Milk thistle, also known as bull thistle, Mary thistle and pig leaves, is a plant that may help to treat liver conditions. Most often, people use the seeds to make a supplement, but you can also eat the leaves and flowers as ingredients in salads or as a substitute for spinach. The supplement may cause adverse reactions and may interfere with medications. Although people use the supplement, there is no current established clinical efficacy, according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.
Uses
Milk thistle may help to protect the liver and helps to improve liver function. The supplement may help to treat liver conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Additional uses may include treating gallbladder disease, lowering cholesterol and reducing prostate, breast and cervical cancer cell growth, according to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Milk thistle may also help to increase appetite and treat heartburn. The supplement may also help to increase the flow of breast milk.
Active Ingredients
The active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin. Silymarin belongs to a group of compounds called flavonoids. Flavonoids may help to repair damaged liver cells caused by toxic substances and alcohol use. Silymarin may also help to prevent new damage to the liver.
Availability
Milk thistle comes in several forms, including capsules of the dried milk thistle herb, as a liquid extract and as a tincture. Milk thistle also comes as a silymarin phosphatidycoline complex. The body may absorb the complex better than regular milk thistle, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Administration
A recommended dose of milk thistle is between 230 mg and 600 mg per day divided over two to three doses, according to MayoClinic.com.
Side Effects
Milk thistle may cause side effects, including gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, skin reactions and impotence. Some individuals may experience a loss of appetite.
Warnings
Individuals with diabetes should use milk thistle with caution because the supplement may lower blood sugar levels. Women should avoid eating the milk thistle plant and extract from the plant because of possible estrogenic effects, such as uterine fibroids, breast cancer and ovarian cancer, according to MayoClinic.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the sale or manufacturing of milk thistle. Report any side effects, reactions or problems with milk thistle to a physician.
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