Naming |
| Botanical Name: |
Silybum marianum, Carduus marianus
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| Common Names: |
Holy Thistle, Marian Thistle, Marystistle, Milk-thistle, St. Mary's Thistle, Wild Artichoke
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| Key Name: |
Milk-thistle
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| Parts Used: |
Powdered seed, fresh and dried leaves, whole and dried flowering plant, fresh root, fresh young stems and shoots, fresh receptacle
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| Sister Plants: |
Cirsium arvense, Carduus nutans, Silybum eburneum
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| Comments: |
Robust biennial with medicinal value; thrives in disturbed soils; supports biodiversity despite limited pollinator role
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Characteristics |
| Identifying Character: |
Biennial herb (30-150 cm), erect prominently grooved stem, seldom branched, large oblong shiny variegated spiny leaves, violet-purple thistle-like flowers (up to 5 cm), solitary with spiny hemispherical base, blackish speckled ovovoid achenes with white pappus (L. Gaertn, Asteraceae; annual or biennial)
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| Stem: |
30-150 cm tall, erect, prominently grooved, seldom branched
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| Leaves: |
Large, oblong, shiny, variegated, very spiny, sessile or clasping
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| Flowers: |
Violet-purple, thistle-like, up to 5 cm long, usually solitary, surrounded by long spiny hemispherical capitula base
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| Fruit: |
Blackish, speckled, ovovoid achene with a long white pappus
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| Taste: |
Bitter (leaves, root), mild (young stems)
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| Odour: |
Earthy, slightly resinous
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| Root: |
Thick, taproot, supports plant stability
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| Image URL: |
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Distribution |
| Distribution: |
Native to central and western Europe, introduced and naturalized in California and elsewhere
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| Cultivation: |
Wild plant, easily grown from seed in sunny, well-drained locations; sow in spring or fall, space 12-18 inches apart
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| Harvest: |
Flowering plant: Summer (June-August)
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Medical |
| Therapeutic Action: |
Bitter, cathartic, cholagogue, choleretic, digestive, diuretic, hypertensive, tonic
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| Medical Uses: |
Whole plant: Appetite stimulant, digestive aid, dyspepsia, liver tissue regeneration, gall bladder support, bile flow stimulation. Powdered seed: Choleretic for cardiovascular disorders, jaundice, gallstones, colic; topical for leg ulcers, varicose veins
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| Constituents: |
Essential oil, tyramine, histamine, silybin, silymarin
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| Solvents: |
Alcohol, Water
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| Dosage: |
Powdered seed: 1-2 tsp in emulsion daily; Infusion: 1 tsp dried leaves in hot water
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| Administration: |
Internal: Infusion, emulsion, or powder; External: Poultice for ulcers
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| Formulas: |
Formula #154 Lower Blood Sugar
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| Contra Indications: |
Seeds to be used only by qualified personnel; may cause allergic reactions or digestive upset; avoid in pregnancy; consult healthcare provider
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| Preparation: |
Infusion: Steep 1 tsp dried leaves in hot water for 10 minutes; Emulsion: Mix 1-2 tsp powdered seed with water
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| Chinese: |
No documented use in Traditional Chinese Medicine
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| Veterinary: |
Used for liver support or wound treatment in livestock
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| Homeopathic: |
Seeds used
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Pollination and Pollinators |
| Apis: |
No
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| Pollinator: |
0
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| Pollen: |
No
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| Pollen Notes: |
Wind-dispersed, minimal bee interest; data pending further research
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| Nectar: |
No
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| Nectar Notes: |
Minimal nectar, not a primary bee attractant; data pending further research
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Other |
| Non-Medical Uses: |
Ornamental, dye from flowers, soil stabilization
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| Culinary Uses: |
Young leaves, shoots, peeled stems, flower receptacles, and roots may be cooked and eaten
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| History: |
Used in European herbal medicine since the Middle Ages; valued for liver health
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| Reference: |
1, 2, 5, 24, 38; Plants For A Future
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| URL: |
https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Silybum+marianum
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| Share: |
Private
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