Milk thistle could help liver patients

Milk thistle, a tall weed with prickly leaves and purple flowers, is known in scientific circles as silybum marianum. The plant was named for its milky sap, which led some ancient people to believe it could induce milk flow in nursing mothers. Milk thistle is a source of vitamin C, iron and flavonoids, but its most medically active component is silymarin, a compound found in the seeds.

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Uses: Milk thistle is used to treat “death cap” mushroom poisoning and as a naturopathic remedy for treating and preventing gallbladder disease and liver conditions, including cirrhosis and hepatitis.

Dose: 200 milligrams to 400 milligrams a day in pill form or liquid extract. Milk thistle extracts should provide 70% to 80% silymarin.

Precautions: Touching milk thistle can cause a minor rash, and ingesting it may cause stomach upset in some people. Because it is thought to have mild estrogen-like effects, milk thistle should be avoided by pregnant women, women taking oral contraceptives and people with reproductive cancers.

Research: Lab and animal studies have shown that milk thistle has immune-boosting and anti-cancer properties. The small amount of research that has been done on humans has not been rigorous enough to provide good evidence of its effects, although observational studies suggest milk thistle may benefit liver-disease patients. A large-scale federal clinical trial is looking at the effects of silymarin on hepatitis C complications.

Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your health-care provider for advice on selecting a brand.

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-- Elena Conis