Research Notes on Milk Thistle
Milk thistle has been reported to have protective effects on the liver and to greatly improve its function. It is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), and gallbladder disorders. The active compound in Milk thistle is silymarin, a mixture of at least 4 closely related flavonolignans, 60% to 70% of which is a mixture of 2 diastereomers of silybin. Silymarin is typically administered in amount ranging from 200-500mg per day. Whether or not these dosages are optimal is not known; no scientific data on which to base effective dosage level guidelines is available. ...read more from Wikipedia
Fast Facts:
- Silymarin has been safely used for some gastrointestinal disturbances and allergic skin rashes.1
- This herb is native to the Mediterranean.2
- Milk thistle can decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.3
Top Resources on Milk Thistle
- Mayo Clinic: Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
- A.D.A.M. (via University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)): Milk Thistle
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): Milk Thistle
- About.com: Milk Thistle
- RxList: Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
- Merck Manuals: Milk Thistle: Medicinal Herbs And Neutraceuticals
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC): Milk Thistle
- Dr. Weil: Misinformed About Milk Thistle?
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Milk Thistle: Effects On Liver Disease And Cirrhosis And Clinical Adverse Effects Summary
- American Family Physician: Milk Thistle
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Research Notes References
- ↑ Mayo Clinic: Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
- ↑ A.D.A.M. (via University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)): Milk Thistle
- ↑ About.com: Milk Thistle
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About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: Lesgreen Babaran, PTRP
- Reviewer: Elisa Carter
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Nov. 10, 2008
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