Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is part of the daisy family (Asteraceae). It originated in Europe, but is now grown widely in Asia and the Americas. Although it is considered a common weed in many areas, it is also cultivated for its seeds, which are perhaps the most common botanical extract found in health food stores today. This prickly plant features wide leaves with prominent blotchy white veins that emit milky white sap when crushed. Folklore has it that the Latin name Silybum marianum is derived from the belief that the Virgin Mary’s milk once fell upon the herb, bestowing on it the ability to improve lactation in nursing mothers.
Health Benefits
In the world of herbal medicine, milk thistle stands proud, backed by solid science. Thousands of products made from it have become popular in Europe and North America. Milk thistle has many virtues, including its ability to improve various types of liver and biliary diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcohol-induced liver disease, and fatty liver. The active ingredient is silymarin, a substance extracted from the seeds, which helps protect the liver against toxic damage and, perhaps, even repair it.
Experiments confirm milk thistle improves liver function and decreases the number of deaths that occur in cirrhotic patients. Several studies also show taking milk thistle orally may improve cases of hepatitis or alcohol-induced liver damage.
More recently, milk thistle has been discussed as a possible alternative treatment for cancer. Silymarin contains a compound called silybin, which has been shown to stop cancerous tumour cells from growing.
DIFFICULTY
Easy to medium
HARDINESS
Biennial in zones 5 to 9
TIME TO PLANT
Spring
TIME TO HARVEST
Late summer to fall
LOCATION
Full sun
SOIL TYPE
Almost any, but does not do well in sandy soils
Milk thistle is a prolific producer! Each flower contains approximately 190 seeds, with an average of 6,350 seeds per plant, with over 90% being viable. That means each plant may yield about ¼ pound (120 g) of seed per season for medicinal use or to be sown again next year.
Growing
If you have milk thistle in your garden, chances are you didn’t plant it. Thistles are weeds, and most gardeners hate them. They usually tear them out, taproot and all. But I would argue milk thistle is an attractive plant when grown with purpose. Placed in the back of the garden in full sun, this drought-tolerant biennial will reseed itself year after year, offering textured foliage and bluish-purple flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and the occasional hummingbird. Plant milk thistle with caution, however, as it can be a noxious weed that must be kept in check. It may be better to simply look for it on roadsides and forest paths and in ditches.
Common Varieties: There’s only one species of milk thistle: Silybum marianum. Don’t confuse this with the many unrelated plants with “thistle” in their common name, such as globe thistle (Echinops rito) and blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus).
PLANT
You can buy milk thistle seeds, but if the weed grows in your neighbourhood you can simply collect the seeds from wild plants in late summer and fall. See my harvesting instructions below.
After the risk of frost in spring, find a sunny location, preferably away from prized garden plants. (Milk thistle is not only invasive, but it’s a large plant that will easily shade others.) Directly sow the seeds in the garden at a depth of 3 mm (? inch). Be generous with the seed: They sometimes have a low germination rate, so it’s always better to double up on your sowing. They will take approximately 3 weeks to germinate, and you can easily thin any clumps later on when the seedlings start to mature.
Keep evenly moist until germination. As the plants mature, they will need only occasional deep watering.
Harvesting seeds from dried milk thistle heads.
GROW
Milk thistle is a weed and it grows like one! As long as the plants are in full sun and fairly good soil, they will thrive. In fact, they can be invasive and will need to be thinned. Watch out for new seedlings and remove as necessary to keep milk thistle confined to restricted areas. When removing milk thistle from the garden, pull out the entire root. And be careful not to walk around the garden holding the seed heads or you may inadvertently sow them everywhere!
Milk thistle is biennial, which means the plant takes 2 years to flower and complete its life cycle. This means that if you grow from seed, you’ll probably get minimal flowers, if any, in the first year. The plant is resistant to most insects and diseases.
HARVEST
The biggest challenge when harvesting milk thistle is not getting stung by its prickly leaves! Wear gloves, pants, and long sleeves.
While all parts are edible, the seeds are the prized possession. Harvest spent flowers in late summer to fall: Cut the seed heads when the purple flower has dried and given way to white silky tufts. Harvest in late afternoon when all moisture has dried.
STORE
Allow seed heads to further dry by placing them in a brown paper bag in a dry location out of direct light for up to 10 days. After drying, store the seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Milk thistle’s tough tap root makes it a drought-resistant and resilient weed.
Put It to Work
Liver sluggish? Don’t hesitate: decontaminate!
The liver is the body’s central chemical dump site. It works day and night to process the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the medicines and supplements we take. The liver is capable of healing and regenerating itself, but if it is overwhelmed it can leak toxins into the bloodstream, burdening other organs and diminishing our health. You can help the liver boost productivity with milk thistle. It may even be essential to maintaining health in our pollution-filled world.
In a blender, combine 1 cup of freshly harvested milk thistle seeds with 1 cup of vodka (at least 80 proof) (1, 2) and blend on medium speed until smooth. Pour into a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar) (3). Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it (4). Set aside in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks, shaking the jar vigorously every day.
After 4 weeks, using a fine-mesh sieve or coffee filter, strain the liquid into a sterile glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (5, 6). Store in a cool, dark place. Take 1 teaspoon in 2 ounces of water twice daily (between meals) for 3 months.
To help determine the success of this treatment, check your liver enzymes with your family doctor before, every 4 weeks during, and after your treatment.
Feeling toxic? How about a detox milkshake?
You can incorporate milk thistle seeds directly into your diet. The silymarin is more effective when the whole seeds are ground to a fine powder or soaked overnight. The powder has a nutty taste similar to ground flax or hemp seed. It’s delicious in this milkshake, whether you prefer chocolate or vanilla.
1 cup milk thistle seeds
1 cup filtered water
2 tbsp cacao powder or 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp pure maple syrup, agave nectar, or liquid honey
½ cup ice, rice milk, or coconut milk
In a bowl, cover milk thistle seeds with water and set aside to soak overnight.
In a blender, combine hydrated seeds with filtered water and blend on high speed until smooth. Using a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth, strain into a bowl (discard solids). Return the liquid to the blender. Add the cacao powder, maple syrup, and ice or milk and blend until smooth. Drink 1 cup daily to help your liver detoxify.
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the health food store to purchase A. Vogel’s milk thistle or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.
Cautions
A few people experience stomach upset, headache, and itching after consuming milk thistle; there are rarer reports of loss of appetite, heartburn, diarrhea, and joint pain. In theory, milk thistle may lower blood sugar, so those with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugars, should be cautious.
Avoid milk thistle if you have an allergy to any plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae) or to artichokes or kiwi.
Historically, milk thistle has been used to improve breast milk flow, and two studies reported no side effects in pregnant women. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support these uses, so avoid the use of milk thistle during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
