Milk thistle, also known as silybum marianum, is derived from the seeds of the thistle plant. According to the Mayo Clinic, people have been using it as a remedy for liver and gallbladder ailments for more than 2,000 years. While people in the United States and Europe still use milk thistle for liver disease, its effects have not been fully investigated.
Shields From Toxins
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the idea behind milk thistle therapy is that some substances in the extract, especially a flavonoid called silymarin, work by shielding the liver from toxins. Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol or taking large amounts of painkillers such as Tylenol can damage the liver. However, silymarin works as both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which allows the liver to heal by regenerating new, healthy cells.
Improves Hepatitis and Cirrhosis
According to the Mayo Clinic, people with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis demonstrated the best results when being treated with milk thistle. However, while these studies showed improvement for both viral and alcohol-induced hepatitis, they were poorly designed with problems, such as small numbers of participants, inconsistent dosing and short duration. The issue is the same for people with cirrhosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, various European studies demonstrated that milk thistle cut down the number of cirrhosis deaths but poor research practices may negate the positive result.
Protection Against Chemotherapy
In a 2009 study published in the journal "Cancer," researchers claimed that milk thistle can help protect the liver from damage in people receiving chemotherapy. While research demonstrated that milk thistle cut down inflammation from chemotherapy on a population of 50 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, more research is needed before arriving at a conclusive answer. According to Dr. Kara M. Kelly, this research is a big breakthrough since two-thirds of children receiving chemotherapy will have liver toxicity during the treatment.
Potential Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, there appear to be very few side effects from milk thistle. Some people, however, experience headaches, diarrhea and upset stomach. Also, milk thistle can lower blood pressure and have estrogenic effects. People with diseases such as diabetes and women on estrogen therapy should take caution before taking milk thistle
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