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Milk Thistle (80 percent silymarin)

Signs and Symptoms for Nutrient Applications

- Cirrhosis - Hepatitis - Jaundice - Alcohol abuse - Pesticide/pollution exposure - Gallstone prevention - Blood/circulation problems - Immune support - Lipid/biliary disorders - Drug-induced liver damage - High cholesterol - Atherosclerosis - Diabetic complications - Ulceration - Liver/spleen/kidney congestion - Psoriasis - Varicose veins - Menstrual difficulty - Lactation

Clinical Applications/Research

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle has its main action on the kidneys and liver. It has a reputation for being a hepatoprotectant (liver protecting agent). Milk thistle has been employed as a cholagogue (agent to stimulate gallbladder contraction and promote bile flow) in supportive treatment of hepatic and biliary functional disorders. It has also been employed as an antimalarial, emmenagogue agent (promoting menstruation), and in disorders of the uterus and spleen (Grainger, NB ed., Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Medpharm Scientific Publishers. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Fla. 1994). Milk thistle has been utilized to stimulate milk production in nursing mothers (Awang D. Can Pharm J 1993;403-404), as an antidepressant (ibid), and as support for promyelocytic leukemia (Invernizzi R. et al. Haematologica 1993;78:340-341).

Protects against poisoning

Silymarin has proven in documented results that it protects liver cells against the toxic assault of amanita poisoning, tetracycline, thallium, erythromicin, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, tert-butylhydroperoxide, phenothiazine and butyrophenone (Hruby K. Intensivmed 1987;24:269-274; Skakun N et al. Antibiot Meditsin Biotekh; Tyutyulkova N et al. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1981;3:71; Mourelle M et al. J Appl Toxicol 1988;8:351-354; Davila J et al. Toxicology 1989;57:267-286). It also protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis (Letteron P et al. Biochem Pharmacol 1990;39:2027-2034).

Alcoholic Cirrhosis/Viral Hepatitis

In a double-blind controlled study involving 50 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, silymarin normalized existing elevated levels of liver enzymes (AST and ALT), serum bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (Lang I et al. Ital J Gastroenterol 1990;22:283-287). Positive results were also seen in acute viral hepatitis, with the same normalization of bilirubin and liver enzymes exhibited, and treatment time shortened in the silymarin-supplemented group (Magliulo E. et al. Med Klin 1978;73:1060-1065), and also in chronic hepatitis (Kriesewetter E et al. Leber Magen Darm 1977;7:318-323).

Psoriasis

The ability of silymarin to inhibit leukotriene synthesis and to improve liver function are believed to contribute to its therapeutic effect in psoriasis. The liver filters toxins out of the blood, and psoriasis has been highly correlated to high levels of circulating endotoxins, for example, the ones found in the cell walls of gut bacteria. Thus, the liver’s function is an important consideration is psoriasis, and if liver function is impaired, or if the liver is overwhelmed with endotoxins, environmental toxins, NSAIDS etc., it may aggravate the psoriasis. Also, excessive leukotriene synthesis is correlated to psoriasis, and silymarin can reduce formation of this inflammatory eicosanoid by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for its formation (lipoxygenase) (Fiebrich F and Kock H. Experientia1979;35:148-150).

Suggested Dosage

250-500 mg daily or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Disclaimer: The statements above have not been evaluated by the FDA. The nutritional suggestions and research provided are for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease and should not be used as a substitute for sound medical advice. Please see your health care professional in all matters pertaining to your physical health.

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