MILK THISTLE

Milk Thistle

Botanical Name

Milk thistle, Carduus marianus, holy thistle, St. Mary’s thistle, our lady’s thistle, Marian thistle

Common Name

Milk thistle, Carduus marianus, holy thistle, St. Mary’s thistle, our lady’s thistle, Marian thistle

Family

Asteraceae

Parts Used

Seed, leaves, flowers, root

Native To

A small area in the Mediterranean.

Harvesting Guidelines

Milk thistle is a plant that produces seeds with many health benefits. However, gathering these seeds can be a bit tricky due to the plant's thorny exterior. To avoid getting pricked, it's recommended to wear gloves and protective clothing. Once the seed heads turn brown, they can be cut off with scissors and placed in a paper bag for 48 hours to dry. After this, the seeds can be carefully brushed off the head onto a window screen to remove any debris. Once cleaned, the seeds can be stored in a glass jar for later use.

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Milk thistle seed has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a therapeutic support for liver-spleen Blood and Yin. It is believed to have cooling and nourishing properties that can reduce inflammation and strengthen liver function. Roasted milk thistle is also used in TCM to balance and enhance digestion in sluggish metabolisms. As a tonic, milk thistle is taken over time to promote a strong and resilient liver that can effectively deal with the stress and toxicity of modern life.(1)

Milk thistle is a herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to its cleansing, detoxifying, and nourishing properties. It is believed to have a positive effect on the liver and digestion. According to Anne McIntyre, a Western herbalist and Ayurvedic practitioner, milk thistle is particularly effective in treating skin conditions, flushing toxins from the digestive tract, regulating fat metabolism, and supporting individuals with diabetes. It is also known to increase milk supply in nursing mothers.(2)

Milk thistle has been used for centuries in Western herbalism as a tonic for the liver and digestive tract. It is particularly helpful in situations where the liver is under stress, such as poor lipid digestion, headaches, and menstrual issues. Other indications of liver overload include fatigue, heat sensations, itchiness, and bitterness in the mouth. Milk thistle has been observed to be effective in treating general bilious conditions, which can cause swelling, pain, jaundice, and constipation. (3)

Milk thistle, a plant native to the Mediterranean region, has been found to contain compounds that offer protection to various organs and systems in the body. Studies have shown that silibinin and silicristin, two compounds found in milk thistle, can protect the kidneys from damage caused by environmental toxins and certain medications. While milk thistle is not typically associated with neurological health, recent research has suggested that its extracts may have potential benefits for conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as age-related cognitive decline.(4)

Milk thistle is a popular herb used in traditional medicine to support liver health and detoxification. It is often paired with other herbs such as dandelion root, turmeric root, and artichoke leaf to create a tonic that repairs and stimulates the liver. In Chinese medicine, milk thistle is combined with white peony, dong quai, and cramp bark to treat tendon contracture due to blood vacuity, and with yellow dock and Baical skullcap for dermatological issues and toxin accumulation associated with alcoholism.(5)

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Adult Dose (6)

Concentrated standardized silymarin capsules: (70-210 mg): one to two pills, two to three times per day

1:5 Tincture: 20-40 drops three times per day

6-15 g in decoction, as galactagogue; 3-6 mL tincture; 400-450 mg standardized silymarin extract

420 mg/day, 4 to 8 weeks

Safety:

Milk thistle is generally considered a safe herb with few reported side effects. However, it may interfere with certain medications that are metabolized through the liver's cytochrome p450 pathway, such as cardiac glycosides, cyclosporine, birth control, and metronidazole. People with allergies to plants in the thistle/daisy family may also experience reactions to milk thistle. Additionally, milk thistle may affect the use of insulin and other medications for hypoglycemia. It's important to consult with a healthcare provider before taking milk thistle or any other supplement.(7)

Actions

Anti-inflammatory,Antidepressant,Antioxidant,Appetite stimulant,Astringent,Cholagogue,Demulcent,Diaphoretic,Digestive,Diuretic,Emetic,Emmenagogue,Galactogogue,Hepatoprotective,Hepatorestorative,Kidney tonic,Laxative,Nervous system relaxant,Probiotic,Stomachic,Tonic

Energy

Cooling,Neutral when roasted

References:

(1)Garran, T.A. (2008). Western Herbs According to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Rochester, VT. Healing Arts Press.

(2)McIntyre, Anne. (n.d.). Milk Thistle: Silybum marianum (Monograph). Retrieved from http://annemcintyre.com/silybum-marianum-milk-thistle/

(3)McIntyre, Anne. (n.d.). Milk Thistle: Silybum marianum (Monograph). Retrieved from http://annemcintyre.com/silybum-marianum-milk-thistle/

(4)Kumar, J., Park, K.C., Awasthi, A., Prasad, B. (2015). Silymarin extends lifespan and reduces proteotoxicity in C. elegans Alzheimer's model. CNS Neurological Disorders Drug Targets. 14(2):295-302.

(5)Garran, T.A. (2008). Western Herbs According to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Rochester, VT. Healing Arts Press.

(6)Tillotson, A. (n.d.) Milk Thistle Seed (Silybum marianum). Retrieved from http://oneearthherbs.squarespace.com/important-herbs/milk-thistle-seed-silybum-marianum.html

(7)Foster, S. (2009). Milk Thistle Monograph. Stephen Foster Group, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.stevenfoster.com/education/monograph/milkthistle.html

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Scientific Research:

A survey of Chinese herbal ingredients with liver protection activities

Silymarin suppresses cellular inflammation by inducing reparative stress signaling

Silibilin-induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating p53, p21, Bak and Bcl-XL pathways.

Silymarin in non alcoholic fatty liver disease

Application of Silymarin in human and animal medicine

Chemoenzymatic synthesis, characterization, and scale-up of milk thistle flavonolignan glucuronides

The Pros and the Cons for the Use of Silybin-Rich Oral Formulations in Treatment of Liver Damage (NAFLD in Particular).

Supercritical CO₂ extraction of oil, fatty acids and flavonolignans from milk thistle seeds:

Evaluation of their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities in Caco-2 cells.

Silibinin suppresses astroglial activation in a mouse model of acute Parkinson׳s disease by modulating the ERK and JNK signaling pathways.

Silymarin and hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic, comprehensive, and critical review

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