Don't be alarmed: it's not half as scratchy (or dairy-infused) as the name suggests.
On the contrary, milk thistle is an herbal remedy that's been used for centuries to support the liver, the digestive system and the skin. If you're partial to a big night out with plenty of food and drink and have felt the aftereffects the next day, a milk thistle supplement might just become your new best friend.
Milk thistle is derived from the seeds of a plant with purple flowers and white veins and is most appreciated for its group of compounds called silymarin, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Those all contribute towards this herbal remedy's ability to get your body back to feeling its best, even after a large meal or a heavy tipple-filled night.
Superintendent Pharmacist Carolina Goncalves of Pharmica, says: "Taking milk thistle supplements can theoretically help to prevent common inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver disease. This might explain why milk thistle has been used as an unofficial means of treating liver disease for centuries."
Why use milk thistle?
Milk thistle may help protect your liver from damage caused by toxins, alcohol, medications or diseases. It may also help to regenerate new liver cells and improve liver function in some people. Some studies have shown that milk thistle may help people with liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver disease or liver cancer, however, all of these studies are smaller ones and should not be heavily leaned upon as a solution to chronic conditions.
For those looking for some support with the one-off boozy blowouts, milk thistle may also help with indigestion, bloating and gas by stimulating your body's bile production and flow. Bile helps to digest fats and remove waste products from the body, and adding a milk thistle supplement to your day can encourage all of the above to keep flowing naturally.
Is milk thistle safe?
"Milk thistle is generally considered to be safe when taken within recommended doses," Goncalves explains. "Some users have reported the following side effects as a result of exceeding the recommended dose - gastrointestinal discomfort, itchiness, and headaches. Diabetics should also be cautious when taking milk thistle as it could potentially lower their blood sugar. Moreover, its potential estrogenic effects raise concerns for individuals with hormone-sensitive conditions, like certain types of cancer." Always check with your doctor before incorporating into your diet.
We've rounded up all of the best milk thistle supplements below.
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British Supplements Clean Genuine Milk Thistle Extract + Uptake Blend
You’ll get 60 capsules in this British Supplements Clean Genuine Milk Thistle Extract + Uptake Blend, which equates to a one-month supply. Each capsule contains 180mg extract which is equivalent to 4,500mg whole herb (144mg Silymarin) and 20mg of the brand’s special Uptake Blend.
The result? A clean, consistent addition to your daily supplement boost, offering all of the benefits of milk thistle without any fillers, binders or other unnecessary ingredients.
Buy now £11.50, British Supplements
Solgar Milk Thistle Vegetable Capsules
Solgar’s convenient Milk Thistle contains 80mg of silymarin, a group of antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and detoxifying properties. Designed to be taken once a day, these capsules are suitable for those looking to calm down liver issues while providing plenty of extra health benefits for everyday comfort.
Buy now £28.99, Holland & Barrett
PuroLabs Milk Thistle
PuroLabs Milk Thistle supplement is a high-strength 40:1 milk thistle extract that’s vegan-friendly and contains no hidden nasties. Made in the UK with clean ingredients and fewer additives, it offers all of the good stuff to help the liver without the fillers or unnecessary ingredients that some cheaper brands bulk their supplements out with.
PuroLabs uses a highly concentrated extract that’s naturally dried from the full spectrum herb and each capsule is free from titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate, iron oxide, silicon dioxide, maltodextrin and palm oil.
Buy now £19.19, PuroLabs
Nutrition Geeks Milk Thistle Tablets
As the name would suggest, Nutrition Geeks knows what’s what in the world of supplements - and the brand’s Milk Thistle Tablets are a high-strength extract and provide the equivalent of 4000 mg of Milk Thistle per serving of two tablets.
This eco-friendly brand also does one better, using high quality, ethical and sustainably run suppliers for its supplements and packaging and ensuring it’s a planet-conscious brand from start to finish. The 90 capsule pack equates to a 45-day supply.
Buy now £6.29, Amazon
Holland & Barrett Effervescent Milk Thistle Extract 100mg Tropical Flavour
If you’re someone who struggles to swallow pills or forgets to take daily supplements, this Holland & Barrett Effervescent Milk Thistle Extract is a great choice for getting all the benefits regularly.
Containing 100mg of milk thistle, each tropical-flavoured lozenge can be dropped into a glass of water and swallowed far more easily than the tablet counterparts. They’re refreshing and taste good too. The rave reviews speak for themselves.
Buy now £8.49, Holland & Barrett
HRI Milk Thistle Tablets
Milk thistle is traditionally used as an herbal remedy for various health conditions, especially those affecting the liver, gallbladder and skin. These easy-to-swallow HRI Milk Thistle Tablets help to relieve the symptoms associated with occasional overindulgence of food and drink like indigestion or an upset stomach. Ideal for a gentle detox, they help you to feel a little more ‘back to normal’ if you’ve been away on holiday or have been celebrating a special occasion.
Buy now £13.99, Holland & Barrett
Nature's Best Milk Thistle 3000mg, Premium Grade Extract
Nature’s Best is all about making the supplement industry as healthy and as sustainable as possible, which means Milk Thistle Tablets are cultivated from a sustainable, ethical and commercially grown source.
The brand’s Milk Thistle 3000mg formula provides 100mg of standardised seed extract with 80mg of the natural compound silymarin using a premium grade formula that’s ideal for those trying out milk thistle for the first time.
Buy now £9.75, Nature's Best
Just For Tummies Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is one of the finest for alleviating stomach pains and concerns naturally and these Just For Tummies Milk Thistle capsules don't hold back when it comes to bringing you back to your best. A botanical formula, the brand's supplement supports the liver and is ideal for when you’ve eaten, or drunk to uncomfortable levels and need a little relief.
The tablets contain no added sugar, salt, starch, yeasts, flavourings, colours or preservatives. There’s just 100 mg of milk thistle extract to calm an upset tummy and soothe indigestion, ideal for the morning after the night before.
Buy now £13.00, Approved Vitamins
FürstenMED Milk Thistle Artichoke Dandelion & Choline
If it's your liver causing you frustrations and you're ready to tackle the problem head-on, these FürstenMED Milk Thistle Artichoke Dandelion & Choline capsules could be just the solution. Blending an optimal high-dose complex of milk thistle (80 per cent silymarin), artichoke (2.5 per cent cynarin), dandelion and choline, these high-quality extracts combine for an optimal effect on the body.
Buy now £18.89, Amazon
Raw Living Milk Thistle Extract High Strengthi
Fushi’s supplements are freshly ground, hand-blended and capsulated in the brand’s London workshop. Each synergistic blend is formulated by the brand’s own experts, which means a more tailored approach to taking all body-boosting supplements. These Milk Thistle Extract High Strength capsules are made up of a 100 per cent plant-based formulation and are vegan-friendly.
Buy now £17.86, Raw Living
Verdict
Potent, fast-acting and clean ingredients: British Supplements' Clean Genuine Milk Thistle Extract + Uptake Blend takes our top spot when it comes to the most effective milk thistle supplements.
