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Article: Got milk thistle?
- Article from:
- Better Nutrition
- Article date:
- September 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Sabot Publishing, Inc. Sep 2000. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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To protect and prevent liver damage
Before you pull that ugly, pointy weed out of your garden, give it a second look. If it's tall, has large prickly leaves and reddish purple flowers with sharp spines, chances are you actually have the remarkable herb known a milk thistle growing amongst your vegetables and herbs.
Ancient medicine
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is native to the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan, but now can be found growing in most temperate climates. Its leaves are edible, and some vegetable gardeners actually cultivate the plant as a substitute for spinach.
Legend says that it was named "marianum" because, after a drop of the Virgin Mary's breast milk touched the ...