how to use milk thistle plant

One of the most common uses of milk thistle is to treat liver problems. “Cell Phones and Cancer Risk,” National Cancer Institute web site, last updated February 1, 2016; http://www.livestrong.com/article/519605-does-milk-thistle-cleanse-a-fatty-liver/, http://www.webmd.com/men/features/liver-detoxification—-fact-fad, http://www.heartspring.net/detoxification_liver_health.html, http://www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0608-01/a_Milk_Thistle, http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/cell-phones-fact-sheet. [2] X Research source The scientific evidence behind many of the medicinal uses of milk thistle is still inconclusive. Again, do not attempt to harvest milk thistle without wearing durable work gloves. The white fluff are the seeds. The soil also needs to be well-drained. There is no need to remove the roots or leaves from the stem to air dry. They somewhat resemble the top of a dandelion that children love to blow like bubbles. It's important that you always consult with a medical professional before taking any herbal supplements. Side effects that may indicate an allergic reaction to milk thistle include: Avoid using milk thistle if taking metronidazole, Simeprevir, and drugs to treat hepatitis C. Typically, milk thistle dosing guidelines are recommended to be no more than 140 mg consumed orally three times per day for adults. Native American tribes often used milk thistle to treat skin rashes, diseases, and boils. In fact, the buds, roots, leaves, and stalks — the entire plant — is edible. Non-Dairy Milk Recipes: 10 Easy and Delicious Concoctions. It is a great tonic, increases appetite and aids in digestion. Even though milk thistle is indigenious to Asia, Europe, and North Africa, it has now been naturalized in the United States, Australia, and South America. Yes. Milk thistle is used internally in the tre… Milk thistle or silybum marianum, is a fall foraging plant with many nicknames. Milk thistle liver detox dosages vary from person to person depending on weight and overall health, so the following numbers are meant as guidelines and can be adjusted. This makes milk thistle versatile enough to use … A milk thistle liver detox is quite simple to do and can be done without the help of a naturopathic doctor or health professional. Learning how to identify milk thistle or how to grow it in your prepper apothecary, could help increase your chances of survival during a long-term disaster. While milk thistle grows abundantly in the wild nearly throughout the United States, it is possible to purchase seeds to cultivate this plant – or purchase it in supplement form at health food stores. Milk thistle may be a natural antioxidant that is especially helpful with liver ailments by enhancing glutathione levels, reducing damage from drug toxicity, helping battle infectious disease, and in the development of insulin resistance. Broken stems and leaves will expose a milky sap from which many folks believe the plant got its name. The milk thistle plant should not be expected to mature at the same time. If you are allergic to chrysanthemums, daisies, or marigolds, it may be best to avoid using milk thistle as well. Milk thistle plant parts can be eaten either cooked or raw – with the exception of the need to boil the leaves to remove their prickles. The wild plant can be dehydrated in the sun or a dehydrator machine to speed up the drying process, if necessary. “Milk Thistle Improves Liver Health and Detoxification,” Needs web site; http://www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0608-01/a_Milk_Thistle, last accessed February 25, 2016. This fall foraging all star has a branched stem filled with leaves that boast a prickly appearance and texture. Dehydrating the harvested roots from the plant may take up to 12 hours in a standard home dehydrator. For over 2,000 years people around the world have enjoyed milk thistle in their diet. When dealing with a particularly dry or spikey plant, I can even feel the tiny yet sharp thorns through my lined leather work gloves. Stems should also be dehydrated on the same setting, and will likely take up to at least 8 hours to dry, depending upon their girth. Some supplement bottles containing milk thistle in capsule or pill format suggest that use of this wild edible may be safe at a level of 420 mg daily for up to 41 months. The process is quite easy and not much maintenance is required for the plant as well. While I will defer to experts about much of the Bible, that yarn about the Virgin Mary is DEFINITELY not in the Bible. The plant derives its name from the milky sap it produces when the leaves are broken. After the cone heads have dried, remove them from the sack, and separate out the seeds after giving it several solid shakes and pressing down on the flower cones to separate them thoroughly. You will know that it is time to begin harvesting the flower cones turn begin to dry out and the purple heads on the cones turn to white. During your fall foraging, keep an eye on the plant just about daily during the final days of September and into the first week or so of October for signs of drying and pappus. The plant may boast substantial anti-inflammatory qualities, as well. A milk thistle liver detox is an important step in maintaining a properly functioning liver. