'Milk thistle' is often featured on TV as a health functional food. The plant depicted on the packaging of milk thistle products is not unfamiliar. It is a plant that we have seen many times. It is the 'thistle' of the field. So, can thistle replace milk thistle? Today, let's learn about the efficacy of thistle.

When we say thistle, we usually mean a plant belonging to the species Cirsium japonicum. There are about 20 species of this species in Korea, so there are various plants mixed together. Among these, about 10 species of plants, including the great thistle, the fin thistle, and the Korean thistle, belong to the same Cirsium genus. However, it should be distinguished from the thistle.

The most representative medicinal thistle (Cirsium japonicum var. maackii) is a perennial herb belonging to the Cirsium genus of the Asteraceae family, and grows to about 1 m tall. There are large and small thorns on the edges of the leaves. It has a unique flower cluster shape, and each flower contains hundreds of small, tubular flowers.

On the other hand, the large thistle is relatively large, has many flowers, and blooms downward. Also, the fin thistle has leaves and many thorns on the stem like fins. Finally, the Korean thistle is an edible plant commonly used in gondre-bap, and its leaf shape is completely different from that of the thistle family.

Thistle is usually called 'thistle' in English. In the West, thistle is a general term for plants with sharp thorns in the Asteraceae family. Milk thistle (scientific name Silybum marianum) is a representative example. It is named so because when the stem is wounded, it secretes a milky sap. The Korean name is white-patterned thistle. Strictly speaking, milk thistle is a different species from the domestic native thistle.

Milk thistle contains a component called 'silymarin', which has ▲anticancer ▲antiviral ▲antioxidant ▲antidiabetic effects. In particular, it is known to help activate liver function. According to research results, silymarin exists in quite high concentrations not only in Korean native thistles, but also in Korean thistles and Korean thistles (Molecular genetic and chemical analysis of Korean native thistles and Korean thistles. Journal of Life Science, 2012). Therefore, it is good to use Korean thistle instead of milk thistle.

The name "thistle" comes from the fact that it clots the blood. The Chinese character name is "daegye" (大薊). In the "Bencao Gangmu" (本瑣元), it is written, "薊 (薊) is a topknot and its flower is like a topknot." It is called "daegye" because the flower shape resembles a topknot. The large flower is called "daegye" (大薊) and thistle, and the small flower is called "sogye" (大薊), referring to the thistle. In the "Donguibogam" (東馬元), it is called "hanggasi" (hanggasi). It is a name given because the thistle has thorns, meaning "big thorn."

Thistle has a sweet taste, is warm in nature, and is non-toxic. Some books say that it is 'cool and cold' in nature. Usually, both the root and the leaves are used as medicine. Thistle root is a medicine for blood diseases. It has a particularly strong hemostatic effect. According to literature, thistle is not often used in prescriptions. The reason is written as 'because it is too common and is looked down upon.' That is how commonly it can be found around us.

There are several types of flower colors of thistle. In the Donguibogam, it is stated that "the yellow one is called Hwanghwajijeong (黃花地丁) and the purple one is called Jahwajijeong (紫花地丁)." When used medicinally, the purple thistle, Jahwajijeong, is mainly used. Hwanghwajijeong is also used as a synonym for Pogongyeong (蒲公英). There are also white thistles in the fields.

Thistle treats uterine bleeding in women. In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it is stated that it "treats red and white vaginal discharge in women. It also treats symptoms of bleeding due to uterine bleeding." It is also good for cold uterine discharge and irregular uterine bleeding. Usually, herbs that treat uterine bleeding also have the effect of treating vaginal discharge.

states that 'Thistle treats uterine bleeding and leprosy. Crush it and drink the juice. For hematuria, take 5 nyang of the root, and for leprosy, take 3 nyang of the root, boiled in alcohol.' Even if it is not alcohol, it is also helpful to boil the dried leaves or roots in water and drink it as a decoction.

Burdock stops nosebleeds. In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it says, "It stops hemoptysis and nosebleeds." The name burdock itself is derived from the fact that it clots blood, and its hemostatic effect is its most representative effect. On the other hand, it should not be taken if blood clots easily form.

The pectolinarin component of thistle has a hemostatic effect. It constricts blood vessels and shortens bleeding time. At the same time, it is also helpful for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, liver fibrosis, and diabetes. All of these result in lowering blood pressure while removing blood stasis, so they are also good for patients with hypertension.

Burdock treats inflammatory bowel disease. In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it is said that "the leaves treat intestinal abscesses and blood stasis in the stomach." It is said that the raw leaves are ground and taken as alcohol. Intestinal abscesses are a collective term for inflammatory bowel disease, including appendicitis, chronic enteritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis. They can also occur due to acute and chronic inflammation or autoimmune diseases.

states, "For food stagnation or phlegm stagnation, grind thistle root into powder and mix it with water or alcohol and take a lot." It can be seen as a symptom of intestinal lump caused by food stagnation, phlegm stagnation, and inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. When examining the abdomen at this time, it feels hard as if there is a large lump in the stomach area.

Thistle is good for treating wounds. In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it says, "For boils or scabies, grind it with salt and cover the affected area." A boil refers to a malignant ulcer of the skin, and scabies refers to scabies. When used as an external remedy, it can be seen to help with itching while also treating wounds.

Thistle is also good for boils. says, "Wash and chop the thistle root and safflower (red flower, safflower) regardless of the amount, and grind them finely like ointment. If you apply it on a boil, it will cool like ice, and newly formed boils will go down, and boils filled with pus will quickly burst." says, "If you have a sore at the base of your hair for a long time, grind the thistle root and apply it to it to get better."

Thistle makes the body healthy. In , it says, "It replenishes the essence and protects the blood. It makes you fat and strong." It also says, "It nourishes and lowers the energy." Looking at the fact that it makes you fat, we can see that it is more helpful for people who are thin than those who are obese.

In medical books, burdock and sockeye are used for similar effects, but strictly speaking, they are distinct. In , it is written that "since sockeye has a weak medicinal effect, it can only reduce fever and cannot nourish or reduce energy like burdock." In , it is written that "however, burdock leaves treat boils, while sockeye only treats blood diseases and cannot treat boils." This shows that burdock has stronger medicinal properties.

Don't just stick to Western milk thistle, try eating native milk thistle. Milk thistle will help untangle the tangled threads of your body. Milk thistle is a good substitute for milk thistle.

Source : 헬스경향(http://www.k-health.com)

Dandelion & Thistle Juice

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