Milk Thistle
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION
Family :
Compositae (Composite)
Genus :
Silybum
Species :
marianum
COMMON NAMES
Milk Thistle; Marian Thistle; St. Mary's Thistle
USES
Liver Tonic (to treat cirrhosis, hepatitis and other liver ailments as well as skin conditions related to poor liver function); Liver Regenerative; May provide an antidote to A. phalloides, the death cap mushroom.
DESCRIPTION
Milk Thistle is an annual or biennial herb growing up to 6 feet tall, with coarse, prickly-edged leaves streaked with white veins. Flowers are crimson to reddish-violet and grow in solitary globular heads 2 inches across.
