Milk Thistle – Curse or Cure?
Milk thistle, or wild artichoke, a plant whose fruit and seeds have been used by cultures around the world for more than 2,000 years, is a fascinating herb that has been both revered and cursed. There’s a love-hate relationship with Milk thistle …many people endorse and hardily embrace Milk thistle for its food value, medicinal healing qualities, the benefits to wildlife and its intrinsic beauty. Others fault the thistle’s invasive growing habits and the danger thistle presents to livestock.
Milk thistle, (Blessed thistle, St. Mary’s thistle, Marian thistle, Lady thistle or Holy thistle, Christ’s Crown, Heal thistle, Venus thistle and Wand of God’s Grace, Mariendistel (German), and Chardon-Marie (French).), is a flowering herb of the genus Silybum marianum and is related to the daisy family (Asteraceae).
The plant has dark-green prickly leaves mottled with white veins, vivid purple flower heads up to six inches in diameter; blooming from June to September. Milk thistle can grow twelve feet tall and form dense, impenetrable thickets. Small, shiny, black seeds (achenes) are produced in the brilliant flower heads and have a white silk-like pappus (parachute) attached. This allows the seeds to travel with the whims of the wind when released, much like a dandelion.
Like other thistles, the plant is well known for its intimidating sharp, spiny leaves. Milk thistle is related to artichoke and safflower, as well as to flowers such as Bachelor Button, Xeranthemum (Everlasting) and Globe thistle, and to weeds such as Nodding thistle, Canada thistle, Scotch thistle and Burdock.
Milk thistle is considered an annual species in most northern climates, although in milder climates it may grow as a biennial. The plant is prized for its food and medicinal value, however, it is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant because of its unusual leaves and colorful flowers.
Continue Reading Milk Thistle – Curse or Cure?
