What is milk thistle?

The use of milk thistle in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Milk thistle is also known as holy thistle, lady's thistle, Mary thistle, Marian thistle, St. Mary thistle, silybum, and Silybum marianum. Milk thistle has been used for stomach and appetite complaints, liver problems, gallbladder problems, and as an antidote to death cap (Amanita) mushroom poisoning. Milk thistle has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of milk thistle may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. ...  more