Milk Thistle - How to Harvest? What Medicine is in Milk Thistle? 

Another example of the miracle of milk thistle! Thank you for sharing 💚

It's so bad that doctors aren't trained to cure.

Wow... I just tripped across your channel , as in truth RU-vid is full of misinformation and BS. I'm watching you from my hospital bed as sadly I have cancer , but being the optimistic person I am , I hope . As a young buck roaming the fields looking at the cattle , I used to pretend that I was in a war and all the thistles were the enemy , and I'd lobb the heads of the thistle . Strangely enough , now as an older buck , I don't see many thistles , the horrors of climate change . But now after watching your nicely presented narrative it's great . I shall indeed now look for thistles and shall use your process . Thank you for making these videos . Joe .. and that is Bob my buddy cat in me photo . 😊

Here in Wales Bull Thistle is a different type of thistle. Latin name Cirsium vulgare Bull. But I’m very aware that common names change from country to country. Bull Thistle is medicinal but different to Milk Thistle. We have loads of different thistles here and I’m sure you do where you live. The best way to ID Milk Thistle is the thick bright white veins on the leaves. Have fun exploring the thistles where you live ❤️🌱❤️

You could get fined in Oklahoma for a certain kind if you didn't dig it up. It had thorns on the bottom of the leaf. If you bailed it up and fed it to your cattle, it could kill them. So I grew up thinking there were two different kinds. Now, i'm looking into that before I harvest. Are there two different kinds? Or is it just geographical Mutation

@@richardmartin2646 I don’t know about the varieties just we dug it up and burned the thistle bulbs to get rid of them or birds eat them and spread the seeds

Thank you for sharing your method. I’ve tried the shoe squishing method and it didn’t work. I think it may have been because I live in a humid environment and they weren’t crispy dry. But I love the idea of the thick gloves and pliers. There would definitely be less ow’s with that!!

Thank you for watching ❤️🌱❤️

Yes! I've just today noticed it blooming around where I live and I came home to jump on and find someone to teach me how to harvest. Thanks for this video! I know what to do now. I noticed Salena has Mullein growing behind her Thistle too (respiratory if I'm not mistaken).

@@mitzigarner-hughes9286 yes that is mullein waving hello in the background, a great medicine for the respiratory system. Happy Milk Thistle harvest ❤

@@salenawalkertoday I plucked some fluffy thistle heads to bring home. I was expecting to find larger seeds (like yours in this video)as I pulled out the "fairies" (wink) but Salena, these seeds are TINY like a dandelion seed!! And most of them are a light brown color, not all black. Some were not hardly ready to pull, so I'm going back to get leaves to dry. But my question is about the seed size, why are yours larger and easier to handle?!

@@mitzigarner-hughes9286 I would double check you have the right thistle as there are many different kinds of thistle. The Milk Thistle seed are plump and very dark when ripe. They are about the size of a sunflower seed. Maybe they aren't ready?

We have the same liver friends ❤️🌱❤️

Happy harvesting ❤️🌱❤️

Thank you watching and connecting ❤️🌱❤️

Love the tea idea. Thank you for watching and sharing 🌱❤️🌱

The majority of the medicinal plants are beneficial to us humans, the soil and wildlife 🐝 ❤️🐝

Totally agree!! It's hard to do a video on herbs and fit them into boxes as each one works with the body in so many different ways and levels. Thank you for watching ❤️🌱❤️

As I always say it’s individual as it depends on your goals. I mainly make it into a tincture due to my clients needs. But it works great ground fresh into a powder and taken mixed into a small amount of water.

Thank you for watching 🌱❤️🌱

Brilliant and thank you for watching ❤️🌱❤️

It’s interesting watching what plants animals go to. Thank you for sharing ❤️🌱❤️

Thank you for watching 🌱❤️🌱

Thank you for watching ❤️🌱❤️

Many people have asked this question. So I will do a video talking about this soon… But for now I would say… Offering specific advice on dosage is tricky since I tailor herbal prescriptions to individual cases, unlike allopathic medicine. Ethically, I can't suggest without the full picture to avoid potential harm or contraindications. It's wise to research herb contraindications and dosage based on your purpose. Check out the video for a different perspective on naturopathic prescriptions: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F4iyBUEcWz4.html Cariad mawr / Big love Salena! ❤️🌱❤️

Thank you for watching and exploring milk thistle seed ❤️🌱❤️

That’s a great idea. I’ll try that one out. I did try putting them in mushroom crates and doing this but only a few of the seeds dropped out. Thank you for sharing ❤️🌱❤️

There is a history of the roots being eaten. I think that every part of each plant has a purpose. Some we can work with for medicine or eat as food. Others will feed the pollinators or feed the soil ❤️🌱❤️

Yes, Milk thistle can be grown as a winter annual or a biennal. If you sow late summer to autumn the plant will flower in early summer and produce more seeds but your spring sowings will flower later in summer ❤️🌱❤️

That’s a great idea thank you for sharing ❤️

Thank you for watching ❤️🌱❤️

I was brought up using dock but I actually find plantain the best. Good to hear about burdock also, thank you for sharing 🌱❤️🌱

I love that idea. Thank you for sharing ❤️🌱❤️

Absolutely! I've already stuffed an old pill bottle to put in my backpack!

