Milk thistle is a flowering plant used in herbal medicine. The biologically active ingredient is called silymarin, a compound found in the seeds. Silymarin may be extracted from the seeds and used as a liquid tincture in alcohol or in powdered form either loose or in capsules. The traditional use of milk thistle is to support liver function or to treat liver disorders, including inflammation, cirrhosis or liver malfunction caused by the hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C Virus
The hepatitis C virus may cause liver inflammation, or cirrhosis if a person has been infected for years. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but the virus may cause abdominal pain, fluid in the abdomen, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or jaundice. Specific tests are available to diagnose the infection. There is no cure for hepatitis C although medications may help relieve symptoms. A person experiencing any of these symptoms should consult a doctor. People at risk for infection include health care workers who may contact blood, and people who use intravenous drugs or who have unprotected sex with an infected person.
Effects of Milk Thistle on the Hepatitis Virus
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, milk thistle has a number of effects on the hepatitis C virus. In a research study, silymarin was included in human cell cultures exposed to the virus. In the cultures with silymarin, the virus was unable to enter and fuse with the cells. Silymarin also prevented the virus from completing its life cycle and from spreading between the cells.
Clinical Trials with Milk Thistle
Several clinical trials have added more information about milk thistle and hepatitis C. In one trial, patients with cirrhosis took either milk thistle or placebo for up to six years. The patients taking the herb survived longer than those who took the placebo. In other trials, use of milk thistle either diminished symptoms of liver disease or led to improved liver function as measured by laboratory tests. A current trial by the National Cancer Institute will determine whether milk thistle may help patients who suffer liver damage from taking chemotherapy drugs.
Dosage
The recommended dose of milk thistle for an adult is 280 mg to 450 mg daily, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Milk thistle may be purchased in capsules of standardized herb, usually containing 120 mg to 140mg of the active ingredient silymarin. It is also available as a complex with phosphatidylcholine, a type of fat. Addition of this fat may promote absorption of silymarin and the recommended dose of this form of silymarin is 100 mg to 200mg twice daily.
Side Effects and Cautions
Although milk thistle is considered safe, it should not be given to children without a pediatrician's recommendation. Side effects in adults are minor, including gastric upset and possibly diarrhea. It may cause an allergic reaction in some people and it should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. A doctor should always be consulted before beginning to take any herbal product.
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