Milk Thistle - Milk Thistle Benefits | LiverSupport.com Milk Thistle The #1 researched and recommended herb for liver health and more! What is Milk Thistle? Milk Thistle is an herbal supplement that detoxifies and protects vital liver functions and more. Milk thistle has been used for over 2,000 years as a natural treatment for liver disorders. The plant is known in scientific circles as the Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner (syn. Cardous marianus), but it is more commonly known as “milk thistle,” “St. Mary Thistle,” “Holy Thistle” and “Lady’s Thistle.” It is an herbaceous annual or biennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family that can grow to be ten feet tall with flowers that are red and purple in color. Milk thistle gets its name from the milky white fluid that comes from the plant’s leaves when they are crushed. It is native to southern Europe, southern Russia, Asia Minor, and North Africa, and has also been naturalized to North and South America. Europeans were among the first to use milk thistle seeds as an herbal treatment for liver disorders.

However, the plant’s remedial capabilities have been known since ancient times. Milk Thistle was mentioned by Theophrastus in the 4th century B.C. by the name of “Pternix” and it was also referred to by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century A.D. by the name of “Sillybum.” Additionally, in 1744, Von Haller documented the specific use of the plant for liver disorders in its “Medizinischen Lexicon.” In more recent years, many authors such as Johann Gottfried Rademacher, Volker Schulz, and Henry Leclerc mention the benefits of Silybum Marianum (milk thistle) when used as a treatment of liver diseases as well as in the treatment of disorders of the bile duct and spleen. What are the Benefits of Milk Thistle? Over the past forty years, intensive chemical, pharmacological and clinical research has confirmed the mechanisms of action and therapeutic value of milk thistle in a wide range of human liver-related and non-liver-related conditions. Literally hundreds of modern research studies have confirmed the remarkable ability of milk thistle to protect the liver and the body against virtually all types of damage.

Additionally, the United States National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have cataloged more than 400 scientific studies of milk thistle and its active compounds in their medicine database. These studies reflect what generations past knew and depended on – that milk thistle is one of the most valuable and beneficial herbal remedies and treatments available anywhere in the world. Today, milk thistle is still one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world and is also the number one recommended natural herb for liver health. In fact, in Europe, milk thistle is a prescribed medication. The milk thistle extract is prescribed to treat mushroom poisoning, alcoholic cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, drug and alcohol-induced liver damage and acute viral hepatitis, just to name a few. Milk thistle extract is used to maintain liver health and to protect the liver from the effects of toxins such as alcohol, a polluted environment or workplace, and a host of liver related diseases. Liver related conditions indicating the use of milk thistle are varied, including, but not limited to: Alcoholic cirrhosis You'll also receive the latest news and information to support liver health. Rest assured, we will not rent your email to anyone. Thank You!

Your download should have begun. If it does not after a few seconds, click here to download. How Does Milk Thistle Work? Milk thistle seeds contain a bioflavonoid complex known as silymarin. Silymarin, which is the active ingredient in milk thistle, is simply the purified extract of the fruits (seeds) of the milk thistle plant. It is responsible for the main medical benefits of the milk thistle plant, and it is made up of three main flavonoids: silybin – also know as silibinin silydianin – also known as silidianin silychristin – also know as silicristin Silybin makes up 50% – 70% of silymarin and has been shown in clinical studies to be the most biologically active and beneficial constituent of the milk thistle extract, silymarin. Double blind studies on the effect of milk thistle on toxic liver damage (mostly alcohol-related), chronic liver disease and disease caused by certain drugs have been reviewed by medical experts.

The experts all concluded that milk thistle is an extremely therapeutically useful medicinal plant product that stabilizes the cell membrane and stimulates protein synthesis while accelerating the process of regeneration in damaged liver tissue. These effects are important in the therapeutic efficacy of milk thistle. According to other studies, milk thistle may protect the cells of the liver by blocking the entrance of harmful toxins and helping remove these toxins from liver cells. As with other flavonoids, milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant which works to maintain health and energy by protecting the body from damage caused by free radicals and lipid peroxidation, which can injure healthy cells and tissues. Just as grapes and red wine, for example, are touted as excellent sources of antioxidants, milk thistle also contains the properties needed to offer the body the same antioxidant benefits. What are the Side Effects of Milk Thistle? One of the best things about milk thistle is its gentle nature. Compared to many other supplements and herbal remedies that bring with them side effects such as headaches, virtually all parts of the milk thistle plant have been used with no reports of toxicity.

