Milk thistle is an ancient home remedy for liver problems and other health conditions. The herb grows 10 feet tall with sap-filled leaves, purple blossoms and speckled brown fruit. Commercial manufacturers usually make milk thistle supplements with the plant's seeds. Science has yet to establish how effective the plant is at treating liver problems. Current data also indicate that the herb's potential risks are few and minor. To be safe, however, take milk thistle under a physician's care.
Whether milk thistle hurts or harms the liver remains unknown, according to several health institutions. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that studies showing that milk thistle improved liver function and extended the life of individuals with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis were not scientifically sound. "Cancer" journal, on the other hand, published a study involving children on chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia who experienced liver toxicity as a result of the treatment. Researchers found that milk thistle reduced the toxic burden on the liver.
Side Effects
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality summarizes the conclusions of different studies. In September 2000, it reported that evidence pointed to milk thistle as an herb that had antioxidants and "toxin shields" that protected the liver. The potential negative reactions to the plant included nausea, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Impotence, life-threatening allergies and joint pain were also among the possible adverse effects. But the agency found that the incidence of negative reactions related to milk thistle was about the same as in the control groups. For the most part, the side effects were not serious, either.
How It Works
Milk thistle contains silymarin, a substance that is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. As an antioxidant, silymarin rids the body of free radicals, molecules that form as a result of normal organ functioning or toxin exposure. Free radicals damage healthy cells. As an anti-inflammatory, this substance may stop infection in the liver and other organs.
How to Take
The best way of taking milk thistle is under your doctor's supervision, especially if you have a serious liver condition. The herbal supplement is available in capsules, as a tincture or extract and as a product called silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex. UMMC says research shows the body may assimilate the complex more readily than the other forms of milk thistle. It recommends 100 mg to 200 mg twice daily. Do not take milk thistle extract preserved in alcohol if your liver disease is alcohol-related.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Milk Thistle
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Milk Thistle--Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects Summary
- "Cancer"; A Randomized, Carch and Quality; A Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind, Pilot Study of Milk Thistle for the Treatment of Hepatotoxicity in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL); E.J. Ladas et al.; Jan. 15, 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Slide Show: Add Antioxidants to Your Diet
