A milk thistle what? That’s what I said. The involucre is this cup-shaped outer layer that holds the beautiful yet-to-be-seen purple flowerhead. And why no pic of the flower? The thorns would not cooperate. And it was a little breezy. And the Monarch butterflies wouldn’t leave me alone. Okay, just kidding about the butterflies, although there were four or five of them vying for the buffet. Truth is, the flower shots didn’t turn out, but I’ll keep tryin’.
Grace
T
8noodles
Anita
justin
YogaforCynics
Twitter: timethief
That’s a wonderful close-up of a plant I know very well. I have a family member with liver problems who is currently taking it as a supplement.
Milk thistle is a flowering herb that is native to the Mediterranean region, although it has now become widespread on other continents including North America where it is viewed as being a weed.
Milk thistle is sometimes called silymarin, which is actually a mixture of the herb’s active components, including silybinin (also called silibinin or silybin).It has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of ailments, especially liver problems.
* There have been some studies of milk thistle on liver disease in humans, but these have been small. Some promising data have been reported, but study results at this time are mixed.
* Although some studies conducted outside the United States support claims of oral milk thistle to improve liver function, there have been flaws in study design and reporting. To date, there is no conclusive evidence to prove its claimed uses.
* Recent NCCAM-funded research includes a phase II study to better understand the use of milk thistle for chronic hepatitis C. Additional research, cofunded by NCCAM and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, includes studies of milk thistle for chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (liver disease that occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol).
* The National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Nursing Research are also studying milk thistle, for cancer prevention and to treat complications in HIV patients.
My fingers are crossed for my relative as it looks as though he may need a liver transplant.
timethief´s last blog post ..Growing Happiness
Cool photo, despite lack of cooperation from thorns/wind…
YogaforCynics´s last blog post ..Early Morning Haiku
very cool shot. but where’s the butterflies?….lol
ann´s last blog post ..Wow
You beat me to asking “milk thistle what?”
Interesting shot. Maybe next time you’ll show us the flower. Preferably with butterflies!
Janie of Utah´s last blog post ..The Climb
Twitter: DianeKMiller
Nice close-up even without the flower itself. Of course if there were butterflies I’d have been chasing them. LOL!
DK Miller´s last blog post ..Macros of Flowers from Cantigny
Twitter: secretforest
In my land we call it card marià, and it’s the best for clearing the liver. In many villages in the Pyrenees people used to hang them when dry on the doors or in the living rooms to protect the houses against evil spirits and witchcrafts. I think it’s an ancient symbol of the sun, here.
There’s also a butterfly that we call “the thistle butterfly”, http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitxer:Vanessa_cardui_on_Eupatorium02.JPG
Regards,
Secret forest´s last blog post ..Literacy Day
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi tt. I had no idea of Milk Thistle’s healing properties. Thanks for all the information and I hope that it helps your loved one. That would be great if he didn’t have to go through a transplant, but if so, I hope all goes well.
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Thanks, drjay. Yeah, I was really fightin’ off nature there. Actually, it wasn’t that bad…I’m just a crybaby. Heh.
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Hi ann and thanks. I know! I’ll have to post what I was able to capture. They’re so fast!
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Hi Janie and thanks. Yeah, I should probably go ahead and post them as they may not be around much longer for me to get a better shot. Learning to use my camera would help!
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Hi and thanks, DK Miller. They kept landing on the side of the bush that was in the briars instead of the path side. No cooperation whatsoever…argh!
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Hi Secret Forest and that’s very interesting. Aiding the liver is also what TimeThief spoke of up there. And that thistle butterfly is beautiful! An excellent shot of it.
Twitter: lannaxe96
Great shot, regardless of the implications.
Lauren´s last blog post ..It’s Not Reality It’s Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel
Fascinating. Looks like a tiny pineapple. It’s so wonderful that you notice all these things. Gotta go now-I’ve got some butterflies to chase.
Nothing profound´s last blog post ..
Holly – I love that image – the butterflies wouldn’t leave me alone. Wonderful words. I know you were kidding but it’s still a neat picture.
koe´s last blog post ..erased
Twitter: earthtoholly
Thanks, Lauren…glad you like it.
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Hi Nothing profound and you’re right. It does look like a pineapple! Hee-hee…I’m gonna have to post those butterflies. :o)
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Hi Koe and thanks. Yeah, actually the butterflies were vying for a good spot on the thistle. Problem was, when I’d move to get a shot of one, it would fly away, and then I’d move to get a shot of one… It was a vicious cycle.
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[...] the peduncle thickened upward, 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, 2 to 4 cm in diameter, the involucre green. …A Milk Thistle Involucre | earth to hollyA milk thistle what? That's what I said. The involucre is this cup-shaped outer layer that holds the [...]
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