Area Herbs, Msg#50, May-09-93 15:50 PM
   From: Shanta McBain                        
     To: Fran Mcgee                           
Subject: Milk Thistle

Hello Fran!

Here is an excert from the
                 Encyclopedia of Biological Life
                    Box 711 Vernon BC V1T 8M6
                Suggested Donation $5.00 549-1453

                          MILK-THISTLE


BOTANICAL NAMES: Silybum marianum: Carduus marianus:

COMMON NAMES: Holy Thistle; Marian Thistle; Marythistle;
Milk-thistle; St. Mary's Thistle;  Wild artichoke;

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 long, usually
     solitary and surrounded at the in a hemispherical capitula
     base by long spiny appendages. Late summer to early autumn.

     FRUIT: Blackish, specked, ovovoid achene wigh a long white
     papp

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 dried lives; Whole and dried
flowering plant; Fresh root; fresh young stems and shoots; fresh
receptacle;

CONSTITUENTS: Essential oil; Tyramine; Histamine; Silymarine;
Silybin;

SOLVENTS: Alcohol; Water;

THERAPEUTIC ACTION: Choleretic; Cholagogue; Bitter tonic;
Hypertensive; Diuretic;

MEDICAL USES: Whole plant, Appetite Stimulate; Digestive;
Dyspepsia; Liver said to regenerate tissue; Gall bladder
stimulate flow of bile; Strengthens the memory because of the
effect on circulation;

Powdered Seed: Taken in emulsion are markedly choleretic and of
use in cardiovascular disorders. Travel sickness. Liver; Gall
bladder; Spleen problems; Jaundice; Gallstone colic; Leg ulcers
varicose veins.


HOMEOPATHIC: Seeds used;

CONTRA-INDICATIONS: Seed to be used only by qualified personnel;

FORMULAS: Formula #154 Blood sugar lower;

CULINARY: Young leaves, shoots. peeled stems, flower receptacles
and roots cooked and eaten.

CULTIVATION: Wild plant. Easily grown from seed. In a sunny well
drained place.

SISTER PLANTS: Cnicus benedictus;

HISTORY: Dioscorides described this herb as Silybon but Christian
both Latin and common names have included the name of Virgin
Mary. After a tradition that the white veination on the leaves
came from her milk. Was believed to promote lactation but no
evidence to collaborate. Cultivated for culinary and medical
reasons. Often used in place of Blessed Thistle (Cnicus
benedictus L).

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 E Meyer;
(38) The Illustrated Book of Herbs Their Medicinal and Culinary
uses;  Edited by Sarah Bunney;


Shanta

--- GoldED 2.41
 * Origin: The Herb Patch Vernon BC 1-(604)-545-8068 (FidoNet 1:353/375)
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