It needs more research to determine how milk thistle may help to fight cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved milk thistle for the treatment of cancer. Several small studies have also found that milk thistle may decrease the side effects of cancer treatments, including radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Researchers have found benefits for several types of cancer, including: Small studies mainly performed on cells in laboratories have found that milk thistle can slow cancer cell and tumor growth and possibly increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Milk thistle may help to stop the spread of certain types of cancer. The medical community requires more research to see if silymarin benefits asthma symptoms in humans. Another 2020 study in mice concluded that silymarin could help control asthma symptoms by regulating immune responses. The active ingredient in milk thistle may help to reduce inflammation.Ī 2012 study found that silymarin helped to protect against inflammation in the airways of mice with allergic asthma. Improves allergic asthma symptomsĪsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease where the immune system overreacts to environmental triggers, leading to inflammation in the airways. Another 2020 review of research on milk thistle concluded the compound silymarin appears to be a “promising substance” for the treatment of insulin resistance, including in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.Īlthough milk thistle could play a role in diabetes management, scientists must undertake more research to confirm whether it reduces insulin resistance and supports diabetes management. Reduces insulin resistanceĪ 2016 study in mice found milk thistle extract helped to reduce insulin resistance, which is a problem for people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers need to carry out more studies on the effects of milk thistle on weight loss in humans to confirm this, however. This suggests milk thistle may be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. Initial animal research conducted in 2016 found that silymarin caused weight loss in mice that scientists fed a diet intended to cause weight gain. They gave some rats silybin (the active compound in milk thistle) at both 300 and 600 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight and found that these rats had significantly lower total blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In a 2016 study, researchers fed rats a high-cholesterol diet. It found that cholesterol levels were lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than those taking a placebo. Some research has found that milk thistle can impact blood cholesterol levels, although it is not conclusive.Ī 2006 study suggests that milk thistle may play a role in keeping cholesterol levels down. High cholesterol can lead to problems with heart health and increase a person’s chance of stroke. Researchers must carry out further studies on humans to identify what benefits a person can expect from applying milk thistle to their skin. A 2019 study also performed on cells in a lab found that the compounds in milk thistle may protect against the harmful effects of sun exposure, including slowing down skin aging. Researchers also found in another study that milk thistle had antioxidant and anti-aging effects on human skin cells in a laboratory environment. A 2015 study found that it helped to improve inflammatory skin conditions when applied to the skin of mice. Milk thistle may help to promote healthy skin. Share on Pinterest People may use milk thistle oil topically to improve skin health. But it may be a helpful complementary treatment to try if a healthcare professional approves it. Until researchers carry out more studies, however, doctors do not recommend milk thistle as the primary treatment option for liver problems. Scientists think this creates a detoxifying effect, which is why milk thistle may be beneficial for liver problems. The active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production. However, researchers theorize that it does. The medical community needs more evidence to prove that milk thistle benefits human livers in the same way. Supports liver healthĪ 2016 study found that milk thistle improved diet-induced liver damage in mice. We explore the potential health benefits of milk thistle below. Other potential benefits include protecting heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and helping people manage type 2 diabetes. The most common use of milk thistle is for liver problems. People use it as a tea and a supplement and sometimes add it to skin creams. Share on Pinterest Jasmina007/Getty ImagesĪ person may use different parts of the milk thistle plant to treat various health conditions.
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