Milk thistle, a flowering herb native to the Mediterranean region, but also found in the United States and South America, has long been used to treat various ailments, especially disorders of the bile ducts, gallbladder and liver. Milk thistle may be beneficial to treat or prevent a "clogged" or toxic liver, as well as various other health complications. But more testing is needed to determine the scope and degree of milk thistle's benefits. Consult a doctor before taking milk thistle or any other dietary supplement.
Liver Health
Milk thistle can be used to help treat a variety of liver complications. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) milk thistle may protect and promote liver-cell growth, fight oxidation, which can damage cells and prevent inflammation.
Liver Disease
NCCAM has funded various research projects on the benefits of milk thistle for liver disease, including a trial to test the specific benefits of milk thistle for chronic hepatitis C. While some evidence suggests that patients reported fewer and milder symptoms of liver disease, there was no change in virus activity or liver inflammation, according to the NCCAM.
Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, milk thistle may be beneficial to cancer patients by making chemotherapy less toxic and more effective, as well as stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells and blocking tumors from starting or continuing to grow. It also may help normalize liver enzyme levels in chemotherapy patients, so they can continue chemotherapy without breaks. A randomized clinical trial in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia found that milk thistle may reduce chemotherapy's harmful effects on the liver without reducing the effects of chemotherapy.
Other Benefits
According to the Mayo Clinic, several European studies suggest that milk thistle may benefit liver cirrhosis. In experiments up to five years long, milk thistle has improved liver function and reduced deaths in people with cirrhosis. Milk thistle also may be useful for treatment of amanita phalloides mushroom poisoning, diabetes in cirrhotic patients, dyspepsia, high cholesterol, liver damage due to drugs or toxins and the reduction of menopausal symptoms. However, further testing is needed to determine these benefits, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Side Effects
Various gastrointestinal side effects may result from supplementing with milk thistle. Milk thistle also can cause allergic reactions, and may lower blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes should be cautious about taking milk thistle.
