Magic Milk Thistle

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December 2005

Feature Stories

Magic Milk Thistle

By Pirisi

This common garden weed has demonstrated uncommon powers to transform your

health.

While noxious weeds are usually unwelcome in a garden, milk thistle is one

that many people cultivate—for good reason (namely, its growing number of

health benefits). Renowned as a liver-cleansing herb for more than 2,000

years, and traditionally used as an agent to stimulate increased milk

production in nursing women, milk thistle has also emerged as a prominent

herbal remedy for liver disease.

" It has the potential ability to protect liver cells from various

chemicals—such as carbon tetrachloride, alcohol and various environmental

pollutants—and biological irritants, including toxins produced by Amanita

mushroom, and such viruses as hepatitis B and C, " explains Welliver,

N.D., a professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University, and a

naturopath in private practice. Preliminary studies now also point to

potential cancer-fighting properties, use as a digestive aid, gallstone

prevention and treatment, and for some nervous-system conditions.

How To Take

Welliver suggests taking a reputable product. Start with two 175-mg capsules

two or three times a day with food. For athletes, 400 mg daily of a

standardized extract (80% silymarin) is appropriate. Alternatively, you can

use a tincture (follow label instructions). Ground milk thistle seeds can be

added to cereals and soups; whole seeds can be grown and collected for

general use.

How It Works

Milk thistles main active compound is a flavonoid complex called silymarin.

" The chemical constituents of silymarin have many mechanisms that could lead

to liver protection, including antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory

effects, stimulation of liver protein synthesis, and stabilization of

cellular membranes to block toxin entry, " explains Cathi , Pharm.D.,

a botanical medicine expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

To date, milk thistle has been used to help treat hepatitis, cirrhosis and

high cholesterol. It seems to work by decreasing overall cholesterol

synthesis while increasing the ratio of good to bad (HDL:LDL) cholesterol.

" The belief is that a liver protected from oxidative stress will be better

able to regulate its many functions, such as cholesterol synthesis, " says

Welliver. Some animal studies suggest that the herb may also act as an

" anti-atherosclerotic " agent, which may keep arteries from becoming clogged

with fatty plaques that can cause heart attack and stroke.

Building Muscle With Milk Thistle

Bodybuilders seek high levels of muscular development. While this requires

intense exercise and adequate recuperation, it also involves large amounts

of good food and supplements. And everything we swallow passes through the

liver before it enters the bloodstream.

As a result, liver health is essential for an athlete. Milk thistle helps

the liver to metabolize the protein, carbohydrate and fat in the diet, along

with a long list of micronutrients and supplements necessary for peak

performance. The herb also promotes the detoxification of the many chemicals

found in our food supply, helping to ensure the long-term health of this

organ.

Milk thistle does many other things that are not as well-recognized. It

accelerates the rate of protein synthesis in the liver, leading to faster

cell regeneration. It also works as an antioxidant to minimize free-radical

damage, while inhibiting the actions of one of the three main inflammatory

pathways in the body. In addition, milk thistle boosts intracellular

concentrations of glutathione, which fights free radicals throughout the

body.

This multipurpose herb has also been shown to boost the immune system,

increasing lymphocyte proliferation and elevating the concentrations of two

of the immune system’s anti-inflammatory messenger proteins. With such an

impressive list of benefits, it’s no wonder that health-conscious athletes

include milk thistle in their daily supplement regimen.

—Dave Tuttle

Anecdotal Findings Show Benefit

Despite its many proponents, milk thistles liver benefits are still under

scrutiny by science. Recently, two large review articles—one from Copenhagen

University Hospital that looked at 13 clinical trials and one by the U.S.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) that analyzed 16 liver

treatment and side effect studies—reported that findings were inconclusive,

and that most studies were too small or flawed to measure milk thistle’s

benefits. However, says , who was involved in the AHRQ research,

" Given milk thistles lack of major side effects and drug interactions, it

remains a popular choice among persons trying to improve liver function or

prevent injury. "

Welliver is a strong believer. " I use milk thistle with all my patients who

have any type of liver problem: viral hepatitis, fatty liver, liver cysts,

cirrhosis, history of heavy drinking, and any known exposure to toxins, " she

says. " I also use it with my weight-loss patients. As the fat stores break

down, fat-soluble toxins will be released and end up at the liver, where

they can do damage. "

For the same reasons that it helps liver function, milk thistle may also be

useful as a digestive aid. " Traditionally, milk thistle was considered an

herb that would help the flow of bile, thus helping with fat absorption.

There are studies that show that it does have this effect on bile, " notes

Welliver.

Cancer Fighting Benefits and More

Recently, milk thistles potential cancer-fighting benefits have started

being explored for cancer of the prostate, bladder, breast, lung and skin.

The key to its possible cancer-fighting ability seems to be silymarins

antioxidant properties. " It is responsible for protecting cells from

oxidative damage, and also increasing glutathione, which might protect

against cancer, " explains Welliver.

Many cancer studies are looking at singling out a compound from silymarin

called silibinin. Test tube studies show that it has the ability to stop

cancer cells from growing and multiplying, and also promotes their death. It

appears to make some types of chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin, doxorubicin)

more effective. In terms of skin cancer, research at the University of

Colorado suggests that it protects against DNA damage from solar radiation

by quelling free-radical activity and inflammation due to UV exposure, as

well as aiding DNA repair once the damage is done. Some companies are

already banking on the possibilities, offering new sunscreen products that

contain milk thistle extract.

Research suggests that it protects against DNA damage from solar radiation

by quelling free-radical activity.

Newer findings suggest that milk thistle may aid in the prevention and

treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. " It appears that milk thistle

protects the dopamine-producing cells from oxidative damage, " says Welliver,

who uses it for patients with such diseases as Parkinsons, Lou Gehrigs

disease and multiple sclerosis. Meanwhile, test tube findings from SUNY

Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., suggest that milk thistle

enhances neural cells ability to grow and survive.

Milk thistles benefits may not end with silymarin and silibinin, suggests

Welliver. Other flavonoid compounds under study include isosilybin, which

has shown some activity against prostate cancer; silicristin for its ability

to protect kidney cells from oxidative damage; and silidianin for its

ability to decrease inflammation, and its protective effect of heart cells

against damage commonly seen with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin.

Milk thistles benign reputation regarding side effects, toxicity and drug

interactions make it a safe herb for many ailments. Rarely, side effects may

include gastrointestinal symptoms (mainly diarrhea). However, the fact that

nursing mothers can safely use it should provide a green light to anyone who

wants to try milk thistle.

Pirisi is a health writer based in Hamilton, Ontario, who often

reports on herbs and nutritional supplements. She recently discovered milk

thistle growing in her own garden.

selectedreferences Rambaldi A, s BP, Iaquinto G et al " Milk thistle for

alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases " Cochrane Database

Systematic Review (2005) 18: CD003620. Singh RP and Agarwal R " Prostate

cancer prevention by silibinin " Current Cancer Drug Targets (2004) 4: 1-11.

Chu SC, Chiou HL, Chen PN et al " Silibinin inhibits the invasion of human

lung cancer cells via decreased productions of urokinase-plasminogen

activator and matrix metalloproteinase-2 " Molecular Carcinogenesis (2004)

40: 143-149. Kativar SK " Silymarin and skin cancer prevention:

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects (Review) "

International Journal of Oncology (2005) 26: 169-176. Kittur S, Wilasrusmee

S, Pedersen WA et al " Neutrophic and neuroprotective effects of milk thistle

(Silybum marianum) on neurons in culture " Journal of Molecular Neuroscience

(2002) 18: 265-269

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