Milk Thistle

 Silybum marianum with many common names including common sowthistle, sow thistle, smooth sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, milk thistle,soft thistle, or swinies, is a plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family.



It is considered an invasive weed and can be found in Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.

The leaves of milk thistle have been used in salads in New Zealand and Australia.

the roots can be eaten raw or boiled and buttered or par-boiled and roasted.

The stems after peeling can be soaked overnight to remove bitterness and then stewed.

Milk thistle is sometimes used as a natural treatment for liverproblems. These liver problems include cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis, and gallbladderdisorders. Silymarin is the main active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s unclear what benefits, if any, this may have in the body. (Wikipedia)  

The seed of milk thistle is called 

Shui Fei Ji in Chinese and is often used to treat liver problems.水飛薊

Disclaimer : Please consult a professional TCM practitioner/doctor before you take any supplement.