Milk Thistle Description

Milk Thistle - Milk Thistle is a plant from the aster family. Milk thistle is reputed to be a remedy for liver and gall bladder problems, as well as loss of appetite. The active extract of milk thistle, believed to be responsible for the herb's medicinal qualities, is silymarin, found in the fruit. Milk thistle has been used in Europe as a treatment for liver disease and jaundice since the 16th century. The results of scientific studies to date do not definitively find that milk thistle is beneficial in treating hepatitis C in humans. Studies in laboratory animals suggest that silymarin may have various benefits to the liver, such as promoting the growth of certain types of liver cells, having a protective effect upon liver cells, fighting a chemical process called oxidation that can damage cells, and inhibiting inflammation. However, in some cases, a consistent pattern of benefit was not seen. There have been some studies on silymarin, or milk thistle, in humans. These studies have generally been small and on liver diseases, and the results have been contradictory. Milk thistle silymarin in the treatment of liver diseases has been found to be generally safe.

Milk thistle is generally well-tolerated in capsule form and has shown few side effects. It can cause a laxative effect; less common effects include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, fullness, and pain. Milk thistle can produce allergic reactions, which tend to be more common among people who are allergic to plants in the same family. Milk thistle is an antidote for death-cap mushroom poisoning.