Milk thistle: benefits for the liver & other effects

What is milk thistle?

Milk thistle, or by its Latin name Silybum marianum, is a herbaceous plant.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family, like the daisy or wild artichoke.

Native to the Mediterranean basin, it has large, dark green leaves mottled with white and edged with spines.

Its purple, pompom-shaped flower at the top of a long stem is instantly recognisable.

Milk thistle grows spontaneously in poor, dry soils in sunny positions and can reach a height of 1.50 metres.

In herbal medicine, its seeds (known as achenes) are used for their high content of a flavonoid complex called silymarin, which is thought to have a number of beneficial effects.

Its use for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient times, particularly among the Greeks.

Milk thistle was commonly used in Europe in the Middle Ages to treat liver problems.

In the 19th century, American doctors frequently recommended it for treating various disorders.

The health benefits of milk thistle

The benefits of milk thistle for the liver

Milk thistle supports liver health, helping to maintain normal liver function.

This benefit is based mainly on the action of the silymarin present in the plant, which helps to protect liver cells by combating oxidative stress.

It also stabilises cell membranes, limiting the penetration of certain toxins.

It also facilitates protein synthesis in liver cells, helping them to repair and renew after damage.

Naturopaths recommend milk thistle for managing liver poisoning, particularly in the event of excessive consumption of alcohol, medication or other toxic substances.

Detoxifying the body

The liver is one of the main organs responsible for eliminating toxins from the body.

It transforms them and makes them soluble, to facilitate their evacuation via the bile (which is then passed in the faeces) or the urine (2).

By supporting liver function, milk thistle indirectly promotes these natural detoxification mechanisms and thus helps to purify the body.

Anti-oxidant effects

Several scientific studies show that silymarin acts as a powerful antioxidant, both directly and indirectly (3).

It therefore helps to limit cell oxidation, which causes premature ageing of tissues.

In turn, its antioxidant activity contributes to its hepatoprotective action, as well as protecting the body as a whole against oxidative stress.

Digestive support

By supporting the hepatobiliary function, milk thistle promotes better digestion.

Studies show that silymarin helps stimulate the production of bile by the liver (4).

Bile is essential for dissolving and facilitating the assimilation of dietary fats.

By increasing bile production, it can help prevent digestive problems and bloating associated with eating rich meals.

Other benefits of milk thistle

Milk thistle helps maintain blood sugar levels (5).

It may therefore be of interest to people suffering from blood sugar problems.

However, you should always seek the advice of a health professional before using it, to avoid potential drug interactions and determine the correct dosage.

Research also shows that silymarin helps to modulate the inflammatory response (6).

It is thought to act by inhibiting the production of certain pro-inflammatory molecules, notably cytokines.

It could therefore help to reduce moderate chronic inflammation.

Other scientific studies have also shown the influence of silymarin on immunity (7).

It is thought to help regulate the immune response to external threats.

Milk thistle food supplements

Milk thistle is now widely used in phytotherapy in the form of infusions or food supplements in capsules, tablets, drops or mother tinctures.

Concentrating a large proportion of milk thistle's benefits, the most sought-after ingredient in these formulations is silymarin.

To benefit from its effects, there are highly dosed products formulated to offer high bioavailability (such as our Silyplus supplement, which contains a patented form of silymarin that is 10 times better absorbed than ordinary silymarin).

Because of its hepatoprotective power, milk thistle is a key ingredient in dietary supplements dedicated to liver health.

It is generally combined with other plants known for their benefits, such as its cousin, the artichoke, or chlorella (they are all found together in the Liver Support Formula).

Finally, some supplements designed to support the body against excess alcohol also include milk thistle extract in their composition.

It helps to protect liver cells and promote their regeneration (found, for example, in Alcohol Detox and Rehab formulas), as a complement to a healthy lifestyle.