Milk Thistle Medicinal Uses

Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) Medicinal Uses are many and well documented. It is among the top-selling medicinal herbs. It is a heady, spiny plant with white-veined leaves and purple flowers.

Milk Thistle Medicinal Uses Overview

Milk Thistle has been prized for centuries for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties.

Among its benefits, it may help in the treatment of:

• Liver, gallbladder problems and hepatitis. It is highly regarded as a liver tonic due to high amounts of a chemical compound known as silymarin.
• Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In test-tube and animal studies, it has been shown to prevent oxidative damage to brain cells.
• Osteoporosis. It may be a useful therapy for preventing or delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women
• Cancer. It shows promise as a cancer treatment, although more studies are required.
• Lactation. It increases lactating mother’s milk flow production and relaxes spasms.
• Diabetes. Milk thistle may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Milk Thistle Herbal Preparations and Uses

Parts Used: Leaves, Flowers, Seeds and Roots.

• Infusions
• Tinctures
• Powders

Milk Thistle Tea.

Ingredients: Dried Milk Thistle Leaves or Milk Thistle Seeds

• Bring 1 cup of water to boil.
• Crush one teaspoon of Milk Thistle seeds using a mortar and pestle. Alternatively use one tablespoon of dried Milk Thistle leaves.
• Place the seed powder or the leaves in a tea bag and put it in the boiling water.
• Let it stand for about 5 -15mins.
• Strain and enjoy.