For about 2,000 years, milk thistle has been used as a medicine to treat various ailments, especially liver and gallbladder problems. Today, milk thistle is used both in urgent situations, such as mushroom poisoning, and for chronic diseases, including hepatitis. However, milk thistle can cause side effects and should be used cautiously in certain individuals. Consult with your health care provider before using milk thistle medicinally.
Milk thistle seeds are most commonly used medicinally. Milk thistle contains a substance called silymarin, which is responsible for its health benefits, including protecting the liver from toxins, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition to its medicinal use, the milk thistle plant is used as a food. Some eat the leaves and flowers as a vegetable for salads and a substitute for spinach. Milk thistle seeds are also roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Preparations and Dosing
You can buy milk thistle supplements in tincture, liquid extract and capsule form. Standardized preparations contain between 70 and 80 percent of silymarin. Milk thistle is also available as silymarin phosphatidylcholine complex, which contains the natural compound called phosphatidylcholine that may help silymarin work more efficiently in the liver. The recommended dose of milk thistle is 280 to 450 mg daily in divided doses, or 100 to 200 mg, twice daily, of silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Milk thistle is generally safe for most people. However, it can cause some problems, including appetite loss, heartburn, nausea, intestinal gas, bloating and diarrhea. Because silymarin enhances liver and gallbladder activity, you may also temporarily experience a mild laxative effect, notes the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. This laxative effect will normally subside within two to three days.
Considerations
You may experience allergic reactions to milk thistle, especially if you have existing allergies to ragweed and related plants such as chrysanthemums, marigolds and daisies. Also, use milk thistle cautiously if you have diabetes or are predisposed to low blood sugar, because it can lower blood sugar and make your blood sugar levels too low. Avoid milk thistle during pregnancy and breast-feeding because not enough is known about its use in these conditions.
Member Comments