Powered by
Medthical.com
  • Health Conditions
    • Auto-immune diseases >
      • Addison's Disease
      • Anti-phospholipid Syndrome
      • Celiac Disease
      • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
      • Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP)
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Myasthenia gravis
      • Psoriasis
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis
      • Scleroderma
      • Sjogren's syndrome
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
      • Vitiligo
    • Cancer >
      • Anal Cancer
      • Colon Cancer
      • Colon Cancer Screening
      • Esophageal Cancer
      • Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
      • Hereditary NonPolyposis Colorectal Cancer
      • Liver Cancer
      • Oropharyngeal cancer
      • Ovarian Cancer
      • Penile Cancer
      • Prostate cancer
      • Vaginal Cancer
    • Digestive Diseases >
      • Anal Cancer
      • Colon cancer
      • Esophageal Cancer
      • Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
    • Female Diseases >
      • Bacteria Vaginosis
      • Candidiasis (Yeast)
      • Cervical Cancer
      • Female infertility
      • Oral Contraceptive Pills
      • Ovarian Cancer
      • Ovarian Cyst
      • Ovarian Torsion
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
      • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
      • Premature Ovarian Failure
      • Vaginal Cancer
    • Heart Cardiovascular Diseases >
      • Hyperlipidemia ( High Cholesterol)
    • Hematological diseases >
      • G6PD Deficiency (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)
    • Infectious Diseases >
      • Ebola
      • Giardiasis
      • Hepatitis A
      • Hepatitis B
      • Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
      • Influenza
      • Japanese encephalitis
      • Malaria
      • Meningococcal Disease
      • Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
      • Pneumococcal disease
      • Rabies
      • Rotavirus
      • Shingles (Zoster)
      • Tetanus
      • Tuberculosis
      • Typhoid
      • Varicella (Chickenpox)
      • Yellow Fever
      • Zika Virus
    • Male Diseases >
      • Epididymo-Orchitis
      • Penile Cancer
      • Prostatitis
    • Musculo-skeletal diseases >
      • Ankylosing Spondylitis
      • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Neurological disorder >
      • Restless Leg Syndrome
    • Respiratory diseases >
      • Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
      • Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
      • Tuberculosis
    • Skin diseases >
      • Acne Vulgaris
      • Alopecia
      • Bullous Pemphigoid
      • Dermatitis
      • Eczema
      • Hyperhidrosis
      • Cervical Cancer
      • Laser & Aesthetic
      • Lichen
      • Moles & Skin Lumps
      • Nail Disorders
      • Pityriasis
      • Psoriasis
      • Rosacae
      • Scabies, Bedbugs & Lice
      • Skin Cancer
      • Skin Infection
      • Skin Pigmentation
      • Tinea (Fungal) infection
      • Urticaria
      • Vitiligo
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases >
      • Bacteria Vaginosis
      • Candidiasis (Yeast)
      • Chlamydia
      • Chancroid
      • Epididymo-Orchitis
      • Genital Warts
      • Gonorrhoea
      • Granuloma Inguinale
      • Herpes Simplex Virus
      • HIV/AIDS
      • Lymphogranuloma Venereum
      • Molluscum Contagiosum
      • MSM STD screening
      • Pediculosis Pubis
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
      • Prostatitis
      • Syphilis
      • Trichomoniasis
      • WSW STD Screening
    • Sleep Disorders >
      • Restless Leg Syndrome
    • Urinary Tract Diseases >
      • Kidney Stones
  • Supplements
    • Acai Berry
    • Aloe Vera
    • Alpha-Lipoic Acid
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Barley Grass
    • Beta-Carotene
    • Biotin
    • Calcium
    • Chlorophyll
    • Chondroitin
    • Chromium
    • Coenzyme Q10
    • Cordyceps
    • Cranberry
    • Creatine
    • Deer Velvet
    • DHEA
    • Echinacea
    • Elderberry
    • Evening Primrose
    • Fiber
    • Flaxseed
    • Folic Acid
    • Ginger
    • Ginkgo
    • Ginseng
    • Glucosamine
    • Grape Seed
    • Hawthorn
    • Horny Goat Weed
    • Krill Oil
    • Lactobacillus
    • Manuka Honey
    • Milk Thistle
    • MSM
    • Niacin
    • Omega-3
    • Probiotics
    • Red Yeast
    • Reishi mushroom
    • Royal Jelly
    • Selenium
    • St. John's Wort
    • Tumeric
    • Vitamin A
    • Vitamin B12
    • Vitamin C
    • Vitamin D
    • Vitamin E
    • Vitamin K
    • Zinc
  • Vaccinations
    • BCG vaccine
    • Cholera vaccine
    • DTaP Vaccine
    • Haemophilus Influenzae Vaccine
    • Hepatitis A vaccine
    • Hepatitis B vaccine
    • HPV vaccine
    • Influenza vaccine
    • Japanese encephalitis Vaccine
    • Meningococcal Vaccine
    • Pneumococcal vaccine
    • Rabies Vaccine
    • Rotavirus vaccine
    • Shingles Vaccine
    • Tetanus Vaccine
    • Typhoid vaccine
    • Varicella Vaccine
    • Yellow Fever Vaccine
  • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Eating Right
    • Exercise Right
    • Goodnight Sleep
    • Manage Stress Well
  • SG Health Institutions
    • GP Groups
    • Help-Lines
    • Specialized Medical Centers
    • Nursing Homes
    • Polyclinics
    • Community Hospitals
    • Hospices
    • Private Hospitals
    • Public Hospitals
  • Terms of Use
Milk Thistle

What is it?

Milk thistle is a plant which got its name because when the leaves are broken, a milky sap sips out. The seeds are commonly used for medicine. The leaves are sometimes consumed as salad. It has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects hence it may help protect liver cells from toxins and chemicals. It might also enhance the effect of female hormone estrogen.

Benefits

Milk thistle has been proven by scientific studies to help in allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies) and patients who have gastric reflux and heartburn.

Milk thistle has also been thought to help conditions like mushroom poisoning, hepatitis infection, liver disease, malaria, menstrual issues and gallbladder disease. However currently there are no highly evidence based evidence and studies on its actual benefits. More research need to be done to prove these supposedly helpful benefits.

Possible side effects

Milk thistle is generally safe for most adults. Some possible side effects are diarrhea, nausea, indigestion, bloatedness and loss of appetite.

For lactating and pregnant woman, there are no evidence to determine the pregnancy category of this supplement hence it is best avoided.

As the milk thistle may act like estrogen, it is best avoided in hormone sensitive/related conditions like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ovary cancer, breast cancer and uterine cancer.

Drug-drug Interactions

1.         Medications broken down by liver enzymes cytochrome P450: milk thistle decreases the rate liver enzymes break down of medications that are metabolized by the liver and hence increasing their side effects. Examples of such medications include lovastatin, ketoconazole, Itraconazole, olanzapine, theophylline, phenytoin, tolbutamide and fexofenadine.

2.         Estrogen drugs: milk thistle will decrease the effectiveness of estrogen containing pills like estradiol and premarin.

3. Cholesterol lowering medications: Milk thistle may affect the effectiveness of cholesterol lowering medications.

Dosage

There is currently no specific guidelines on the dosage. Please follow the instructions on product label and if in doubt consult your doctor first.

Some studies suggested the dose of milk thistle for certain conditions as below:

1.      For allergic rhinitis: Milk thistle extract of silymarin 140 mg three times daily.

2.     For dyspepsia: A combination product containing milk thistle and other herbs has been used in a dose of 1 mL three times daily.


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.