Adverse effects in clinical and lab studies related specifically to the seed extract (silymarin) are also virtually nonexistent, although it may have a mild and short-lived laxative effect for some people. Milk thistle can be used safely and effectively by a wide range of people, including pregnant and nursing women. What is Standardized Milk Thistle? Milk thistle as an herb is made up of both active and inactive ingredients in varying amounts, with the active ingredients providing all of the supplement’s benefits and therapeutic value. When purchasing a non-standardized milk thistle product, you have no way of knowing what proportion of active to inactive ingredients will be present in the final product. Thus, to ensure consistency throughout the herbal supplement market, milk thistle is available in a standardized form. When purchasing a standardized milk thistle product, you are supposed to receive the same proportion of the active and beneficial ingredients to inactive ingredients each and every time. Today, most standardized milk thistle products sold in the United States are standardized to reflect 80% silymarin. This means that silymarin, the active ingredient, makes up 80% of the total weight of the product, and the inactive ingredients make up the remaining 20%.

So if you purchase a standardized milk thistle product that is 250 milligrams of 80% standardized silymarin, you would actually have only 200 milligrams of the active, beneficial ingredient. It is important to understand this so that you know what you are comparing when you are looking at different milk thistle products to determine those that offer the best value and those that offer the best concentration of the active ingredient. Which Milk Thistle is the Best and Most Effective? Many milk thistle products are available in health food stores, drug stores, and on the Internet, but none of them are very bioavailable. This means they are not absorbed well by the body. A person would therefore need to ingest large amounts of milk thistle to experience its beneficial effects. This is not only impractical, but can also become quite expensive. The solution is the patented, highly-absorbable, all-natural, standardized, pharmaceutical grade milk thistle found in Maximum Milk Thistle® and UltraThistle® . It is superior to all other milk thistle products in 2 key areas. It only uses the silybin from the milk thistle plant.

Silybin is the single most beneficial ingredient of the milk thistle plant and is responsible for roughly 70% of all of milk thistle’s health benefits. It allows more of the silybin, milk thistle’s most beneficial component, to be absorbed by your body. It can be thought of as a supercharged delivery system. It takes the silybin and delivers it through your body in a way that increases its absorption into the body’s tissues and cells. It delivers up to 10 times more silybin and produces up to 20 times the efficacy and protection as compared to other standardized milk thistle products. Learn more about Maximum Milk Thistle® or the world’s highest-potency milk thistle formula, UltraThistle® . Maximum Milk Thistle ® and UltraThistle ® give your body a turbo-charged boost of the most effective part of the milk thistle product and ensure that – over time – your body will respond to the increased absorption rate and higher silybin concentration much more readily than with other products available on the market. Milk Thistle Reviews For rankings and reviews on UltraThistle® and other top selling milk thistle formulas, you can also visit .

Milk Thistle Comparison Chart Milk thistle - Growing | Grow Plants Grow plants - Gardening » Growing plants » Milk thistle Milk thistle Milk thistle growing herbaceous of the genus Silybum also known as Silybum marianum, Milk thistle annual or biennial plant also used as ornamental medical plant, can grow in mediterranean, desert, temperate or subtropical climate Leaves edible in the color green sometimes with white lines in the edge of the leaf there is spines. Flower head edible and there is spines, the color of the flower purple and rarely white and even pink. Root edible in the color white with brownish peel, Milk thistle for sale - Seeds or Plants to Buy Click here Buy plants or seeds for sale: How to grow: Requirements for growing Milk thistle: Nothing special What is the best way to start growing Milk thistle: Plant / Seedling / Seed Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction in Milk thistle?

No Difficulties/Problems with growing Milk thistle: Invasive When is the best time to plant a Milk thistle plant: Spring in cold climate / Autumn in warm climate Pests and diseases in Milk thistle: Powdery mildew When is the best time to prune a Milk thistle plant? All season How to prune a Milk thistle: No need What is the size of a Milk thistle plant? 0.5-1.8 m Growth speed in Milk thistle: Fast growing / Medium growing Milk thistle Irrigation Water Management: Small amount of water / Average amount of water Light conditions in optimal condition for growing Milk thistle: Full Sun It is possible to grow Milk thistle indoor? No Growing Milk thistle is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes other thistles Hello everyone, Last week we talked about how to kill Canada thistle. This week I would like to point out two more thistle species, and some thistle look-alikes. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) and blessed milk thistle (Silybum marianum) are prevalent in the Willamette Valley.

Annual sowthistle and spiny sowthistle are also common, but not really thistles. Prickly lettuce is another plant that looks thistle-ish, but is not. All plants discussed today are in the family Asteraceae. These plants are threatening in appearance, some are painful to the touch, and a menace to anyone responsible for their control. All are invasive weeds native to Europe and/or Asia. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Bull thistle is one of the most common thistles in our area. In fact, the specific name vulgare means 'common'. Bull thistle is a biennial that forms a rosette the first year. Foliage is hairy, lobed with prickles, and has a dark bluish-green color.. Erect foliage and flower stems are formed the second year. Flowers are larger than Canada thistle, developing to 1 inch tall and wide. Bull thistle is the ugliest of the thistles, but it's much easier to control than Canada thistle. It is a biennial that reproduces by seed. Use of preemergence herbicides in combination with good sanitation will prevent seed germination.

