Milk thistle & your liver health: What you need to know

Written by: Deepa Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 16 July 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-8745090f-bc09-404b-9da6-79f412d68067","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5d6aa61-aaf5-4f52-ad9d-6a6848829bb8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 160.71897%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Milk thistle has been used traditionally as a liver tonic for centuries. But, does it actually have a positive influence on liver detox, and liver healing? Photo Credit: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-0bdd69f8-c207-497f-9e21-eb510ead0a3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-603579a7-f003-42e5-92e1-bc9e1ceb4dbc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 310.03074%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Let’s take a look at the research. Photo Credit: Freepik

What Is Milk Thistle?

[{"selector":"#anim-70c89c70-6c90-4c82-8d2a-ff2801d62f2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e05e81a3-26b3-459a-952e-bb1e8daf0275","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.99092%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb52b5d9-d301-4e87-a43f-adedfe8449a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d04a0e3d-2441-47a7-97df-3440e076bc7a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 733.95105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Milk thistle is a flowering herb. It has an active chemical called silymarin that is reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver protective properties. Photo Credit: Freepik

How It Enhances Liver Function?

[{"selector":"#anim-9ba533d0-fa4f-4c84-a4d9-236767857787","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efc76775-1053-405b-854c-ff7e34729300","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da61816c-187d-450e-8c93-87df0d6910e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38f43d1c-cedd-4343-8087-2ae12e961bdc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 454.06321%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Silymarin has been associated with liver cell regeneration, having anti-inflammatory properties, preventing liver cell damage, & decreasing cell damage caused by toxins & alcohol. Photo Credit: Freepik

Detoxification Effects

[{"selector":"#anim-9f35ad92-36a3-4e71-821a-712fb52e3360","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da3f2ef8-2c5b-495a-80c4-2571c2dd34ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 128.15485%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d253678b-5664-4f70-953f-c022225eaf7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7bb756b-8f0f-474e-9bd9-f1bcabcf7225","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 872.83992%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Milk thistle can help flush toxins from your liver as it enhances you natural detoxification process. It may aid with digestion and improve overall skin health by monitoring the liver's ability to detoxify toxins. Photo Credit: Freepik

Helps in Fatty Liver Disease

[{"selector":"#anim-f619c95c-3ef0-4708-963e-c49ffe97a72b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-145bdd6a-e431-47f3-9cc4-a9d0a4aa49aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa16a731-c4e9-4c33-95f1-7ec5e5a565eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f39fbabb-d26d-4234-98db-5d001acdbcd9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 454.06321%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The studies show that milk thistle may potentially help with the symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as it may help lower abnormal liver enzymes and fat accumulation in the liver. Photo Credit: Freepik

How to Take It?

[{"selector":"#anim-9be3e481-a9e8-41aa-81a6-83a3d757f627","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f6181e4-0d6b-4df0-a26b-06a1a594ae60","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.56314%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf949ef0-cf35-4a3d-8abc-cf82d9a511bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-755e612a-d9b6-43c7-9a0c-bf9de21489b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Available in capsules, teas, or tinctures. Most supplements use 70-80% silymarin. Always speak with your doctor first. Photo Credit: Freepik

Who Should Avoid It?

[{"selector":"#anim-0ec3910a-e5a3-461a-a577-385d5b84ea2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5d11072-4d9f-4c08-b76b-ba654ce7837d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 126.6013%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e11a2235-ece8-4629-a025-a596799b5d9c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-935f2963-bda7-41a1-9467-2ff18332d9e6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 672.83992%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Those who are pregnant or with hormone-sensitive conditions or ragweed allergy. Side effects can include nausea or headaches. Photo Credit: Freepik

Final Takeaway

[{"selector":"#anim-9eeb0761-d03a-46d2-ae6b-3b177a09260e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-422e3b99-eec0-4a9e-92b0-23024f6af751","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.19501%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ad2cec3-7262-494c-a733-92809d5c99cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2704e6bd-b1be-4644-ab30-fc01ea9167bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 783.95105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Milk thistle could be helpful for liver health, specifically when taken regularly as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, but it isn’t a substitute for medical treatment or healthy habits. Photo Credit: Freepik

If you found this helpful,

[{"selector":"#anim-431613fb-d2f9-4158-a7f1-f6bdb7b2ba4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51f1d913-ee71-4cb2-a0cd-38bdfb9ccdfc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.61058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17881cd5-4e16-49ca-82f2-30e4c8f3084a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2df40df-daf5-4442-b2b5-a6e3ccf59dff","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2448.9724%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! Video Credit: Tata 1mg Arrow