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AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Protects and restores the liver. Protects against ischemia.
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Traditionally used in liver disorders, Milk Thistle may detoxify your liver so that your skin and mind are clear. Relieves symptoms of toxicity like itchy, oily skin and foul stools.

Few side effects. May interfere with some medications that are processed through the liver. Its estrogenic nature can aggravate cancer, and its protective nature can protect cancer cells.

Metabolic Nature of Milk Thistle

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Affinity:
Liver Gallbladder

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Milk Thistle
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Cleanse & Detox:
Antilithic

ANTILITHIC

An herb that dissolves / breaks up stones (gallstones or kidney stones) so that it can be passed.

SEE ALL 'ANTILITHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Nervine

STRONG NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Neuroprotective

NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:
Antifibrotic

ANTIFIBROTIC

Fibrosis of an organ is often a progressive leading to organ failure (i.e lungs, liver, kidney). While vulneraries usually help restore collagen, antifibrotic herbs often clear collagen. Aka fibrinolytic.

SEE ALL 'ANTIFIBROTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:
Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antipoisonous

ANTIPOISONOUS

An antidote for a poison. Many anti-poisonous herbs draw out a poison and are good for insect bites. Others help burn it up.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPOISONOUS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antioxidant

ANTIOXIDANT

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions.

SEE ALL 'ANTIOXIDANT' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:
Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Kidney Tonic

KIDNEY-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the kidneys.

SEE ALL 'KIDNEY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:
Hepatoprotective

STRONG HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:
Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Toxicity: Minimal

Foods with a Similar Nature to Milk Thistle

  • Turmeric Root (Fresh)

    Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Antifibrotic, Antipoisonous, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Immune-calming, Analgesic, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Neuroprotective, Antifibrotic, Antipoisonous, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Immune-calming, Analgesic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Leaves

    Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Livotonic, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Antifibrotic, Hepatoprotective, Neuroprotective, Cardiac-stimulant, Hypolipidemic, Analgesic, Galactagogue, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Grape

    Grape has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Nervine, Alterative, Immune-calming, Neuroprotective, Antioxidant, Livotonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Spanish Black Radish

    Spanish Black Radish has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Hypolipidemic, Cholagogue, Immune-calming, Antifibrotic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Burdock Root (Gobo)

    Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diuretic, Antimicrobial, Hypolipidemic, Cholagogue, Livotonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cranberry

    Cranberry has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Livotonic, Alterative, Diuretic, Antimicrobial, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Tarragon

    Tarragon has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Cholagogue, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Alterative, Antipoisonous

    LEARN MORE

  • Carrot

    Carrot has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Livotonic, Alterative, Cholagogue, Antilithic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Immune-calming, Diuretic, Nervine, Analgesic, Galactagogue

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Milk Thistle

  • Ginkgo

    Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Immune-calming, Analgesic, Nervine, Antifibrotic, Neuroprotective, Antimicrobial

    LEARN MORE

  • Bhringaraj

    Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

    Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Analgesic, Livotonic, Antimicrobial, Nervine, Antipoisonous, Cholagogue, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Antilithic, Kidney-tonic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antipoisonous, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Sage, Red

    Sage, Red has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Kidney-tonic, Alterative, Neuroprotective, Antifibrotic, Antimicrobial

    LEARN MORE

  • Licorice Ghee (9oz)

    Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

    Antimicrobial, Antipoisonous, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming, Livotonic, Alterative, Nervine, Analgesic, Antifibrotic

    LEARN MORE

  • Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

    Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

    Antimicrobial, Antipoisonous, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming, Livotonic, Alterative, Nervine, Analgesic, Antifibrotic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Root

    Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

    Livotonic, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam)

    Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam) has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Antifibrotic, Antioxidant, Cardiac-stimulant, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Neuroprotective, Alterative, Analgesic, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Immune-calming, Nervine

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Milk Thistle may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Milk Thistle may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Milk Thistle. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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