If preemergence control fails, spray with Roundup or 2,4-D on actively growing plants prior to flower bud emergence. Beyond that, mow or prune flower heads to prevent seed formation. Bull thistle will not survive cultivation, which is probably why I rarely see it in well-maintained nursery fields. Bull thistle flower heads are pink to purple, and approximately 1 inch tall and wide. Bull thistle foliage is dark green and often with a slight grey tint. Foliage is very pubescent, deeply lobed, and armed with stiff prickles at the tips. At maturity, plants grow 2 to 5 feet tall and wide. Blessed milk thistle (Silybum marianum) Blessed milk thistle is not a true thistle (if you consider thistles to be only those plants in the genus Cirsium). It is a monstrous weed, and is as harmful to the touch as bull thistle. It is not as common as bull thistle; I've only seen this weed along roadsides and in fencerows. I've never seen it in a nursery field, but I've heard reports that it is becoming increasingly invasive in the Willamette Valley.

Blessed milk thistle is easy to identify by the creamy white veins that cover its foliage. Flower heads are large (2 to 3 inches in diameter) with thistle-like purple bristles. The specific name marianum is applied to several plants with white mottled leaves. According to some, the spots formed when milk from Mary, the mother of Jesus, dropped on the foliage (Smith, 1997). Blessed milk thistle is a biennial or winter annual. Control of this weed is covered thoroughly in the Pacific Northwest Weed Control Handbook, however, I will summarize here. Herbicides containing clopyralid (Lontrel, Stinger, or Curtail) should be applied to actively growing plants in the spring. Roundup can be applied to rosettes in the spring or fall (if in the fall, before the first hard freeze). Herbicides containing 2,4-D should be applied on fall rosettes, or in the spring before flower stalks emerge. Flower heads are large and spiny. White-mottled foliage is unique. Habit is large, growing up to 6 feet tall and wide.

Sowthistles (Sonchus spp.) and prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) are plants that also resemble thistles in that they have similarly lobed and prickly foliage. However, these plants have yellow flowers that do not resemble thistles in any manner, and they are generally not painful when touched (foliage and prickles are soft). We'll cover these plants in more detail in a later email. More photos from the overflow bin. I have posted extra pictures on a different page, so viewers can see more details of each species without slowing the download time of this page. For more photos of bull thistle, click here . For more photos of blessed milk thistle, click here . Thistles and Thistle-like Plants of Missouri Fred Fishel Department of Agronomy Thistles and thistle-like plants have a negative reputation in Missouri. Most of these weedy plant species were introduced into the United States from Europe and gradually spread into Missouri and surrounding states. Their cantankerous physical appearance alone qualifies them for classification as weeds. Some weeds are potentially more devastating to society than others and are recognized as such by noxious weed laws in Missouri and other states.

In particular, Canada, musk and Scotch thistles, and common and cutleaf teasels are regulated in Missouri by law because of their potential for spread and harm to society and the environment. Because some thistles and thistle-like species are not considered to be as serious threats to human and livestock activities, it is important to be able to distinguish them from the more harmful species. These plants tend to have very subtle characteristics that separate them from their close relatives or other plants that are similar in physical appearance. Correct identification of thistles and thistle-like plants makes control recommendations more effective because herbicides, application rates and size restrictions can be properly matched. Use the simple taxanomic keys on the back of this guide to identify a suspect plant using the following process: Identify the general classification by finding the best description of the vegetative parts and flowers of the weed in Key 1. Use Key 2 to identify a specific plant. Consult the plant descriptions section for a short text description and photographs of the weed. This guide is a general reference and does not contain all thistles and thistle-like plants that you may encounter in Missouri. If you need assistance in identifying a weed, submit a sample through your local MU Extension center to the MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, .

Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Biennial. Description The leaves of the bull thistle become elongated as the plant matures, and each lobe and leaf terminal is tipped with a long, stiff spine. Hairs may be found on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Leaves become progressively smaller in the terminal portion of the plant's second-year growth although the spines are longer compared with those on the lower leaves. Flowers are similar in size and color to those of musk thistle, but may be distinguished by the presence of cobweb-like hair and several spine-tipped bracts at the base of the flower head. Bull thistle is one of the most commonly occurring thistles in the state and is probably present in every county — primarily in pasture or roadside settings and occasionally in cropland. Perennial. Description Canada thistle is the only commonly occurring thistle in Missouri that has a perennial growth habit. Besides producing seed, vegetative shoots arise from a creeping underground system of rhizomes often forming large colonies of plants. Leaves are wavy lobed, and, as the plant matures, the lobes become triangular-shaped.

