How long should I take milk thistle for liver?

Early research shows that taking milk thistle extract by mouth for up to one year, or taking a product containing the milk thistle constituent silybin plus phosphatidylcholine by mouth for 1 week, improves liver function tests. But other research shows no benefit.

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How long can you take milk thistle for?

Milk thistle is considered safe in dosages of 420 mg/day orally in divided doses for up to 41 months.

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Is milk thistle good to take long term?

Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth ( 1 , 45 ). In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1 ). When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating.

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Can milk thistle reverse liver damage?

Milk thistle is often suggested as a treatment for alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, but scientific studies show mixed results. Most studies show milk thistle improves liver function and increases survival in people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis.

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What are the risks of taking milk thistle long term?

Milk thistle can cause: Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating. Itchiness. Headache.

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When to Take Milk Thistle

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How much milk thistle should you take daily for liver health?

If you're taking milk thistle for the liver, the recommended daily intake of milk thistle is 150 milligrams, taken one to three times daily. This is a somewhat high dose that can act as a natural liver detox. For ongoing use and liver support, take 50 to 150 milligrams daily.

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Why you should not take milk thistle?

Milk thistle may produce allergic reactions, which tend to be more common among people who are allergic to plants in the same family (for example, ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy). Milk thistle may lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes should use caution.

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Can milk thistle repair a fatty liver?

Medical research on milk thistle and liver health has led to mixed results. Studies show that silymarin may help ease inflammation and promote cell repair. This may help ease symptoms from liver diseases like jaundice, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and fatty liver disease.

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How much milk thistle for liver repair?

The available forms of Milk thistle are capsules, tablet, tincture and intravenous solution. Adult dosage in terms of hepatoprotection is 420 mg/day of extract (standardized to 70-80% silymarin) three times a day for 6-8 weeks. Maintenance dose is 280 mg/day.

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Is milk thistle good for liver repair?

Liver healing and regeneration

Milk thistle helps stop oxidative stress and free radical damage in the liver. Research shows milk thistle restores damaged cells. Silymarin also protects the liver against damage from alcohol and some prescription drugs.

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What vitamins help repair liver?

Which Vitamins Are Good for the Liver? Vitamins that play a crucial role in maintaining liver health include vitamin D, E, C, B. Individuals need to take these vitamins regularly through a healthy diet plan.

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What are the best supplements for liver repair?

Liver support herbal supplements include dandelion root, green tea, milk thistle extract and artichoke leaf. Other nutrients that also benefit the liver are vitamins C, D, and E and calcium D-glucarate.

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Can you overdo milk thistle?

Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label. Do not use different forms (tablets, liquid, extract, teas, etc) of milk thistle at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose.

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How long to take milk thistle for fatty liver?

Early research shows that taking milk thistle extract by mouth for up to one year, or taking a product containing the milk thistle constituent silybin plus phosphatidylcholine by mouth for 1 week, improves liver function tests.

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How fast does milk thistle take to work?

How Long Does Milk Thistle Take to Work. There isn't an exact science behind this, but generally it can take around 3 to 4 months before someone will see any benefits of milk thistle on their health, and this is after daily intake of some form of milk thistle.

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Can you drink alcohol while taking milk thistle?

Do not consume alcohol while you are taking silymarin, the active compound in milk thistle. While there is no specific interaction between this nutritional supplement and alcohol, the primary reason people take silymarin is to protect the liver and help it repair itself.

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Does milk thistle really lower liver enzymes?

Milk thistle has been used to detoxify the liver and even help liver cells regenerate themselves for over 2,000 years. Studies confirm that milk thistle can protect liver function, prevent liver damage, and normalize elevated liver enzyme levels.

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Is milk thistle good for liver and pancreas?

Milk Thistle has numerous benefits to the body, such as:

For functional impairment of the liver caused by toxic states. It protects the liver cells during administration of drugs hazardous to the liver. It helps with prevention and treatment of cancers. It provides renal protection.

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How do I know if my liver is detoxing?

10 Signs Your Liver is Detoxing
  1. Nausea.
  2. Vomiting.
  3. Anxiety.
  4. Tremors.
  5. Headache.
  6. Confusion.
  7. Insomnia.
  8. Restlessness.

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How do I get my fatty liver back to normal?

If you have NAFLD without any other medical problems, you don't need any special treatment. But making some lifestyle changes can control or reverse the fat buildup in your liver.
...
Treatment
  1. Losing weight.
  2. Lowering your cholesterol and triglycerides.
  3. Controlling your diabetes.
  4. Avoiding alcohol.

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What is the fastest way to cure a fatty liver?

Research suggests that losing weight is the single best thing you can do to control or reverse NAFLD. A good goal is to lose 10% of your total body weight, but even a loss of 3% to 5% can improve your liver health.
...
Options can include:
  1. Diet.
  2. Exercise.
  3. Weight loss surgery.
  4. Weight loss medication.

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What is the most effective way to take milk thistle?

Milk thistle tea is easy to make at home. It's available for purchase as loose or ground seeds and leaves or in tea bags. Steep a tea bag or 1 teaspoon of loose tea in 1 cup (237 mL) of hot water for 5–10 minutes. If not using a tea bag, strain the tea before drinking it.

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Should milk thistle be taken on a full or empty stomach?

Milk thistle can be taken on an empty stomach. Some believe this makes it work faster; however, very sensitive individuals should consider taking milk thistle with a meal instead. Milk thistle can be taken in herbal capsules or liquid extracts.

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What is the best drink to flush your liver?

Here is a list of drinks that help in natural cleansing and detoxification of the liver according to Medical News.
  • Coffee. Coffee is good for the liver, especially because it protects against issues such as fatty liver disease. ...
  • Ginger and lemon drink. ...
  • Oatmeal drink. ...
  • Tumeric drink. ...
  • Green tea. ...
  • Grapefruit drink.

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What does milk thistle cure?

It may have protective effects on the liver, preventing damage. There's some evidence that milk thistle can treat cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, which can be caused by alcohol abuse, autoimmune disease, or viruses.

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