Milk Thistle

The image above comes from the images I got while studying this herb in school.  It comes from the class lesson.

Sorry this has taken so long to get posted.  I had to research the herb and my internet is not cooperating so I'm on a hotspot.  I'll get the herbarium uploaded as soon as I get this up.  Been a long day already and it's not even dinner time! Love and Light!

On to Milk Thistle!

Constituents: Flavolignans (Silymarin is composed of silybin, silydianin, and silychristin), ficed oil (oleic acid, palmitic acid), sterols (Cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol), mucilage (Hoffman, 2003, p. 584). Mills and Bone (2010) say flavolignans (silybin, silychristin, silydianin, and 2,3-dehydro- derivatives).  All these flavolignans are known as silymarin (p. 594). Chevallier (2016) says flavonlignans, bitter principles, and polyacetylenes (p. 137).

Therapeutic Actions: Hepatic, galactagogue, demulcent, cholagogue, antihepatoxic (Hoffman, 2003, p. 584). Mills and Bone (2010) say hepatoprotective, hepatic trophorestorative, antioxidant and choleretic (p. 594). Chevallier (2016) says liver protective, chemoprotective, anticancer, anti-allergenic, and increases breast milk production (p. 137).

Indications: Liver tonic and gallbladder conditions – hepatitis and cirrhosis. Increases flow/secretion of bile from both organs. May treat uterine problems. Promotes breast milk production (safe for pregnancy and lactation).  (Hoffman, 2003, p. 584). Mills and Bone (2010) say this is used to treat liver damage from toxicity, chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic cirrhosis.  Also useful for gallbladder problems like jaundice, hepatitis and gallstones (p. 594). Kennedy (2007) calls this a potent detoxifier (p. 206). Chevallier (2016) says the flower heads were eaten in a traditional fashion after being boiled and “eaten like an artichoke” in the spring to clear the body after winter, enhance breast milk production, and depression.  Today it’s used for the liver – metabolism and renew cells. It treats hepatitis, jaundice, and liver stress such as alcohol and chemotherapy (p. 137).

Safety: No side effects or interactions noted (Hoffman, 2003, p. 584). Mills and Bone (2010) say there is no counterindications for pregnancy or breastfeeding but there is a potential allergy to the Comopsitae family which may result in anaphylaxis in rare cases (p. 594).

Have a Great Day!