Milk thistle was used historically as a digestive aid to promote the flow of digestive juices, and as a tonic for nursing mothers to increase milk supply. Nowadays, its popularity stems from its ability to detoxify and protect the liver. Milk Thistle supplements can be found in a variety of formats. Let's further explore them. 

Understanding The Liver's Role

The liver is responsible for filtering out toxins that should not be in your body and processing them so that they don’t cause damage to other cells. It also metabolizes hormones and fats and makes sure that the transportation system for fats (cholesterol) is working properly. The liver's secretions, called bile, carry metabolized waste products out into the intestine, where they can be excreted. The medicinal activity of milk thistle is in a molecule called silymarin. It causes liver cells and hepatocytes to resist toxic compounds and regenerate themselves. It also increases glutathione in the liver.

Glutathione is an antioxidant that the liver uses to catch damaging free radicals that are created when the liver changes toxins into harmless chemicals. Silymarin also blocks the toxic effects of drug overdoses and poisonings. Milk thistle is a bitter herb that causes the release of digestive juices and bile, thus helping with indigestion and intestinal cleansing. Natural health practitioners recommend milk thistle for liver toxicity, indigestion, poisonings, drug overdoses, hepatitis, jaundice, gallbladder dysfunction and high cholesterol.

Milk Thistle Supplement Varieties & Formats

Milk thistle supplements can be purchased as encapsulated herb, dried herb, tincture or liquid extract. Milk thistle’s active components are not soluble in water, and therefore, there is little medicinal value in drinking it as a tea. Concentrated extracts or capsules are the best forms to use. Milk thistle is found as a component of many cleansing formulas. To help with digestion, bitter herbs must be tasted, like when you take in a tincture or tea. Encapsulated herbs are swallowed, thus bypassing the taste buds, and will not stimulate digestion.

Potential Side Effects & Considerations

Milk thistle is a very safe herb, but it does have detoxifying properties. Individuals with serious liver disease or high levels of toxic compounds in their bodies should use milk thistle under the guidance of a health professional.