What does milk thistle do?
The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin. Milk thistle is also known as Mary thistle or holy thistle. It is mainly used to treat liver problems, but some people claim it can lower cholesterol and help manage type 2 diabetes.
What is the side effects of taking milk thistle?
Side effects of milk thistle include:
- Abdominal bloating/pain.
- Allergic reactions.
- Diarrhea.
- Gas.
- Indigestion.
- Itching.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea.
Why Milk thistle is good for you?
Although milk thistle is most often used for liver conditions, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, the herb is believed some to prevent or treat high cholesterol, diabetes, heartburn, upset stomach (dyspepsia), hangover, gallbladder problems, menstrual pain, depression, and even certain types of cancer.
Why Milk thistle is bad for you?
Generally, it’s safe to take milk thistle in recommended doses. Some people have reported nausea, gas, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Other people have reported a headache or itchiness after they take it. Milk thistle can cause an allergic reaction, especially if you’re allergic to other plants in the same family.
How long does it take for milk thistle to work on liver?
Sometimes it can take up to 3 months for a milk thistle supplement to show its benefit. Our best advice is to stick with it, as it’ll benefit you in the long run for sure! As for milk thistle dosage for fatty liver, a 90-day study found that 250-376mg of milk thistle per day helped reduce liver fat.
Is it OK to take milk thistle every day?
Is Milk Thistle Safe? Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth ( 1 , 45 ). In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1 ).
How long should you take milk thistle for?
BY MOUTH: For diabetes: Milk thistle extract 210-600 mg has been used daily for up to 6 months. 200 mg of milk thistle extract has been taken once daily or three times daily for 4 months to one year.
Does milk thistle help you sleep?
Sleep quality also improves. The effect of taking milk thistle by itself is not known.
What can you not take with milk thistle?
Possible interactions include:
- Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates. Taking milk thistle might affect this enzyme and drugs it processes, such as diazepam (Valium), warfarin (Jantoven) and others.
- Diabetes medications.
- Raloxifene (Evista).
- Simeprevir.
- Sirolimus (Rapamune).
How can I protect my liver before drinking?
What’s more, eating antioxidant-rich foods like berries may protect your cells against alcohol-induced damage. One animal study found that blueberries were effective at increasing levels of several antioxidants in the liver, which could help protect against oxidative stress caused by alcohol consumption ( 23 ).