The upper surface of the leaf blade is smooth while the underside of the blade may or may not be hairy. Of the thistles common in Missouri, Canada thistle has the smallest flowers; they are produced in terminal clusters and are usually pinkish-purple in color (occasionally white). Canada thistle may be encountered in cropland, pastures and along roadsides. It is regulated by Missouri noxious weed laws. Common (Dipsacus fullonum) and cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) Biennial. Description Plants develop a basal rosette that overwinters. The leaves are oval-shaped with toothed margins and have a wrinkled appearance. Unlike thistles, the leaf margins do not have spines. The following spring, the plant produces flowering stalks that are covered with short, stiff prickles. Flowers are egg-shaped and subtended with long spiny bracts. Common teasel has pale purple flowers while cutleaf teasel has white flowers. Plants may reach heights of six feet. Common and cutleaf teasel are most prominent along roadsides in Missouri. They are regulated by Missouri noxious weed laws. Biennial.

Description Musk thistle has also been called nodding thistle because of its large solitary flower heads that often bend over. Seedling plants have waxy, pale green leaves with shallowly lobed margins containing irregular prickles. During the second season of growth, leaves become deeply cut and their margins are tipped with stiff, sharp spines. Leaf tissue is glossy and the only hair on the foliage may be found on the main veins. The flower head has numerous spine-tipped bracts, is usually pink to purple in color (occasionally white) and grows up to 2 inches in diameter. In Missouri, musk thistle is most problematic in pastures and along roadsides. It is regulated by Missouri noxious weed laws. Biennial. Description Scotch thistle has very large, coarsely lobed leaves with spines. An identifying feature that makes it fairly easy to distinguish from other common thistles is the dense hairs on its foliage that give it a bluish or grayish cottony cast. It has also been called cotton thistle. The second-year stems develop large spiny wings formed where the leaf bases attach.

The 1- to 2-inch flowers, which may be solitary or grouped in clusters of 2 to 5, are spine-tipped and usually reddish-purple in color. Of the thistles addressed in this guide, it is the least common in the state. It is regulated by Missouri noxious weed laws. Summer annual. Description Spiny sowthistle has leaves that are variable in shape and that have extremely prickly margins. Lower leaves tend to be ovate in shape and variously lobed. Leaves are smaller and less divided in the middle and terminal portions of the plant. The base of the leaf blade is rounded and clasps around the stem at the point of attachment. Unlike thistles and teasels, all parts of the plant exude a white sap when cut, and the flowers are yellow. Another plant with a similar appearance that contains white sap and is common in the state is wild lettuce. It may be distinguished from spiny sowthistle by the long spines that occur along the underside of its midveins. Spiny sowthistle occurs in cultivated fields, pastures, waste areas, roadsides and other disturbed sites. It is one of three sowthistle species known to Missouri. Biennial.

Description Tall thistle has highly variable leaves that range from unlobed to variably lobed. The leaf margins have small spines that point toward the tips of the leaves. The upper surface of the leaves is dark green and lacks hair while the lower surface has dense hairs that give it a white, wooly appearance. Flowers are about an inch in diameter and pink to purple in color. A less common subspecies that has white flowers has been recorded in several southwest Missouri counties. Tall thistle is common throughout much of Missouri, except in the extreme southeast lowlands, and occurs along roadsides, ditch banks and other waste areas. Vegetative and flower characterics of thistles and thistle-like plants Thistles Leaf margins have prominent spines and plant parts lack white sap when cut. Flowers are 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter. Color may be red, purple, pink, lavender or white (rare). Teasels Leaves have wrinkled appearance with toothed margins and plant parts lack white sap when cut. Flowers are up to 4 inches in length and egg-shaped. Color is white or lavender. Sowthistle Leaf margins are weakly prickly. Leaves and stems exude white sap when cut.

Flowers are 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Color is yellow. Key 2 Vegetative and flower characterics of specific thistles and thistle-like plants Musk thistle Leaves smooth, dark green with light green midrib. Flower is pink to purple. Produced singly on nodding stalks. Up to 2 inches wide. Scotch thistle Leaves covered with dense hair and grayish, cottony appearance. Flower is reddish-purple. Flower stems are broadly winged. Up to 2 inches wide. Canada thistle Leaf margins crinkled and spiny, rhizomes underground. Flower is pinkish-purple (rarely white). Produced in clusters. Up to 3/4 inch wide. Bull thistle Leaves deeply cut, green on both upper and lower surfaces. Coarse hairs on lower surface. Flower is rose to reddish-purple. Heads surrounded by spiny-tipped bracts. Up to 2 inches wide. Tall thistle Similar to bull, but leaves are white and woolly on lower surface. Flower is reddish-purple. Heads produced singly. About 1 inch wide.

The author gratefully acknowledges the Purdue University Pesticide Program and MU publication MX328, Applying Pesticides Correctly, in preparing this publication. Find MU Extension on Milk Thistle: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves and Identification | Silybum marianum Pause Resume To support our efforts please see our store (books with medicinal info & subscriptions), or browse the milk thistle products below. For over 2,000 years people around the world have enjoyed milk thistle in their diet. Just about all parts of the plant have been used as food with no reports of toxicity. Although it can be used as food, milk thistle is better known as having medicinal benefits. It is a great tonic, increases appetite and aids in digestion. It is used by many people, including those who were addicted to alcohol to cleanse the liver. Milk thistle is used internally in the treatment of liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis and poisoning (including mushroom poisoning). - click to play video - Distinguishing Features: Milk thistle is a stout, biennial or annual plant that grows up to one metre tall and has a branched, stem. This wild edible takes two years to complete the growing cycle.

