Milk thistle, also called Silybum marianum, is a flowering herb that has been used as a natural health remedy for thousands of years. Primarily used as a treatment for liver and gallbladder disorders, milk thistle is a popular herbal supplement in Europe and the United States. One of the active components in milk thistle, a flavonoid called silymarin or silybinin, is thought to be the chemical constituent that lends milk thistle its healing properties.
Types
Milk thistle can be purchased for consumption in a number of forms including pills, teas, extracts and capsules.
Uses
Alternative medical practitioners recommend milk thistle for the treatment of liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, gallbladder disease, cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, poisoning and any ailment which may damage the liver.
Scientific Evidence
An analysis conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 1999 concluded that although milk thistle has shown to improve some liver function, further research is needed to clearly demonstrate any health benefits.
Dosage
Dosages of milk thistle may vary greatly according to the manufacturer, but supplements of 600 mg per day or less of the active compound silymarin have been safely used in clinical trials.
Warning
Side effects from milk thistle supplements are generally mild and may include gastrointestinal upset, although more severe allergic reactions to the supplement can occur in people with plant allergies.
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