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Oct 25, 2023

I Took Milk Thistle For A Month When Drinking And It Was A Game Changer

By Bianca London I'm waking up in a tent after pouring circa 1.5 bottles of wine down my gullet at a festival the day before. I wait for it: for the Sahara-dry mouth, pounding headache, buckets of

By Bianca London

I'm waking up in a tent after pouring circa 1.5 bottles of wine down my gullet at a festival the day before. I wait for it: for the Sahara-dry mouth, pounding headache, buckets of sweat seeping through every pore imaginable. I wait….and…. nothing. This cannot be real life.

As someone who experiences level 11 hangovers (even after a few drinks), I am all too familiar with the next-day regret. But instead of heart palpitations and a churning stomach, I welcome the feeling of absolute normality - and it's all thanks to one tiny (and totally legal) tablet I popped the night before.

Allow me to introduce you to milk thistle - a clever (and hangover-saving) plant native to Mediterranean countries that's been used for centuries in traditional medicine.

Milk thistle is primarily known for its potential benefits to liver health (so the organ we effectively attack when we drink). The active compound, silymarin, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in protecting the liver from toxins (read: wine) and oxidative stress. Some studies suggest that it might support liver regeneration and prevent liver damage. As with all these things, more extensive research is required, but people swear by the stuff for healing - and preventing - a hangover.

Discussing why people have turned to milk thistle to cure a hangover, Dr Dick Middleton, Registered Pharmacist and director of the British Herbal Medicines Association (www.bhma.info), told GLAMOUR: “The scientific evidence that has accumulated over decades showing that the extract stabilises liver cells called hepatocytes, along with its free radical scavenging activity, has led many people to believe that the extract will protect the liver against the harmful effects of alcohol. This reasoning has been extrapolated to suggest that Milk Thistle may cure hangovers. There is no clinical evidence that milk thistle extracts do cure hangovers but taking the extract during a particularly hedonistic period of your life could be helpful.”

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By Meg Walters

As someone who is partial to a drink but is punished with the hangover from hell to remind me of my sins, I was keen to give it a go. I really want to note that neither myself nor GLAMOUR would ever condone or promote heavy drinking so I am absolutely not endorsing this as a means to overindulge; it is more a healthy next-day remedy if you do choose to drink and are feeling below par.

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According to Dr Dick Middleton, in the UK, Milk Thistle THR herbal medicines are licensed for sale by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) having been assessed and meeting the required standards for safety, quality and patient information. “These traditional herbal products can claim to relieve the symptoms associated with occasional overindulgence of food and drink such as indigestion and upset stomach, based on traditional use only,” he notes.

Armed with my Solgar Milk Thistle capsules (£28.99 from Holland and Barrett), I arrived at pre-drinks. Whilst the supplement's instructions would never encourage use to cure a hangover, I turned to good old Dr Google for advice. People suggested popping one supplement before you start drinking and another when your night ends. Others suggested taking a third the morning after. I wanted an effective remedy and my hangovers need all the help they can get so I opted to take the full dosage.

Obviously the tablets are totally flavourless and easily washed down (just don't drink so much that you forget to take them after your night out).

My first experience taking milk thistle was honestly game-changing and I can hands down say I didn't experience a hangover. Yes, I felt a little fuzzy but it was nothing compared to some of the pits I've experienced before.

I continued taking it weekly whenever I drank but sadly, the effects started to wear off. My hangover symptoms were slowly rearing their ugly heads again and I felt like I was becoming immune to it. Is that possible? “There is no research or evidence to suggest that a person can develop immunity to the effects of milk thistle,” notes Dr Alexis Missick is an experienced General Practitioner who works with UK Meds. But could it be a placebo effect? “Yes,” he adds. “Whilst small-scale lab studies suggest that milk thistle may help to protect the liver from alcohol damage, it has been argued that none of these studies support the idea that milk thistle can help with a hangover, as it involves different biological processes.”

The lesson here? Milk thistle can help short-term and possibly at a big, boozy event like a festival but the healthiest choice you can make it cutting back on alcohol altogether.

Ok, clearly, I was sold on milk thistle for a good few months. But what does the science say?

“Milk thistle is known for its digestive benefits and for having a positive effect on the liver, protecting and improving its function,” explains Dr Alexis Missick. “Milk thistle is traditionally used to treat stomach complaints. Suffering from an upset stomach can be uncomfortable and can disrupt daily life. Milk thistle can settle any stomach problems (such as indigestion) and can get you feeling right again.”

According to research by Bhattacharya, S. (2020), milk thistle has numerous health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, lipid, and biliary effects. Alongside antiviral and antitumor properties. This is supported by Achufusi & Patel (2022) who state that millions of people consume milk thistle to support healthy liver function.

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Some common side effects of taking milk thistle include:

“You should cease using milk thistle immediately and contact your doctor if you experience any serious side effects or if you notice signs of an allergic reaction,” says Dr Missick.

Before taking this medication, you should always first check that it is suitable for you and any of your associated medical conditions. Do not take milk thistle medications if:

“Because of the way that medications interact with each other, you should be cautious if you are taking medications and consult with a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. You should also talk to a doctor before taking milk thistle medications if you are currently suffering from active liver disease,” he adds.

Remember to always drink responsibly and seek guidance from your GP if you have any medical questions associated with milk thistle.