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Milk Thistle Seed Powder (Silybum marianum)

For thousands of years, Milk Thistle has been celebrated both as a nourishing food and for its healthful properties. Our organic milk thistle seed powder is perfect for tincturing, encapsulating, or incorporating into culinary dishes such as smoothies, stews, or soups. You can also use it to infuse oil for skincare preparations, making it a versatile addition to your wellness routine.

Traditional Uses & Benefits

✔ Liver Support – Milk thistle is known for supporting the liver’s natural detoxification process.
✔ Culinary & Cosmetic Uses – Beyond its medicinal properties, milk thistle can be used in cooking or infused into oils for topical use.
✔ Herbal Legacy – Used extensively in ancient Greece and Rome, the leaves were traditionally eaten as a vegetable, while the seeds were recognized for their healing properties.

Botanical Profile

• Height: 3 to 7 feet tall
• Leaves: Smooth, shiny, and lettuce-like with distinctive white veins and spines
• Flower: Solitary purple blooms up to 2.5 inches in diameter
• Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region and Southwestern Europe, widely cultivated for centuries.
• Family: Part of the Asteraceae (sunflower) family, which includes popular plants like lettuce, daisies, blessed thistle, and artichoke.

Harvesting

Milk thistle seeds are typically harvested by cutting off the flower heads at the end of the growing season (May-July) and drying them. The seeds are then separated and winnowed for use.

Historical & Folklore

• Ancient Greek and Roman texts recognized the benefits of milk thistle seeds, particularly for venomous bites and stings.
• Nicholas Culpepper, a famous 17th-century herbalist, suggested using milk thistle as a spring tonic and eating the plant like boiled cabbage.
• Old wives’ tales even associated milk thistle with protection from snakes!
• Eclectic physicians in the 1800s used milk thistle seeds to treat congestion of the liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Precautions

Milk thistle may cause an allergic reaction in individuals sensitive to the Asteraceae (ragweed) plant family. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, especially if pregnant, nursing, or on medication.