Milk Thistle

• What other names is Milk Thistle known by?
• What is Milk Thistle?
• How does Milk Thistle work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Milk Thistle.

What other names is Milk Thistle known by?

Artichaut Sauvage, Blessed Milk Thistle, Cardo Lechoso, Cardui Mariae Fructus, Cardui Mariae Herba, Carduus Marianum, Carduus marianus, Chardon Argenté, Chardon de Marie, Chardon de Notre-Dame, Chardon Marbré, Chardon-Marie, Épine Blanche, Holy Thistle, Lady's Thistle, Lait de Notre-Dame, Legalon, Marian Thistle, Mariendistel, Mary Thistle, Our Lady's Thistle, Shui Fei Ji, Silibinin, Silybe de Marie, Silybin, Silybum, Silybum marianum, Silymarin, Silymarine, St. Mary Thistle, St. Marys Thistle.

What is Milk Thistle?

Milk thistle is a plant. The above ground parts and seeds are used to make medicine. The seeds are more commonly used.

Possibly Effective for...

• Upset stomach (dyspepsia), when a combination of milk thistle and several other herbs is used.
• Diabetes. A compound in milk thistle called silymarin appears to decrease blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Gallbladder problems, liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatitis and other liver conditions), liver damage caused by chemicals or poisonous mushrooms, spleen disorders, swelling of the lungs (pleurisy), malaria, menstrual problems, and other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).