Milk Thistle Seed Organic ~ Silybum marianum

Milk Thistle Seed Organic ~ Silybum marianum

Milk thistle is considered a medicinal plant; milk thistle seeds have been used to treat extreme cases of hepatitis and liver degeneration with remarkable effects. Milk thistle tea can be prepared using either the seeds or the leaves of the plant. The seeds have a greater medicinal benefit than the leaves, as they contain silymarin, but the leaves still have benefits, particularly for those with liver, gall bladder and mild digestive complaints.

Crush the milk thistle seeds with a mortar and pestle; transfer them to a small pan. Add three cups of water and bring to the boil on the stovetop. Remove the pan from the stovetop. Steep the milk thistle seeds for around 20 minutes, then strain with the sieve. 

If you prepare milk thistle tea from seeds, drink one cup 30 minutes before each meal and one cup just before going to bed. After sticking to this for three days, reduce your intake to three cups per day.

To treat specific health issues, other herbs can be added to the tea prepared with milk thistle seeds. For better liver health, add peppermint seeds and fennel seeds. For stomach complaints, add dandelion plant and root, chicory root and fennel seeds. To ease discomfort from varicose veins, add marigold (calendula) flowers and witch hazel leaves.