Milk thistle helps relieve the symptoms of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and inflammatory liver conditions. It is one of the most effective herbs known for treating liver disorders. Even the ancient Greeks knew the virtues of milk thistle for jaundice. Physicians of the Middle Ages used it for liver problems and other conditions, and nursing mothers took milk thistle leaf to increase their milk for breast-feeding.

Milk thistle protects the liver from harmful chemicals and alcohol. Silymarin is a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin C and vitamin E. Standardized extracts of milk thistle are beneficial for cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis B, chronic alcoholic liver diseases, and liver damage from toxins.

Silymarin is the most effective antidote to deathcap mushroom poisoning. Milk thistle standardized extract can stop deadly mushroom poisoning if you take it 10 minutes after you ingest deathcap (Amanita phalloides) mushrooms. Always get immediate medical attention if you eat poisonous mushrooms or any other toxic substance.

If you have a liver problem, or if you drink much alcohol (or drank too much in the past), your health care provider may recommend milk thistle for you. Milk thistle has demonstrated a protective effect on the liver following exposure to toxic doses of acetaminophen (a non-aspirin pain reliever). Likewise, milk thistle may protect against liver toxicity associated with phenothiazine medications (usually used to treat schizophrenia) and haloperidol.

Milk thistle is also beneficial if you need to increase your bile flow, and helps reduce the symptoms of psoriasis.

Milk thistle originally came from the Mediterranean. It is now widespread throughout the world, from Europe to Asia, and from Africa to North America. This stout thistle usually grows in dry, sunny areas. The stem branches at the top, and it 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.

Milk thistle fruit contains an active ingredient called silymarin. Silymarin is the liver-protecting compound inside milk thistle. Silymarin repairs liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed by these same substances.

Milk thistle products are made from the seeds inside the fruit. The seeds contain 1.5% to 3% silymarin. Silymarin is actually made up of a group of compounds called flavonolignands. The most important flavonolignan is silybarin (sometimes called silybin). Other flavonolignans in silymarin are isosilybin, dehydrosilybin, silydianin, and silychristin.

• Capsules of standardized dried herb (each capsule contains about 120 to 140 mg silymarin)
• Several teas contain the standardized extract
• Liquid extract
• Tincture
• Silymarin phosphatidyl choline complex 

The silymarin in milk thistle seeds is difficult to absorb. The more concentrated the solution of silymarin, the more easily it is absorbed and the more readily it enters the blood stream. Standardized capsules are the most concentrated form and, therefore, should be used whenever possible. Silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex may be absorbed even more easily, though, than regular standardized milk thistle. In clinical trials, the silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex has worked better than silymarin by itself for treating liver disorders. A key element in cell membranes, phosphatidylcholine helps the silymarin attach easily to the cell membranes. This may keep toxins from getting inside liver cells. Alcohol extracts may be less effective and, therefore, should likely be avoided.

Pediatric

Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 to 25 kg), the appropriate dose of milk thistle for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.

Adult

The recommended dose of milk thistle is generally 12 to 15 g dried herb (200 to 400 mg silymarin) per day or silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex 100 to 200 mg two times per day.

• For liver protection, 120 mg silymarin (about 2 capsules) two times per day.
• To treat liver damage (from alcohol, drugs, or chemicals), the recommended dosage is 120 mg (about 3 capsules) three times per day.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, milk thistle is a dietary supplement. Milk thistle is safe when you follow the recommended dosage. Sometimes this herb has a mild laxative effect. If this happens, take some fiber such as guar gum, psyllium, oat bran, or pectin. The fiber should stop loose stools and any stomach discomfort.

Milk thistle may protect the kidneys against toxic side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment with cisplatin; however, a laboratory study revealed that the anticancer effect of cisplatin and ifosfamide was reduced in the presence of milk thistle. Therefore, you should consult with your healthcare provider before adding any new herbs or supplements to your existing medication regimen, especially if you are undergoing chemotherapy.

Milk thistle may also impact the effectiveness of cyclosporine. Consult with your healthcare provider before using milk thistle if you are currently being treated with cyclosporine.

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