@@mitzigarner-hughes9286 Great idea!!

Wow, thank you for sharing ❤️🌱❤️That’s one great technique as I have never managed to pluck them all out without getting hit by the spikes! I can pluck the clump in the middle out but the ones around the edges call for serious gloves and scissors.

@@salenawalker Oh true about the ones tight to the base, she just plucks the ones that reach high for the sky...the ones with long skinny necks.

Thank you for sharing this. It’s great you have this plant in abundance ❤️🌱❤️

انا من تبسة وهو مقطوع ..عندنا..في المحلات... انتي من وين .؟

@@zizomusic728 انا ميلة خويا فالربيع تكون متوفرة النبتة

@@zizomusic728 وراك تقدر تلقاها عند العطار، او تطلبها من ولاية اخرى اي متواجدة حوس برك ،شوف ففيسبوك ولا تكتوك

@@zizomusic728 والله معلابالي ابحث فالانترنت، وممكن ايضا تلقاها فالصيدليات احسن واحسن ديمة سقسي خويا وابحث تلقا كلش

Thank you for watching ❤️🌱❤️

It is very difficult for me to offer advice from messages. As a naturopath I access the whole picture looking at current symptoms from head to toe including physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms. I also explore the clients external world to be able to understand their internal world at cellular level. I would also need to know what your current diet, hydration you consume and details of any medications you take as there could be contraindications. This process takes an hour and half in my consultation and results in me being able to give the client a personal prescription that works with the body not against the body. Focusing on hydration, food, purposeful supplementation / herbal medicine and naturopathic techniques. It would not be ethical for me to make suggestions without knowing the full picture as this would be prescribing in the same manner as allopathic medicine. Which is very unlikely to be beneficial. I would also be unaware of many possible contradictions. The main thing is getting to the root cause as with tinnitus it could be many things such as autoimmune, B12 deficiency, fatigue, stress, ear damage etc. I hope you understand and it makes sense to you. This video may explain it in a different way: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F4iyBUEcWz4.html Big love Salena X

I am assuming you are talking about a tincture? I let my tinctures brew for a month and then strain it. I dilute it in water to take it. Offering specific advice on dosage is tricky since I tailor herbal prescriptions to individual cases, unlike allopathic medicine. Ethically, I can't suggest without the full picture to avoid potential harm or contraindications. It's wise to research herb contraindications and dosage based on your purpose. Check out the video for a different perspective: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F4iyBUEcWz4.html Cariad mawr / Big love Salena! ❤️🌱❤️

As I’m saving the seed to use for medicine I wouldn’t want to burn the fluff in case it changes the medicinal constituents ❤️🌱❤️

Dosage is a very individual question. As it depends on the symptoms and severity of symptoms, how sensitive the person is and what is going on in that person. It is very different to prescribe pharmaceuticals as herbs work in an individual level. I prescribe tinctures between 5 drops to one teaspoon three times a day. So you’ll need to find a good personal dose for you.

I stay away from giving specific dosage advice for individuals as we are all different. As a naturopath I access the whole picture looking at current symptoms from head to toe including physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms. I also explore the clients external world to be able to understand their internal world at cellular level. I would also need to know what your current diet, hydration you consume and details of any medications you take as there could be contraindications. This process takes an hour and half in my consultation and results in me being able to give the client a personal prescription that works with the body not against the body. Focusing on hydration, food, purposeful supplementation / herbal medicine and naturopathic techniques. It would not be ethical for me to make suggestions without knowing the full picture as this would be prescribing in the same manner as allopathic medicine. Which is very unlikely to be beneficial. I hope you understand and it makes sense to you. This video may explain it in a different way: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F4iyBUEcWz4.html Big love Salena X

Very well said !

Okay well I would still love a response but I think I may have Scottish thistle? I would love to grow some milk thistle though would it be simple to get good plantable milk thistle seeds from somewhere?

It depends what country you are in. I generally purchase my seeds from either Earthsong Seeds or Poyntzfield Herbs.

