Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a flowering herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. It has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of ailments, especially liver problems. Reviews of research on milk thistle have concluded that its efficacy against liver disease has not been established, and additional, high-quality trials are needed.
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This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb milk thistle—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.
For Consumers
General Information
Research Spotlights
Ongoing Medical Studies
- Find Active Medical Research Studies on Milk Thistle (ClinicalTrials.gov)
For Health Professionals
NCCAM Clinical Digest
Scientific Literature
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Systematic Reviews/Reviews/Meta-analysis (PubMed®)
- Randomized Controlled Trials (PubMed®)
- Herb-Drug Interactions (PubMed®)
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Systematic Reviews/Reviews/Meta-analysis (PubMed®)
- Randomized Controlled Trials (PubMed®)
