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- Also known as:
- Holy Thistle, Lady's Thistle, Marian Thistle, Mary Thistle, Our Lady's
Thistle, St. Mary Thistle, silybin, silybum, silymarin. Silybum marianum,
Carduus marainum, Cardui mariae fructus.
- What is it?
- A thistle found mostly in North America from Canada to Mexico that grows
up to 10 feet in height. It has large prickly leaves with white blotches or
veins and red purple flowers. The fruit is small, brown, spotted and shiny.
The seeds are mottled black or gray. Only the seeds of the fruit are used as
dietary supplements. The active ingredients of milk thistle seeds are called
flavinoids. The flavonoids in milk thistle are silybin, silydianin, and
silychristin. Together, they are called silymarin.
- History of use:
- Milk thistle has been used for over 2000 years for upset stomach. It has
also been used as a liver protectant. Milk thistle has been used for
treating toxic liver damage caused by drugs, chronic hepatitis and hepatic
cirrhosis. It has also been used to treat mushroom poisoning and for
diseases of the spleen. Its use can be traced back to the first century
Greeks. Historically, the plant has been used for treating malaria, uterine
complaints, and to stimulate menstrual flow. Milk thistle is used in salads
and as a spinach substitute. Today, patients who are taking drugs that may
damage the liver, such as those used for HIV/AIDS, use milk thistle as a
complementary therapy.
- Safety and Effectiveness:
- The safety and effectiveness of milk thistle have not been evaluated. It
is thought to be safe if the recommended doses are followed. It should NOT
be given to children or infants, and it should NOT be taken by pregnant
women or women who breastfeed.
- Adverse Reactions:
- Few reactions have been reported in the literature other than brief
stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and mild allergic reactions. If you are
allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies, you may be
allergic to Milk Thistle.
- Drug Interactions:
- Milk Thistle may interact with the following drugs: lorazepam (Ativan),
lamotrigine (Lamictal), entacapone (Comtan), amitriltyline (Elavil),
clopidogrel (Plavix), clozapine (Clozaril), diazepam (Valium), estradiol (Estrace),
grepafloxacin (Raxar), mirtazepine (Remeron), ondansetron (Zofran), Tacrine
(Cognex), verapamil (Calan), warfarin (Coumadin), zileuton (Zyflo),
lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), Itraconazole (Sporanox),
fexofenadine (Allegra) and triazolam (Halcion).
- Always tell your doctor if you are taking Milk Thistle, especially if you
are also taking any prescription drugs.
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