Milk thistle is popularly recognized as an herbal medicine used for the treatment of several illnesses, peculiarly those dealing with the problems of the liver. Some of the other names by which milk thistle is recognized include holy thistle and Mary thistle. At times it is also known as silymarin. In the olden days, there was a time when milk thistle seeds were used in the US for reasons such as, alleviation from congestion of the kidney, liver or spleen. A good remedy to protect the liver from the harm caused by alcohol, toxins and drugs is the use of milk thistle, as discovered by the recent scientists. Milk thistle has also claimed to be found useful for lowering the levels of cholesterol. Insulin resistance reduction in those who are suffering from diabetes and cirrhosis has taken place by the use of milk thistle. Reduction in the development of cancer cells of cervical cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer have also found to be positive.

Several major liver problems such as viral hepatitis, damage due to carbon tetrachloride, which is an industrial toxin, excess of alcohol intake that has led to fatty liver, all these can be treated by the use of milk thistle extracts as recommended by the professionals in the field of herbs and medicines. However, it must not be forgotten that all herbs to a certain extent have some or the other side effects, and milk thistle is not an exception. Although very rare, but the side effects of milk thistle include vomiting, stomach pain, headache, nausea, joint pain and many more. One very important thing to be noted by all is that, milk thistle is not advisable for pregnant women or those women who are in the stage of breast feeding.

For treatment of any illness, a person should be aware of the right dosage of milk thistle given to the patient. Six to nine drops each day is considered to be ideal. But at the initial stage, two to three drops every evening mixed with boiling water is advisable. The dosage should be slowly increased to one drop each week and then finally reaching to six to nine drops. As a person reached the stage of six drops every day, he could split the dosage into two times each day, may be once in the morning and once in the evening. If it is a sever case then twelve to fourteen drops is recommended. Milk thistle is a great boon for many illnesses; however it must be taken with proper knowledge about the dosage.

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