Milk Thistle Extract Benefits for the Liver, Hangovers & Cancer

Milk thistle extract contains several flavonoid substances that can protect the liver from damage related to alcohol, and pharmaceutical drugs and environmental toxins.

The benefits of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) are attributed to its silymarin content, which is a compound with both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This supplement promote the growth of new liver cells and is often used in detox and cleanse formulations. It has been taken as a traditional herbal remedy for over 2,000 years in the treatment of liver, gall bladder and kidney conditions.

Milk thistle extract benefits continue to be researched today, though study results in humans are mixed.

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

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Milk Thistle Benefits

Milk thistle extract is taken as a dietary supplement to protect the liver.

It is often used by individuals who are detoxing their bodies for improved health or as a “hangover pill” to support the liver following a night of drinking.

Some individuals will take Milk thistle supplements whenever using drugs such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) which are metabolized by the liver and can cause damage in high dosages.

The milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) grows around the world, but is native to the Mediterranean. It grows in hot, dry climates and can reach a height of 5-10 feet.

The plant is characterized as having a long, spindly green stem with a spikey, brilliant purple flower on top. The name “milk thistle” is attributed to the white milky sap that is extracted from the leaves when they are squeezed.

The Role of Silymarin

The primary bioactive compound found in milk thistle seeds is known as silymarin. This is a flavonoid group that is made up of silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin. These three substances combine together to promote repair of liver cells that may be damaged or destroyed by toxins.

It has significant anti-oxidant effects for the liver, which helps to protect against harm caused by drinking alcohol and metabolizing other drugs that may be toxic to the liver. In addition to this milk thistle extract benefits promote an anti-inflammatory response in the body.

Traditionally, this extract was taken as an antidote for mushroom poisoning. After unintentionally consuming the deathcap mushroom (Amanita phalloides); toxic effects can occur rapidly and this mushroom can be fatal.

When administering milk thistle extract within 10 minutes of when the mushroom was eaten, toxicity was entirely prevented. When administered within 24 hours of ingestion, users experienced significant less liver damage and less likelihood of death. These results and benefits of this herbal remedy have now been confirmed in animal studies.

Protection for the Liver

The most common use for this supplement is as a liver protectant to prevent against damage caused by alcohol and other toxins. It is often recommended as an adjunct treatment for individuals diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcoholism and hepatitis.

Studies have shown that this product can improve liver function and increase survival rates among those with chronic alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis. However, more studies are needed to confirm early results as the initial trials were conducted with small groups of people and did not have consistent dosing guidelines.

Another milk thistle extract benefit is in the treatment of viral forms of hepatitis, especially hepatitis C. While more research is needed to conclusively prove the effects, initial research has shown that milk thistle can reduce the viral load of the hepatitis C virus to a significant degree.

This study was conducted on 16 patients who did not see an improvement after taking typical pharmaceutical treatments of interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Milk Thistle

Novel research has focused on the potential for anti-cancer effects related to milk thistle extract consumption. Silymarin and other bioactive compounds in this plant may be able to prevent cancer cells from dividing and replicating.

This natural extract has also been found to reduce the lifespan of cancerous cells and to decrease blood circulation to tumors, according to in vitro analysis. Benefits are particularly notable in protection from skin cancer, but more research is required to confirm this hypothesis.

How to Take Milk Thistle Extract

Milk thistle is sold in several forms including oral capsules, as a tincture, a liquid extract, in bulk powder form or as an isolate of the silymarin active ingredient. Studies have found that silymarin is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream when it is ingested in a silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex supplement.

Phosphatidylcholine is a phospholipid form of choline that is important for liver health and maintaining the integrity of cell membranes. Pairing this ingredient with silymarin may help to prevent toxins from entering liver cells.

Most milk thistle extract supplements are standardized to provide 70 – 80% silymarin, extracted from the seeds of the plant. Capsules will contain between 120 – 400 mg of the dried herb or seed extract per serving. Dosage guidelines recommend taking between 120 mg – 800 mg of silymarin daily, split into two to three administrations.

For allergies, it is recommended to take 140 mg three times a day. According to researchers at New York University, a dosage of 200 mg taken two to three times a day produces the best milk thistle extract benefits.

Milk Thistle Precautions

When used safely, milk thistle extract benefits greatly outweigh the side effects in healthy adults. However, certain individuals should not take milk thistle extract without first discussing this product with their licensed physician. This includes individuals who are on:

• Birth control pills
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Anti-anxiety drugs including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan)
• Statins for high cholesterol including lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor)
• Blood thinning drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix) and warfarin (Coumadin)
• Other drugs that are broken down or metabolized by the liver

This supplement may also interfere with allergy medications such as fexofenadine (Allegra), some cancer treatments, the seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin), Halothane which is used when a patient is taking general anesthetics, and certain anti-psychotic drugs such as butyrophenones (Haloperidol) and phenothiazines (Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, and Promethazine).

For individuals who are not combining this supplement with other medications, it is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. There are few side effects, but mild reactions such as stomach discomfort, nausea and diarrhea can occur.

This supplement should be avoided by individuals who have a known allergy to ragweed, chamomile, yarrow, marigolds, daisies or chrysanthemum flowers.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take milk thistle capsules. It is also not recommended for people who have been diagnosed with prostate, breast or uterine cancers.

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