liver and kidneys and support the health of these filtration organs.

This article discusses the properties of milk thistle, the body’s natural filtration system and how milk thistle is said to help promote kidney and liver health.

Milk Thistle for Liver Protection

Milk thistle has been observed to help protect the liver in a number of scientific studies. Components of milk thistle, particularly a flavonoid complex called silymarin, appear to help protect the liver from toxins, such as those from certain drugs like acetaminophen.

Silymarin is widely considered to be the bioactive component of milk thistle. It is made of a collection of flavonoids and exhibits detoxification, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Silymarin is concentrated in the seeds of the milk thistle plant, but this concentration often does not exceed 7 or 8 %. However, milk thistle or silymarin detox supplements are often standardized to contain up to 80 % silymarin, which is considerably higher than what can be found in the natural plant.

The effects of milk thistle on liver ailments like alcoholic cirrhosis, liver disease and chronic hepatitis have been mixed, but in most cases milk thistle (particularly silymarin) has been observed to support liver health, help protect liver cells and support the production of new liver cells.

Liver, Kidneys and Detox

The liver and kidneys are main components of the body’s filtration system that work to remove environmental toxins from our bloodstream.

When healthy, the liver and kidneys are very effective at filtering and neutralizing the vast majority of toxins. However, during periods of increased toxin exposure (for example, from drugs or alcohol) the liver can be damaged and become less effective.

It is during and after these periods that dietary supplements like milk thistle extract, n-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and activated charcoal are sometimes used in the hopes of supporting liver and kidney health.

‘Toxins’ is a term used to refer to any number of compounds that can enter and poison the body if left unchecked. Toxins can be swallowed or inhaled and they can enter the body through the skin or be produced by bacteria or dying cells.

Both the liver and kidneys play important roles in breaking down these toxins and helping the body excrete them to prevent damage.

The Detoxification Process

The liver is situated to the right side of the stomach and one of its main functions is to filter blood coming from the digestive system.

The liver also produces proteins, metabolizes certain drugs and alcohol and secretes bile that enters the intestines and supports digestion. In sum, the liver plays a crucial role in blood filtration, as well as the breakdown of ingested toxins.

The kidneys filter the body’s blood, often many times a day. Toxins removed by the kidney are eliminated in the urine or feces.

To support your body’s natural detox system, it is important to drink lots of water, eat a healthy, high-fiber diet, exercise and avoid the intake of toxins via smoking, alcohol consumption or recreational drug use.

Milk Thistle for Detox Effects

Many opt to take milk thistle detox supplements to support the liver and help it clear toxins. Milk thistle and silymarin appear to support a number of effects that can promote liver health and cleanse the body of unwanted chemicals

For instance, milk thistle has been observed to increase antioxidant levels in the body, particularly glutathione and super oxide dismutase (SOD).

In addition, silymarin has been observed to increase glutathione concentrations in the liver by as much as 35 %. By increasing the level of antioxidants, silymarin helps protect the liver against the oxidative stress often caused by environmental toxins.

This supplement may also help to increase the removal of heavy metals from the body and from our cells. We are exposed to heavy metals such as lead from a number of environmental sources.

While most healthy adults are not affected by this low-level exposure, children, the elderly and patients with impaired immune systems may be at increased risk of negative side effects.

Furthermore, as we age, the levels of these toxins begin to accumulate particularly in the bones. As bones are broken down gradually during the aging process, this can result in leeching of these heavy metals back into the bloodstream and produce toxic side effects.

Milk thistle supplements are often taken on a daily preventative basis to improve the removal of heavy metals, but more research is needed to rate the long-term efficacy of these types of detox supplements.

Hepaprotective Effects of Milk Thistle

Silymarin’s antioxidant properties are not solely responsible for its hepatoprotective effects. Milk thistle and silymarin have been observed to help increase the liver’s synthesis of proteins vital to its ability to heal and restore itself.

Milk thistle extract has also been observed to affect DNA replication by increasing the action of the enzyme DNA polymerase 1.

Milk thistle’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have also attracted the interest of cancer researchers. In preliminary laboratory studies, milk thistle has been observed to prevent angiogenesis or blood vessel formation in tumors and promote cell death in cancerous liver cells.

The complete hepatoprotective effects of milk thistle are still under clinical investigation. Although there is a great deal of laboratory research to indicate the liver-protecting properties of milk thistle and silymarin, more research is needed to understand how this plant extract can affect the full range of liver diseases and overall liver health in humans.

Milk Thistle Detox for the Kidneys

Quality milk thistle detox supplements should contain a standardized concentration of silymarin. The silymarin complex is comprised of silybin A and silybin B, silydianin, silychristin, isosilybin A and isosilybin B.

Together, these antioxidants appear to help mitigate and treat kidney damage caused by various toxins, particularly poisons produced by Amanita phalloides (the Death Cap mushroom).

Death Cap mushrooms produce powerful mycotoxins that can damage the liver and kidneys. Milk thistle is sometimes used to protect the liver and kidneys from these toxins. It has also been used for snake bite and stings from venomous insects like scorpions.

Are Milk Thistle Detox Products Safe?

Milk thistle and silymarin are generally well tolerated by otherwise healthy individuals. In some rare cases, mild and temporary side effects like stomach upset and loose stool have been reported.

Supplements that are marketed as a milk thistle detox may contain other ingredients and varying concentrations of silymarin.

Be sure to read the ingredient label and speak with your doctor before starting a milk thistle detox or cleanse program to make sure you are not at risk of any drug interactions or side effects.

Rate This Article

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)