Milk thistle gets its name from the milky substance that can be found when its leaves are crushed. Most parts of this plant, including the leaves, stem, flower, roots and seeds, are all edible. Milk thistle extract is sometimes called silymarin and can be used to treat a variety of health problems.
Plant Description
The milk thistle plant can grow to a height of between 4 and 10 feet. It is native to the Mediterranean portion of the world, but it can be found worldwide. This plant prefers sunny and dry environments. With its purple flowers and hard, brown-skilled fruit, milk thistle grows quickly and can mature after a year. Milk thistle is also known as bull thistle, holy thistle and pig leaves.
Silymarin
Extracts made from milk thistle typically contain a compound known as silymarin, which is actually a term used for a group of different chemicals, known as silicristin, silibinin and silidianin. These compounds all belong to a class of chemical known as flavonoids and they have potent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can help protect your body from molecules known as reactive oxygen species or free radicals, which can damage your proteins, DNA and cells.
Uses
Milk thistle is generally used to treat liver problems, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states. Some people use extracts of milk thistle for the treatment of alcohol-related liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis. Milk thistle can also be used to protect the liver from the effects of a hepatitis C infection. It has also been used to treat poisoning due to ingestion of the Amanita phalloides mushroom.
Dosing and Safety
If you are taking milk thistle extract supplements, you should take between 280 and 450 mg of silymarin each day spaced into divided doses, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends. You can also take a complex made of silymarin and phosphatidylcholine, a substance which helps you build cell membranes. Silymarin is generally safe, but it can cause diarrhea and upset stomach. You should always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, including milk thistle.
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