History

• Societies have used milk thistle for liver, kidney and gall bladder ailments for at least 2,000 years, according to the National Cancer Institute. The ancient Greeks also recommended it to treat snake bites.
  
  

Active Ingredient

• Milk thistle gets its protective qualities from a substance called silymarin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, silymarin appears to guard the liver against toxins.
  
  

Indications

• Milk thistle may help people with liver disorders such as hepatitis or cirrhosis live longer and enjoy better liver function. The University of Maryland Medical Center points out, however, that the available studies tend to yield inconsistent results.
  
  

Availability

• Health stores and supermarkets stock milk thistle in a variety of forms, including capsules of the dried plant, tinctures and liquids, and in combination with another substance called phosphatidylcholine that may help the body absorb silymarin more readily. Adults generally take a dosage of 280 to 450 milligrams per day.