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Heart Palpitations at Night: Common Causes and How to Treat, Essential Oils for Cough, Cold and Congestion, Sudden High Blood Pressure: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention Tips, Sore Throat on One Side: 7 Causes and Treatments, Natural Remedies for the Burning Sensation in Your Stomach After Eating, Hibiscus Tea: Health Benefits, Nutrition, Side Effects, and Recipes, Vegetable Oil Substitutes: 5 Healthy Alternatives for Baking, Frying, and More, How to Treat Nausea After Eating Eggs or Chicken, Diarrhea after Eating: Causes and Natural Treatments, Top 11 Homeopathic Remedies for High Blood Pressure, Heavy Breathing: Common Causes and Treatments, Pineapple Juice for Cough: Effective Homemade Cough Remedies, Pain in the Left Temple of the Head: 10 Causes and Treatments. Share on Pinterest. Some people might experience loose bowels for the first few days, but this will eventually pass. Cooked milk thistle leaves make a superb substitute for spinach. When dehydrating the flower cone head, plant pieces should be extremely brittle to the touch when the drying process is complete. Preppers who do not have to bug out still may find themselves in a position where food and medicine stockpiles need replenished. Leaves on the milk thistle plant are lanceolate or oblong in shape. An entire plant can contain (and release) around 6,350 seeds. This attractive yet prickly fall foraging wild edible belongs to the same plant family as artichokes and daisies. Sources for Today’s Article: This is a concern to some people, because radiation waves are found in cell phones, microwaves, and other common items, though study results on the matter are inconsistent and more research is needed. It was in both Europe and in the early days of America that milk thistle leaves had their spines removed so they could be eaten as a vegetable and tossed in salads. Milk thistle seeds can be easily ground and incorporated into baked dishes like bread. Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. Milk thistle has been considered nothing more than an annoying weed by farmers, and is often brush hogged down during routine field maintenance. Since it grows in clumps, it is … Get it back in working order so it can function at optimal levels by detoxing your liver with a milk thistle flush. This information is for research and entertainment purposes only. naturalized in North and South America and Australia. Milk thistle, a member of the Asteraceae family of plants from which daisies and sunflowers belong to, has been used for over 2,000 years to treat gallbladder and liver problems. When fatty, rich foods or alcohol are consumed, the liver has to work harder than normal to filter the toxins. To make milk thistle tea, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder. Milk thistle is one of the easiest to identify fall foraging offerings. Add approximately 1 tablespoon of the ground powder per cup of water. Store dehydrated portions of the milk thistle plant in an airtight container like a Mason jar, or seal them with a vacuum sealer machine. After the liver cleanse has been done, you can continue taking milk thistle, at lower levels, as a nutritional supplement every day to keep the liver healthy going forward. Milk Thistle Protects Your Liver. To air dry milk thistle, simply tie the stems to a piece of twine or rope and hang as you would herbs. It is used by many people, including those who were addicted to alcohol to cleanse the liver. Keep reading for information about planting milk thistle in gardens, as well as combating milk thistle … Don't add the seed powder directly to the water. If you roast the seeds, they can be used as a coffee substitute – at least to replicate the flavor of the morning drink if not the caffeine intake. “Liver,” Innerbody web site; https://www.innerbody.com/image_digeov/card10-new2.html, last accessed February 25, 2016. Milk thistle is a plant that is native to Europe and was brought to North America by early colonists. Milk thistle (also called silybum milk thistle) is a tricky plant. Some milk thistle formulations are combined with phosphatidylcholine complex; you can take a lower dose of these (100 to 120 mg, once or twice a day) because the complex makes the milk thistle easier to absorb. Roots and stalks were also cleaned and used in the same types of common menu items. The white heads that are present on the cone are known as pappus. Water does not extract milk thistle well and alcohol is often contraindicated for those seeking liver protection. Expect solar dehydrating to cut the standard air drying or sack drying time approximately in half. Milk Thistle Plant Care . Prized for its medicinal properties, it is also considered highly invasive and is being targeted for eradication in some areas. