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Silybum marianum

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Record ID:115

Naming

Botanical Name: Silybum marianum
Common Names: Holy Thistle, Marian Thistle, Marystistle, Milk-thistle, St, Mary's Thistle, Wild Artichoke;
Key Name: silybum_marianum
Parts Used: Powdered seed; fresh and lried leaves; Whole and dried flowering plant; Fresh root; fresh youngstems and shoots; freash recepticale.
Sister Plants:
Comments:

Characteristics

Identifying Character: 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 lon, usually solitary and surrounded at the in a hemispherical capitula base by long spiny appendages. Late summer to early autum. Root: Fruit:Blackish, specked, ovovoid achene wigh a long white papp Taste: Odour:
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 lon, usually solitary and surrounded at the in a hemispherical capitula base by long spiny appendages. Late summer to early autum.
Fruit: Blackish, specked, ovovoid achene wigh a long white papp
Taste:
Odour:
Root:
Image: (no image)

Distribution

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.
Cultivation: Wild plant. Easily grown from seed. In a sunny wel drained place.
Harvest: Flowering plant

Medical

Therapeutic Action: Bitter tonic Choleretic; Cholagogue; Diuretic.; Hypertensive.
Medical Uses: Whole Plant, Appetite stimulant; Digestive, Dyspepsia, Liver said to regenerate tissue, Gall bladder; Stimulate flow of Bile, Powdered Seed: Taken in emulsion are markedly Choleretic and used in cardiovascular disorders, Jaundice , Gallstones colic; Leg Ulcers , Variscose Veins .
Constituents: Essential oil; Tyramine; Histamine; Silybin; Silymarine;
Solvents: Alcohol; Water;
Dosage: Decoction Fluid extract oil powder tincture
Administration:
Formulas: Formula #[154] Lower Blood sugar.
Contra Indications: Seed to be used only by qualified personnel;
Preparation:
Chinese:
Veterinary:
Homeopathic: Seeds used

Pollination and Pollinators

Apis: No
Pollinator:
Pollen: No
Pollen Notes:
Nectar: No
Nectar Notes:

Other

Non-Medical Uses:
Culinary Uses: Young leaves, shoots, peeled stems, flower recepticals, and roots many be cooked and eaten
History:
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 #. Meyer; [38] The Illustrated Book of Herbs Their Medicinal and Culinary uses; Edited by Sarah Bunney;
URL: /ENCY/legacy/usbmsm.htm
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