It is best known as having a unique shaped flower and leaves that are somewhat prickly to the touch if not careful. Each milk thistle flower can produce almost 200 seeds, with an average of 6,350 seeds per plant per year. Flowers: Milk thistle flower heads average between 4 and 12 cm. long and wide, and are light purple in colour. They flower from June to August in the northern hemisphere or December to February in the southern hemisphere (these grow in many countries). Fields of Nutrition has medicinal benefits and vitamin/mineral content of Milk Thistle. Leaves: The leaves of the milk thistle are oblong to lanceolate in shape. They are either lobate or pinnate, with spiny edges. Leaves are hairless, are alternate, and have milky-white veins. The upper leaves clasp the stem. Height: Milk thistle grows up to one metre tall. Habitat: Milk thistle grows in dry, rocky soils, preferring sunny or lightly shaded areas. It also likes waste places in many areas around the world. Edible parts: The young stalks, leaves, roots and flowers can be eaten.

Milk thistle root can be eaten raw or cooked. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked however the very sharp leaf-spines must be removed first. When cooked these leaves make a great spinach substitute. Flower buds can be cooked. The stems can be eaten raw or cooked. They are best when peeled and soaking is recommended to reduce the bitterness. Milk thistle can be used like asparagus or rhubarb or added to salads. They are at their best when used in spring when they are young. Roasted milk thistle seeds can be used as coffee substitute. Recipes: Thistle: It’s That Spine of Year | Eat The Weeds and other things, too Thistle: It’s That Spine of Year by Green Deane Bull Thistle in Blossom. Photo by Green Deane Thistle: Touch me not, but add butter Thistles, you’re either going to love ’em or hate em. Of course, I think eating them is the sensible compromise. Thistles, in this case Cirsium horridulum (SIR-see-um hor-id-YOO-lum) are among the hardest to gather of wild foods, Black Walnuts probably being the worst.

But, the reward is edible stalks, edible leaves —trimmed of spines — roots and unopened flower bud bottoms. Like many tasty wild plants, the thistle did not make its way into main stream food channel because of the spines and its two-year growth habit. The first year the plant is just a root and a rosette, the second year it sends up a stem and blossoms. Note the basal rosette, photo by Green Deane The first-year root and leaves are edible, but there isn’t much of a root for a while. The leaves are edible but don’t even bother trying to cut off the spines. That’s too labor intense. Just strip the green off the leaf leaving the very edible midrib. Rub the “wool” off and enjoy, raw or cooked. All thistles in the genus Cirsium, and the genus Carduus, are edible. Or said another way, there is no poisonous true thistle, but not all of them are palatable. In the second year plant the inner core of the flower stalks is quite tasty and not that much work.

The leaves are still edible if you strip them of spines as are the bottom of the flower buds, though the bud bottoms aren’t much more than a nibble. All can be eaten raw, steamed or boiled. (Or roast whole by a fire and squeeze the cooked core out.) Of course, one should wear heavy gloves when working with thistles, and some people have contact dermatitis with thistles, so make sure first. Personally, I prefer the stalks of second year plants in spring, when they are a foot or so high. I just use a long-handled shovel to cut them at the base above the rosette. With heavy gloves and a trimmer I hold the plant upside down and cut off the leaves and sundry spines. Carefully peel the stalk of the fibrous coat, which is most of the green you’ll see. Then you can eat it raw or cooked, I prefer cooked. I think the stalk boiled a few minutes and then served with butter, salt and pepper is absolutely delicious, for a green. The plant also grows fibrous as it ages — why we don’t eat older stalks — and can be used for cordage. Soaking the plant several days in water makes the threads available.

Also, the seed fluff when dry is great tinder. And should you be in the wilderness with little but a thistle for protection, know the Seminole Indians made blowgun darts from the plant. That might require a remaking of the common phrase: I’ve got a thistle stuck in the thick of my tongue. The down was used as guide feathers for arrows. Incidentally, it’s shaving brush-shaped flowers can be purple or yellow. Personally, I have never seen a yellow one. If by some outside chance you have misidentified the prickly Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana) for the thistle, the poppy has yellowish sap and flowers, white or yellow, with petals. The thistle’s flower is like a shaving brush when in bloom that then turns into a cottony ball of fluff. Unopened Thistle Bud, photo by Green Deane The thistle, which is in the sunflower family, is often called an invasive weed even where it is native. What is native? It can be found around the world and throughout North American and Canada, even in the arctic circle and Greenland, just like the mustard plant, chickweed and blackberries.

