Milk Thistle Dosage And Usage Suggestions

For the milk thistle dosage of the tincture form of the herb, Mark Stengler, ND, recommends taking 20 to 30 drops of the herbal liquid thrice per day. [11]

For dried milk thistle seeds, 12-15g can be consumed daily. [9]

It is also possible to grind 12 to 15 grams of the dried milk thistle fruit into powder to make into a tea or for direct consumption. Doing so, however, should not be considered a therapy or treatment for liver ailments. [6]

Dosage of Milk Thistle for Children

Children can take milk thistle at half the dosage meant for adults. [9]

Silybin Phytosome

Phyllis A.Balch, CNC, mentions that the best form of silymarin to use is silipide. Silipide is a chemical combination of silybin, the main active component of silymarin, and a particular component of soy lecithin. The latter improves silymarin absorption by the human body as well as its delivery to bodily tissues for use. Look out for the term “phytosome” on product labels. [3]

Indeed, there is research to suggest that silymarin which is bound to phosphatidylcholine could be more effectively absorbed by the body. The dosage of this form of the herbal supplement to take should be about 100 to 200mg, two times per day. [5]

Another possible dosage for silybin phytosome is 80-120mg, 2 to 3 times per day, between meals. [9]

Other Pointers when Using Milk Thistle

For those who have problems with digestion, Mark Stengler, ND, recommends taking milk thistle extract about 15 minutes before or with meals. [11]

If you have a weak digestive system, to help alleviate the potential milk thistle side effect of loose stools, you could start with one capsule of milk thistle extract and slowly work your dosage up. If you experience loose stools, reduce your dosage of the herb again. [11]

Although milk thistle is an herb which has many health benefits for the liver, milk thistle tinctures contain alcohol and are thus not recommended for treating liver ailments. In fact, any type of alcohol consumption is not recommended for persons suffering from any type of chronic liver conditions. [3]

Diabetics who are consuming milk thistle may want to monitor their blood sugar levels. [3]

See next page for the references used.

Pages: 1 2 3