AKA: Silybum Marianum, Mary thistle, holy thistle, silymarin

Milk thistle is a plant native to the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East whose seeds have been used for medicinal purposes for two thousand years. It gets its name from the splashy white dots that mottle the leaves as well as the milky white sap that they contain. Like other thistles, the large alternate leaves are toothed and thorny. The flowers are large, disk shaped and range from pink to purple in color.

Benefits and Uses  

• Liver disease
• Gall bladder inflammation
• Disease of the spleen
• Diabetes
• Cholesterol

The plant’s active component is silymarin, which is a mixture of several different components including silybinin, a powerful antioxidant, and a few other closely related flavonolignans. Milk thistle has long been used as a liver tonic, and it is thought to be useful in protecting the liver from damage caused by environmental toxins, alcohol, drugs and chemotherapy. It is also used in for cases of jaundice and hepatitis. The fruit of the plant has also been used to treat indigestion, loss of appetite, inflammation of the colon, pleurisy, spleen disorders, and inflammation of the gall bladder.

Milk Thistle extract is also thought to be good in lowering cholesterol levels, reducing insulin resistance for people who have both cirrhosis and Type 2 diabetes and helping reduce the growth of cancer cells in the breast, cervix, and prostate.

Side Effects

The few side effects reported in clinical trials involving milk thistle are a laxative effect, upset stomach, diarrhea and bloating. It may produce allergic reactions in people who happen to have allergies to similar plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, or daisy.  It is always a good idea to discuss your plans with your physician before deciding to supplement your diet with milk thistle.

Also, for people with HIV or AIDS, milk thistle’s main component: silymarin may decrease the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which helps process certain protease inhibitors which are taken as medication.

Dosage

The suggested dose for the dried herb is about 12 to 15 grams a day, however since silymarin is not water soluble nor easily absorbed into the intestinal tract, proprietary doses standardized to 70 percent silymarin are recommended. To protect the liver take two capsules of 120 mg of silymarin about two times a day.

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