Encyclopedia of Biological Life

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Silybum marianum: Milk-Thistle.

• BOTANICAL NAMES: Silybum marianum, Carduus marianus
• COMMON NAMES: Holy Thistle, Marian Thistle, Marystistle, Milk-thistle, St, Mary's Thistle, Wild Artichoke;
• PHARMACOPEIAL NAMES:
• Identifying Characteristics: L Gaertn, COMPOSITAE; Annual or Biannual
  • Stem:30 -150 cm Tall Erect, prominently grooved, seldom branched.
  • Leaves:Large, oblong, shiny, variegated and very spiny, sessile or clasping.
  • Flowers:Violet-purple, Thistle-like to 5 cm lon, usually solitary and surrounded at the in a hemispherical capitula base by long spiny appendages. Late summer to early autum.
  • Root:
  • Fruit:Blackish, specked, ovovoid achene wigh a long white papp
  • Taste:
  • Odour:
• Distribution: Native to central and west Europe, Introduced and naturalized in California and elsewhere. Naturalised to Britain. Dry rocky soils, stony soils to 600m altitude.
• Parts used:Powdered seed; fresh and lried leaves; Whole and dried flowering plant; Fresh root; fresh youngstems and shoots; freash recepticale.
• Body Parts Affected:
• Constituents:Essential oil; Tyramine; Histamine; Silybin; Silymarine;
• Solvents:Alcohol; Water;
• Therapeutic Action:Bitter tonic Choleretic; Cholagogue; Diuretic.; Hypertensive.
• Astrological:
• NUMEROLOGICAL:
• Medical Uses: Whole Plant, Appetite stimulant; Digestive, Dyspepsia, Liver said to regenerate tissue, Gall bladder; Stimulate flow of Bile,

  Powdered Seed: Taken in emulsion are markedly Choleretic and used in cardiovascular disorders, Jaundice , Gallstones colic; Leg Ulcers , Variscose Veins .

• HOMEOPATHIC: Seeds used
• Chinese:
• Contra-IndicationsSeed to be used only by qualified personnel;
• Preparation:
• Dosage:
  • Decoction
  • Fluid extract
  • oil
  • powder
  • tincture
• Administrations:
• Notes:
• Formulas:
  • Formula #154 Lower Blood sugar.
• Congenial Combinations:
• NON MEDICAL USES:
• Culinary: Young leaves, shoots, peeled stems, flower recepticals, and roots many be cooked and eaten
• Cultivation: Wild plant. Easily grown from seed. In a sunny wel drained place.
• Sister Plants
• History:
• Harvest:Flowering plant
• Reference:
  • 1 The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Stuart;
  • 2 The Herb Book John Lust;
  • 5 School of Natural Healing Dr. John R. Christopher;
  • 24 The Herbalist Joseph #. Meyer;
  • 38 The Illustrated Book of Herbs Their Medicinal and Culinary uses; Edited by Sarah Bunney;

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