Specifically, Silymarin in milk thistle effects the liver. Gastroparesis: What to Eat and What to Avoid, Newly Diagnosed With Crohn's? A Group Owner is a member that has initiated the creation of a group to connect with other members to share their journey through the same pregnancy & baby stages. Milk thistle may lower blood sugar levels. Ochsner J. Ask your doctor for advice. Flushes excess hormones and toxins from the liver. People may also find it painful and worry about its effects on their appearance. By lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol levels, milk thistle may lower the chance of developing heart disease. Milk thistle contains a group of bioflavonoids. Although bitter, the plant is edible and rich in a compound known as cnicin, which is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer properties. We respect everyones right to express their thoughts and opinions as long as they remain respectful of other community members, and meet What to Expects Terms of Use. Based on traditional use, milk thistle has been used as an emergency antidote for poisoning by death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides). All rights reserved. kidneys for excretion. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Why Milk Thistle Seed Should Be a Part of Your Pregnancy Plan: Herbalists However, the reviewers noted that the available studies were low quality and that more research is needed (17). This content does not have an English version. Learning about it as a pregnant woman made me even more excited to get some and put its many healing benefits to work. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean region. privacy practices. 2006;21(1 Pt 2):275-280. Milk thistle supplements, for reference, are tolerated at doses of up to 700 mg, 3 times per day for 24 weeks (1). Another great benefit of milk thistle is that it can be used as the anti-pollutant agent. DOI: 10.4314/tjpr.v15i12.14. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, or have allergies to plants in the same plant family, you Please specify a reason for deleting this reply from the community. I am eager to take milk thistle during my pregnancy to support my liver function. Additionally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of milk thistle may also be useful for reducing the risk of developing diabetic complications like kidney disease (43). Al-Snafi AE. Milk thistle tea is an herbal drink touted to promote liver health, stimulate breast milk production, and protect against diabetes. While 2005;100(11):2583-2591. Review. These studies have also seen that milk thistle may be able to reduce the number of amyloid plaques in the brains of animals with Alzheimers disease (18, 19, 20). Things to remember when you fill your prescription. But experts say that the evidence isnt conclusive. may be asking what does my liver have to do with hormonal health during The chemist told me it is not safe to take it during pregnancy as blackmores said that it is not safe I wonder if i harm my baby as i have taken milk thistle during conception and for Vaid M, Katiyar SK. Gastroenterol Nurs. Stimulates liver regeneration and cleansing. However, this review also noted that the quality of the studies was not very high, so more studies are needed before its possible to make any firm recommendations (44). Acta Biomed. Molecular mechanisms of inhibition of photocarcinogenesis by silymarin, a phytochemical from milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Ann Hepatol. Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. However, the results from studies have been mixed, and not all have found milk thistle extract to have a beneficial effect on liver disease. Pregnant women should not take milk thistle unless directed by a doctor [69, 70]. Added bonus: this tea strengthens the uterus helping to relieve pains caused by childbirth. And it may help the liver repair itself by growing new cells. Review/update the Some people have nausea, diarrhea, itching, and bloating. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties mean that it is possibly neuroprotective and could help prevent the decline in brain function you experience as you age (14, 15). It is very important to build strong and dense bones. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. The studies have not found any hazardous effects in animals, but studies in women are lacking. 2006;26(6B):4457-4498. Review. Thank you so much for this blog post. An allergic reaction is more common in people who are allergic to other plants in the Asteraceae family, such as ragweed, daisies, marigolds and chrysanthemums. Your post will be hidden and deleted by moderators. The thing is, emotionally I couldn't let it go that I could have done something to cause this problem in my baby, and I beat myself up for a very long time about it. Hi there! 