Silybum, Milk Thistle

Mary's Thistle, Carduus Mariae, Carduus lacteus

Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Chaumeton, Flore médicale, 1829

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Botanical name:
Silybum marianum (syn. Carduus marianus)

Parts used:
Seed; herb; rarely the root

Temperature & Taste:
Temperate, dry. Bitter
cuts, opens, gently binds

Classification:
B. Clear Heat

Uses:
1. Clears Liver Heat and Damp, Benefits the Liver:
-Cirrhosis, acute and chronic Hepatitis, fatty Liver
-Liver damage from chemicals, toxins, alcohol, viruses, and diabetes
-Jaundice, pain in the sides, and Gallstones (esp seeds)
-used to treat or prevent hangovers
-Tumors, Cancer; Salmon said it ‘wastes cold swellings’; early stages of Breast Cancer (Haller, Lexicon, 1755)
-Excess Menstruation or other Bleeding from Liver heat
-Diabetes from Heat
-Leukorrhea, Diarrhea

2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-against Poison and Venom
-boiled up in the Spring as a Blood cleanser
-Eczema, Acne, Psoriasis
-prevent and cure the infection of the Plague
-Fever; 'High Fever' (Haller, Lexicon, 1755)
-seeds were traditionally used for Hydrophobia.

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine, Clears Stones:
-Gravel, Stones of the Bladder or Gall Bladder
-Edema

4. Clears Lung Heat, Stops Cough:
-an excellent Pectoral; Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma and Wheezing
-Pleurisy
-some said it strengthens the Lungs (Culpeper said the Syrup strengthened the Lungs)

5. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
-Varicose veins and poor venous circulation of the lower body
-enlarged or varicose veins of the legs due to engorgement of the Spleen

6. Promotes Milk

7. Clears Melancholy:
-Some old authors claimed it to be one of the best medicines for Melancholy.

8. Externally:
i. applied to Ulcers, including Varicose Ulcers and Rodent Ulcers
ii. also applied to Swellings, Tumors and Cancers. The strong seed decoction has been applied to Cancers with benefit.
iii. as a gargle for Toothache

DOSE:
2–4 grams of the Seed or Herb (half–1 dram)
In Decoction: 3–9 grams

SUBSTITUTE:
Used similarly to Carduus Benedictus. Carduus was more highly regarded in the past.

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Main Combinations:
1. Liver and Gall Bladder disorders, Milk Thistle seed is used with Dandelion and Chicory root (Kroeber)
2. Liver disease:
i. Milk Thistle seed with Dandelion root and leaf, Peppermint
ii. Milk Thistle seed with Turmeric, Celandine, Wormwood
3. Gall Stones:
i. Milk Thistle seed with Dandelion, Nettle, Birchii. Milk Thistle seed with Saxifrage, Celandine, Peppermint, Yarrow (Türk)
4. Hepatitis:
i. Milk Thistle seed with Echinacea, Dandelion
ii. Hepatitis C, Milk Thistle seed, Licorice, Picrorriza, Tamarisk, Rose (a tested patent medicine called Hepcinol)
5. Lung Heat and Inflammation, Milk Thistle seed with Red Poppy and Pearl
6. Diabetes, High Blood Sugar:
i. Milk Thistle seed with Bilberry leaf, Birch leaf, Fumitory, Bean Pods
ii. Frankincense, Milk Thistle seed, Nettle (this combination has been studied and found effective)
7. Cancer tea: Menyanthes, Hops, Calendula, Clematis recta, Milk Thistle seed, Celandine (Wesenberg)

Cautions:
Generally Safe and well tolerated.

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water