Milk Thistle

Ingredients: Stoneground Brown Rice Flour (Gluten Free) (Oryza Sativa), Capsule Shell (Vegetable Cellulose), Milk Thistle Seed Extract (Silybum Marianum).

100% clean formula.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. All Ethical Nutrition products are free from animal-based ingredients and by-products. Registered with the vegan society. 

Free-from: GMOs, Magnesium Stearate, Gelatin, Palm Oil/Palm Oil Derivatives, Maltodextrin, Bulking Agents, Titanium Dioxide, Sugar. 

Allergen-free: totally free from gluten and allergen containing ingredients.

Additive-free: We don't use any nasty additives and where required we use gluten-free rice extract to help us to blend together ingredients and ensure they are accurately dosed.

Milk Thistle is a native Mediterranean herb with bright purple flowers and white veined leaves. Historically, the Saxons believed that wearing it around the neck could protect against snake bites. Nowadays, it’s become a popular “hangover cure” but the benefits of milk thistle go far beyond easing the effects of too much booze.

The group of active compounds in milk thistle are a mixture of different flavonolignans [1] collectively known as silymarin. Silymarin has positive effects on liver health by protecting liver cells from damage, stimulating bile flow, and supporting liver detoxification.   

Milk thistle is a well-studied herb with many potential health benefits:

• Supports liver health: As an antioxidant, milk thistle protects liver cells against inflammation and the harmful effects of toxins like alcohol. It is widely used for inflammatory conditions like hepatitis and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Silymarin has been shown to be an effective intervention for (NAFLD) even when diet and physical activity levels remain unchanged [2].
• Stimulates bile flow: As a choleretic herb, milk thistle has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. It stimulates bile flow from the liver to aid fat digestion and toxin removal.
• Aids blood sugar management in Type 2 Diabetes: Silymarin may improve insulin sensitivity and help lower excess blood sugar in Type 2 diabetics [3]. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of milk thistle may also help reduce the risk of complications from diabetes.
• Chemotherapy support: Silymarin has been shown to have anti-tumour effects and can help protect against cell damage induced by chemotherapy [4]. 
• Supports post-menopausal bone health: After menopause, women lose the bone-protective effects of oestrogen and develop an increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Silymarin in milk thistle has the potential to modulate genetic expression toward bone building and may help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women [5].
• Lowers inflammation: Silymarin can regulate the activity of cytokines, molecules responsible for inflammation [6]. Milk thistle is widely used to manage inflammatory skin disorders like acne, psoriasis, and eczema, as well as other inflammatory conditions.
• Protects the brain: Silymarin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects extend beyond the liver to brain tissue. Studies show that milk thistle has a key role to play in the fight against neurodegeneration and the onset of dementia diseases like Alzheimers. It is able to modulate cell signaling pathways in the brain, regulate neurotransmitters, protect against inflammation, and inhibit cell death [7].

Milk thistle is most widely known as an herb for liver health. It stimulates bile flow and helps to protect liver cells against inflammatory conditions like hepatitis and the harmful effects of toxins [1]. 

As an anti-inflammatory herb it can be useful for managing inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne [6] and may also help protect against the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s [7].

Milk thistle’s metabolic benefits mean it can support insulin sensitivity and blood glucose regulation [3] – two important benefits for Type 2 diabetics and anyone with insulin resistance.

Detoxification is a natural and essential part of your daily life and your liver is detoxing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Many people choose to give this process a helping hand by doing a seasonal cleanse or “detox” using different foods and herbs. During this time you might notice that you feel more fatigued than normal, and may experience headaches, nausea, or skin breakouts. 

Naturopaths consider these symptoms to be a sign of the liver working hard to expel toxins. It’s important to drink plenty of water, rest, and have regular bowel movements to ensure the toxins leave your body. Normally, these symptoms subside in a few days.

We recommend you speak to your healthcare provider before using milk thistle alongside prescription medication or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although milk thistle has a long history of traditional use during pregnancy, there is limited research data examining its safety.

Milk thistle may interact with diabetes medication, certain antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and hepatitis C medication. It may also influence the rate at which medications are metabolised by the liver.

When taken as directed, milk thistle is very well tolerated with few potential side effects. Some people may experience nausea, bloating, skin itching, or loose stools when taking milk thistle.

1.  Dec;14(14):1659-66. doi: 10.2174/13894501113146660222. PMID: 24093748
2. Achufusi, T.G.O., Pellegrini, M.V., Patel, R.K. Milk Thistle. [Updated 2024 Feb 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541075/
3. Guo, Y., Wang, S., Wang, Y., Zhu, T. 2016. Silymarin improved diet-induced liver damage and insulin resistance by decreasing inflammation in mice. Pharmaceutical Biology 16;54(12):2995-3000. doi:10.1080/13880209.2016.1199042
4. Devi, K. P., Malar, D. S., Braidy, N., Nabavi, S. M., & Nabavi, S. F. 2017. A Mini Review on the Chemistry and Neuroprotective Effects of Silymarin. Current drug targets. 18(13), 1529–1536. doi.org/10.2174/1389450117666161227125121Kazazis, C.E., Evangelopoulos, A.A., Kollas, A., Vallianou, N.G. 2014. The therapeutic potential of milk thistle in diabetes. The Review of Diabetic Studies 11(2):167-174. doi:10.1900/RDS.2014.11.167
5. Kołota, A., & Głąbska, D. 2021. Dietary Intake of Milk Thistle Seeds as a Source of Silymarin and Its Influence on the Lipid Parameters in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients. Applied Sciences, 11(13), 5836. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135836
6. Kazazis, C.E., Evangelopoulos, A.A., Kollas, A., Vallianou, N.G. 2014. The therapeutic potential of milk thistle in diabetes. The Review of Diabetic Studies 11(2):167-174. doi:10.1900/RDS.2014.11.167
7. Mohd Fozi, N.F., Mazlan, M., Shuid, A.N., Isa Naina, M. 2013. Milk thistle: a future potential anti-osteoporotic and fracture healing agent. Current Drug Targets.