Herb. No. 014 · Asteraceae
Mediterranean waste-ground thistle, naturalized in California and Australia.
Native · Mediterranean
Native Also grown
LegalGentleplant
Milk thistle
Silybum marianum
Spiny purple thistle whose seeds are the classic liver trophorestorative.
Silymarin, a mix of flavonolignans, is concentrated in the ripe seed. Traditional European use is for liver and gallbladder complaints; modern use is as an adjunct after hepatotoxic injury. It is not an antidote to keep drinking. The plant is a handsome, vicious annual/biennial.
Flavor
Seeds are oily, bitter, and faintly artichoke.
Parts used
Ripe seed
Helpful
- Well-tolerated
- Seeds store for years
- Striking garden architectural plant
Cautions
- Asteraceae allergy
- Evidence is mixed depending on the liver condition
- Spines are serious