Thistles can be found from valley bottoms to mountain tops. All you need to be is observant, and hungry. The thistle shown here, C. horridulum, grows from from Maine south along the seacoast to Florida, west from South Carolina to Texas. When I was a boy growing up in southern Maine this thistle grew every year across the road from our house. Now, it so happens that I went to school eight years in one-room school houses. An annual project, as directed by Mrs. Arlene Tryon, was to bring unopened thistle blossoms to school, hang them up, and watch them turn into cotton puffs. The thistle, by the way, is also food for the larva of the American Painted Lady butterfly, Black Swallowtail, Delaware skipper, Palamedes Swallowtail, Palmetto Skipper), Three-Spotted Skipper, Twin-Spot skipper (What? No One-spotted skipper?) and other butterflies. Goldfinches like the seeds, too. A tea can also be made from the leaves and the plant was used in ancient times to treat varicose veins, which in Greek is kirsos.

After being bastardized by Latin, Kirsos becomes Cirsium. Horridulum means a little spiny, clearly a joke by Andre Michaeux the botanist who named it. (Also, on something almost completely unrelated, it’s a cute linguistic and conceptual hop from kirsos, varicose veins, to kissos, which means ivy.) Oh, and a parting factoid: Thistle root gives some folks gas. Thought you’d like to know ahead of time. Green Deane’s “Itemized” Plant Profile IDENTIFICATION: Biennial or perennial herb, two to five feet high, basal and stem leaves lobed, lower stems leaves can be four to nine inches long, can be woolly in parts, second year stems stopped with shaving-brush flowers, purple or yellow. In some species the branching can be throughout the stalk, in the bull thistle branching occurs only on top. Very spiny, one tough plant. If by chance you have misidentified it with a spiny poppy the poppy has flowers with large petals. If you are in Florida and on the west coast you might see Cirsium nuttallii, which is tall and skinny with many branches.

TIME OF YEAR: Best in spring, first or second year, starting in February in Florida, later in northern climes. In Florida the seasons can be mixed with the plant not taking a break between first and second year growth. ENVIRONMENT: Sandy open areas, moist or dry, old fields, roadsides, often the only plant still untouched in closely cropped pastures. Some reports say they like wet areas but that certainly is not the case here in Florida. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Raw, boil or steamed hollow inner stalks peeled of green outer fiber; core of unopened flower buds, when cooked squeezed out like artichoke leaves; stripped midribs raw or cooked. First year roots once large enough to harvest, The seeds are edible, 12 pounds will produce 3 pounds of edible oil. Suitable for cooking or lamp use.

HERB BLURB Native American Indians used thistle for neuralgia, over eating, an herbal steam for rheumatism and to shrink hemorrhoids (presumably without the thistles!) Reply Sully December 22, 2015 at 11:10 Another species, called the Acanthum vulgare, produces above 100 heads, each containing from 3 to 400 seeds. Suppose we say that these thistles produce at a medium only 80 beads, and that each contains only 300 seeds; the first crop from these would amount to 24,000. Let these be sown, and their crop will amount to 576 millions.

Sow these, and their produce will be 13,824,000,000,000, or thirteen billions, eight hundred and twenty-four thousand millions; and a single crop from these, which is only the third year’s growth, would amount to 331,776,000,000,000,000, or three hundred and thirty-one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six billions; and the fourth year’s growth will amount to 7,962,624,000,000,000,000,000, or seven thousand nine hundred and sixty-two trillions, six hundred and twenty-four thousand billions. A progeny more than sufficient to stock not only the surface of the whole world, but of all the planets of the solar system, so that no other plant or vegetable could possibly grow, allowing but the space of one square foot for each plant.

Reply Sandra November 14, 2015 at 09:18 I live on the East coast of Australia in a sub- tropical zone and I Found wild Scottish thistle today on my walk, will collect tomorrow for “tea” and ” greens” many thanks, feel comfortable after reading all the postings and appreciate everyone’s contributions! Cheers! Sandra Reply glenda August 17, 2015 at 20:24 I was stuck with the thistleberry thorn i didnt get all of the thorn out. What could happen? Reply Angela C Wilson July 4, 2016 at 16:58 I have got a thistle thorn stuck in my foot while walking in flip-flops before. I did not get all of it out and my foot around the thorn festered and eventually popped the rest of the Thorne out. The worst thing that happens is that it gets very very painful before the rest of the Thorne comes out. Lindy June 1, 2015 at 21:45 I was wondering if you can use the flower to make tea or wine?

