Milk thistle has a rich history of medicinal use dating back to ancient times. The physician and pharmacologist Dioscorides (40–90 AD) was among the first to report using milk thistle to treat serpent bites. Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) also documented its use for removing bile when milk thistle was mixed with honey.<a href="#ref-5" id="ref-link-5" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17548789" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Integr Cancer Ther (2007-Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[5]</a>
During the Middle Ages, milk thistle gained a reputation for having positive effects on liver health and as an antidote for liver toxins. This perspective persisted through various historical periods, with figures like the British herbalist Culpepper recommending it for liver obstructions. Physicians Felter and Lloyd also noted its potential benefits for liver "congestion." Today, milk thistle remains a popular supplement widely used by healthcare practitioners.<a href="#ref-5" id="ref-link-5" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17548789" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Integr Cancer Ther (2007-Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[5]</a>

What are milk thistle’s historical uses?

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a medicinal plant belonging to the
Asteraceae/Compositae family. It is native to Southern Europe, Central Asia, and Ethiopia<a href="#ref-3" id="ref-link-3" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;&lt;a href="https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:249211-1" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.: Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Cited December 14, 2023
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;(2023)&lt;/div&gt;'>[3]</a> and grows particularly well on the sunny slopes of the Mediterranean countries. Milk thistle’s leaves have characteristic white, “milky” veins, and the plant can grow up to 6 feet tall. It typically blooms from June to August, after which its black seeds are harvested to be used for medicinal purposes. Milk thistle can now be found throughout California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.<a href="#ref-4" id="ref-link-4" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/milk-thistle" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Milk Thistle \
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;(Aug 2020)&lt;/div&gt;'>[4]</a><a href="#ref-1" id="ref-link-1" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Saller R, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18334810" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;An updated systematic review with meta-analysis for the clinical evidence of silymarin.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Forsch Komplementmed (2008-Feb)&lt;/div&gt;'>[1]</a>
Although the terms milk thistle and <a href="/supplements/silymarin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Silymarin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Silymarin is a complex mixture of plant-derived compounds extracted from milk thistle. It mostly contains flavonolignans and flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">silymarin</a> are often used interchangeably, silymarin is a complex extracted from the dried seeds and fruits of milk thistle.<a href="#ref-4" id="ref-link-4" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/milk-thistle" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Milk Thistle \
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;(Aug 2020)&lt;/div&gt;'>[4]</a><a href="#ref-5" id="ref-link-5" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17548789" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Integr Cancer Ther (2007-Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[5]</a><a href="#ref-6" id="ref-link-6" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Karimi G, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23492971" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&amp;quot;Silymarin&amp;quot;, a promising pharmacological agent for treatment of diseases.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Iran J Basic Med Sci (2011-Jul)&lt;/div&gt;'>[6]</a> Milk thistle extracts are typically odorless and contain 70–80% of silymarin.<a href="#ref-7" id="ref-link-7" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Jacobs BP, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12427501" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Milk thistle for the treatment of liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Am J Med (2002-Oct-15)&lt;/div&gt;'>[7]</a>

What is milk thistle?

Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the <a href="/supplements/silymarin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Silymarin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Silymarin is a complex mixture of plant-derived compounds extracted from milk thistle. It mostly contains flavonolignans and flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">silymarin</a> page for a description of <a href="/faq/what-are-silymarins-main-benefits/">silymarin’s main benefits</a>.

What are milk thistle’s main benefits?

Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the <a href="/supplements/silymarin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Silymarin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Silymarin is a complex mixture of plant-derived compounds extracted from milk thistle. It mostly contains flavonolignans and flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">silymarin</a> page for a description of <a href="/faq/what-are-silymarins-main-drawbacks/">silymarin’s main drawbacks</a>.

What are milk thistle’s main drawbacks?

Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the <a href="/supplements/silymarin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Silymarin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Silymarin is a complex mixture of plant-derived compounds extracted from milk thistle. It mostly contains flavonolignans and flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">silymarin</a> page for a description of <a href="/faq/how-does-silymarin-work/">silymarin’s mechanisms of action</a>.

How does milk thistle work?

Milk Thistle

Liver Health

An updated systematic review with meta-analysis for the clinical evidence of silymarin.

Silymarin as Supportive Treatment in Liver Diseases: A Narrative Review

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.: Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Cited December 14, 2023

Milk Thistle \

Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).

"Silymarin", a promising pharmacological agent for treatment of diseases.

Milk thistle for the treatment of liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nick Milazzo

Natalka Roshak

Giulia Guerrini

Daryl Nault

Lactation

Milk Production

Skin, Hair & Nails

Acne

Acne Symptoms

Evaluation of the galactogogue effect of silymarin on mothers of preterm newborns (<32 weeks).

Clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of BIO-C (micronized Silymarin) as a galactagogue

Effects of Oral Antioxidants on Lesion Counts Associated with Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Patients with Papulopustular Acne

Milk thistle has a rich history of medicinal use dating back to ancient times. The physician and pharmacologist Dioscorides (40–90 AD) was among the first to report using milk thistle to treat serpent bites. Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) also documented its use for removing bile when milk thistle was mixed with honey.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17548789|title=Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).|published=2007-Jun|authors=Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM|journal=Integr Cancer Ther|]
During the Middle Ages, milk thistle gained a reputation for having positive effects on liver health and as an antidote for liver toxins. This perspective persisted through various historical periods, with figures like the British herbalist Culpepper recommending it for liver obstructions. Physicians Felter and Lloyd also noted its potential benefits for liver "congestion." Today, milk thistle remains a popular supplement widely used by healthcare practitioners.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17548789|title=Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).|published=2007-Jun|authors=Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM|journal=Integr Cancer Ther|]

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a medicinal plant belonging to the
Asteraceae/Compositae family. It is native to Southern Europe, Central Asia, and Ethiopia[reference|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:249211-1|Title=Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.: Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Cited December 14, 2023|published=2023] and grows particularly well on the sunny slopes of the Mediterranean countries. Milk thistle’s leaves have characteristic white, “milky” veins, and the plant can grow up to 6 feet tall. It typically blooms from June to August, after which its black seeds are harvested to be used for medicinal purposes. Milk thistle can now be found throughout California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.[reference|url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/milk-thistle|Title=Milk Thistle | NCCIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health); Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, cited December 14, 2023|published=Aug 2020][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18334810|title=An updated systematic review with meta-analysis for the clinical evidence of silymarin.|published=2008-Feb|authors=Saller R, Brignoli R, Melzer J, Meier R|journal=Forsch Komplementmed|]
Although the terms milk thistle and <a href="/supplements/silymarin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Silymarin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Silymarin is a complex mixture of plant-derived compounds extracted from milk thistle. It mostly contains flavonolignans and flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">silymarin</a> are often used interchangeably, silymarin is a complex extracted from the dried seeds and fruits of milk thistle.[reference|url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/milk-thistle|Title=Milk Thistle | NCCIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health); Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, cited December 14, 2023|published=Aug 2020][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17548789|title=Advances in the use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).|published=2007-Jun|authors=Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM|journal=Integr Cancer Ther|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23492971|title="Silymarin", a promising pharmacological agent for treatment of diseases.|published=2011-Jul|authors=Karimi G, Vahabzadeh M, Lari P, Rashedinia M, Moshiri M|journal=Iran J Basic Med Sci|] Milk thistle extracts are typically odorless and contain 70–80% of silymarin.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12427501|title=Milk thistle for the treatment of liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.|published=2002-Oct-15|authors=Jacobs BP, Dennehy C, Ramirez G, Sapp J, Lawrence VA|journal=Am J Med|]

Milk Thistle

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