Common Names: Holy Thistle, Marian Thistle, Marystistle, Milk-thistle, St, Mary's Thistle, Wild Artichoke;
Pollinator Forage
Nectar 0
Pollen 0
key name Milk-thistle
Idententifing Character L Gaertn, COMPOSITAE; Annual or Biannual
Stem30 -150 cm Tall Erect, prominently grooved, seldom branched.
LeavesLarge, 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
Fruit Blackish, specked, ovovoid achene wigh a long white papp
Taste
Odour
Root
Distribution Native to central and west Europe, Introduced and naturalized in California and elsewhere. Naturalis
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 .
Constituents Essential oil; Tyramine; Histamine; Silybin; Silymarine;
Solvents Alcohol; Water;
Dosage
administration
Formulas
Contra Indications Seed to be used only by qualified personnel;
Chinese
Veterinary
Wild plant. Easily grown from seed. In a sunny wel drained place.
Harvest Flowering plant
Non Med Culinary: Young leaves, shoots, peeled stems, flower recepticals, and roots many be cooked and eaten
History
Reference 1,2,5,24,38