Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
Asteraceae (Compositae)
- Blessed Milk-thistle
- Milk Thistle
- St.Mary's Thistle
- kagh'oub كغعوب
- khurfesh el-jimal خرفيش الجمال
- shok el-jamal شوك الجمل
- sinnariyah سنارية
- גְּדִילָן מָצוּי
- gedilan matzuy
Annual
- Nutrient-rich soils
- ruderal
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distribution and other botanical details.
Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Endocrine/ Metabolic | Diabetes |
Hypoglycemic | Eat fresh stem daily. |
Stem | B |
Gastrointestinal | Constipation |
Laxative | Eat fesh stem as needed. |
Stem | B |
Gastrointestinal | Haemorrhoids |
Anti-haemorrhoidal | After drying, silvery parts of flower are wrapped into small balls & inserted as anal suppository before sleep. |
Flower | B |
Gastrointestinal | Jaundice |
Hepatic | Eat fesh stem until well. |
Stem | B |
Oral Health | Toothache |
Analgesic | Eat inner part of stem to clean teeth x3/week. |
Stem | B |
Wound healing | Bleeding wound |
Haemostatic | Cut stem, squeeze out juice & apply to wound x1/day. |
Stem | B |
The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.
Silybum marianum has mild laxative & other gastric effects including abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headaches & excess sweating. Allergic reactions include rash especially if sensitive to Asteraceae/ Compositae plants (e.g. chrysanthemums, daisies, marigolds etc). May effect blood sugar levels therefore diabetics should monitor blood glucose. Contraindicated in various hormone sensitive cancers & conditions including ovarian & breat cancer, uterine fibroids etc. Concentrates nitrates in leaves when grown on nitrogen rich soils.