Milk Thistle:
Plant Description
Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean, but is now widespread
throughout the world. This stout thistle usually grows in dry, sunny
areas. The stem branches at the top, and reaches a height of 4 to 10
feet. The leaves are wide, with white blotches or veins. The flowers
are red-purple. The small, hard-skinned fruit is brown, spotted, and
shiny. Milk thistle is easy to grow, and it matures quickly, in less than
a year.
Common Names--milk thistle, Mary thistle, holy thistle. Milk thistle is
sometimes called silymarin, which is actually a mixture of the herb's
active components, including silybinin (also called silibinin or silybin).
The seeds, fruit, and leaves of Milk Thistle have been used since the
Roman times as a liver tonic. Also known as Marian, St. Mary's, and
Our Lady's thistle, the herb is native to Europe. Originating in the
Mediterranean region and grown and used as a vegetable
throughout Europe, it was brought to the United States and has
adapted to life in the wild in California and along the East Coast. It is
a tall plant with large prickly leaves and a reddish purple flower. The
white spots along the ribs of the leaves were said to have been
drops of the Virgin Mary's milk. The medicinal use of milk thistle goes
back two thousand years. Medieval herbalists also made use of this,
and in the sixteenth century English herbalists adopted it. It did not
maintain its popularity, however, and by the early twentieth century
only homeopaths were familiar with it. With a renewal of interest in
herbal medicines, researchers started to investigate milk thistle
scientifically in the 1950s. The part of the plant that is used is the
small hard fruit, without the fuzz, and the seeds, which contain fatty
acids and flavonoids.
Milk Thistle helps maintain healthy liver function. This is important because the liver performs more than 500 functions in the
body per day and is the last line of defense in handling toxins. The liver detoxifies poisons (such as alcohol and pollutants)
that enter our bloodstream. Milk Thistle's silymarin stimulates the flow of bile from the liver, the primary function of which
breaks down poisons and fats. This herb is generally highly recommended by herbalists as a "staple" in the herbal medicinal
chest.
Milk Thistle extracts contain 70 to 80% silymarin. Many clinical studies have shown silymarin has therapeutic effects in treating
several types of liver disorders such as cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and fatty infiltration of the liver. Milk thistle is used to treat a
number of liver conditions including slowing the advancement of liver cirrhosis. It may be helpful in treating Hepatitis B. It has
been shown to stimulate protein synthesis within the liver, leading to tissue regeneration, fights pollutants, inhibits free-radical
damage, and helps skin conditions related to poor liver function. Biopsies and laboratory studies have demonstrated that
silymarin protects the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol and toxic chemicals and stimulates the production of new liver
cells to replace damaged ones. Silymarin may also help prevent or treat gallstones by increasing the solubility of the bile. Milk
thistle extracts have shown very low toxicity, even when taken over a long period of time however, any serious medical
condition requires professional care and anyone being treated for liver ailments should ask their doctor prior to taking any
herb or herbal preparation.
The herb has also been used historically to treat depression and to increase breast milk production. Today it is a staple of
alternative medicine for pregnant and nursing mothers. However, pregnant women and nursing mothers should also always
seek professional guidance prior to using any herb or supplement.
Milk thistle should not be administered as a tea or as dried herb because silymarin is neither water-soluble nor readily
absorbed from the intestinal tract. Proprietary products standardized to 70 percent silymarin are utilized in Europe at a usual
dose of 420 mg daily. Treatment normally lasts four to eight weeks at a minimum. Trials of three and six months are common.
Side Effects and Cautions
In clinical trials, milk thistle generally has few side effects. Occasionally, people report a laxative effect, upset stomach,
diarrhea, and bloating.
Milk thistle can produce allergic reactions, which tend to be more common among people who are allergic to plants in the
same family (for example, ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy).
It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including milk thistle.
This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care
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