Evidence supporting the use of: Silybum
For the health condition: Gall Stones

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle, has a long history of traditional use in supporting liver and gallbladder health. In various traditional systems of medicine, such as European herbalism, milk thistle seeds and extracts have been used for a range of hepatobiliary complaints, including gallstones. The rationale is based on the herb’s purported ability to stimulate bile flow (choleretic effect), which may theoretically help prevent or manage gallstones by reducing bile stasis. However, direct historical references to its use specifically for dissolving or expelling gallstones are relatively limited compared to its broader use for liver protection and detoxification.

From a scientific standpoint, while milk thistle’s main active component, silymarin, has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in numerous studies, evidence directly supporting its efficacy for gallstones in humans is sparse. Most research has focused on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective actions, rather than gallstone dissolution or prevention. Animal studies suggest a potential for improved bile flow, but robust clinical trials in humans for gallstone treatment are lacking. As such, its use for gallstones remains primarily based on tradition and indirect mechanisms, rather than strong scientific validation.

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