Reply Cody April 11, 2015 at 23:02 Thanks for the info! A bit more reading has shown me C. lanatus is not actually in my area, so I should be able to pick and eat all thistles in my area without much discretion. Dinner here I come! 😀 Reply Viveca Guillot April 5, 2015 at 10:31 Thank you for this information. I am of Acadian descent and heritage. Since I was a small child, my grandmother and mom and I would go each year in the 40 days of Lent to pick these. We peel them for the strings just like a carrot. Cut them in small circles and serve with salt, pepper, vinegar, and a little oil. Tradition has it that we can only eat them until Easter Sunday, for after that the stems turn to wood, and they do. Any idea as to why? Reply robby haseman April 3, 2015 at 11:08 I am only 15 but when we moved to another part of Magnolia Texas three years ago I started seeing these weird but cool plants.

They were about a foot or two tall with big yellow or bright pink/purple flowers and very thorny leaves. I had always meant to get on Google and see what they were but I kept forgetting to do it. Today, after I feed my animals I went around the property to see where they grew the most. Only a few grew in the grass and some grew in the red dirt and clay areas but they mostly liked growing where the people that built our house dug a hole to put wood ashes in. The hole was covered up and a lot of really tall dead grass looking things grew there and so did a ton of these thistles. (I still wouldn’t know they where called thistles if it wasn’t for your awesome website!) I accidentally stepped on one and many of the thorns on the leaves got stuck in my foot. I sat down and pulled them out and wondered if they were poisonous. thankfully they weren’t. I did notice that the Blue Orchard Mason Bees really like the thistle plant! My mom doesn’t believe that they are edible and I don’t eat any greens except for green beans but I actually want to see what the thistle tastes like.

I also wanted to mention that the ones that are tall and skinny grow here in Texas to. Unless it’s a different type of plant. I might have missed it but I didn’t see if you had the size on the skinny ones. The ones here get to at least 5 ft tall. I let one grow and it as eaten by a deer once it reached my height lol. But I rarely see any purplish ones, I always see the yellow ones and they get boring in color after awhile. Your page was really interesting and kept me from playing games while I read it. If you end up reading this and want me to send you a picture of the thistles here or with the Blue Orchard Mason Bee on it then just tell me in an email and next time I get the chance Ill send you the picture if you asked for one. Thanks for reading my long story lol. (if you didn’t get bored reading it.) Keep up the work on webpages like this! This one was a BIG help! thank you for the help! Audrey April 3, 2015 at 00:01 I forgot to add that artichokes are a type of thistle. Delicious!

Reply Audrey April 2, 2015 at 23:53 Another fact about thistles: Goldfinches use the fluff to line their nests. For that reason, they breed late in the summer, waiting for the fluff. I love your web site! Best regards. Reply Valerie March 16, 2015 at 23:39 So much good information!! I let a thistle grow in my yard last year just to see what it looked like. ( I am new to this part of the world and wanted to see it up close.) When I found out it was edible, it was too late and the plant was already 4 ft tall…lol. Thank you for sharing so much detailed info though. I will be looking for thistles on my walks now. 🙂 Reply Randal Reulet March 15, 2015 at 23:43 I think it is easier to cut off the leaves with a machete before cutting down the stalk. I also scrape the stalk after peeling it, then eat it with Italian dressing.

Reply Jon Crowe February 4, 2015 at 22:31 Could being stuck by a thistle cause swelling? Last summer I got stuck by a thistle on my left hand between my pinkie finger and ring finger, so much so that after two days and the swelling not going down along with some minor pain in the underside of my forearm I went to a doctor who pretty much told me to go home and stop being a wuss. (So much for “free health care”). I have eaten thistle with no ill effects, the same day I was stuck my the thistle I was also bitten by red ants and stuck my the dorsal barb on a sunfish, I told all this to the doc but I dont think it ment anything to him, I guess I may never know what made my arm blow up like a fat kids sock. Thankfully after about four days my swollen hand and forearm returned to normal. Reply Floradd January 12, 2015 at 13:57 Hi I am looking for Cirsium edule seeds, which is NOT a noxious weed in King county (Seattle) where I live. This is a key species for native butterflies here.

Does anyone know where I can get some? Is anyone interested in being paid for wild collection? I can’t find a source any where. Thanks! ben January 1, 2015 at 09:06 i read somewhere thistle sprouts were good eatin, anyone know anything about that? Reply adri December 14, 2014 at 04:58 I forgot to say we stew the stalks of milk thistle. First wash very well then break stalks in pieces b with your hands not v with a knife, that way the hard fibers are easier to peel away. Then with the knife cut into 3 or 4 inch pieces. Reply adri December 14, 2014 at 04:53 Hi, in Italy we stew milk thistle with sausages in tomato sauce with herbs of your choice. It is very common and very good! Buon appetito! kevin July 6, 2014 at 01:13 Juice it. Or remove stems, chop, fill with water, blend, strain, sweeten, and drink.

