Milk thistle is an herbal supplement traditionally used for illnesses affecting the liver and gallbladder. This herb may also help lower cholesterol levels, reduce the growth of certain cancer cells, and in people with diabetes, reduce insulin resistance. The seeds of the milk thistle contain the flavonoid silymarin. The seeds are used to make a variety of milk thistle products, including capsules and extracts.
Dosage
If you wish to take milk thistle, you should use a standardized supplement with 80 percent silymarin content. Average dosage for people with impaired liver function or liver disease is between 420 and 600 milligrams of silymarin daily. Results appear in 8 to 12 weeks, although milk thistle use may be continued long term. If you are pregnant, nursing, receiving care for a chronic condition or taking prescription medication, check with your doctor before taking any supplements or other medications.
Benefits
Milk thistle protects the liver by preventing harmful toxins from entering the liver and by removing toxins that are already present. It is a common emergency treatment for mushroom poisoning. Silymarin can regenerate injured liver cells and block fibrosis, which may contribute to the development of cirrhosis in patients who abuse alcohol or have hepatitis. By altering the makeup of bile, milk thistle is thought to decrease the incidence of gallstones; pregnant women sometimes use milk thistle for itching caused by poor gallbladder functioning. Studies are investigating the usefulness of milk thistle for treating cirrhosis, hepatitis C, complications of HIV and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Studies are also being conducted to determine the usefulness of milk thistle in cancer prevention.
Prescription Medications
Silymarin may prevent liver damage in people who take certain medications including acetaminophen, acetaminophen with codeine, hydrocodone with acetaminophen, certain chemotherapy drugs, clofibrate, haloperidol, lovastatin, metronidazole and pravastatin. Silymarin may prevent kidney toxicity in people taking the chemotherapy drug cisplatin and may work synergistically with other chemotherapy drugs. Milk thistle may prevent certain anesthesia medications from negatively affecting the liver and may minimize side effects of the medication Tacrine. If you are taking any of these medications, medications for psychosis, anxiety, allergies, elevated cholesterol, cancer, blood thinners such as clopidogrel or warfarin, statins, benzodiazepines, ketoconizole, phenytoin or halothane, talk with your doctor before taking milk thistle. If you are taking oral contraceptives, milk thistle may make them less effective, increasing the risk of pregnancy unless you use back-up contraception.
Cautions
Side effects with daily use of milk thistle are uncommon. The most commonly reported side effect is a mild laxative effect which usually resolves in a few days. People who are allergic to similar plants such as ragweed, daisies and marigolds may have an allergic reaction to milk thistle. Milk thistle is not appropriate for people who have had hormone-based cancers such as breast cancer, uterine cancer or prostate cancer.
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