Milk thistle is commonly used as a home remedy to treat liver problems, often under the presumption that it will "detoxify" the liver. This might increase the effects and side effects of tamoxifen (Nolvadex). It leads to the loss of appetite which leads to weakness. Dallas, TX 75380, helpline@komen.org Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others. Complementary and Integrative Therapies References. Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs). The flowers are larger and more globe-shaped. Prized for its medicinal properties, it is also considered highly invasive and is being targeted for eradication in some areas. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Taking milk thistle along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to be too low. Indinavir (Reyataz) is a drug that is changed and broken down by the liver. Milk thistle might increase how much tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is absorbed by the body. It is fully referenced and updated daily. This might increase the effects and side effects of raloxifene (Evista). Milk thistle is also taken by mouth for heartburn (dyspepsia), inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), a blood disorder called beta-thalassemia, and infertility. This might cause more side effects from some medications. The seeds contain silymarin, a group of compounds said to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Review information on amounts of silymarin found in popular brands, evidence for liver protection, diabetes and other uses. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking milk thistle. California Thistle Cirsium occidentale var californicum is a Perennial herb native to the Santa Monica Mountains and endemic to California (i.e. California Gold Nutrition EuroHerbs ™ Milk Thistle contains an extract made from the fruit/seeds of European Milk Thistle Extract standardized to 80% Total Silymarin Flavonoids. Milk thistle is sometimes used as a natural treatment for liver problems. EIN 75-1835298. Some herbs and supplements that can lower blood sugar include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil’s claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others. More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of milk thistle for these uses. Milk thistle can lower blood sugar levels. (and also proven to be 10x more bioavailable than just the milk thistle extract itself)Each serving comes with 80 mg of milk thistle extract, but because of its formulation, you get … Using it with other herbs or supplements that have the same effect might cause blood sugar levels to drop too low. Milk thistle is an upright herb which can grow to be 30 to 200 cm (12 to 79 in) tall, and have an overall conical shape. It is widely spread throughout California in overgrazed pastures and along fencelines and other disturbed areas. Taking milk thistle along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of these medications. The plant grows up to 2 meters high and has large, bright purple flowers. There isn’t enough reliable information available to know if milk thistle is safe to apply to the skin or inject into the body. Other less common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, intestinal gas, bloating, fullness or pain, and loss of appetite. Though Milk Thistle may be one of the most recognized herbs for Liver support, Dandelion, Artichoke and Turmeric all offer a synergistic effect. Yes, I would like to receive emails from California Invasive Plant Council. EuroMed is the world's leading manufacturer of Milk Thistle extract and uses elite seed cultivators to produce a high quality, clinically tested product. The largest specimens have hollow stems. Milk thistle seed might protect liver cells from toxic chemicals and drugs. Interaction Rating =  Minor Be watchful with this combination. Mitchell searched Google and found a treatment used in Europe, an intravenous milk thistle preparation called Legalon-Sil. Moench, Silybum mariae (Crantz) Gray, Mariana lactea Hill, Common names: milk thistle; variegated thistle; blessed milk thistle; Virgin Mary's thistle; Lady's milk; Holy thistle; spotted thistle; cabbage thistle; spotted thistle; St. Mary's thistle; white thistle. Milk thistle might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), diazepam (Valium), zileuton (Zyflo), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), warfarin (Coumadin), and others. The largest infestations in the state are in pastures in the southeastern section of King County but infestations are occasionally found elsewhere. It is widely spread throughout California in overgrazed pastures and along fencelines and other disturbed areas. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking milk thistle if you are pregnant or breast feeding. After you read this, you will be able to recognize both plants. Before taking milk thistle, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking sirolimus (Rapamune). Some medications changed by the liver include testosterone, progesterone (Endometrin, Prometrium), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), and others. Milk thistle can lower blood glucose levels. This might increase or decrease how well some of these medications work. Italian thistle also has several close relatives in California. The body breaks down some medications to get rid of them. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. 200 mg of a different silymarin product (Luna Co., Cairo, Egypt) has been daily for 120 days. Before taking milk thistle, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex). In … Other parts of this wild plant, beside the seeds, are also edible. In the United States, milk thistle is grown throughout California and the western states. The stem is grooved and may be covered in a light cottony fuzz. Presentations are linked where available. The Benefits of Milk Thistle. Paradise Herbs Milk Thistle is a 100% pure milk thistle supplement. Keep reading for information about planting milk thistle in gardens, as well as combating milk thistle … According to the University of California-San Diego, a reasonable therapeutic dosage might be about 420 mg to 500 mg of a standardized milk thistle extract per day. It also seems to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. Some people also take milk thistle by mouth for diabetes, kidney damage caused by diabetes or contrast media use, prostate cancer, to decrease the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, uterine complaints, increasing breast milk flow, allergy symptoms, starting menstrual flow, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), high cholesterol, and menopausal symptoms. Milk thistle is now found throughout the eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Trying to find the best milk thistle supplements? Silybum marianum (blessed milk thistle) is a winter annual or biennial with prickly leaves (family Asteraceae). Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates). Milk thistle might affect how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Don’t confuse milk thistle with blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus). Milk thistle is a weed, which grows commonly in California and other parts of the world having a warm climate. Site by, Weed biological control agents approved for California, Taking to the air to locate, prioritize and treat effectively, Control of exotic plants in an herbaceous understory. In California, it is found on the North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay region, South Coast Ranges, South Coast, and Channel Islands, to about 1600 feet … Blessed milk thistle produces tall, … The plant grows up to 2 meters high and has large, bright purple flowers. 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