[[File:Milk thistle flowerhead.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Milk Thistle]]
Other Names: Artichaut Sauvage, Blessed Milk Thistle, Cardo Lechoso, Cardui Mariae Fructus, Cardui Mariae Herba, Carduus Marianum, Carduus marianus, Chardon Argenté, Chardon de Marie, Chardon de Notre-Dame, Chardon Marbré, Chardon-Marie, Épine Blanche, Holy Thistle, Lady's Thistle, Lait de Notre-Dame, Legalon, Marian Thistle, Mariendistel, Mary Thistle, Our Lady's Thistle, Mariadistel, Shui Fei Ji, Silibinin, Silybe de Marie, Silybin, Silybum, Sylibum, Silybum marianum, Silymarin, Silymarine, St. Mary Thistle, St. Marys Thistle<br>Milk thistle is a plant. The above ground parts and seeds are used to make medicine. The seeds are more commonly used.<br>See also : * [[Silymarin]]* [[Bitters]]
==Special Precautions of Milk Thistle==
*Side effects may include indigestion, headache and itching. Rarely, milk thistle may result in heartburn, gas, diarrhea, joint pain and sexual dysfunction.
* Don't confuse Milk Thistle with [[Blessed Thistle]] (Cnicus Benedictus)
* Since Milk thistle works on the liver, there is potential that may affect medications that are metabolized through the liver. Speak with your physician.
==The benefits of Milk Thistle are==
For many centuries extracts of milk thistle have been recognized as "liver tonics." Research into the biological activity of silymarin and its possible medical uses has been conducted in many countries since the 1960s, but the quality of the research has been uneven. Milk thistle has been reported to have protective effects on the liver and to greatly improve its function. It is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), toxin-induced liver damage including the prevention of severe liver damage from Amanita phalloides ('death cap' mushroom poisoning), and gallbladder disorders.
*[[Cirrhosis]] : Preliminary studies suggest milk thistle supplements may be beneficial for people with cirrhosis. It may improve liver function. More research is needed, however, because many of the studies conducted so far on milk thistle and cirrhosis have been poorly designed.
* IBS : Milk thistle (Silymarin) can be used to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome, skin disorders and anxiety caused by liver disease, and protect liver from food and drug poisoning and alcohol abuse.
* [[Detox]] : Protection From Liver Damage ([[Liver Diseases]] : Milk thistle may protect the liver against toxicity from acetaminophen (Tylenol), alcohol and other drugs. In Europe, milk thistle is reportedly administered to patients when they are given medications known to cause liver problems.
* promote healthy prostate function and a strong gastrointestinal tract by resolving free radical damage.
* Lower cholesterol levels, which improves cardiovascular health
*Cancer : Decrease the proliferation of cancer cells in breast, lung, colon,prostate, cervical and renal cancers : the silymarin compound in milk thistle may help prevent and treat cancer.* [[Cushing Disease]] : Silibinin extracted from milk thistle seeds successfully treated Cushing's disease in cell culturesAccording to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, animal models this herb is also being studied for its benefit in patients with leukemia and chemotherapy-related damage to the liver. Studies are ongoing and human tumor tissueno evidence is established at this time.
* [[Skin Cancer]] : milk thistle extract, called silibinin, protect against skin cancer-causing ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation, but it also kills cells that have undergone mutations due to ultraviolet-A (UVA) radiation -- a process that would potentially lead to cancer.
* [[Cushing Disease]] : Silibinin extracted from milk thistle seeds successfully treated Cushing's disease in cell cultures, animal models and human tumor tissue.
* Silymarin helps increase levels of [[Glutathione]] and [[Superoxide Dismutase]] (SOD) your bodies two most powerful intracellular anti-oxidants.
*silymarin, a chemical extracted from the seeds has been shown to reduce inflammation.
* as a [[demulcent]] that improves the health of the bodies mucous membranes. This reduces inflammation within the skin cells, sinus and respiratory tract and kidney and bladder wall lining. It also reduces inflammatory stress in the bile duct and inhibits the formation of gall stones. This improves the functionality of the gall bladder and allows for complete bile release.
* hangover : The milk thistle tincture is bitter and has been credited as a hangover cure. The idea is that milk thistle, especially when taken before drinking begins but also as late as the morning after drinking, helps the body’s organs to eliminate toxins following an episode of heavy drinking.
==Recommended ProductsMain Combination=={{#widget* Liver Dysfunction, Hepatitis :Iframe[[Artichoke]] + Milk Thistle (or [[Black Radish]])|url=http* In Hepatoprotection, hepatitis and elevated liver enzymes ://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=wikiwel-20&o=1&p=12&l=st1&mode=hpc&search=silymarin&fc1=000000<1=_blank&lc1=3366FF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr[[Desmodium adscendens]] + Milk Thistle|width=300|height=250|border=0}}* Symptoms of Hepatitis : [[Desmodium adscendens]] + Milk Thistle + [[Chrysantellum americanum]]
[[Category:Treatments]]
[[Category:herbal medicine]]
[[Category:Bitter]]
[[Category:Cholagogue]]
[[Category:Demulcent]]
[[Category:Galactogogue]]
[[Category:Hepatic]]