A.Vogel Milk Thistle Complex Drops | 100ml

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Milk thistle is an herbal remedy derived from the milk thistle plant, also known as Silybum marianum. It usually develops slowly over a number of years and causes weak and fragile bones that break easily, even after minor falls. These studies have also seen that milk thistle may be able to reduce the number of amyloid plaques in the brains of animals with Alzheimer’s disease ( 18, 19, 20). It’s also used to protect the liver against toxins like amatoxin, which is produced by the death cap mushroom and is deadly if ingested ( 7, 8). In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1).

The silymarin extracted from milk thistle is known to have antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties ( 2, 3, 4). They are seen in very high numbers in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, meaning that milk thistle could potentially be used to help treat this difficult condition ( 21). Amyloid plaques are sticky clusters of amyloid proteins that can build up between nerve cells as you age.One reported effect of milk thistle is that it can boost breast milk production in lactating mothers.

Thus, more studies are needed to determine what dose and length of treatment are needed for specific liver conditions ( 2, 11, 12). According to naturopathic principles, when two or three meals are being eaten daily, the bowel should move at least once or twice a day. And although milk thistle extract is commonly used as a complementary therapy for people with liver diseases, there’s currently no evidence that it can prevent you from getting these conditions, especially if you have an unhealthy lifestyle. The data is very limited, but one randomized controlled study found that mothers taking 420 mg of silymarin for 63 days produced 64% more milk than those taking a placebo ( 37). More studies are needed before it can be determined how silymarin might be used to support people undergoing cancer treatment.

The active ingredients in milk thistle are a group of plant compounds collectively known as silymarin ( 1). Interestingly, one study found that people with acne who took 210 milligrams of silymarin per day for 8 weeks experienced a 53% decrease in acne lesions ( 42). However, the results from studies have been mixed, and not all have found milk thistle extract to have a beneficial effect on liver disease. Milk thistle extract has a high amount of silymarin (between 65–80%) that has been concentrated from the milk thistle plant. Some animal studies have shown that milk thistle could be useful for reducing the side effects of cancer treatments ( 26, 27, 28).

Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, milk thistle may be a useful supplement for people with acne. This prickly plant has distinctive purple flowers and white veins, which traditional stories say were caused by a drop of the Virgin Mary’s milk falling onto its leaves. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties mean that it is possibly neuroprotective and could help prevent the decline in brain function you experience as you age ( 14, 15).When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating. However, the studies in humans are very limited and have yet to show a meaningful clinical effect in people ( 32, 33, 34, 35, 36). Milk thistle has been shown in experimental test-tube and animal studies to stimulate bone mineralization and potentially be protective against bone loss ( 22, 23). One study also found that it may slightly extend the life expectancy of people with cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholic liver disease ( 10).

It may also make chemotherapy work more effectively against certain cancers and, in some circumstances, even destroy cancer cells ( 9, 29, 30, 31).

However, this review also noted that the quality of the studies was not very high, so more studies are needed before it’s possible to make any firm recommendations ( 44).