Earth Friend Herb Co. Milk Thistle Review
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Study, Trial or Testing Result Summary
Members Only3 human studies · 2 improved
This product gives 750 mg of organic milk thistle a day, standardized to 375 mg of silymarin, its main active compound. Human studies used 420 mg of silymarin a day. The human evidence for gallbladder support is limited but points toward a benefit. In a small 1991 controlled study of 19 people, 4 with gallstones and 15 who had their gallbladder removed, silymarin taken daily for 30 days lowered the cholesterol in their bile and made the bile less likely to form stones [1]. In a 2009 placebo-controlled trial of 105 adults with acute liver inflammation, silymarin taken daily for four weeks cleared yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark urine sooner. It also lowered one form of bilirubin, a bile pigment, but liver enzymes and the other form of bilirubin did not change [2]. A 2025 mouse study, not in people, found silymarin reduced gallstone formation on a high-fat diet [3]. No study directly measured fat digestion, bloating or comfort after meals, and none reported how many people improved. The main human study was very small and short, so larger trials are still needed [1]. Animal and cell studies are never counted.
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- In 105 adults with acute hepatitis, 420 mg of silymarin daily for four weeks cleared dark urine, jaundice and yellow eyes sooner than placebo and lowered indirect bilirubin, but liver enzymes and direct bilirubin did not change significantly.A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs and biomarkers of acute …
- In 4 people with gallstones and 15 who had their gallbladder removed, 420 mg of silymarin daily for 30 days lowered the cholesterol in their bile and the bile saturation index, which measures how likely bile is to form stones.Effect of Silibinin on biliary lipid composition. Experimental and clinical study.
- In a mouse study (not people), silymarin given by mouth reduced gallstone formation caused by a high-fat lithogenic diet, lowered liver oxidative stress and inflammation, and improved liver damage, with higher doses working best.Silymarin ameliorates diet-induced gallstone formation by regulating gut microbiota-derived GCDCA to suppress ferroptosi…
Review Totals and Summary
Members Only1,100 reviews · 90% positive
Extensive customer reviews and qualitative feedback are currently being aggregated for this product. Check back soon for a detailed sentiment analysis.
Biohacker Summary
Members Only0 of 10 recommend it
Six of the ten panelists spoke about milk thistle, and most of them recommend it, mainly to support the liver and detox, including around drinking, while one stopped because it did nothing for him. Others mention it for skin problems, allergy symptoms, an enlarged prostate, and as a poison backup alongside NAC, vitamin C and water. Doses given are 200 to 400 milligrams of silymarin at 80 percent for liver markers, 70 to 140 milligrams of silymarin 30 to 60 minutes before hot and cold contrast therapy, and 200 milligrams a day for allergy symptoms. One panelist cautioned that milk thistle can raise liver enzymes in some people rather than lower them, and suggested ground flaxseed as a better option.
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Thomas DeLauer · Milk Thistle · neutral
- Notes that Dose Daily contains organic milk thistle, highlighting its significant data supporting liver health benefits.
- Says he feels really good when he takes milk thistle, usually for about a week, and notes it is effective.
- Recommends Milk thistle, specifically 200-400mg of silymarin at 80%, for decent reductions in ALT and AST and higher antioxidant enzyme activity.
- Recommends milk thistle for liver health, explaining that silymarin lowers MDA and raises antioxidant enzymes.
- Mentions Milk Thistle as an ingredient in DOSE that has proven literature behind it for liver health.
- Recommends milk thistle for the liver, citing a study where it reduced a marker of liver stress and increased antioxidant defense enzymes.
- Mentions that Dose Daily, which he recommends for liver support, contains organic milk thistle, noting that milk thistle has a lot of data behind it for promoting daily liver function.
- Recommends milk thistle for liver health, stating it competitively inhibits toxin binding sites on liver cells, decreasing the liver's load, and upregulates glutathione, reducing elevated liver enzymes even in patients with fatty liver disease, but advises cycling it.
- Recommends milk thistle to help the liver clear things out of the system, including excess cortisol.
- States that simple things like milk thistle supplementation are quite good for the liver, recommending small amounts.
Dr. Eric Berg · Milk Thistle · recommends
- Recommends taking milk thistle for alcohol and for certain medications.
- Suggests that small changes like milk thistle can help with deep rest.
- Dr. Eric Berg recommends taking milk thistle to support the liver and help improve skin problems.
- Describes milk thistle as an antidote for liver protection against poisons and a powerful antioxidant for nerves and the brain, helping to decrease toxic plaque associated with dementia.
- Recommends Milk Thistle as a natural inhibitor of the five alpha reductase enzyme, which helps reduce DHT and has very few side effects for an enlarged prostate.
- Recommends milk thistle as an herb that can increase the contraction of the gallbladder.
- Recommends milk thistle as the best antidote for snake bites.
