Milk thistle tea is made from an herb with milky, white-veined leaves. It has many reported benefits, including liver protection and diabetes management. However, few studies back these claims.
This article provides a detailed overview of milk thistle tea, its compounds, possible benefits and downsides, and how to make it.
The milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) is part of the Asteraceae family and is native to the Mediterranean. Its name comes from the milky white veins on the leaves and the white sap they produce when broken. The plant’s flowers are purple.
Milk thistle is also known as Saint Mary’s Thistle, holy thistle, variegated thistle, and Scotch thistle.
Throughout history, milk thistle has also been used to treat liver issues. Research has also explored its potential to protect against neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
Milk thistle is available as capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, and tea. The plant’s seeds and sometimes leaves are used in these preparations.
Milk thistle tea has a mild taste comparable to that of dandelion tea.
The main active compound in milk thistle is silymarin, and silybin is the main component of this group.
Though silymarin is present in the flowers and leaves of the thistle, it’s most concentrated in the seeds.
The purported health benefits of milk thistle are thought to be connected to silymarin’s antioxidant properties.
Silymarin may exhibit antioxidant effects by scavenging and preventing the formation of reactive molecules called free radicals that can contribute to cell damage and disease development. It may also decrease inflammatory responses in your body.
Since milk thistle teas are often made with ground or whole seeds, they provide some silymarin, but they’re not as concentrated as extracts.
What’s more, milk thistle is poorly absorbed and
Existing studies on milk thistle have been small, poorly designed, or have produced mixed results. What’s more, the limited research has focused on extracts and pills, both of which are more concentrated than tea.
As such, any promising effects of milk thistle preparations noted in existing studies may not apply to diluted milk thistle tea, especially when considering the plant’s low water solubility and poor absorption.
Keep this in mind when reviewing the following possible benefits of milk thistle.
Liver health
The most studied benefit of milk thistle is its potential to promote liver health. Some studies suggest the plant may help with the management and treatment of:
- alcohol-associated liver disease
- non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease
- liver injuries caused by drugs or toxins
While it remains unclear how milk thistle may affect your liver,
For example,
Ultimately, more research is needed to better understand the effectiveness and safety of milk thistle preparations, including teas, in treating liver diseases.
Diabetes
Milk thistle is also being investigated for its potential anti-diabetic effects.
In addition, a 2025 review of studies concluded that, while silymarin appeared to benefit insulin sensitivity, it had no detectable effects on insulin levels or blood sugar.
Even though the results from some existing research are promising, larger, well-designed studies are needed to investigate the use of these extracts and teas in diabetes management.
Cancer management
Early research suggests that silymarin extract may have anticancer effects, potentially reducing the rate of cell reproduction and division.
However, many studies have only observed these anticancer effects in test tube models rather than in human tests. As a result, further research is necessary to explore the potential role of silymarin extract as an adjunctive in cancer treatment.
There is no standardized dosage or recommended intake for milk thistle tea, but it’s generally considered safe if consumed in moderation.
Milk Thistle medications are commonly available in strengths ranging of 250 to 750 mg and intended for taking 2 to 3 times per day.
Due to a lack of research on milk thistle tea use in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should speak with a healthcare professional before trying it if you’re in either of those groups.
People with breast, uterine, or ovarian cancers, endometriosis, or fibroids should avoid milk thistle.
Interactions
Milk thistle interacts with certain medications, including warfarin, indinavir, or saquinavir for HIV infections, chemotherapy, calcium channel blockers (for hypertension and arrhythmia), and some antibiotics. People taking these medications should also avoid using milk thistle.
Allergies
Finally, you may be at risk of allergic reactions if you have allergies to plants in the same family, such as ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy. You should proceed with caution, according to the
Milk thistle tea is easy to make at home. It’s available for purchase as loose or ground seeds and leaves or in tea bags.
Steep a tea bag or 1 teaspoon of loose tea in hot water for 5–10 minutes. If not using a tea bag, strain the tea before drinking it.
Milk thistle tea is an herbal drink touted to promote liver health and stimulate breast milk production.
However, there have been no studies on milk thistle tea specifically, and research on other preparations — such as isolated forms of the active compound silymarin — is limited. Milk thistle may also be poorly absorbed in tea form.
If you still want to explore the possible benefits of milk thistle tea, it’s easy to make at home. Remember that more research is needed to understand its effectiveness and safety.