Milk thistle is an herb commonly used to protect against liver disease. Liver disease includes a range of conditions with many different causes. Pain near the liver is a symptom of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cholestasis, which is a complication of alcoholic liver disease. Cholestasis is common during pregnancy. Milk thistle may benefit you if you have liver pain related to liver disease and cholestatis, but do not try alternative treatments unless your doctor approves.
Milk Thistle
People have used milk thistle to treat ailments for 2,000 years, especially for problems involving the liver and gall bladder, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Milk thistle may protect the liver from toxins, though this has not yet been conclusively proven. Milk thistle also works as an anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation and may help your body make new liver cells.
Cholestasis
Cholestasis is a condition that describes a decrease or blockage of the flow of bile. The blockage may be inside or outside of the liver. Pain in the biliary system is a symptom of cholestasis. This system includes the gall bladder, cells inside the liver and bile ducts inside and outside of the liver. Alcoholic liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis and inflammation of the pancreas are some of the causes of cholestasis that milk thistle may help. Cirrhosis is a type of liver disease. Cholestatis causes a wide range of symptoms besides pain, from itching to bone loss.
Pregnant Women
Women who are pregnant may develop cholestatis due to hormonal changes. This may present as pain in the upper right quadrant of their abdomen, where the liver resides. Itching is the most common symptom. Depression, exhaustion, loss of appetite and a dark color to the urine are other common symptoms. Milk thistle may be beneficial for cholestatis of pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Only take milk thistle or other supplements when pregnant if advised so by your physician.
Liver Disease Studies
Several studies conducted in Europe show that milk thistle is beneficial for cirrhosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Researchers have observed improvement in liver functions of cirrhosis patients. Multiple studies have also shown improvements in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease. However, the Mayo Clinic states that more studies are needed because past studies have been small or designed poorly. Studies have not proven that milk thistle treats nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It may help prevent the disease by protecting the liver through decreasing or neutralizing inflammation. Ask your doctor if milk thistle supplements are right for you and in what dosage.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Liver Disease
- Medline Plus: Biliary System
- American Pregancy Association: Cholestasis of Pregnancy
- National Cancer Institute: Questions and Answers About Milk Thistle
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Milk Thistle
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Milk Thistle
- Mayo Clinic: Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum)
- "Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality"; Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects; Valerie Lawrence, M.D., M.Sc., et al; October 2000
- Mayo Clinic; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; February 2011
