Your body is capable of many wonderful things. Unfortunately, one of them is its ability to scare you half to death. Seeing blood where you don't expect it is always startling, but it's generally there for a reason. Bloody stools are not pleasant to talk about, but they do occur and they do need to be discussed with your doctor. Considering the many ways to treat bloody stools, milk thistle -- known for its healing powers -- is not one of them.
Causes
Blood in the stools can have many different causes, from small tears around your anus to certain cancers. Salmonella can also cause bloody diarrhea, and some foods -- like blueberries and black licorice -- can cause stools to appear black and tarry, which is how they can look if they contain blood. Milk thistle is commonly used to treat cirrhosis and other liver complaints, including mushroom poisoning. Before using milk thistle in an attempt to treat bloody stools, you should consult your physician to find out what is causing them.
Theory/Speculation
Milk thistle has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years, according to MayoClinic.com. It is most often used to treat liver and gallbladder complaints, and to help reverse liver damage due to the abuse of alcohol. Preliminary studies have proven milk thistle effective in treating liver complaints, but many more carefully designed studies need to be done to prove its effects conclusively.
Function
Milk thistle contains a powerful antioxidant called silymarin, which is extracted from the seeds. Antioxidants help fight free radicals and support the health of your body's cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is possible that the silymarin and silybin in milk thistle block chemicals from entering the cells of your liver, or by removing them from the liver before they have time to do any damage. But this does not mean that milk thistle can be used to treat problems with any other organs, like your stomach or colon, that might be causing blood in your stools.
Expert Insight
MayoClinic.com gives milk thistle a grade of "B" for its proven abilities in treating cirrhosis and chronic liver damage, which means that there is good scientific evidence for its use. Cirrhosis and liver damage don't usually cause bloody stools, but if you are experiencing bloody stools and have reason to believe you may have liver damage, consult your doctor rather than trying to treat yourself
Warning
Alternative and complementary medicines can be a useful adjunct to traditional Western medicine, and many physicians are knowledgeable about them. But self-diagnosis and treatment can be dangerous because many diseases present with the same symptoms.
