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Who is this for?
Uses
Milk thistle has been shown to be effective in protecting the liver from damage caused by alcohol, chemicals, drugs, diseases, and toxic plants. Milk thistle contains the chemical, silymarin, which is believed to protect liver cells in the following ways:
- Silymarin has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from damage caused by a chemical process called oxidation.
- Silymarin has anti-inflammatory effects, which keeps liver cells from swelling in response to injury.
- Silymarin seems to encourage liver cell growth. By changing the outside layer of liver cells, it also prevents certain toxins from getting into liver cells.
Milk thistle has some estrogen-like effects that may stimulate the flow of breast milk in women who are breast-feeding infants. It may also be used to start late menstrual periods. Milk thistle's estrogen-like effect may also have some usefulness for men with prostate cancer.
In animal studies and one small study in humans, milk thistle produced modest reductions in total cholesterol. However, these results have not been demonstrated in larger human studies.
When should I be careful taking it?
Women with hormone-dependent conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and cancers of the breast, ovaries, or uterus should not take or use milk thistle plant extract due to its possible estrogenic effects.
Pregnant women should not take milk thistle because of its possible estrogen-like effects, which could interfere with normal fetal development.
Precautions
Men who have prostate cancer should not take milk thistle without the approval of a doctor.
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