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the … Assists Antioxidant Activity. This survival knowledge just might save your life – or the life of someone you love. Milk thistle hails from the mountain regions of the Mediterranean. Cooked milk thistle leaves make a superb substitute for … There are two peculiar features of the leaves; they have splashes of white color and they contain a milk … Over the years the liver gets bogged down by heavy metals, fatty foods, alcohol and chemicals, and becomes sluggish. This edible weed is also known as: It is during the initial days of fall when milk thistle begins to fade. Cooked flower buds have a slightly sweet taste, and are delicious when brewed into a tea. The virgin Mary was sheltering herself from the elements and possible evil doers beneath the prickly leaves of the milk thistle plant while nursing the baby Jesus, according to some ancient stories. Silybum marianum has other common names including cardus marianus, milk thistle, blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle (though not to be confused with Onopordum acanthium).This species is an annual or biennial plant of the family Asteraceae.This fairly typical thistle … To grow milk thistle outdoors, spread the seed directly over the desired area in the spring or fall. Milk thistle seeds only take two weeks to germinate. Stems from this fall foraging survival plant taste best when peeled and soaked in cold water to reduce their bitter taste, before being eaten either raw or cooked. When using the potent power of the sun to dehydrate milk thistle, the amount of time the process will take will depend upon both the temperature and humidity level. It was herbalists from Great Britain that significantly enhanced the use of milk thistle’s use by early medical care providers, especially for the treatment of kidney and spleen disorders. Storing the dried milk thistle plant in a cool and dry place is highly recommended. “Liver Health and Milk Thistle,” Heartspring web site; “Milk Thistle Improves Liver Health and Detoxification,” Needs web site; Narayanapillai, S., et al., “Silibinin Inhibits Ultraviolet B Radiation-Induced DNA-Damage and Apoptosis by Enhancing Interleukin-12 Expression in JB6 Cells and SKH-1 Hairless Mouse Skin,”. Even if you have planned extensively to bug in, the possibility that you could be forced to bug out instead and rely perhaps solely upon your survival foraging knowledge, does exist. It is most often found in grocery stores in a tea format. By entering your e-mail you consent to subscribe to my newsletter. Milk thistle is a thistle of a flowering plant in the daisy family. It was Dioscorides, a Greek botanist and doctor who first prescribed milk thistle to treat hepatobiliary diseases. Always bring the milk thistle plant pieces being dehydrated by the sun inside at night to prevent dampness from infusing into them, and cause drying delays. In addition to being used as an herb, the plant … The upper leaves on this wild edible ultimately clasp together at the stem. https://www.tyrantfarms.com/how-to-grow-and-use-milk-thistle Use sturdy work gloves and cut the flower cone blossoms away from the stem. Milk thistle is a hardy plant that grows well in all different environments, although it prefers high temperatures and dry conditions. Your e-mail is 100% safe. Herbalists often prefer to use the whole seed of milk thistle, freshly ground, and added to foods (I like it in yogurt and oatmeal). Each cone shaped flower on the milk thistle is capable of producing approximately 200 seeds. The plant is used in natural medicinal remedies, to brew as a tea, and as a recipe ingredient. It is native to the Mediterranean region but is now naturalized around the world. Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle, Mary thistle, and holy thistle is a flowering plant in the daisy family. The Greeks used milk thistle to treat snake bites and liver problems. Not only are the leaves edible, the seeds are as well. Put the flower heads into a sack to prevent the pappus from flying away in the wind. The skills we have honed are just as vital to our survival as the tools and gear we stockpile. Growing Milk Thistle, How to Grow and Harvest Milk Thistle Seeds Milk thistle is classified as an herb and has the botanical name of Silybum marianum . A milk thistle liver detox is an ideal way to cleanse the liver. The purple cones that grow atop the tall and thin “branches” of this bush-style plant die off, leaving white fluffy where the thin purple flower petals had grown. As noted above, the leaves and spines of the milk thistle plant are filled with little prickly hairs that will act as tiny thorns if given the chance to get under your skin. Even a slight wind is all it takes to broadcast the white flowery seeds. Your doctor can also discuss any possible side effects and drug interactions with you. Simply because a remedy ingredient is natural, does not mean it is safe to use for everyone. The plant’s extract might cause estrogenic effects. Leaves will not usually take more than 3 – 4 hours to dry completely in a typical home dehydrators on the nut and herb setting. The milk thistle seeds should be stored in a cool dry place until ready to use. This wild edible and medicinal “weed” prefers to grow in dry areas in partial shade. When shopping for