You can have different size seeds. But they are generally larger than a tomato seed, more like a sunflower seed. Double check your leaves for ID of the plant. Happy harvesting ❤️🌱❤️

Happy foraging ❤️🌱❤️

Found some after a 5 minute walk have some seeds. Slow work will make some tea. Any tips appreciated

@@franciso.connell1634 as its a seed you will either need to create a decoction or grind the seed before putting into water. This will make sure you can access the medicine. To get at the seeds you could put them in a bag and bash it with a rolling pin as this can sometimes release the seeds in small amounts.

@@salenawalker the seeds are so small I have about a table spoon. So I need to grind before putting them into boiling water?

@@franciso.connell1634 yes or put them in a pan and bring to the boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes with a lid on.

When I harvest I also get different ranges of colours. I feel that the lighter colours are the less mature seeds ❤️🌱❤️

@@salenawalker Ok ,thank you for the feedback..maybe,is strange though cause the plant was already start drying /dying . You think that less mature is also less medicinal?

Yes I do cut them down after harvesting. With very thick gloves!! I find if I get most of the seed heads in my harvest I don’t get too many self seeders. If it becomes a problem you could always mulch the area with cardboard over winter as that’ll stop the self seeders. Happy harvesting ❤️🌱❤️

Thank you for watching 🌱❤️🌱

At some point I will do a growing herbs from seed video 🌱❤️🌱 You live in a climate that’s the complete opposite of mine it’s very humid and wet here. So I can’t advice on growing in your climate as I have no experience growing f ever growing in those conditions 🌱❤️🌱

It is very difficult for me to offer advice from messages. As a naturopath I access the whole picture looking at current symptoms from head to toe including physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms. I also explore the clients external world to be able to understand their internal world at cellular level. I would also need to know what your current diet, hydration you consume and details of any medications you take as there could be contraindications. This process takes an hour and half in my consultation and results in me being able to give the client a personal prescription that works with the body not against the body. Focusing on hydration, food, purposeful supplementation / herbal medicine and naturopathic techniques. It would not be ethical for me to make suggestions without knowing the full picture as this would be prescribing in the same manner as allopathic medicine. Which is very unlikely to be beneficial. I hope you understand and it makes sense to you. This video may explain it in a different way: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F4iyBUEcWz4.html Big love Salena ❤️🌱❤️

I would not collect food or medicine from a busy road.

I collect the seeds when it’s dry enough for the seeds to be pulled from the head.

I only work with the seeds ❤️🌱❤️

I am sorry it was difficult for you to see. I do not have a full camera crew it is simply me with my phone trying to do the best I can. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and maybe I can help 😆

It's a great question! They will all have individual medicinal benefits and some of them will be similar but sadly I am not an expert on this. It is something that I would like to explore in the future and when I have answers I will create a video about it.

@@salenawalker Hey, thank you for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. My Flora Incognita app identifies my variant as the 'Creeping Thistle'. It looks like the Milk Thistle in all but the lack of white milky veins.

@@RobertsBulgaria yes we also have creeping thistle here. This is a different plant medicinally but also has medicinal elements. It’s not one that is generally taught about now and has gone out of fashion. Most of the so called weeds are great medicine ❤️🌱❤️

It’s a Welsh accent from Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@@salenawalker lovely my people, my grandfather is a Lloyd from Wales and my great grandfather played rugby on the Welsh national team . We have milk thistle popping up all over here in Northern california right now and can't wait to harvest some seeds. Just pointed out some of thistle to my son just minutes ago growing on a jobsite.

​@@MrBigdaddy2ya wow I bet your great grandfather was a legend!

Many people do different things. Some people blend the seeds with alcohol to tincture. Some people place the whole seed in high strength alcohol and others use ground powder. I would only use powder that I’ve freshly ground myself as powdered herbs deteriorate very quickly. I tend to bash the seed in a pestle and mortar or give it a quick blitz in my nutribullet before placing in high strength alcohol ❤️🌱❤️

If you want to make a tea from seeds you need to make a decoction. In a very quick description. Put the seeds in a pan with water, and cover with a lid. Bring to the boil and simmer for twenty minutes. Dosage will depend on individual constitution and you would need to check for personal contraindications.

There are buyers but it’ll depend where you live. I’m no expert in wholesale herbal selling. I would contact a local wholesale herbal seller.

I will be grinding some up for powders and capsules and making tinctures.

It’s not a plant I know of but there may be some confusion of plants as different countries use the same common names for different plants. So let’s check… in this video I am talking about the milk thistle with the Latin name Silybum marianum. I think you may be talking about yellow field milk thistle with the Latin name Sonchus arvensis?

