What does science say about Milk thistle (silymarin) and COPD?
- We don’t say yes or no. We show what has been studied.
- Working in a lab or in animals does not mean it works in people.
- Don’t stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.
What has been studied
- Lab studies (cells)Tests on cells in a dish.Source: PubMed · as of 6 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed0studies
- Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 6 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed5studies
- Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 6 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed0studies
- Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 1 · as of 6 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 0 · as of 6 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:No phase (1)By status:By invitation only (1)Countries (1):Bangladesh (1)With a linked publication (results): 0 of 1The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.1trial
- Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No
Examples of what we found
The trials
No phase
Effect of Silymarin as Add on Therapy on Oxidative Stress, Pulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Stable COPD Patients.
By invitation only · Bangladesh
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT07123922
Thinking of paying for it? Read this first
- Ask for published results. Stories, thank-you letters and "patients report" are not results. Ask where the results were published.
- Know what you pay for. Ask in writing: what exactly is included, who gets the money, and what happens if you stop.
- Ask your own doctor first. Some products interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other medicines. Your treating doctor can check this.
- Do not stop standard treatment for it. Do not stop or delay your treatment without talking to your care team.
Other treatments people ask about
- Cannabis and cannabinoids (CBD, THC)Step: Large trials
- Curcumin (turmeric)Step: Large trials
- Dichloroacetate (DCA)Step: Large trials
- Fasting and fasting-mimicking dietStep: Large trials
- High-dose vitamin CStep: Large trials
- MelatoninStep: Large trials
- MetforminStep: Large trials
- StatinsStep: Large trials
- Vitamin DStep: Large trials
- IvermectinStep: First trials in people
- HyperthermiaStep: Reports in people
- Ketogenic dietStep: Reports in people
- Amygdalin (laetrile, "vitamin B17")Step: Animal studies only
Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.