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Milk Thistle Herb - Benefits And Side Effects

Milk thistle preparations are made from the seeds of Silybum marianum, a member of the Asteraceae or Compositae family (daisies and thistles). Milk thistle plant is native to regions of the Mediterranean, it can now be found growing wild throughout the world from Europe to Asia, and from Africa to North America. This stout thistle usually grows in dry, sunny areas. The stem branches at the top, and it reaches a height of 4 to 10 feet. The leaves are wide compared to other plants of its species and have white blotchy veins.

The German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices has approved the use of milk thistle for a condition called toxic liver and as a supportive treatment for chronic inflammatory liver disease and liver cirrhosis.

Common doses of milk thistle

Milk thistle comes as:

• capsules (50, 100, 175,200, and 505 milligrams)
• tablets (85 milligrams standardized to contain 80% silymarin with the flavonoid silibinin)
• extract

Some experts recommend the following doses:

• 420 to 800 milligrams taken orally daily as a single dose or divided into two to three equal doses.
• 200 to 400 milligrams of silymarin (calculated as the silibinin component) taken orally daily.

Benefits of milk thistle

Although most widely associated with liver complaints, milk thistle is also being examined for treating a variety of other disorders, from gallstones and high cholesterol to skin cancers and allergy symptoms. Specifically, milk thistle may help to:

• As an antidote for poisonous mushrooms
• Hepatitis C
• To aid liver function
• Control psoriasis
• To "cleanse"the liver
• To promote recovery after a liver transplant

Milk thistle is also an antioxidant that is more potent than vitamins C and E.

Side effects of milk thistle

Call your health care practitioner if you experience a mild laxative effect after taking a standardized extract. Milk thistle also may stimulate the uterus and trigger menstruation.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking.

Important points to remember

• Don't take milk thistle if you're pregnant or breast-feeding or if you're planning a pregnancy.
• Know that you may experience an allergic reaction to this herb if you're sensitive to plants of the Asteraceae family.
• Consult a liver disease specialist before using milk thistle to treat liver disease.
• Immediately report unusual symptoms to your health care practitioner.

What the research shows

Recent studies and milk thistle's traditional use in treating liver disorders in Europe suggest the herb may playa role in preventing acute liver damage from toxic substances. Lacking alternatives, medical experts believe milk thistle treatments are warranted in certain people with life-threatening liver disease.

Other names for milk thistle : -

Other names for milk thistle include Carduus marianus L., Cnicus marianus, holy thistle, Lady's thistle, Mary thistle, Marian thistle, and St. Mary thistle.

Products containing milk thistle are sold under such names as Beyond Milk Thistle, Milk Thistle Extract, Milk Thistle Phytosol, Milk Thistle Power, NU VEG Milk Thistle Power, and Silymarin.