Milk Thistle Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Artichaut Sauvage, Blessed Milk Thistle, Cardui Mariae Fructus, Cardo Lechoso, Chardon Marbré, Carduus Marianum, Chardon Argenté, Chardon de Notre-Dame, Chardon de Marie, Chardon-Marie, Épine Blanche, Holy Thistle, Lady's Thistle, Lait de Notre-Dame, Legalon, Mariendistel, Marian Thistle, Mary Thistle, Our Lady's Thistle, Silybe de Marie, Shui Fei Ji, Silibinin, St. Marys Thistle, Silybum, Silybin, Silymarine, Silymarin, St. Mary Thistle CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for blessed thistle
Scientific Name
Silybum Marianum
Why Do People Use Milk Thistle ?
The oral preparations of Silybum marianum (Milk thistle), like milk thistle powder, can be used for the treatment of liver disorders including toxic liver damage caused by chemicals, jaundice, Amanita phalloides mushroom poisoning, hepatic cirrhosis, for chronic hepatitis and chronic inflammatory liver disease. It is also used consumed for gallbladder and dyspepsia complaints, loss of appetite, hangover, diabetes, and diseases of the spleen, pleurisy, for prostate cancer, for malaria, stimulating breast milk flow, uterine complaints, depression, for allergic rhinitis and stimulating menstrual flow.
Intravenously - Milk thistle powder is utilized as a supportive treatment for poisoning of Amanita phalloides mushroom.
In foods - The milk thistle seeds are roasted for use as a coffee substitute and flowers and leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
Is It Safe To Use?
Likely Safe - Oral and appropriate consumption of milk thistle is considered likely safe. Its extracts generally contain silymarin in a range of 70%-80%, which seems to be safe when utilized for up to 41 months.
Intravenously - However, there is scarce information available about the safety of intravenous formulations of milk thistle or its constituents.
Avoid in Pregnancy and Lactation - Pregnant and breast feeding females should avoid using Silybum marianum because there is lack of authentic information available.
How Effective Is Milk Thistle ?
Milk thistle powder shows positive effects for following conditions/diseases:
• Allergic rhinitis
• Diabetes
• Dyspepsia
There is no or scarce information available to rate effectiveness of milk thistle powder for following conditions:
• Alcohol-related Liver Disease
• Amanita Mushroom Poisoning
• Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
• Toxin-induced Liver Damage
How Milk Thistle Works?
The most effective parts of Silybum marianum are the seeds or above ground parts. The seeds are generally utilized in medicinal preparations. Silymarin is the active constituent of the milk thistle seed, which has four flavonolignans called isosilybinin, silibinin (silybinin, silybin), silidianin and silichristin (silychristin). There is around 70% of silymarin in silibinin. When ingested, silymarin experiences enterohepatic recirculation and has higher amounts in liver cells.
Silymarin is a strong inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The inflammation, cytotoxicity and apoptosis affected by TNF are adequately hindered by silymarin. Despite the fact that the system of this impact is not clear, it most likely includes intracellular signaling. Silibinin is an antioxidant i.e. a free radical scavenger and an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. In vitro silibinin has demonstrated a natural inclination for binding to p-glycoprotein a transporter thought to be included in the drug resistance of cancer cells.
Initial studies suggest that milk thistle constituents may protect against kidney damage. In vitro, silicristin and silibinin can save the kidney cells from nephrotoxic medications, for example, acetaminophen, vincristine and cisplatin. Silicristin and Silibinin, likewise, seem to have a regenerative impact on kidney cells like the impacts on hepatic cells.
The silymarin constituent appears to lessen resistance of insulin and lipid levels and lessen blood glucose in diabetic patients. This is thought to be because of silymarin's antioxidant impacts. According to some clinical studies, oxidative stress lead to reduced insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cell and increased insulin resistance. It's theorized that silymarin might decrease this oxidative damage.
There is some interest for consuming milk thorn for prostate cancer. In vitro analysis it demonstrates that silibinin and silymarin have anti-proliferative impacts androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells.
The above ground parts appear to have some estrogenic effects. A milk thistle plant concentrate seems to improve estradiol binding to estrogen receptors, instigate translation activity in estrogen-responsive cells and also upgrades estradiol-impelled interpretation reaction in estrogen-responsive cells.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Milk Thistle ?
Milk thistle powder has generally no side effects. It may have laxative effect. Other less common gastrointestinal (GI) effects include diarrhea, nausea, flatulence, anorexia, dyspepsia, fullness or pain and abdominal bloating. However, there is only one case reported in a woman who experienced nausea, collapse, intermittent episodes of sweating, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness issues, diarrhea and required hospitalization as well.
There as some allergic reactions caused by milk thistle such as rash, pruritus, eczema, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions may occur in patients sensitive to Compositae or Asteraceae family. This family includes ragweed, daisies, marigolds, chrysanthemums and many other herbs.
How Milk Thistle Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Not known.
How Milk Thistle Interacts With Drugs?
Silybum marianum may interact with following drugs.
• Various Cytochrome Substrates
• Estrogens
• Glucuronidated Drugs
• HMG-Coa Reductase Inhibitors ("Statins")
• Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
How Milk Thistle Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Milk Thistle Interacts With Lab Tests?
Milk thistle powder can interact with following lab test(s):
• Serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
How Milk Thistle Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Milk thistle has the ability to interact with following diseases or conditions:
• Cross-Allergenicity
• Conditions / Cancers sensitive to Harmone
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Milk Thistle ?
ORAL
In order to treat allergic rhinitis, extract of milk thistle made by 140 mg of silymarin should be utilized thrice daily.
For dyspepsia, combination of specific product made by milk thistle (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) along various herbs has been utilized in a dose of 1 mL trice a day.
In order to treat hepatic cirrhosis, particular extract of 420 mg milk thistle extract consisting of 70% to 80% silymarin (Legalon) has been utilized daily.
For diabetic patients, 200 mg of silymarin has been utilized thrice every day alongside conventional treatment.
For chronic active hepatitis, active constituent of milk thistle called silibinin (Silibide) in a concentration of 240 mg two times every day has been utilized.
Intravenous - To avoid the poisoning of Amanita phalloides mushroom, the typical dosage within the range of 20 to 50 mg per kg over 24 hours, distribute in four equal infusions, each of them administered over a two hour period.
Comments
Milk thistle’s broken leaves plant may excrete a milky sap. Don’t mix blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) with milk thistle.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
