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Silybum marianum

Milk thistle

Caution

White leaf veins; seeds in tradition.

Large leaves with white marbling, purple heads.

Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Biennial herb
What the safety levels mean (expand legend)
  • Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
  • Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
  • Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
  • Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
  • Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
  • High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
  • Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.
Silybum marianum — plant habitus (Wikimedia Commons).

Photograph on Wikimedia Commons (GFDL 1.2).

Plant habit

Safety — read before use

For this herb it is important to check warnings, mix-ups and cautions. Start with the Safety section.

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade
Caution details
Scientific sources on the card
No specific citations attached to claims yet
When and what to harvest
  • Flower — July–September
Full harvest section
Processing methods

Herbal infusion (tea), Honey macerate, Syrup

All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms

Body cleansing (folk framing), Liver & bile (folk framing)

Topics section, Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Sharp spines on bracts.

Possible mix-ups and risks

Thistles and other thistles by leaf spots.

Similar herbs

No related herbs are linked yet.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Geographic occurrence

  • Czechia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

    Widespread or commonly cultivated in the Czech Republic, depending on habitat or garden context.

  • Austria

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Germany

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Hungary

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Poland

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Slovakia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

Harvest

  • FlowerJuly–September

    summer

    Region: Czechia

    Notes: Flower heads before seeds fully ripen; watch out for thorns.

Storage

  • Drying(Leaf)

    Keep dried plant material in a sealed container.

    Light:
    Out of direct UV.
    Moisture:
    Low relative humidity.

Processing methods on this herb card

  • Herbal infusion (tea)(Flower)Suitability: High suitability

    Infusion or brief extraction in hot water; usually without long boiling.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Here, herbal tea is prepared as an infusion: pour freshly boiling water over dried herbs or a herbal blend and steep for at least 5 minutes. BfR gives this as a hygiene rule, not a medicinal dose. Follow the specific product instructions, including a longer steeping time when stated. This rule for herbal infusions is not a general preparation guide for true tea (Camellia sinensis). Temperature, steep time, and the herb-to-water ratio change both flavour and what dissolves into the liquid.

    Compared with a decoction, heat exposure is shorter and gentler; tender leaves and flowers are often better as an infusion than with prolonged simmering. For each herb, always follow the plant card for suitable plant part, preparation, and safety notes — general rules never replace species-level judgement.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Milk thistle flower tea

    About 8 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Honey macerate(Flower)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Macerating plant material in honey (a honey conserve).

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Honey as a maceration medium creates a viscous mixture with its own biochemistry: water activity, acidity, and enzymes influence shelf life and flavour. Traditionally it is used with delicate flowers or herbs when you want aroma bound into honey.

    Infant botulism guidance for honey and honey safety in general sit outside a single herb page; maceration time, ratios, and storage must follow a vetted recipe and source, not this general overview alone.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Milk thistle flower honey

    About 35 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Syrup(Flower)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Decoction or infusion with sweetener and reduction; shelf life depends on sugar and storage.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Syrups combine a herbal base with sugar or honey and often a short boil to concentrate and improve hygiene. Preservation depends strongly on water content, sugar level, and bottling practice.

    Home syrups may fall under food rules; store in the fridge after opening per recipe.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Milk thistle flower syrup

    About 50 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

Related guides in the library

  • Traditional folk context

    General

    The herb appears in older folk customs referenced on Czech cards. This note is cultural memory and seasonal storytelling — not a dosing guide, clinical indication, or substitute for the safety section.

    Form:
    various
    Claim strength:
    Tradition
    Source note:
    Cultural framing only.

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

No published study records yet.

Images

The main photo is in the card header. More images will appear here when available.

Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use
Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines
Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts
Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation
Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant
Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy
Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination
Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.
  • Asteraceae allergyModerate severityAllergy

    Milk thistle belongs to a plant family with common pollen allergens; use caution if you are sensitized.