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, Shui Fei Ji, Silibinin, Silybe de Marie, Silybin, Silybum, Sylibum, Silybum marianum, Silymarin, Silymarine, St. Mary Thistle, St. Marys Thistle
Milk thistle is a plant. The above ground parts and seeds are used to make medicine. The seeds are more commonly used.
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.
- People with allergies to daisies, artichokes, kiwi, common thistle or plants in the aster family may also be allergic to milk thistle. There have been several reports of anaphylactic shock in people who have used milk thistle products.
- The safety of milk thistle in pregnant or nursing women is unknown.
- Theoretically, milk thistle may lower blood sugar levels, so it should be used with caution by people with diabetes, hypoglycemia and those taking medications or supplements that affect blood sugar levels.
- There is a theoretical risk that milk thistle could have an estrogen-like effect, so people with hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids or cancers of the breast, uterus and ovaries should avoid milk thistle, particularly the above ground parts of the plant.
- Milk thistle may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. One constituent of milk thistle can inhibit an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which is involved in the activity of oral contraceptives.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Protect against sun damage and other problematic skin conditions
- Fight free radical damage with its antioxidant properties
- Lessen cell damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatments
- Prevent Alzheimer's disease
- Stabilize blood sugar levels
- Defend against premature aging
- Treat menopausal symptoms
- Remedy intestinal and indigestion issues
- Constipation : Milk thistle produces a laxative effect by encouraging the production of bile, which is responsible for breaking down fats and cholesterol in the intestines—and stimulating bowel movements.
- Treat the symptoms of death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides)poisoning
- milk thistle also decreases the risk of developing gallstones by increasing bile production.
- 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.
