Milk thistle, or Silybum marianum, is an herb that's been used for more than 2,000 years to address conditions affecting the liver and gallbladder. If you choose to use milk thistle as an alternative or complementary treatment for your health concerns, however, put your expectations on hold until you speak with a medical professional. Milk thistle and other herbs are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and therefore carry no assurance of safety or effectiveness.
Uses
Milk thistle is used for a number of purposes. Traditionally, milk thistle was used as an antidote for deathcap mushroom poisoning. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicates that milk thistle is used to treat cirrhosis of the liver that results from alcoholism or Type 2 diabetes; chronic hepatitis; gallbladder disorders; and high cholesterol. Milk thistle is also used to treat certain types of cancer. The silymarin in milk thistle is the active compound believed to protect your liver from toxins; it may also encourage cell regrowth after the liver is damaged, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Safety
Milk thistle appears to have a low toxicity and is tolerated well by participants in clinical trials. It can have mild side effects, including diarrhea and an upset stomach. Some people may experience an allergic reaction to milk thistle, reports NCCAM. Allergic reactions may be more common in people who are also allergic to ragweed, marigold, daisy and chrysanthemum. Milk thistle can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications, including allergy drugs such as fexofenadine, statins used to treat high cholesterol, blood thinners, anti-anxiety medications and certain types of cancer drugs. Avoid milk thistle if you use antipsychotic medications; dilantin, a drug used to treat seizures; and halothane, an anesthesia medication.
Evidence
According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, milk thistle may help people with liver damage that results from heavy alcohol use. The July 1989 issue of the "Journal of Hepatology" reported results of a study conducted by University of Vienna researchers who examined the effects of silymarin on cirrhosis after two years of treatment. Researchers found that participants taking silymarin had a higher four-year survival rate compared to those who received a placebo. They also determined that milk thistle was most effective on participants with alcohol-induced cirrhosis. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center indicates, however, that there's less compelling evidence to suggest that milk thistle is useful for all other purposes. Diseases of the liver are serious and require the care of an experienced health care professional; don't self-treat with milk thistle without consulting your treating physician.
Other Cautions
Natural herbal supplements such as milk thistle may appeal to you because they lack the harsh side effects of prescription medications. MayoClinic.com nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky states, however, that natural supplements may be less safe than you think. They can contain potentially strong ingredients that don't mix well with medications and other dietary supplements. The FDA has also discovered numerous tainted natural supplements that were sold to consumers. Beware of milk thistle supplements and other herbal treatments that promise you a miraculous recovery. If the product's claims sound too good to be true, they generally are.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Milk Thistle; July 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Milk Thistle; March 2009
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Milk Thistle; June 2011
- Tufts Medical Center: Milk Thistle; August 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Dietary Supplements Not Without Risk; K. Zeratsky; August 2010
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Tips For The Savvy Supplement User: Making Informed Decisions And Evaluating Information; January 2002
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