What is Milk Thistle?

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By Sava Tang Alcantara
eHow Contributing Writer

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Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herb that grows in the Mediterranean that is often used to cleanse the liver. It is also known as Mary Thistle and Holy Thistle. It is commonly used to treat gallbladder disorders, hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
The active ingredient is silymarin: crushed milk thistle seeds are sold as capsules, tablets, loose herbs or as an alcohol-based tincture.
To date, the National Institutes of medicine has conducted studies on milk thistle and have recommended further studies be done to determine long-term effects, efficacy and safety.
Ask your doctor about how to use milk thistle if you have a liver disorder or any other serious medical issues. Do not self-diagnose.

Identification

Milk thistle is a herb that grows throughout the Mediterranean and is used to treat liver disorders. Silymarin is a combination of its active ingredients which includes silybinin.
Doctors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries used milk thistle for patients with kidney, spleen or liver complaints. Milk thistle may have "protective effects" for the liver, National Institute of Health researchers state.
Milk thistle is sold in health food stores, holistic pharmacies that sell herbal supplements and online.
Dosages will vary according to the strength of the milk thistle product purchased. Read all warnings on labeling to avoid exceeding the maximum dosage.

Benefits

Milk thistle has been recommended to help in the treatment of breast, cervical and prostate cancers, according to the National Center for Complementary Medicine (NCCM).
The same research group states that milk thistle may help people with type 2 diabetes by lowering insulin resistance. The pancreas produces insulin every time you eat, in order to keep blood sugar level.
NCCM has also indicated that milk thistle may help some individuals lower their cholesterol levels when under a doctor's care and as part of a larger diet and lifestyle change.

Considerations

If you have a liver disorder, consult with your doctor. While NCCM reports there are studies done with milk thistle and the treatment of liver disorders, they state the studies were smaller and the study design was imperfect.
A recent survey of 16 studies done on milk thistle by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found some flaws in study design, stating it could not "definitively" draw conclusions. However, in 5 studies, milk thistle appeared to improve the liver function in the mildest forms of liver disorders.
The National Cancer Institute is studying milk thistle for the treatment of the complications of HIV and for the prevention of cancer.

Misconceptions

If you have a liver disorder or hepatitis, the primary misconception is to believe that taking milk thistle will solve the problem.
Any health condition that compromises the liver requires professional medical assessment and treatment. Do not self-diagnose and self-dose.
Especially if you take acetaminophen (an over-the-counter pain relieving medicine), your liver may be weakened and self dosing with milk thistle may be fatal as it may cause liver failure and death. Instead, consult your doctor.

Warning

Reported side effects include bloating, diarrhea, a laxative effect or an upset stomach.
People who are allergic to marigold, daisy, chrysanthemum or ragweed should avoid using milk thistle as it is in the same family of plants.