Milk thistle has potential side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It can also interact negatively with certain medications and cause allergic reactions. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid it, and those with certain medical conditions should consult a doctor before taking it.
There are a number of known and potential side effects of milk thistle that should be considered before taking this herb, including some isolated side effects and some potential negative drug interactions. Some known side effects include nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, and loss of appetite. Milk thistle is a plant in the daisy family and is named for the white spots that appear on the leaves and the white sap contained in the plant. The leaves are often eaten in salads as a replacement for lettuce or spinach, and the seeds can be ground up and used in drinks instead of coffee beans. There are also milk thistle extracts that can be used as dietary supplements, generally intended to combat or prevent liver damage.
While milk thistle can cause a number of nasty intestinal and digestive problems, it can also be used as a natural laxative. Milk thistle is likely safe for most healthy adults, but if any side effects occur, the person should stop taking it immediately and consult a medical professional before further use. There is little research on possible side effects for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and it should probably be avoided at these times.
Milk thistle can also cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family, including ragweed, chrysanthemums, and daisies. Anyone with allergies to these plants should avoid consuming milk thistle without first consulting a medical professional.
Other side effects of milk thistle can come from extracts of the plant that act like estrogen in some people. Anyone with a condition that could be worsened by the effects of increased estrogen, such as certain types of cancer, should avoid these types of extracts. However, extracts made from milk thistle seeds have not been found to have these effects. The plant has also been shown to reduce the effectiveness of estrogen hormone treatments, as it appears to help the body break down estrogen supplements faster, so taking both may reduce the amount of estrogen actually obtained from treatments.
Known side effects of milk thistle include the possibility of interacting with drugs used to lower cholesterol. The plant can affect how long the medicine stays in a person’s body, which can increase or decrease its effectiveness. Anyone taking cholesterol-lowering medications should consult a healthcare professional before taking milk thistle.
Although milk thistle is used to help people who have livers that have been damaged by exposure to toxic chemicals, it should not be taken with medications that the liver breaks down for the body. Research has shown that milk thistle can slow the breakdown of these medications, extending how long they are effective in the body. This can lead to an accidental overdose or can increase the time period in which negative drug interactions can occur.
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