Milk Thistle
Species Name: Silybum marianum.
Also known as: Milk thistle is also known as Silymarin, holy thistle, lady's thistle, Mary thistle, Marian thistle, St. Mary thistle, and silybum.
What is Milk Thistle: Milk thistles are thistles of the genus Silybum Adans, flowering plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae).
They are native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Members of this genus grow as annual or biennial plants. The erect stem is tall, branched, and furrowed, but not spiny. The large, alternate leaves are waxy-lobed, toothed and thorny, as in other genera of thistle.
Home remedies using Milk Thistle:
Benefits of Milk Thistle:
Commonly used to protect the liver from damage, as well as help the liver regenerate after damage has occurred. Milk thistle can be useful for those who use phenobarbitol, which can be toxic to the liver.
Uses of Milk Thistle:
It is believed to give some remedy for liver diseases (example:viral hepatitis) and an extract, silymarin, is used in medicine.
The adverse effect of the medicinal use of milk thistle is loose stools. Milk Thistle provides nourishment to the liver, and can help nutritionally to support your body's natural detoxification process, promote the body's natural defense against alcohol, and environmental pollutants, and nutritionally support the liver's natural ability to promote healthy cells.
It has been used by herbalists for thousands of years to promote liver health.
Milk Thistle has shown positive effects in treating nearly every known form of liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, necroses, and liver damage due to drug and alcohol abuse.
It works due to its ability to inhibit the factors responsible for liver damage, coupled with the fact it stimulates production of new liver cells to replace damaged ones. It also acts as an antioxidant, with far greater free radical damage control than vitamin E.
Other studies have found that milk thistle offers some protection against toxic side effects of the pain relieving drug acetaminophen.
If you choose to take milk thistle, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.
Take the pill forms of milk thistle with a full glass of water. To ensure the correct dose, measure the liquid forms of milk thistle with a dropper or a dose-measuring spoon or cup. Some forms of milk thistle can be brewed to form a tea for drinking.
Side Effects of Milk Thistle:
Milk thistle may inhibit the metabolism of certain drugs. Before taking milk thistle, ask your doctor if any drugs you are taking are metabolized by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. You may not be able to take milk thistle, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring while you are taking it.
Before taking milk thistle, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical conditions, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements.
Milk thistle may not be recommended in some situations, such as pregnancy or breast feeding.
There is no information available regarding the use of milk thistle by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.
Although rare, allergic reactions to milk thistle have been reported. Stop taking milk thistle and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face, or if you develop hives.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