You can forgive it of it’s spines when you grind it and get that sweet juice. Reply Janet March 24, 2014 at 21:51 Thanks for the info about eating thistle. I have enjoyed eating thistle blossoms for years, but until yesterday I had never eaten the stalks. I ate some fresh stalk pieces, and I peeled and cooked four more stalks. Yummy! Thanks for a great website! lynward September 20, 2013 at 12:35 natural rennet for making cheese can be made of the dried thistle blossom I’ve heard Reply jim adams September 5, 2013 at 16:19 Hi — we’re currently living (here in central Virginia) in the midst of a perennial old field of 20 acres or so. It’s perennial because the landlord gets it mowed once a year and has done so (more or less) for the last 20 years. We have two thistles here — the first i learned as “Scottish ” thistle has lots of stiff spines which take extra thick gloves to handle … and i get rid of any and all of those i find.

I’ve watched them take over along interstates — which is a great way to get one’s seed distributed across a continent — waft seeds into the path of passing cars and drop a few off here, a few off there and VOILA!!! — progeny from coast to coast The other which i’ve been calling “American thistle” also has spines but the only really stiff ones are on the bud. All the rest are — well — not really friendly, but if i’m careful, i can handle them with out gloves, it doesn’t hurt when i brush them with bare legs, and i can grab the stalks at the base with bare hands (uncalloused). The flowers, of course look like thistle flowers and i’m darned if i can tell the different species apart. Two i’ve left in our yard have grown to about 8 feet. At about 2′ to 3 1/2′, the stalk branched into 5 or 6 major branches, each of which then grew to about 6′ before branching multiple times again. At the base, they’re about 2 1/2″ in diameter.

The flowers are favorites of Tiger Swallowtails, an occasional Silver Spangled Fritillary, and of course our humming bird love them. Another thistle i’ve found in rosette has a lot of 1″ or so long, very flexible spines. The tips go right into my skin and i can definitely see (feel?) how a deer or buffalo touching one of those with it’s nose would not try to eat it. So how DO i identify thistles? What sets them apart, aside from the stiffness of their spines? I’ve read thru your site on thistles (love it, and will eat these weeds — next year) Reply J Wolf August 14, 2013 at 15:31 We have a Varegated Milk Thislte or Thor’s Thislte growing, it is very large and beautiful, is there a place on this web site to send photos of it. Have tried for 3 years to grow one, finally, and it is thriving. Have a common Thislte that is over 6 feet high in the bush here, Canada.

Reply johnny June 24, 2014 at 09:58 seeds (milk thistle) for tea are all the time crushed and dried that one obtains from health food and other stores . Best to make ones own teas. A lot of what I have read is that in many a state(s) thistles being weeds are outlawed to grow/possess. Poisons are usually used to erradicate. I did obtain some seeds for thistles and was disappointed until learned it can take a year or so for them to sprout. I now have them growing in my lawn. Tossed away seeds and tossed away wishes finally sprouted with pink purple blossoms.YAHOO – THISTLES EXIST AND THRIVE. A good thorn in my saddle! Reply dianne May 26, 2012 at 15:20 So far I’m really enjoying your site. I too am originally from Maine and live north of Tampa in Florida. My mom used to forage in Maine ( Milkweed, dandelions, goose greens and periwinkles alonge the seacoast) but we never became familiar with what was in the west coast of Florida.

Do you have a book with photos so one could forage without a computer as reference? If not I’m sure I could print out what’s on your site. Thanks for sharing what you have learned along the way Daniel November 16, 2011 at 01:50 Hello Green Deane, I love your website, articles and videos. Your efforts are appreciated tremendously. I was wondering if you had any plans for a milk thistle profile. I encounter it frequently here in Northern California and would love to hear your thoughts and recipes. Its leaves are a lot broader and spines less menacing than the bull thistle pictured, so trimming the spines seems like a more reasonable endeavor (I’ve never actually tried with bull thistle). Also, the yellow star thistle grows prolifically out here. I can’t find much information on its uses (if any) on the internet though. Any thoughts? Thank you.

blessed milkthistle: Silybum marianum (Asterales: Asteraceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae Synonym(s): blessed milk-thistle, milk thistle, spotted thistle, variegated thistle Native Range: Mediterranean region ( ) Appearance Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial herb that ranges from 2-6 ft. (0.6-1.8 m) in height. Foliage Leaves have shiny, green upper surfaces and are noticeably variegated with white markings. Basal leaves are 6-28 in. (15.2-71.1 cm) long with spiny margins. Much smaller stem leaves clasp the stem. Flowers Purple thistle flower heads develop at the apex of the stems. They are 0.8-2.5 in. (2-6.4 cm) in diameter at the base and are enclosed in a projecting, spiny involucre. Flowers from April to July. Fruit Fruit are black and brown achenes that are about 0.3 in.

(0.85 cm) long, slightly flattened with a ring of bristles at the apex. Ecological Threat S. marianum invades roadsides, ditches, disturbed areas and fertile fields. It is native to the Mediterranean region. S. marianum can be poisonous to livestock, especially during periods of wilt from drought, mowing or herbicide treatment. Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy Selected Images from Invasive.org

Question: What colour is the flower of the milk thistle?
Answer: Purple