Is milk thistle good for the liver?

Milk thistle's reputation as a liver tonic is supported by research showing that milk thistle protects liver cells from chemical damage. Milk thistle also supports liver function by enhancing bile production, promoting liver cell generation, and by offering antioxidant support.

How does milk thistle help the liver?

Research shows that many phytochemicals in milk thistle have a protective effect on liver cells. While it's important to remember that each of the phytochemicals in a plant play an important role in providing their health benefits, the most studied of the phytochemicals in milk thistle is silymarin. Silymarin has been shown to reverse the effects of toxins on the liver and protect liver cells from their damaging impact. (1)

The silymarin content of milk thistle causes it to act like an antioxidant. It also raises levels of glutathione (a powerful antioxidant) in the body. (2)

Antioxidants are important for our health. They counteract the damage that free radicals have on our cells by neutralizing them. This helps our body maintain an oxidative-anti oxidative balance. Long-term oxidative imbalance contributes to aging. It may also play a role in the development of chronic illness. Keeping oxidant balance is especially important for the liver, because this organ processes various compounds that produce free radicals.

How to take milk thistle to support your liver?

Similar to artichoke, the head of the milk thistle plant is used as food. However, the seeds of milk thistle are the most commonly used part for medicinal purposes. The seeds are made into liquid drops, dried for use as tea, or in capsule and tablet format. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines on dosage.

Milk thistle is well tolerated and there are no known side effects or drug interactions.

Why is the liver so important for health?

Your liver's health (or lack thereof) impacts your health quite dramatically. This important organ has such a wide range of functions that our health suffers if our liver is unhappy. Alfred Vogel spoke about the liver as being the regulator of your health. The health pioneer concluded that you are only as healthy as your liver.

Let's look at some of the liver's functions to better understand why it's such an important organ:

Helps your body fight infection by removing bacteria from the blood
Breaks down nutrients from food to produce energy
Creates cholesterol for hormone production and tissue healing
Produces bile, a compound needed to digest fat and to absorb fat-soluble vitamins
Removes toxic substances we consume from our environment.

Signs your liver is struggling

Some typical signs which can arise and suggest your liver is struggling are as follows:

Stomach pain and swelling – Your liver is located on the upper right side of your abdomen, tucked in under your rib cage. Pain in this area could indicate something isn't quite right. A stressed liver can swell (excess water can accumulate too) which can also cause pain or discomfort in the surrounding areas. Persistent stomach pain and / or in certain situations (such as after eating a particularly fatty meal) shouldn't be ignored
Jaundice – The liver has an important role in processing your blood and in doing so, bilirubin, a substance produced from the breakdown of old red blood cells is excreted from your body. However, if the liver isn't functioning correctly, bilirubin is often not excreted properly and can build up in your body. The result is a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes which is known as jaundice
Altered bowel habits – A change in bowel habits (such as diarrhoea or constipation) can be a sign that your liver isn't working quite as it should.
Skin issues – The liver is responsible for processing and breaking down toxins. However, if your liver is struggling to do its job properly – these toxins have to be eliminated elsewhere and often your skin is a port of call. For this reason unexplained, itchy, irritated skin can be an indication your liver is under stress.
Nausea – Nausea can be a result of many issues but it could be a warning sign with regards to your liver. Take special note if the nausea occurs after eating particularly fatty foods
Fatigue – Again, fatigue can occur for many reasons but an overload of toxins in your body as a result of a dysfunctional liver is one of them. As the liver is also involved in converting your food into energy this is another reason why poor liver function can leave you feeling exhausted (physically and mentally).

Who needs liver support?

It's likely that your liver needs extra support if you:

are on long term medication
eat a diet rich in refined carbohydrates (sugar, bread, pasta)
drink alcohol or coffee
smoke cigarettes

Women going through menopause or suffering from PMS will benefit from extra liver support. Our menopause advisor Eileen takes a closer look at how a struggling liver can impact menopause symptoms in her blog 'Support your liver for a better menopause'.

Even if you don't fall into the above categories, supporting your liver is a wise choice. Remember that we are exposed to thousands of environmental toxins on a daily basis whether they are inhaled, ingested, or applied to our skin. The liver is the major organ responsible for dealing with this. To reduce this toxic load:

Eat a diet full of nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods
Improve gut health and fitness
Supplement with milk thistle.

Look after your liver and your liver will look after you!

Is milk thistle good for the liver?

Signs your liver is struggling & how milk thistle can help