Studies on silymarin suggest that it may detoxify some of the harmful compounds in alcohol, thus protecting your liver. Plus, it acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing harmful free radicals that are produced as your body metabolizes alcohol ( 4 ).
It's used to relieve the upset stomach that usually accompanies a hangover so you can feel more like yourself the next morning. The easiest way to take Milk Thistle is by taking one or two easy-to-swallow tablets.
The combination of milk thistle and alcohol impact the liver inversely. Alcohol has a long-term damaging effect, while milk thistle helps restore the liver.
No matter what, if you are going to be drinking, make sure you have some Milk Thistle on stand-by. Take one tablet before you start drinking and then another before you go to bed and one with breakfast the following morning.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): Milk thistle is often used to treat liver problems. Some studies looking at milk thistle to treat alcoholic liver disease have found significant improvements in liver function. People with the mildest form of alcohol-related liver damage seem to improve the most.
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.
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.
Food: Metabolism rate increases with food. Time of day: Alcohol metabolizes faster at the end of the day. Exercise: Alcohol is eliminated slightly faster during exercise. Alcoholism: Heavy drinking increases the rate, but advanced liver disease decreases it.
Then the antioxidant glutathione attaches to the free radicals. This helps the body remove dangerous compounds naturally. Silymarin helps regenerate and maintain high levels of glutathione. This, in turn, helps detox the liver itself.
Like Jackie, Shabir suggests taking milk thistle before you drink and in the run-up to party season, particularly a few days ahead of an event: "Small studies indicate that milk thistle may protect liver cells from damage which starts to occur from the very first glass of alcohol consumed.
You will experience physical signs your liver is healing, such as healthier-looking skin and eyes, increased energy levels, and reduced stomach pain and swelling. Other signs your liver is healing include: Improved amino-acid regulation – Your liver processes proteins and amino acids that your body cannot store.
Milk thistle (Silymarin marianum) is a well-known herbal therapeutic commonly used for liver support. It supports detoxification through enhancing liver as well as kidney and pancreatic function.
Milk thistle is marketed as capsules or tablets containing ethanol extracted silymarin in amounts of 250 to 750 mg and is purported to be beneficial for liver disease, including alcoholic and viral liver disease. The daily dosage varies but it is typically taken 2 to 3 times daily.
If you struggle with getting sufficient sleep, you may like to consider taking Milk thistle, a herbal medicine designed to support a healthy digestive system.
Drinking water, juice, broth and other non-alcohol beverages to reduce dehydration. Getting sleep to counteract fatigue. Taking antacids to help settle your stomach. Trying aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to help your headache or muscle ache.
More than 90% of alcohol is eliminated by the liver; 2-5% is excreted unchanged in urine, sweat, or breath.
Blood: Alcohol is eliminated from the bloodstream at about 0.015 per hour. Alcohol can show up in a blood test for up to 12 hours. Urine: Alcohol can be detected in urine for up 3 to 5 days via the ethyl glucuronide (EtG) test or 10 to 12 hours via the traditional method.
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.
Luckily, the silybin content from a milk thistle supplement is able to enhance neuroplasticity through the BDNF/TrKb pathway. By doing this, milk thistle may help enhance learning and memory, boost mood, and help support healthy inflammatory and oxidative responses.
Promotes Brain Health
Researchers suggest that silymarin's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may protect your brain from damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, one study found that milk thistle increased resistance to oxidative stress which is a potential cause of Alzheimer's disease.