Cancer and Society
Milk thistle: early seeds of potential
Article Info
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant; according to folk
tradition, its characteristic violet flowers and white-veined leaves
came from the Virgin Mary's milk. It is native to the Mediterranean and a
member of Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers and
daisies. The Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides (40–90 AD) was the
first to describe milk thistle's healing properties. Later, in 1597,
John Gerard noted that milk thistle was “the best remedy against
melancholy diseases”.
