When you are looking for a daily supplement to take, you might wonder which is the better choice: blessed thistle vs milk thistle. Both are excellent herbs, with different uses, but which is the right one for you? To help you decide, let’s look at each herb and examine their pros and cons.

While blessed thistle can benefit an over-productive liver – milk thistle is often touted as a miracle cure for a sluggish liver. It has been used for generations as an herbal tonic to support liver health and is especially known for its ability to reduce homocysteine levels – a chemical compound that can cause cardiovascular disease. Clinical studies have shown that individuals taking blessed thistle vs milk thistle have liver enzymes that work more efficiently, preventing production of homocysteine. However, the debate between these two herbs rages on. Most experts agree that while milk thistle may indeed have antioxidant qualities and may help improve circulation and reduce cholesterol, it is not quite as effective as blessed thistle when it comes to supporting a liver’s health in general.

Milk thistle may help reduce LDL (“bad” cholesterol) – but it has been seen very little effect on HDL (“good” cholesterol), and its anti-oxidant properties may actually damage liver cells. When taking supplements, it is important to choose those that contain no soy or cow’s milk, as these ingredients can make the supplements less effective. The most beneficial levels of antioxidants occur in plant oils like those found in olive oil and canola oil, and these oils have proven very effective in fighting free radicals in the body. In fact, plant oils are sometimes recommended as a first step in a daily antioxidant regimen.

The health benefits of blessed thistle plants – appear to extend to their consumption as a dietary supplement. In addition to the known antioxidant effects, there are some hormonal benefits associated with this herb. Some research even suggests a reduction in menopausal symptoms (including hot flashes and night sweats) when estrogen levels are raised during perimenopause. This makes these plants very attractive dietary choices for both men and women.

One of the most exciting studies – looking at the health benefits of blessed thistle vs milk thistle comes from South Africa. In an ongoing study, female participants were divided into two groups: one group was given a standardized daily dose of medicinal mushrooms, and the other group ate a diet low in carbohydrates but high in fat. After a few months, the women who ate the mushrooms had significantly lower blood pressure and higher levels of serotonin. The researchers credited the beneficial effects of the mushroom to the plant’s powerful antioxidants, which prevent cell damage. They also theorized that the serotonin boost provided by the mushroom’s potency may account for its positive effects on heart health.

In another study – pregnant women taking a standardized dosage of blessed thistle vs milk thistle found that their infants had higher IQs than those who consumed a placebo. Interestingly, the researchers didn’t attribute the difference in IQ to the plant’s antioxidant content. Instead, they concluded that the effect was due to the infants’ lower stress levels. Stress is known to increase the risk of ADHD in children and can interfere with norepinephrine’s role in stabilizing brain chemical levels.

The researchers also theorized that the differences in IQ could be due to the different amounts of serotonin and diuretics present in the infants’ diets.