Milk thistle is a member of the sunflower family and its fruit, seeds and leaves have been used since ancient Greek time for medicinal purposes. Today, it is taken as an herbal supplement for the treatment of a variety of disorders. It is not without side effects and may interact negatively with certain medications, so you should talk to your health care practitioner before using it.
Milk Thistle For The Liver
According to Laura Shane-McWhorter in her book "Guide to Herbs and Nutritional Supplements," milk thistle is best known for its ability to support the liver and treat liver disorders such as liver cirrhosis and viral hepatitis. The herb can both strengthen and detoxify the liver. Milk thistle promotes liver regeneration and it may even help reverse liver damage. It is also used to protect the liver against damage from alcohol, toxins and drugs. In fact, some people on cholesterol lowering drugs use milk thistle to reduce the toxic liver effects that are thought to occur from their consumption.
Other Supplemental Uses
McWhorter says that milk thistle is also used to reduce inflammation, to stimulate menstrual flow and to treat uterine problems. Phyllis Balch says in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" that it may help strengthen and protect the kidneys and gallbladder from damage, and may treat inflammatory bowel disorder, psoriasis, adrenal disorder, endometriosis, weakened immunity and breast and prostate cancer.
Active Ingredients
Herbal Supplements Guide says that the active ingredient found in milk thistle thought to be responsible for its medicinal effects is silymarin. Silymarin is a strong antioxidant that protects cells in the body from free-radical induced damage. Balch says that milk thistle also contains numerous health supporting phytochemicals, such as quercetin and beta-carotene, and minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc.
What To Look For In A Supplement
Balch says that milk thistle is not effective as a tea, and for medicinal purposes, it should be taken as a concentrated capsule or extract. McWhorter says that it should be standardized to contain 70% silymarin and ideally you should choose a supplement that says GMP compliance on the bottle. GMP compliance means that the supplement company followed the same strict regulations that pharmaceutical companies must comply with. A recommended dose for milk thistle does not exist, but McWhorter says 200mg is commonly used three times daily for the treatment of liver disorders.
Precautions
Possible side effects include diarrhea, severe sweating, weakness, laxative effects, gastrointestinal upset and allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to ragweed, daises and marigolds. The herb may also have estrogenic properties and McWhorter says it should be used with caution in women who have breast or uterine cancer.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2003
- "Guide to Herbs and Nutritional Supplements"; Laura Shane-McWhorter; 2009
- Herbal Supplements Guide: Milk Thistle Benefits
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