Could Protect Your Bones and Boost Breast Milk Production

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by gradual bone loss. It typically develops slowly over time and results in weak and fragile bones that break readily, even after mild falls. Milk thistle has been found in animal and laboratory research to accelerate bone mineralization and perhaps protect against bone loss. As a result, experts believe milk thistle could be an effective treatment for preventing or postponing bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Milk thistle has been shown to increase breast milk production in breastfeeding moms. It is considered to work by increasing the production of the milk-producing hormone prolactin. The evidence is scant, but one randomized controlled trial found that moms who took 420 mg of silymarin for 63 days made 64% more milk than those who took a placebo. However, this is the only available clinical trial. More research is needed to confirm these findings and the safety of milk thistles for nursing moms.