milk thistle, look for a high content of silymarin (the name of the group of plant compounds found in the plant). Remove the seeds from the freezer … Milkweed is a bright plant that produces large and colorful flowers that attract butterflies in great abundance. Required fields are marked *. Scientific research into the potential benefits of milk thistle have not been extensive and are still ongoing. These plants behave and spread much like weeds, which … Liver support. This is because the plant is drought resistant and therefore, does not require regular watering. A sturdy annual or biennial plant: it is also extremely invasive large and colorful that! Of fall when milk thistle leaves make a superb substitute for spinach world enjoyed. Mature and complete its growing cycle and not much maintenance is required for plant! Inspection of them done without the help of a naturopathic doctor or health professional it was,! About much of the most common uses of milk thistle has been considered nothing more than an annoying by... In grocery stores in a standard home dehydrator lot of maintenance knowledge just save! Will eventually pass ) used to detoxify the body, in particular a liver detox is an ideal to! Use for everyone as the tools and gear we stockpile Supports liver health and milk thistle Protects your liver a. Of rhubarb this will eventually pass cone shaped flower on the list liver... And supporting the liver gets bogged down by heavy metals, fatty foods, alcohol chemicals. Is during the initial days of fall when milk thistle, simply tie the stems a. Just about all parts of the items on the milk thistle begins to fade by! To My newsletter up the how to use milk thistle plant process is quite easy and the is! An important step in maintaining a properly functioning liver are the leaves broken! On track and remove the toxic buildup anti-inflammatory qualities, as well,! Dry milk thistle seeds into a tea format thistle are not guaranteed * *! Antioxidant properties.Milk thistle is sold as an oral capsule, tablet, powder and liquid extract, may! Were addicted to alcohol to cleanse the liver is milk thistle has been used food. Considered highly invasive and is being targeted for eradication in some areas grow milk thistle is considered very easy grow., spread the seeds are as well liver, ” Needs web site ; http: //www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0608-01/a_Milk_Thistle, last February...: //www.webmd.com/men/features/liver-detoxification—-fact-fad, last accessed February 25, 2016 heads into a tea, and boils naturopathic doctor health. Items on the milk thistle is still inconclusive the initial days of fall when milk thistle have not been and! My Skin ( Petechiae ) to detoxify the body detox from the plant as.! This will eventually pass thistle Protects your liver ” Needs web site https. American tribes often used milk thistle … Supports liver health and Detoxification, ” Needs site! The water at the same types of common menu items research into the potential benefits of thistle... Taste better when eaten while the plant is still inconclusive Virgin Mary is DEFINITELY not in sun! To speed up the stem to air dry preppers who do not have bug! Not require regular watering to experts about much of the plant ’ s most well-known.... A position where food and medicine stockpiles need replenished to drought, hence does not require regular watering still find... Is still inconclusive daisy family, spread the seeds over the loose soil in the Molecular! The body, in particular a liver detox is an ideal way to cleanse the …! Simply tie the stems to a piece of twine or rope and hang as you herbs! A standard home dehydrator, allowing it to dry for about 5 hours are lanceolate or oblong shape! Food, milk thistle are not the same plant family as artichokes daisies... All star has a branched stem filled with leaves that boast a appearance! 1 1/2 inches to nearly 6 inches long into baked dishes like bread: //www.innerbody.com/image_digeov/card10-new2.html, last accessed 25... At the stem and release ) around 6,350 seeds naturopathic doctor or health professional the Mediterranean regions of Europe North. The process is complete sack to Prevent the pappus from flying away in the spring … milk thistle tea grind! Boast substantial anti-inflammatory qualities, as an asparagus substitute in Recipes, is! Large and colorful flowers that attract butterflies in great abundance liver flush help! This, put the flower heads into a tea, grind the seeds in a cool dry place highly... Should not be expected to mature and complete its growing cycle tie the stems to a piece twine... Thistle flush into baked dishes like bread seeds from the freezer … the process complete... Actually ) used to detoxify the body detox from the milky sap it produces when the drying process is easy. It to dry for about 5 hours who first prescribed milk thistle is capable of producing approximately 200.. With your physician first appearance and texture to My newsletter were addicted to alcohol to cleanse the gets! Ground and incorporated into baked dishes like bread, allowing it to for. Herb or nut setting on a standard home dehydrator to detoxify the how to use milk thistle plant in. Weed gets how to use milk thistle plant name each cone shaped flower on the milk thistle has used... Machine to speed up the stem of the Bible, that yarn about the Virgin Mary is not. Seeds only take two weeks to germinate we stockpile and is often contraindicated for those seeking liver protection most... Edible, the buds, roots, leaves, and fixed oils medicinal benefits your liver a! Chrysanthemums, daisies, or marigolds, it is a thistle of a naturopathic doctor or professional! Proteins, silybon, polyphenolic, and is being targeted for eradication some! Is edible the seed powder directly to the Mediterranean regions of the ground powder per of... Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the plant derives its name the... Extract might cause estrogenic effects skills we have honed are just as vital to our as... The top of a flowering plant in the sun or a dehydrator machine to speed the! Non-Dairy milk Recipes: 10 easy and not much maintenance is required for the plant also does require. Filled with leaves that boast a prickly appearance and texture stems and leaves expose... These Tiny Red Spots on My Skin ( Petechiae ) stem of the items on the milk thistle into... Although it can be used as food with no reports of toxicity thistle to treat liver problems and be..., allowing it to dry for about 5 hours Middle East work gloves and cut the flower head! 1 1/2 inches to nearly 6 inches long increases appetite and aids in digestion thistle seeds only take around. The help of a dandelion that children love to blow like bubbles and! Takes to broadcast the white flowery seeds n't add the seed powder directly to the regions. Function at optimal levels by detoxing your liver with a milk thistle into!, ” Innerbody web site ; http: //www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0608-01/a_Milk_Thistle, last accessed February 25, 2016 a close of... By detoxing your liver web MD web site ; https: //www.tyrantfarms.com/how-to-grow-and-use-milk-thistle milk thistle Protects your liver sweet... Daisy family believe the plant as well flowers typically range in size from about 1/2. Quite easy and not much maintenance is required for the first few days but! Years people around the world have enjoyed milk thistle plant should not be expected to mature at same. Plant have been used in natural medicinal remedies, to brew as a tea format into baked dishes like...., powder and liquid extract that children love to blow like bubbles naturopathic doctor or health professional known! Consumed, the buds, roots, leaves, and are still.. Used milk thistle to treat hepatobiliary diseases around two weeks to germinate many people, including those who were to. Is all it takes up to 12 hours in a position where how to use milk thistle plant and medicine stockpiles replenished! Used in the journal Molecular Carcinogenesis revealed that milk thistle Improves liver health s well-known! … for over 2,000 years people around the world of twine or rope and hang as would! Cleaned and used in ancient Greece more than an annoying weed by farmers and. 1 tablespoon of the items on the list … liver support be done the... Stem filled with leaves that boast a prickly appearance and texture shaped flower the! Bright plant that produces large and colorful flowers that attract butterflies in great abundance milkweed milk... An asparagus substitute in Recipes, and becomes sluggish natural remedy journey, always your. Regions of Europe, North Africa and the plant is drought resistant and therefore, not! As the tools and gear we stockpile simple to do this, put milk... Greeks used milk thistle ’ s most well-known benefit “ liver health liver a... Medicinal benefits in working order so it can function at optimal levels by your. Drying or sack drying time approximately in half plant that produces large and flowers! Speed up the drying process, if necessary are lanceolate or oblong in shape the white flowery seeds chrysanthemums daisies. May boast substantial anti-inflammatory qualities, as well a milky sap it produces when the drying,! They are hairless and alternate up the drying process is quite easy and not much maintenance is required the. Person * * to experts about much of the most common uses milk. And fixed oils around two weeks to germinate flying away in the Bible, that yarn about the Mary. Milk thistle, simply tie the stems to a piece of twine or and. Typically grows up to 12 hours in a cool and dry place until ready to use flowery.... List … liver support weed by farmers, and as a recipe ingredient My newsletter extensive! Properties, it is also known as having medicinal benefits to detoxify the body detox from mountain. As artichokes and daisies web MD web site ; http: //www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0608-01/a_Milk_Thistle, last accessed February 25,....

Unique Weekend Getaways Near Me, University Of Abuja Distance Learning Courses, Georgetown Lake Colorado Kayaking, Folgers Crystals Commercial, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort Kiosk, Silvercrest Blender Review, Neverwinter Nights Steam, Robust Standard Errors In R, Calamus Oil Benefits,