Milk Thistle Liver Disease

Milk thistle is an annual plant that grows in Europe and parts of America and has been used medicinally for more than 2,000 years. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help protect the liver. Milk thistle is commonly used as an antidote that protects the liver when toxic mushrooms are ingested.

Components

• Silymarin is the active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin is a flavonoid--a compound from a plant that has antioxidant and biochemical benefits--composed of silidianin, silibinin, and silicristin.

Benefits

• In addition to toxic mushroom poisoning, milk thistle can be beneficial for cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis.

Expert Insight

• According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, milk thistle can prevent liver damage for someone using acetaminophen on a regular basis.

Dosage

• The most convenient way to take milk thistle is in a capsule, but it is available as a tincture or a tea. Holistic Online recommends taking 420 mgs of milk thistle that is standardized to contain at least 70 percent silymarin daily.

Side Effects

• Milk thistle is usually safe for everyone, but might cause diarrhea or headaches for the first few days of use. Even pregnant women can take milk thistle, and it is a good herb for stimulating breast milk production postpartum.