The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum Milk thistle is known by many names, including blessed milk thistle, blessed thistle, cardus marianus, Mary thistle, Saint Mary’s thistle, variegated thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, and Scotch thistle. It grows in many places in North America and throughout the world. It prefers a warmer climate. It is in the Asteraceae /Compositae (Aster/Daisy) Family. Identification: Milk thistle is an annual or biennial plant and grows from 2 to 6 feet (0.6 to 1.8meters) tall. The shiny green leaves are oblong or lance-like and can be either lobed or pinnate with distinctive white marbling. They are hairless with spiny margins and white veins. The stem is grooved and hollow in larger plants. Reddish-purple flowers appear from June to August. They are 1 to 5 inches (2.5 cm to 12.5 cm) across. Edible Use: Eat milk thistle roots raw, boiled, parboiled, or roasted. The young shoots are harvested in the spring and boiled like spinach. Some people peel the bitter stems and soak them overnight before cooking them. Best to trim the leaves and stems to remove the spines before cooking or eating. You can eat the spiny bracts on the flower-head like a globe artichoke. Boil or steam them until tender. Milk Thistle is high in potassium nitrate and is not suitable for cattle or sheep. Medicinal Use: Both the leaves and the seeds are used medicinally. The seeds can be eaten raw, and both the leaves and seeds can be used as a tincture, extract, or tea. You can grind the milk thistle seeds into a powder and put it into capsules for people who find the flavor disagreeable or need an easy way to take it. I make a tincture of milk thistle seeds and dandelion root for the liver. Silymarin, the most actively medicinal compound in milk thistle, is only found in the seeds. Supports and Detoxifies the Liver: Milk thistle seeds are excellent at decreasing or even reversing liver damage caused by disease, environmental pollutions, chemotherapy, poisons, and drug or alcohol abuse. Milk thistle dramatically improves liver 110 Photo by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos, GNU FDL 1.2, regeneration in hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver syndrome, and jaundice. Prevents Gallstones and Kidney Stones: Milk thistle seeds support the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems and helps clean the blood. It works closely with the liver and other digestive organs to purify the body and reduce the risk of gallstones and kidney stones. Helps Lower High Cholesterol: Milk thistle is a powerful anti-inflammatory with heart-healthy benefits, including lowering high cholesterol by cleaning the blood, decreasing inflammation, and preventing oxidative stress damage within the arteries. Milk thistle is effective in lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with diabetes and heart disease. Prevent or Control Diabetes: Milk thistle helps control the blood sugar and decreases blood sugar levels in insulin-resistant patients. For best results, use it regularly. The improved blood sugar control is due to the improved health of the liver and its function in releasing insulin and other hormones into the bloodstream. Antidote for the Ingestion of Poisonous Mushrooms: Milk thistle seed’s ability to protect the liver is so strong that it is even able to treat people poisoned by Amanita mushrooms, which destroy the liver. In fact, it is often the only treatment option for these patients and is given intravenously. Always be careful when harvesting and eating mushrooms. If you believe you’ve ingested poisonous mushrooms, seek medical help immediately.
