19701

Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 06:58
Top Product Attributes

  • Common Name

    St Mary’s Thistle, Milk Thistle, Silymarin

  • Botanical Name

    Silybum marianum

  • Part Used

    Seed

  • Clinical Summary

    Click here

  • Monograph

    Click here

  • Alcohol

    45%

  • Dose

    20 to 80mL weekly

St. Mary’s thistle has been used for centuries to protect and nourish the liver. It is used as supportive treatment in chronic liver diseases and high-cholesterol. Traditionally the seeds have been used to treat jaundice, hepatitis, haemorrhoids and psoriasis, as a tonic for nursing mothers and as a general ‘liver cleansing’ agent. In practice St. Mary’s thistle is commonly used for treating digestive disorders and any indication whereby improved liver function or liver protection may be a benefit. It affords protection against the toxic effects of a number of drugs and environmental poisons. 

Main Product Attributes
A guide to St Mary’s Thistle and its properties

  • Traditional Use

    St Mary’s thistle has a long history of traditional use since ancient times. Over the centuries it has been touted as a remedy for snakebite, melancholy, liver conditions and promoting lactation.

  • Actions

    Hepatoprotective, hepatorestorative, choleretic, cholagogue, chelates iron, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, hypoglycaemic, galactagogue

  • Indications

    •    Liver disease including toxic liver damage, chronic liver diseases, alcoholic liver disease, acute viral hepatitis, hepatitis C infection
    •    Preventing gallstones, gallbladder support
    •    Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
    •    Chemotherapy support, exposure to conventional drugs and chemical pollutants
    •    Digestive disorders, dyspepsia, hangover
    •    Skin conditions involving liver dysfunction
    •    Support breast milk production during breast feeding

  • Energetics

    Bitter, warm and dry.

  • Use in Pregnancy

    No known restrictions

  • Contraindications & Cautions

    Contraindicated in individuals with an allergy to the Asteraceae or Compositae (daisy) family.

  • Drug Interactions

    Caution with risperidone (antipsychotic agent), sirolimus (selective immune-suppressing drug) and tamoxifen (hormonal therapy used to treat breast cancer). Monitor with metronidazole (antibiotic). The combination may be beneficial with doxorubicin and cisplatin (chemotherapy medications) and hepatotoxic substances.

  • Dietary Information

    Vegan friendly. Gluten and dairy free

  • Substitutes

    Globe Artichoke, Bupleurum, Schisandra, Dandelion Root, Andrographis