​@@salenawalker Good morning..I hope you are well I was talking about milk thistle seeds...I found two types of them...seeds that have a color like yours Milk thistle seeds...they are yellow.. Watch this video..and you will see the yellow milk thistle seeds that I am talking to you about..I want to know the difference between yellow seeds..and black seeds. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ppmLbjdoqvg.htmlsi=gqXi5gJbfL5YPmQW

@@salenawalker Hello, I hope you are well.... I don't mean to Sonchus arvensis( dendel lion ) But I am talking to you about the seeds of milk thistle...which treats the liver My question is that I find two types of these seeds... a type like the one you have... and a type of seed that is yellow in color and is also called milk thistle... I want to know the difference between them, thank you.

I only work with seeds medicinally. I mainly use the seeds to make a tincture and I save some for capsules.

My understanding is Scotch Thistle is different. It’s an invasive species with the Latin name Onopordum acanthium. But I know many countries have different names for Milk Thistle such as Blessed Milk Thistle, Mary Thistle and yes Scotch Thistle. Where as this thistle that is known commonly in the UK as Milk Thistle it’s Latin name is Silybum marianum. I know when I meet up with herbalists from different countries we have to refer to the Latin names as common names can be so different. It’s fascinating and thank you sharing ❤️🌱❤️

Thank you for watching. I’m sorry I can’t give you advice on dogs as I have never treated them but it sounds like you are doing your own research, great work! As far as my training, for humans I just use the seed ❤️🌱❤️ Sending love to your dog 🐾❤️🐾

@@salenawalker Thank you. Also...... So does making it in a glycerin form work? Or does it not pull enough of the plants properties?

@@aprilmaemae2 I never just work with glycerin on its own I always combine with alcohol to add extra preservative and pull out more medicinal constituents. These I call glycerites. I mainly use glycerites when working with plants that have high VOC. There's a video about glycerites on my channel.

Restricted feeding is the key I guess. Fasting is good for dogs too.

Restricted feeding is the key I guess. Fasting is good for dogs too.

I am sorry you felt this way. It is simply me with my phone trying to do the best I can in small little videos with no camera crew. If you feel I take to long to explain then my channel probably isn't the right fit for you. The seed is the main herbal medicine and therefore the edible part. No the milk in the leaves is not digestible. You can ingest the herb the same as all other herbal medicines. For example by making a tincture, grinding the seed, making a decoction from the seed etc. I hope that is helpful 🌱

I’m sorry but this is not a plant I have experience with. I don’t think that it would grow here in Wales. Good luck with your research ❤️🌱❤️

Can you do some research and do a video on because this thistle grows a lot out here in Northern California

@@laudidottykixkzz I only do videos on plants that I have direct experience of working with and I have worked with for quite a few years. It is not a plant that people grow here so I would suggest chatting to a local herbalist.

Any herb that works on the liver can have this potential contraindication. I always think contraindications tell us the power of the plant ❤️🌱❤️

@@salenawalker yep. I think it's better to use herbs instead of drugs but in cases such as HIV, what herb will take care of that problem?

There are many different thistles and Milk Thistle does grow wild in some countries but it would have the milky leaves ❤️🌱❤️

@@salenawalker can I send you a picture, cause it looks just like it except it doesent have the verigated pattern on the leaves..

@@sunshinedayz2172 Thank you for offering to send me the picture. I'm sorry but I would be unable to identify the plant from a photograph for you but there are many books and online sources you can use to help you identify it. Good luck and happy medicine making 💚

I use them to make wishes. I throw them into the wind and make a wish. It’s great fun!! But I’m not aware of them being used in any way medicinally. Although I think my way is medicinally fun 😉

Yes you can. It would be best to grind the seeds to a powder as and when you want to ingest. As when the seeds are powdered they oxidise and lose medicinal qualities quickly so only grind what you need.

Yes I’m some countries it’s quite prolific in the wild ❤️🌱❤️

I’m not sure which but you are talking about? I do all of the filming on my own so it’s very difficult to do close ups and different shots. No professional team here, just me and my phone trying to spread the word ❤️🌱❤️

@@salenawalker I appreciate that. I know it’s hard to do.

I am sorry you feel this way. I am just one person doing what I can by gifting my time, to hopefully inspire people to explore herbal medicine further, using my phone and an external microphone. I am sorry you feel that I wasted a few minutes of your life and you have nothing good to say about this video. If I was earning lots of money from doing this and had a film crew it would be different. I suggest you find another channel for your inspiration, one that is earning a lot of money and can afford a high end video that you are looking for. Good luck with your herbal adventures!

@@salenawalker 👎