Page 111 - Lost Book Remedies

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 through-
out 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. Photo by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos, GNU FDL 1.2,
The shiny green leaves are oblong or lance-like and can regeneration in hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver syn-
be either lobed or pinnate with distinctive white mar- drome, and jaundice.
bling. They are hairless with spiny margins and white
veins. The stem is grooved and hollow in larger plants. Prevents Gallstones and Kidney Stones:
Reddish-purple flowers appear from June to August. Milk thistle seeds support the endocrine and gastroin-
They are 1 to 5 inches (2.5 cm to 12.5 cm) across. testinal systems and helps clean the blood. It works
closely with the liver and other digestive organs to pu-
Edible Use: Eat milk thistle roots raw, boiled, par- rify the body and reduce the risk of gallstones and kid-
boiled, or roasted. The young shoots are harvested in ney stones.
the spring and boiled like spinach. Some people peel
the bitter stems and soak them overnight before cook- Helps Lower High Cholesterol: Milk thistle is
ing them. Best to trim the leaves and stems to remove a powerful anti-inflammatory with heart-healthy ben-
the spines before cooking or eating. You can eat the efits, including lowering high cholesterol by cleaning
spiny bracts on the flower-head like a globe artichoke. the blood, decreasing inflammation, and preventing
Boil or steam them until tender. Milk Thistle is high oxidative stress damage within the arteries. Milk this-
in potassium nitrate and is not suitable tle is effective in lowering total cholesterol, LDL
for cattle or sheep. cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with
diabetes and heart disease.
Medicinal Use: Both the
leaves and the seeds are used Prevent or Control Diabe-
medicinally. The seeds can be tes: Milk thistle helps control the
eaten raw, and both the leaves blood sugar and decreases blood
and seeds can be used as a tinc- sugar levels in insulin-resistant pa-
ture, extract, or tea. You can tients. For best results, use it regularly.
grind the milk thistle seeds The improved blood sugar control is due
into a powder and put it into cap- to the improved health of the liver and its
sules for people who find the flavor disagreeable or function in releasing insulin and other hormones into
need an easy way to take it. I make a tincture of milk the bloodstream.
thistle seeds and dandelion root for the liver. Si- Antidote for the Ingestion of Poisonous
lymarin, the most actively medicinal compound in Mushrooms: Milk thistle seed’s ability to protect
milk thistle, is only found in the seeds. the liver is so strong that it is even able to treat people
Supports and Detoxifies the Liver: Milk this- poisoned by Amanita mushrooms, which destroy the
tle seeds are excellent at decreasing or even reversing liver. In fact, it is often the only treatment option for
liver damage caused by disease, environmental pollu- these patients and is given intravenously. Always be
tions, chemotherapy, poisons, and drug or alcohol careful when harvesting and eating mushrooms. If you
abuse. Milk thistle dramatically improves liver believe you’ve ingested poisonous mushrooms, seek
medical help immediately.

110