Milk thistle is good for a variety of health purposes, primarily due to its active compound called silymarin which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Key benefits include:
- Protecting and supporting liver health by reducing liver damage, improving liver function, and potentially helping with liver conditions like cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and liver damage from toxins. It may also help prevent scarring and detoxify the liver.
- Lowering blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity, which can aid in managing type 2 diabetes.
- Supporting bone health, especially in postmenopausal women, by stimulating mineralization to offset osteoporosis effects.
- Increasing breast milk production in lactating mothers, though more research is needed.
- Helping treat indigestion and possibly acne, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
- Potentially improving heart health by lowering cholesterol, though evidence is stronger in people with diabetes.
- Reducing side effects of cancer treatments and possibly increasing chemotherapy effectiveness, with some lab and animal studies suggesting it may inhibit cancer cell growth.
- Supporting brain health by slowing cognitive decline in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, through antioxidant protection.
More research is needed for many of these benefits to be confirmed conclusively, but milk thistle is widely used as a complementary supplement for liver and general health support.
