6 Amazing Health Benefits of Milk Thistle During Pregnancy

Milk thistle is a thorny plant with deco shiny plain green leaves and red purple flowers. Its natural breed was discovered as an outsider, as a wild variety in North America, Australia and New Zealand. It is cultivated for production mainly in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland and china. This herb has been used for many years claiming many benefits. But some of the benefits are not proven in clinical trials. It contains active ingredient silymarin. This herb may be used as dietary supplement, but during pregnancy and breast feeding should be used under doctor’s guidance. Some of the benefits and uses of milk thistle are as follow-

# Increase in production of breast milk

Milk thistle is found to increase breast milk production. It increases the hormone prolactin hence in turn increasing the breast milk. But the clinical trial evidence for this benefit is still lacking. The studies have not found any hazardous effects in animals, but studies in women are lacking. Hence it has been given grade b in safety in pregnancy.

# Morning sickness

Milk thistle is found to cure and reduce morning sickness. Morning sickness is mostly caused in pregnancy due to digestive problems. Milk thistle aids to relive gastrointestinal problems. Hence relieving morning sickness.

# Mood stabilizer

After the delivery, there is imbalance in hormones due to which, the mother may experience mood swings. These mood swings may be toned down by milk thistle. It acts as mood stabilizers.

# Benefits in heart disease

Milk thistle helps to prevent heart diseases. It lowers the amount of low density cholesterol and helps to increase the amount of high density cholesterol. This mechanism helps to prevent heart diseases. Hypertension which is the greatest threat during pregnancy is reduced with the use.

# Benefits to liver

Milk thistle is of great benefits to the liver. It flushes remnants hormones and toxins from the liver. It may also reverse the damage caused due to alcohol to the liver. Milk thistle acts as a synergistic to glutathione. Glutathione is an amino acid which strengthens the liver cell walls. This helps to fasten the recovery of the liver. It even protects the liver from further damage.

# Benefits in diabetes

Milk thistle helps to maintain the insulin level. Due to which diabetes can be controlled. During pregnancy the risk of diabetes increases, it is known as gestational diabetes.