According to Rachelle Robinett, RH (AHG), registered herbalist, holistic health practitioner, and founder of Pharmakon Supernatural, milk thistle has been used across Europe since the 13th and 14th centuries to support liver function.* It also has a widespread and archaic history of use in traditional Indian (Ayurveda) and Chinese modalities. From the powerful, targeted support it provides to our hardworking liver to its ability to stimulate the immune system and even promote skin health—milk thistle has a slew of health benefits that can be harnessed to bolster whole-body health.* Supplementing with this milk thistle plant extract can practically look like anything from taking a capsule to drinking milk thistle tea. As mbg’s vice president of scientific affairs, Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, explains, “Silymarin will sometimes be isolated from the milk thistle seed extract to be featured in products, while other supplements will leverage native silymarins in their full spectrum, and well, glory.” Because it’s an herbal remedy, milk thistle has traditionally been paired with other herbs to create complex formulas that enhance activity and efficacy, says Robinett. She shares that silymarin pairs well with licorice root, turmeric, and other herbs (depending on the intended use, of course). Although supplements typically utilize the seed, milk thistle leaves can also be used as a digestive bitter that’s helpful for supporting digestion, detoxification, elimination, longevity, and more.* Ferira adds that “milk thistle leaves and flowers can even be leveraged in your diet, acting as a vegetable on salads and other meals.” Let’s get into the details of milk thistle’s benefits, why it might be featured in a supplement, and whether or not this long-standing herbal remedy still adds value to our modern world. Robinett shares that milk thistle promotes phase I liver detoxification and enhances restoration in the liver.* And its support of the “primary detox organ” doesn’t stop there—liver support is important for overall health, especially hormone balance, skin challenges, and systemic homeostasis, explains Robinett.* A 2015 review published in Antioxidants found that milk thistle’s silymarin phytochemical powerhouse also supports the production of glutathione1 (aka the “master antioxidant”), which is a critically important antioxidant with significant detoxification effects.* “Milk thistle aids in eliminating toxins that have built up in the liver, in addition to helping restore liver cells that have been affected by increased toxin exposure,”* says William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., functional medicine practitioner. According to a review from Phytocology Research, silymarin largely supports the liver by protecting it and acting as a toxin blockage agent by inhibiting toxins from binding to liver cells.* Speaking of toxins, some people leverage milk thistle’s detoxifying actions to counteract occasional alcohol consumption.* It seems milk thistle helps our bodies process a lot of different things, and, in this world, that help is much needed. The way it helps regulate and buffer liver enzymes allows the body to better stand up to ever-present environmental toxins.* While liver health is the primary (or famous) reason milk thistle is used, this plant also supports other systems in the body.* (And for more liver supporting tips, check out our liver supplement roundup.) Furthermore, silymarin’s kidney cleansing properties promote optimal renal function3 and support the body’s natural detoxification pathways—which, in turn, bolsters whole-body health.* The enzyme aldose reductase can cause sorbitol accumulation under conditions of high glucose concentrations in certain organs (e.g., the retina and kidneys). And as it turns out, milk thistle acts as an inhibitor of aldose reductase4 and promotes metabolic health throughout the body.* Daily blood-sugar-balancing benefits are fair game, but those with blood sugar health concerns should speak to their health care provider to see if a milk thistle supplement would be appropriate and beneficial for their personalized needs.* Additionally, silymarin helps buffer against the effects of full-spectrum solar radiation (aka UV rays from the sun).* Robinett shares that a tincture of the seed paired with burdock seed and omega-3 fatty acids can be used to nourish and moisturize the skin.* It’s even used in some skin care products. What can’t this plant do? This is, in part, thanks to silymarin’s capacity to both demonstrate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that support a healthy inflammatory response at a cellular level when needed.* It’s these unmatchable qualities that inspired mindbodygreen to include high-quality European milk thistle (boasting 80% total silymarin) in daily detox+—which combines five ingredients (i.e., glutathione, milk thistle, NAC, selenium, and vitamin C from acerola fruit) to support the everyday and diverse needs for detoxification in the body.*
