health & science A BOTANICAL MONOGRAPH
THE SECRET POWER of milk thistle Parts used:
The dried, ripe fruits and seeds.
PHOTO BY CREATIVE COMMONS
Commonly known as milk thistle, blessed milk thistle, Carduus marianum, lady’s thistle, our lady’s thistle, shui fei ji, silymarin.
BY NORTHWEST LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR SCOTT D. ROSE
BY NORTHWEST LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. SCOTT D. ROSE
Active constituents:
The main active principles in milk thistle are silybin (silibinin), silychristin and silydianin, commonly referred to collectively as silymarin-phenolic compounds known as flavonolignans, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and free-radical scavenging properties. It also has silbinol and apigenin, and quercetin, taxifolin and biogenic amines.
Historical uses:
Employed in Europe for many centuries for treating liver disorders, including toxic liver damage caused by chemicals and Amanita phalloides mushroom poisoning. Used orally for loss of appetite, dyspepsia and gallbladder complaints, for hangovers, and in uterine complaints, stimulating breast milk flow and stimulating menstrual flow.
Side effects & toxicity:
Both animal and human studies have shown silymarin to be nontoxic. At high doses (>1,500 milligrams per day) a laxative effect is possible due to increased bile secretion and flow.
Silybum marianum comes originally from Europe and is now found across N. America.
Medicinal uses:
Milk thistle is used primarily to treat liver diseases and dysfunctions, including alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis (due to viral infections or drug-induced), and hepatic problems related to diabetes. Silymarin has liver regenerative effects by stimulating the enzyme known as RNA polymerase in the nucleus of liver cells. A practical application is the antidotal effect that silymarin possesses against Amanita mushroom (death cap) poisoning. When injected intravenously, silymarin blocks the toxic effects of the mushroom toxin alpha-amantin. Preparations made from milk thistle have been approved by the German Commission E to treat mild gastrointestinal dysfunctions. A clinical trial in Germany evaluated a commercial herbal preparation containing milk thistle as well as other herbs; known as STW-5 for the treatment of dyspeptic symptoms. The results showed the herbal preparation was significantly better than placebo. Certain anticancer agents employed in chemotherapy might induce short- and long-term toxicity to the liver. The active constituents in milk thistle might be useful in the prevention and treatment of liver dysfunction in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Dosage: Provision of dosage information does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement, but rather indicates the range of doses commonly used. Silybum marianum is usually given as a standard extract (70-80 percent silymarin) in encapsulated form, 100-300 milligrams three times daily is a typical adult dose.
Drug interactions: Medications that could damage the liver, such as acetaminophen, phenytoin (Dilantin), alcohol, and phenothiazines: Milk thistle might be protective for some of these drugs. Milk thistle may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
Contraindications: Milk thistle might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family (the ragweed family). Not enough is known about the use of milk thistle during pregnancy and breast-feeding so it is advised to avoid it currently.
84/feb. 2015 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF
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