Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter. People sometimes eat the stem and leaves of milk thistle in salads. All rights reserved. The most powerful and well-known health benefits of milk thistle are for your liver. Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. This wild edible takes two years to complete the growing cycle. Milk thistle is used by some people to help with liver problems. Milk thistle can trigger allergic reactions. Researchers also have found that milk thistle improved insulin resistance, a key part of type 2 diabetes. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: “About Herbs: Milk thistle.”, Natural Standard Patient Monograph: “Milk thistle.”. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Ask your doctor for advice. Milk thistle is a flowering plant that comes from the same family of plants as the daisy. It’s unclear what benefits, if any, it may have in the body, but it’s sometimes used as a natural treatment for things including cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis, and gallbladder disorders. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum or Cardus marianum ) is a plant used for treating liver disorders, breast-feeding problems , and other illnesses. Use birth control you can trust while taking this product. While milk thistle has been traditionally used in pregnant and breastfeeding women, its safety is unknown. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. It can help prevent elevation of liver enzymes, which can be a side effect of the medication. Also, the silymarin substance found in thistle seeds has been for about years … It’s unclear if milk thistle has the same effects in people without diabetes. Milk thistle is an herbal remedy derived from the milk thistle plant, also known as Silybum marianum. Select one or more newsletters to continue. Some studies also show milk thistle may help people whose liver is damaged by industrial toxins, such as toluene and xylene. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. Milk thistle is found throughout the eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Milk thistle also known as Silybum marianum is a prickly plant that has distinctive purple flowers and white veins. What is milk thistle good for? It is native to Mediterranean countries. There are no other food sources of this herb. Milk Thistle Liver Benefits Scientific Evidence There have been many studies done on the effects of milk thistle and its potential benefits. Can Milk Thistle Help People With Diabetes? 8. Some people with diabetes will take it to help lower blood sugar. The stem is grooved and may be covered in a light cottony fuzz. This supplement is composed of four flavonoid compounds which include silibinin, isosilybin, silymarin, and silybin. People who are allergic to artichokes, kiwi, ragweed, daisies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums are at higher risk. There’s conflicting research on the benefits of milk thistle for liver health. However, while there are many different potential benefits, it is most well-known for being a natural liver supporter and is sometimes used to help treat liver diseases such as cirrhosis, jaundice and hepatitis, as well as gallbladder problems. Find out more on the side effects of statins. The plant is native to Europe and grows in the wild in the United States and South America. Europeans were among the first to use these herbal seeds as a treatment for liver disorders. The active ingredient of the herb, silymarin, is found in the ripe seeds of the plant. There is not enough scientific data to say whether or not milk thistle can help liver problems. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is native to southern Europe, southern Russia, Asia Minor, and North Africa, and has also been naturalized to North and South America. Last updated on Jul 2, 2019. It helps the liver flush toxins and has been shown to repair damaged liver cells. Milk thistle can also be taken with cholesterol-lowering medications, like statins. Milk thistle is mainly used as a liver tonic for those with metabolic conditions, weak digestion, or high cholesterol. Supports a healthy liver. It may have protective effects on the liver, preventing damage. If you’ve overindulged, milk thistle may help – it’s famous for being a natural detoxifier and being used to tackle indigestion. The stomach might get upset frequently. Evidence suggests that milk thistle helps protect the liver, and may even regenerate new liver cells. native to Europe and Asia but now grows wild in North and South America Drug interactions are reported among people who take Amoxicillin and Milk thistle. Risks. This makes it very hard to establish a standard dose. Take extra care if you are allergic to pollens or plants like ragweed, daisy, aster, marigolds, or chrysanthemums. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Signs of low blood sugar. Milk thistle is a plant named for the white veins on its large prickly leaves.One of the active ingredients in milk thistle is silymarin, which is extracted from the plant's seeds. These include upset stomach or throwing up, belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, not hungry. Side effects. It can be found in Mediterranean countries and is used for producing natural medicines. Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean and the stems, also rich in antioxidants, are regularly eaten by those in the area to reduce oxidative damage in the liver and biliary tract. ", National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): "Milk Thistle," “Herbs at a Glance: Milk thistle.”, Medicinenet.com: "Generic Name: Milk Thistle – Oral.". Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Steps to Take. Milk thistle seeds contain the active component, silymarin, which is a powerful anti-oxidant. Milk thistle (silymarin) is a flowering herb related to the daisy and ragweed family. Available for Android and iOS devices. By lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol levels, milk thistle may lower the chance of developing heart disease. Only your healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. Reagan Linton at lifeextension.com explains: “Milk thistle has been used to detoxify the liver and even help liver cells regenerate themselves for over 2,000 years. Go to the ER right away. Other common names for the plant include M… It is not a treatment for hepatitis B or D, nor has it been shown to have any effect against fighting the viruses. The milk thistle plant has a long stem, green leaves with white spots, and pink to purple spiky flowered head (which true to its name, resembles a thistle). The best doses of milk thistle have not been established for any condition it may be used to treat. Experts believe silymarin is the primary active ingredient of the herb. Always check with your doctor before you use a natural product. In females, milk thistle is popular for stimulating the flow of milk for nursing mothers. It has also been linked to improving breast milk flow in new mothers. Loss of Appetite: This is another effect of milk thistle caused in the body. The terms “milk thistle” and “silymarin” are often used interchangeably. Some people also call it Mary thistle and holy thistle. Be sure to talk with your doctor about this and all drugs you are taking. Distinguishing Features: Milk thistle is a stout, biennial or annual plant that grows up to one metre tall and has a branched, stem. [ 8] O Oxidative damage is thought to be one of the main mechanisms involved in … Numerous parts of the milk thistle plant can be used to care for various health illnesses. Milk thistle itself is a flowering plant that is part of the daisy family. Signs of liver problems. The active ingredients in milk thistle are a group of plant compounds collectively known as silymarin. Each milk thistle flower can produce almost 200 seeds, with an average of 6,350 seeds per plant per year. But studies on heart benefits only have been done in people with diabetes. There’s some evidence that milk thistle can treat cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, which can be caused by alcohol abuse, autoimmune disease, or viruses. But experts say that the evidence isn’t conclusive. What is milk thistle? You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. Quality and active ingredients in supplements may vary widely from maker to maker. All rights reserved. Because the active ingredient of the milk thistle is in the seeds, milk thistle teas will not be able to extract enough of the ingredient to have any effects. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 7 Dec 2020), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Dec 2020), ASHP (updated 3 Dec 2020) and others. Some people also call it Mary thistle and holy thistle. Below we explain what this plant is, its uses, benefits, and side effects and contraindications that exist concerning its dosage. Milk thistle seems to have few side effects, even when taken for several years. Milk thistle is one of the most powerful supplements available today that helps detox the liver, protect the body from free radical damage, and reduce inflammation. It is native to Mediterranean countries. People mainly use the supplement to treat liver conditions. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. This information does not endorse any natural products or similar treatments, therapies, or life-style choices as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. Milk Thistle Seeds; What is thistle used for? It does NOT include all information about natural products, possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to you. What Are the Risks of Taking Milk Thistle? 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