In this day and age of technology and space age medicine, one of the few accidents which almost consistently results in death is the ingestion of poisonous mushrooms such as the deathcap (Aminita spp.). Yet for centuries dating back to Roman and Greek civilizations, milk thistle has been known and used as an antidote for poisonings including snake bite,1 and milk thistle's derivative, silybin, is now considered "medicine's most important antidote to poisoning by the mushroom toxins a-amintin and phalloidin".2
Cited as one of the oldest known herbal medicines, milk thistle is a relative of the common garden thistle as well as the tasty artichoke, being part of the daisy family. Unlike most weeds, milk thistle has always gotten respect, at least among herbalists (and anyone unfortunate enough to tangle with the spiny plant). In Roman times, Pliny the Elder, a noted naturalist, described the medicinal uses of milk thistle, indicating this prickly medicine was "excellent for carrying off bile".3 Use of the "Doctrine of Signatures"* when observing the large veins of milky, sap-like substance which characterize Silybum marianum, convinced early herbalists milk thistle would be of value in improving lactation of nursing mothers, a use for which it remains recommended.4 As a matter of fact, this humble weed has been recommended for a variety of seemingly unrelated problems involving many systems and organs, including bowel, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and skin, including the treatment of psoriasis.5 How far apart are peritonitis, hemorrhage, bronchitis and vericose veins? Despite having virtually no similarities, each condition has milkthistle as a recommended treatment.
But it has been relatively recent clinical research, especially in Germany, which has brought the use of this multifunctional plant to front row prominance in the treatment of liver toxicity. Indeed, milk thistle is considered supreme at healing chronic or acute liver damage, virtually regardless of cause, as well as protecting the liver against many toxins and pollutants.6
The active ingredients in milk thistle are three flavinoids considered collectively as silymarin. Although mention is made in the literature of leaf teas, the greatest concentrations of silymarin are found in the seeds, which require more stringent methods of extraction than simply boiling to obtain useful dosages.7 For this reason, in this country, milk thistle is usually found in extract form, with alcohol as the solvent.
Although authors vary somewhat in delineating the actions of silymarin and the mechanisms for those actions, the basic actions of milk thistle fall into four basic categories:
First, silymarin stabilizes and strengthens liver cell walls, stopping toxins from entering. It acts by inducing formation of liver cell proteins which are incorporated into the cell walls, making them stronger and more resistant to toxins. Second, by increasing the rate of protein synthesis, silymarin enhances regeneration of liver cells. Third are the antioxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities of this marvelous weed. As if these impressive effects weren't sufficient, the fourth mechanism silymarin gets involved in is the enzyme and catalytic activity of the liver. It inhibits production of the enzymes which produce substances damaging to the liver, while at the same time preventing the depletion of glutathione on liver cells, a substance which mediates cell metabolism.8 ,9
The results of these combined actions allow milk thistle to prevent and decrease damage to the liver from alcohol, both long and short term. Clinically, milk thistle causes significant reversal of symptoms of both acute and chronic liver problems from viral hepatitis to cirrhosis.10 Part of this amazing effect on alcoholic damage is due to normalizing the ability of the liver to make the phospholipids including cholesterol, which insulates the brain. Without cholesterol, the brain shrinks in the presence of heavy alcohol consumption, misfires and sends crossed signals.
But alcohol certainly isn't the only hepatotoxin we face. Carbon tetrachloride, once used routinely in dry cleaning and industry, is a major toxin, as are numerous heavy metals. Milk Thistle is also effective in these circumstances as well, not only repairing damage, but preventing it.11 One clinical practitioner stated he used milk thistle any time there was liver "stress", indicating this condition was so widespread as to require prophyllactic prescription of the herb. The situations cited included commonplace circumstances such as low-intake alcohol use, coffee habituation(!!) and eating non-organic foods. In short, most of us could use milk thistle to improve our health. As mentioned earlier in this article, perhaps the most important use of silymarin is in the treatment of mushroom poisoning. A-amintin and phalloidin are mushroom toxins causing liver death over a period of up to 48 hours. They are virtually100% fatal without treatment. Few allopathic medicines are useful in this situation, making milk thistle extract a most valuable asset. Animal experiments with silymarin given within 10 minutes of poison ingestion were 100% effective; given within 24 hours post poisoning, silymarin prevented death and greatly decreased liver damage.12 Best of all, no matter why this amazing thistle is employed, it is virtually free of adverse effects, even in very large doses.13 Another fine example of nature's healing.
Footnotes
1.Christopher Hobbs, Foundations of Health, The Liver and Digestion Herbal (Capitola, CA: Botanica Press, 1992) pps. 272-275.
2.Michael A. Weiner and Janet Weiner, Herbs That Heal (Mill Valley, CA: QuantumBooks, 1994), pps. 233-234.
3.Lolo Westrich, California Herbal Remedies (Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing Co., 1989), pps. 84-85.
*physical resemblance of plant structure to human anatomy or physiology is assumed to indicate relationship and efficacy in healing or improving that structure.
4.David Hoffmann, The Holistic Herbal (Longmead, Great Britain: Elements Books Ltd., 1988) p. 209.
5.Peter Holmes, The Energetics of Western Herbs, Vol. I (Boulder, CO: Artemis Press, 1989), pps. 159-161.
6.Chanchal Cabrera, NMIMH, "Milk Thistle: A clinician's report," Medical Herbalism, Vol. 6, No.1, Spring Quarter, 1994, pps. 1-5.
7.John Heinerman, Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Nuts, Berries and Seeds (West Nyak, NY: Parker Publishing Company, 1995), pps. 196-198.
8."Milk Thistle" Handout by Dr. Douglas Lobay, pps. 5-6.
9.Chanchal Cabrera, NIMIMH, "Milk Thistle: A clinician's report." Medical Herbalism Vol. 6., No. 1, (Spring Quarter, 1994), pps. 1-5.
10.Terry Willard, Ph.D., The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal (Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, Ltd., 1991), pps. 234-235.
11."Milk Thistle" Handout by Dr. Douglas Lobay, ND., pps. 5-6.
12.Sheldon Saul Hendler, MD, Ph.D., The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990), pps. 314-316.
13.Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., Herbal Tonic Therapies (New Canaan, CN: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1993), p. 222
Sources
California Herbal Remedies by Lolo Westrich (Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing Company, 1989).
Foundations of Health, The Liver and Digestion Herbal by Christopher Hobbs (Capitola, CA: Botanica Press, 1992).
Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Nuts, Berries and Seeds by John Heinerman (West Nyack, NY: Parker Publishing Company, 1995).
Herbs That Heal: Prescription for Herbal Healing by Michael A Weiner and Janet Weiner (Mill Valley, CA: Quantum Books, 1994).
Herbal Tonic Therapies by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph. D. (New Canaan, CN: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1993).
Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West by Michael Moore (Sante Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989).
"Milk Thistle" Handout by Dr. Douglas Lobay, ND "Milk thistle: A clinician's report" by Chanchal Cabrera, NMIMH in Medical Herbalism, Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring Quarter, 1994.
"Protect Your Liver with Milk Thistle" by Robert McCaleb in Natural Health (March/April 1992).
The Doctors' Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia by Sheldon Saul Hendler, MD, Ph.D. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990).
The Energetics of Western Herbs, Volume I by Peter Holmes (Boulder, CO: Artemis Press, 1989).
The Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman (Longmead, Great Britain: Element Books Ltd., 1988).
The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal by Terry Willard, Ph. D. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, Ltd., 1991).