Milk Thistle Extract – Silymarin

Silybummarianum has other common names include cardus marianus, milk thistle,blessed milk thistle, Marian Thistle, Mary Thistle, Saint Mary's Thistle,Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle. This species is an annual orbiannual plant of the Asteraceae family. This fairly typical thistle has red topurple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Originally anative of Southern Europe through to Asia, itis now found throughout the world. The medicinal parts of the plant are theripe seeds.

Milkthistle has also been known to be used as food. Around the 16th century themilk thistle became quite popular and almost all parts of it were eaten. Theroots can be eaten raw or boiled and buttered or par-boiled and roasted. Theyoung shoots in spring can be cut down to the root and boiled and buttered. Thespiny bracts on the flower head were eaten in the past like globe artichoke,and the stems (after peeling) can be soaked overnight to remove bitterness andthen stewed. The leaves can be trimmed of prickles and boiled and make a goodspinach substitute or they can also be added raw to salads.