Milk thistle, a commonly used medicinal herb, also is known as holy thistle and by its Latin name, Silybum marianum, according to Medicinal Herb Info. The fruits, seeds and leaves of the plant, which can be found growing all over Europe and North America, are harvested and their extract is used to make supplements and other medicinal treatments. Consult your health care provider before you begin to use milk thistle supplements to treat a health condition.
Health Benefits
Milk thistle extract is most often used as a treatment for various liver diseases, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It's used to treat cirrhosis of the liver, liver damage from alcohol or drugs, food poisoning, indigestion and hepatitis, and to help prevent cancer. MedlinePlus adds that milk thistle is used as a treatment for spleen disorders, malaria, diabetes, pleurisy and gallbladder problems. Drugs.com describes milk thistle as having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties, along with the ability to help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Research
Milk thistle was studied for its ability to slow the progression of cancer, even the most dangerous stages where it has begun metastasis. Researchers at University of Colorado Denver in Aurora, Colorado, investigated milk thistle's effects on metastatic forms of cancer. They found that milk thistle helps prevent cancer cells from migrating and metastasizing in new locations of the body while being remarkably non-toxic. The study concluded that milk thistle offers a very promising potential as a cancer treatment. These results were published in the September 2010 issue of "Cancer Metastasis Reviews."
Considerations
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking milk thistle supplements until more is known about milk thistle's safety for the child, warns MedlinePlus. If you are allergic to plants such as chrysanthemums, daisies or ragweed, you also might find that you are allergic to milk thistle, since they belong to the same plant family. If you have a form of cancer that is estrogen-sensitive, you should not use milk thistle because it affects estrogen levels.
Possible Side Effects
Milk thistle might cause an upset stomach or diarrhea in some people, reports Drugs.com. If you take medications to lower blood sugar, taking milk thistle could cause a dangerous interaction and should be avoided. Occasionally, milk thistle can interfere with sleep or cause malaise or erectile dysfunction. Taking milk thistle can cause some other medications you take to have different effects. If you have questions about milk thistle interactions with other supplements and medications you take, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.
Forms Used
You can find milk thistle in capsule, tea, extract, powder or tincture forms. These are made from the extraction of a compound known as silymarin, from the fruits and seeds of the plant. For most people, milk thistle supplements are considered safe in moderate doses, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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