Milk thistle has been used medicinally for thousands of years as a treatment for various disorders, especially liver problems, and it is now being tested for possible benefits in other conditions, such as cancer and type 2 diabetes. As of 2011, there was insufficient scientific information to support the use of milk thistle for any of its medicinal uses. Consult with your physician before using milk thistle medicinally.
Treatment
Diabetes is characterized by increased blood sugar levels resulting from either not enough insulin being produced in your body, called Type 1 diabetes, or the inability to properly utilize the insulin that is produced, called type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems, including damage to your eyes, nerves, heart, and kidneys. Herbal supplements, such as milk thistle, may possibly help to control your blood sugar levels.
Sources
Milk thistle is available as a tincture, liquid extract, and capsules standardized to about 70 to 80 percent silymarin, the active component responsible for the medical benefits of milk thistle. The active substances in milk thistle do not easily dissolve in water, so making a tea from dried milk thistle is not very helpful. A more easily absorbed form of milk thistle called silymarin phosphatidylcholine complex is also available.
Dosing
The usual daily doses of standardized milk thistle, or silymarin, are 280 mg to 450 mg taken in divided doses. The silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex is typically used in doses of 100 mg to 200 mg, taken twice daily. According to Drugs.com, research studies have safely used standardized milk thistle at 420 mg per day in divided doses for up to 41 months. Preliminary trials in people with type 2 diabetes used 200 mg per day of silymarin, taken in divided doses.
Effectiveness
Preliminary research studies have shown that milk thistle may offer some benefits in managing type 2 diabetes. Human trials in type 2 diabetics demonstrated that supplementation with 200 mg per day of silymarin lowered blood sugar levels significantly more that placebo, or inactive medicine. However, more human research studies are needed before milk thistle can be recommended for this use.
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