- Recommends milk thistle before bed if night waking between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. signifies a liver problem.
- States that milk thistle is great for detoxification.
- Recommends milk thistle for anything poisonous to the liver.
Dr. Mark Hyman · Milk Thistle · recommends
- Recommends milk thistle for detoxification support.
- Recommends taking the herb milk thistle before and after drinking, as it is great for helping liver detoxification.
- Recommends milk thistle for detoxification, lowering iron, and reducing liver inflammation.
- Dr. Hyman recommends Milk Thistle.
- States that milk thistle is great for detoxing.
- Recommends milk thistle as an incredible herb that helps with liver disease and boosting glutathione.
- Recommends taking milk thistle to boost glutathione and support detoxification.
- Recommends milk thistle as an herb that can be used to help boost the body's detox pathways.
- Recommends milk thistle as a great herb to help heal the liver.
- Recommends milk thistle as an incredible herb that helps with liver disease and boosting glutathione.
Ben Greenfield · Milk Thistle · recommends
- Recommends taking a milk thistle supplement standardized to 70-140mg silymarin 30-60 minutes before hot-cold contrast therapy.
- Mentions milk thistle extract as something that can help accelerate the liver's detox pathways to get rid of acetaldehyde more quickly.
- Includes milk thistle in the senolytic formula because it mechanistically works on a subfamily of tyrosine kinases, which are important in shifting the balance towards apoptosis, similar to how a med works, and it is also a healthy liver tonic herb.
- States that if they have to use chemicals like heartworm prevention or flea and tick treatments on their dog, they will use milk thistle or a liver detox to support detoxification.
- Recommends taking milk thistle along with NAC, vitamin C, and water in case of accidental poisoning, stating that this combination could save a life from almost any kind of poison.
- Recommends milk thistle extract, specifically silymarin, for its ability to protect and promote the growth of liver cells, fight oxidation, block toxins from entering cell membranes, and enhance detoxification by preventing glutathione depletion.
- Uses Kion's MetaClear SGS meal replacement powder, which is formulated with multivitamins, minerals, and detoxification cofactors to support liver and gut health, and he blends it with ice, coconut milk or bone broth, sea salt, and sometimes olive oil.
- Uses milk thistle as part of his herbal anti-inflammatories for soreness.
- Mentions Milk Thistle as a nutrient that can help increase the body's own glutathione.
- Recommends Milk Thistle to enhance GST function, which is important for glutathione recycling, especially for individuals with genetic deletions in GST genes.
Siim Land · Milk Thistle · stopped
- Tried milk thistle for improving liver health based on research, but it didn't do anything for him.
- Used to take milk thistle in the past but no longer does, as he has already tested most supplements.
- Mentions milk thistle as something that helps support detox.
- Notes that milk thistle, a famous supplement for fatty liver, can actually raise liver enzymes in some people and does not lower them universally, and that its active ingredient, pselarin, is also found in ground flaxseed, which is a better alternative.
- Siim Land, Inca, started using milk thistle around the same time her liver values improved, noting that it works through a similar pathway as NAC.
- Includes milk thistle among supplements that can boost autophagy levels.
- Due to a liver problem and high cholesterol, Siim Land takes "quite a bit" of milk thistle.
- Suggests taking milk thistle to bind to toxins and prevent detox symptoms.
- Recommends milk thistle as an example of an easy-to-find binder for detox symptoms.
Dave Asprey · Milk Thistle · neutral
- Dave Asprey mentions Milk thistle as a natural remedy for allergy symptoms.
- Suggests trying milk thistle seed for allergy symptoms, highlighting its anti-inflammatory properties that can block histamine release and support liver detoxing abilities. They recommend starting with 200 mg per day when experiencing symptoms.
- Recommends milk thistle as an herb that can help clear liver congestion and support its smooth functioning.
RAL Summary
Members OnlyTier 3 for Gallbladder and Fat Digestion
Tier 3 because 90% of 1100 reviews are positive and a small human study found silymarin improved bile makeup [1]. The studies did not measure fat digestion or comfort after meals directly, so this falls short of tier 2.
More Details
Members OnlyBody systems · Combine with · Possible side effects
Body systems: Digestive system, Liver and gallbladder
Combine with: Combine with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Possible side effects: No major side effects reported.
Supplement Facts
Organic Silactive Milk Thistle 750 mg · Silymarins 375 mg
| Total Carbohydrate | 1 g | |
| Organic Silactive Milk Thistle | 750 mg | † |
| Silymarins | 375 mg | † |
Other ingredients: Organic acacia gum, organic rice hulls, and vegan organic capsule (organic pullulan).
Label source: Reverseagelab · Report a label change
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Graded November 14, 2026 by the Reverse Age Lab evidence engine, from human studies, real reviews and our biohacker panel. How we grade. Is this medical advice? No. Rala organizes the published evidence; go over any change with your doctor, especially if you take meds.
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