Herbal Remedies Information - Milk Thistle

This article is part of a series giving information about herbs and their medicinal properties. We are going to look at milk thistle in this article. You will find out what this herb is, how you can use it and the conditions that could be helped by milk thistle.

What is Milk Thistle?

Milk thistle is a plant that is commonly seen growing wild throughout the whole of Europe and in the US. Many people will find it in their gardens. You will recognise it by its long stem, green leaves with white spots and a pink/purple spiky flowered head. There are many other names that you may here the plant called by and they include Mary thistle, St. Mary thistle, Marian thistle, and lady's thistle. The plant has been used for medical purposes for over 2000 years and can help a large number of different conditions.

How to use Milk Thistle

There are a large number of remedies that you can buy from your herbalist and they include seeds, capsules, extracts and tinctures. You can discuss which one would be best for you with your herbalist.

You can make your own tincture which is the plant left in alcohol for a couple of weeks to infuse. This will then make a very concentrated liquid that you will only need to use a couple of drops at a time. You could also consider creating a tea. You can do this by grinding up a handful of seeds and allowing them to infuse in boiling water for around 20 minutes. Once the liquid has fully infused you should drain the herb out and then you can drink the liquid. If you want to sweeten it you may want to consider adding a teaspoon of honey to the liquid.

Uses of Milk Thistle

There are a large number of different uses of Milk Thistle and a large number of conditions it can benefit. The main use is as a tonic for the live and so can be very effective for live disease. It is thought that milk thistle helps to promote the growth of new liver cells as well as stopping toxins from getting into healthy liver cells. It is often prescribed for conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis.

Due to its protective abilities of the live it is often used for conditions like HIV, cancer prevention, gallbladder problems, jaundice and psoriasis. It is also thought to be a very useful treatment from nursing mothers who have problems with lactation.

Side Effects and Precautions

If you have a condition that affects the liver it is important to seek medical advice and not try and treat it with milk thistle alone. In addition it is important to ensure you get any remedies from a reputable herbalist to ensure you get the best quality herbs. If you are pregnant, a nursing mother or on other forms of medication it is important to consult your doctor before taking milk thistle.

There are only minor side effects associated with milk thistle including mild nausea and diarrhoea. It is also possible for people to have an allergic reaction so it is important to establish if you have any allergies to this family of plants that include daisies and artichoke. If you have any concerns at all then it is a good idea to consult a medical practitioner before beginning any treatment.