The Use of Silymarin

Silymarin, also called milk thistle, is an herbal remedy used for the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders. Silymarin is also called holy thistle, Mary thistle, silybinin or silybin, and by the name Silybum Marianum.

History

Silymarin has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years. The term "milk thistle" comes from two features of the leaves -- one contains a milky like sap and they other is speckled with white. The seeds are the actual part of the plant that is used for herbal remedies.

How Silymarin is Used

Each milk thistle seed contains about 5 percent silymarin. When extracted, silymarin is actually a complex group of flavonoids and flavonolignans.
Although the most popular use of milk thistle is for treatment and cleansing of the liver and gallbladder, the herb is also traditionally used for lowering cholesterol and insulin resistance. It has been researched in the reduction of cancer cells in prostate, cervical and breast cancer.

Silymarin is typically given in doses ranging between 220 to 240 milligrams twice a day. For Type II diabetes, silymarin has been given as 600 milligrams a day and as much as 1200 milligrams a day for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Silymarin is available in capsule and tablet form and also can be made into a tea.

Considerations

Milk thistle is part of the plant family that includes ragweed, daisy and chrysanthemum. You may experience allergic reactions to silymarin if you are allergic to other plants in the same family.