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. People with diabetes often have high cholesterol. Milk thistle may interfere with the following medications, because both milk thistle and these medications are broken down by the same liver enzymes: Agarwal R, Agarwal C, Ichikawa H, Singh RP, Aggarwal BB. There are no interactions between milk thistle and alcohol. That means you can take it after drinking alcohol. At the doses youll find in most reputable supplements, its safe to take. Should you take milk thistle before or after drinking? Theres no hard a fast rule. It all depends on what your goals are. This makes it very hard to establish a standard dose. Because of this, the quality can vary from one brand to the next. What to Expect supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. Learn more about, 11 Times Celebrities Got Real About Their Breastfeeding Struggles. Clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of BIO-C (micronized Silymarin) as a galactagogue. Thus, drinking this tea is not the best way to absorb any beneficial plant compounds (6, 7). Learn. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Advertising and sponsorship opportunities, Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Today, blessed thistle is most commonly used to increase the production of breastmilk in nursing mothers. In one 14-day study, researchers reported that new mothers taking fenugreek tea increased breast milk production that helped babies gain more weight. Lancet Oncol. The antimicrobial activity of the Cnicus benedictus L. extracts. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Blessed thistle should not be confused with milk thistle (Silybum marianum), which is commonly used for liver disorders. We'll go into detail, and, Milk thistle is a popular herbal remedy that has been used for its therapeutic effects for centuries. 2008;15(1):9-20. Review. Theres also speculation that milk thistle extracts and isolated forms of silymarin can improve markers of inflammation and liver damage in people with certain liver diseases, although studies have been inconclusive (3, 12, 13). With regards to introducing any drug during pregnancy (which can include natural supplements as they can have very strong effects), one must always weigh up the risk to benefit ratio. 2015;43(9):1353-1359. If we combine this information with your protected A study of alternative health care use for gastrointestinal disorders. GAIA is a trustworthy. Protection to kidney. It is not known whether milk thistle passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. 2008;5(4):422-437. doi:10.1080/19390210802519754. waste products are converted into inactive forms and then pushed through to the Should I avoid certain foods while taking Milk Thistle? So, if you have diabetes, you should be cautious about consuming tea or supplements made from the plant (8). Some studies also show milk thistle may help people whose liver is damaged by industrial toxins, such as toluene and xylene. Limited research suggests milk thistle may help in the treatment of liver diseases, stimulate breast milk production, and have anti-diabetic effects. Herbal teas have a wide variety of tastes, flavors and even health benefits. Milk thistle tea has a mild taste comparable to that of dandelion tea. Inside the liver, these Amyloid plaques are sticky clusters of amyloid proteins that can build up between nerve cells as you age. 2005;72(7):1285-1288. Review. Milk thistle can cause an allergic reaction, including a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). J. Med. Read our, What Research Tells Us About Blessed Thistle. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Milk Thistle has also been found to ease depression and may be a helpful support in preventing the baby blues. This product comes in the alcohol version only, as the Milk Thistle Seed will not give its medicinal properties up to anything less potent than alcohol. Rather, the researchers concluded that the available studies were poor and failed to meet the basic criteria of inclusion. Acta Biomed.2008 Dec;79(3):205-10. Keep this in mind when reviewing the following possible benefits of milk thistle. Milk thistle may also be poorly absorbed in tea form. It reduces inflammation (which is why it is often suggested for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis) and is a strong antioxidant. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Drug Information on milk thistle includes side effects, uses, drug interactions, dosage, drug pictures, overdose symptoms, and what to avoid. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Bird Flu Deaths Prompt U.S. to Test Vaccine in Poultry, COVID Treatment in Development Appears Promising, Marriage May Help Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check, Getting Outdoors Might Help You Take Fewer Meds, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. How to Increase Breast Milk Supply With Galactagogues, How to Rebuild or Increase Your Breast Milk Supply, Alfalfa, Breastfeeding, and Increasing Breast Milk Supply, Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk for Your Baby, Herbs and Medications That Increase Breast Milk Production, Benefits of Ginger for Breastfeeding Moms, 16 Ways to Naturally Increase Your Breast Milk Supply, How to Increase Breast Milk Supply by Pumping, The Constituents and Pharmacology of Cnicus Benedictus - A Review, Clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of BIO-C (micronized Silymarin) as a galactagogue, The antimicrobial activity of the Cnicus benedictus L. extracts, Cytotoxicity of six South African medicinal plant extracts used in the treatment of cancer, An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. Di Pierro, F.;Callegari, A.;Carotenuto D. et al. Taken in appropriate doses, oral use of milk thistle appears to be safe. 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